HOSHINOYA Kyoto

It takes about 10 minutes by boat, so it's not easy to get out once you come in. There is a