GRANBELL HOTEL KYOTO

We had a wonderful stay at this hotel! We shared a room with a King bed. My husband felt the room was small, with the bed stuffed in under the window. But I was expecting smaller rooms than what we are used to by US standards. The hotel is located close to pretty much any place you'd want to walk to - restaurants, shops, old town. This place is charming from the moment you walk in. The staff are lovely, friendly. The bed was very comfortable, and the room had all the necessary amenities, even if it was small. The breakfast was included, and it was lovely. There were lots of Japanese style choices (which we loved.). The onsen in the basement was nice, but it was too hot for me. Our only issue was that our room looked out onto the alley that had a bar. Apparently there was a big party at the bar one of our nights, and the noise kept me awake. There was nothing the hotel could do about it. It was annoying, but eventually things quieted down. Overall, our stay was wonderful. This was one of my favorite places we stayed at in Japan.

I recently stayed at the Granbell Hotel for our honeymoon and found it to be a decent overall experience. The location is fantastic, making it very convenient for exploring Kyoto. The breakfast offered is nice, with snacks and drinks available, which I appreciated. However, the customer service was disappointing. I requested a simple 15-minute late checkout but was told it would only be accommodated for a $15 fee, even though their late checkout policy extends until 1 PM. This felt unnecessarily rigid and unaccommodating. While the location and amenities were good, the lack of flexibility and customer focus has led me to decide that I’ll stay at a different hotel the next time I visit Kyoto.

Great little hotel. My husband and I stayed here and thought it was perfect for our short stay while in Kyoto. The location was very walkable to nearby points of interest. Staff was extremely friendly and helpful. I especially enjoyed the little amenity bar by the front desk. They had so many fun little skin care products that were fun to try out for free. The tea/drink bar with complimentary snacks was also another fun touch. Our room was comfortable and perfect for what we needed. I'm convinced that all the beds in Japan are on the stiff/firm side but it did its job after a long day. It was nice having a hair dryer but it was pretty weak so be sure to bring your own if you have thick hair! Overall a great stay and would definitely come back!

We really enjoyed our stay here! It’s super close to restaurants, temples and shops- loved the location. Upon arrival our room on the lowest floor smelled musty. It was really noticeable when you walked in the room so we asked to change rooms. Luckily there were extra rooms and we got to move! They were super friendly about it and I was so glad we asked to move. Our new room didn’t have any weird smell. Loved how we got water every day and fresh towels. Breakfast was also super good. There were many options for western breakfast as well as Japanese breakfast. I would definitely stay here again!

Room was small for our four suitcases and all the repacking we had to do before our flight. The water in the onsen was just a bit too hot to actually relax and enjoy but still, it was a nice experience. Perfect location for our needs. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Would very much recommend especially for one last night in Japan for a more authentic experience.

Nice hotel overall, great location. Looks amazing from the outside. Decent Japanese breakfast. Service was polite enough to get the job done, but I was not overwhelmed with a sense of amazing hospitality (from multiple staff members). Probably would still consider staying again.

We’re staying in the Annex. There’s two Granbell Hotels in Kyoto, so it’s a little confusing finding out where you’re going to be because it was booked on the same site, and the room listing said “Main building / Annex” leading me to believe the website didn’t even know where I’d end up, which I’d say is my main complaint, because the room was pretty big in comparison to where I stayed in Tokyo, and the service was great. The main building’s lobby is very pretty and in a nice part of town. The annex building is in a less convenient part of town, a little further away from the tourist spots and the train station. But overall is a great stay. I’d recommend trying to get a room in the main building though.

My wife and I had the pleasure of staying at the Granbell Hotel Kyoto for a few nights in late November, but unfortunately, our stay took an unexpected turn. My wife became seriously ill, developing a high fever of 104°F. At 5 am, we found ourselves needing to go to the hospital, and the staff at the hotel truly went above and beyond to help us in our time of need. From the moment we informed them of the situation, the hotel staff was incredibly attentive and caring. They asked thorough questions about my wife's symptoms and immediately recommended a nearby hospital. They didn’t stop there – they coordinated a taxi for us, ensuring we had everything we needed to get to the hospital safely. When we returned to the hotel after the hospital visit, the staff continued to show outstanding care. They periodically checked in on us. One staff member in particular, whose name I unfortunately didn’t catch, stood out for his exceptional kindness. Recognizing that our stay was no longer going according to plan, he offered me a free room so that I wouldn’t risk falling ill. He also gave us a thoughtful small gift as a gesture of kindness. This personal touch, and the extraordinary service we received, truly left a lasting impression. The Granbell Hotel Kyoto is more than just a place to stay – it is a place where the staff genuinely cares. I cannot recommend this hotel enough. The compassion and professionalism of their team, particularly the gentleman who helped us, went far beyond anything we could have expected. If you are looking for a hotel in Kyoto that offers not only great accommodations but also exceptional service, this is the place to stay. We are deeply grateful for everything they did for us during our difficult time.

This place was amazing!! Staff was attentive and accommodating. Room was immaculate and amenities plentiful. Breakfast, coffee, tea, bar, laundry, public bath... I highly recommend this hotel! Easy to get to on the public bus from Kyoto train station. Small places to grab a bite and food was fantastic no matter where we went. Please give some love to this hotel, it's a real gem!!

We loved the Kyoto Granbell Hotel. It was perfectly situated down a small street a couple short blocks away from the main Gion thoroughfare. You are a 2-minute walk from the Gion Subway station and all of the shops on that main street between the river and the Yasaka Shrine. The hotel has a modern, yet distinctively Japanese ambiance to all of its details. We stayed in a Japanese style room and found it a little smaller than we would have liked with the bed up against a wall so the 'interior' person had to enter and exit from the alongside if the 'exterior' person was in the bed. That having been said it was charming. We took advantage of the Japanese bath in the basement which was a lovely relaxing experience. (Men and women separated.) We also bought tickets to the in-house Maiko show in which a local "Geisha" in training came to perform for us. This was one of the highlights of the trip and give you intimate and direct access to one of the major, unique cultural pieces of Kyoto. The breakfast for us vegetarians was sufficient though we only had the buffet once, choosing to explore some of Kyoto's restaurants in the mornings since breakfast wasn't included with our stay. We'd definitely stay here again. It was clean, modernly Japanese, and you can't beat the location to have direct access to Gion, right on the edge of modern Kyoto.

On the recommendation of a friend we ended up here for two nights during our trip to Kyoto. By American standards, the rooms are quite small. The King bed took up about 1/3 or more of the room and it was difficult for two people to move around without constantly getting in each other's way. The shower and toilet are compact with a separate sink in the main area of the room. No iron, so use that cozy bathroom area to steam your clothes and get those wrinkles out. There was a small couch and table in a smallish sitting area and we were able to connect to Apple TV and keep up with news back home. I may not be giving it the most ringing endorsement but overall this place was great. When traveling, what's the point of just staying in your hotel room?! GET OUT! The location could not be beat - walking distance to a ton of bars, restaurants, and the Nishiki Market really made for an easy time packing in a day full of activities. Cabs and public transit were super accessible for places we wanted to go outside of walking distance. The price was on point compared to similar hotels we looked at. And for relaxation, please partake in the public bath. Don't be creeped out - I felt completely comfortable in the buff sitting in a hot pool with other naked fellas. There are separate ones for men and for women! Great for a couple nights accommodation and would recommend for your stay in Kyoto!

The rooms are about half the size of American hotels but the place is clean, they accommodate English-speaking guests and they are centrally located in Gion. Decent price especially during peak foliage in late November. They do charge by the person occupancy so just a heads up. Credit cards including Amex are accepted. Rooms are clean, they offer free toiletries including a brush, toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, hair ties, hairdryer and other usual items. Beds are comfy and on the firmer side. The rooms come with a mini fridge and hot water maker. They have a microwave near the ice machine and the vending machine. Free coffee at the front lobby. The twin beds can fit two people if you don't move around a lot when you sleep. Breakfast buffet at an additional cost and they have a full bar. About 1.5 miles from Kyoto station and a $10 cab ride if you don't want to walk. Shops and restaurants are just around the corner as is the local train station which is about 2 blocks away.

This is a lovely newer hotel that has all the true simple pleasures of a Japanese Hotel with some of the modern conveniences. The staff are beyond friendly and anytime we had difficulty communicating I pulled up translator and all was beyond great, again! I recommend this place not only for the staffs professional demeanor, but also the cleanliness of the spa as well...

Fantastic location very close to the train station. The hotel is new as of this year and the staff is very friendly. Our room in the 4th floor is slim and very well organized. There is a fancy closet shower and tv with Apple TV!!! Very small rooms but comfortable. The public bath house is also nice. Lockers before entering.

This is the last of 3 nights for me and my husband as we continue our honeymoon in Japan. Granbell Hotel Kyoto is a trendy, modern hotel perfectly situated in the Gion district. There are plenty of restaurants and bars (not to forget tea shops) within walking distance. The staff is very professional and were quick to help with taxi service as well as place a takeout order. Twice a week, there is a Maiko Show hosted in the restaurant lobby. If size matters, this venue isn't for you. My double bed room is just shy of 200 square feet. We have 3 large suitcases so getting ready is eventful. It's really a great, clean space for 2 people who simply need to shower and sleep. Amenities include public spa and bike rental. Great value, great hotel!

Loved, loved, loved this place! As an interior designer I value form and function equally -most places only get one right or completely miss the mark, Granbell Hotel Kyoto was spot on. 1)The location was great, close to the train, landmarks and other places of interest. 2)The hotel lobby and rooms are immaculate, chic and contemporary with beautiful elements of Japanese tradition. No, the rooms aren't huge, but most places in Japan aren't very spacious, everyone already knows that. I almost forgot, the bathrooms are like mini-spas with heated toilet/bidets. 3) Front desk staff, super friendly, knowledgeable, helpful and kind! Thank you for such a wonderful stay! Arigato gozaimashita! 4) Complimentary bottled water and coffee in the rooms as well as in the lobby. Free WiFi. 5) Beautiful public bath and garden in the basement level, though tattoos are forbidden. 6) Restaurant/bar, I didn't have a chance to eat there, so I can't rate it.

Super small room, even for Japan, but very comfy bed and strong AC. Lobby is hipster cool if you are claustrophobic. Free bottled water placed in your fridge each day, and staff is very accommodating. Highly recommend the meiko (geisha apprentice) show add-on for 3500 yen. It was a unique experience... not only did she perform, but we got to ask her questions as well.

This hotel looks lovely and is well situated. However we had a lot of issues with this property. 1) the rooms are the smallest I have ever experienced. The sink was literally next to the bed. At over $300 a night, it's ridiculous to not have a place to put your luggage. 2) we booked 2 rooms for our family of 4, max capacity was 2 per room and yet they still insisted on charging for the "additional guests." 3) check in failed to mention our breakfast was free so we did not partake as we might have since it was already paid for. 4) a surcharge for every hour for a late checkout. It's usually yes or no, not we charge you by the hour. Ugh! Basically, the communication was terrible, the rooms are closet sized and the manager Sakura made no attempt to make any of this right. Am sure there are lovely hotels in Kyoto who care about its guests and not out to use unclear communication to over-charge its guests (on top of its already hefty room rates) at every opportunity!

I'd definitely stay at Granbell Hotel Kyoto again! It's a bit modern, yet it has heir Japanese Onsen. Super duper clean, and although our room was small, it was set-up perfectly with outlets, switches, tv, bed, etc just perfectly. We didn't get the breakfast since we wanted to venture out more. It was literally a few minutes walk from the train station, 5 min walk to Yasaka Shrine, 2 miles from Kiyomizu-dear, and less than 10 min walk to Potoncho Alley and Nishiki Market. Staff was simply the best. Thank you!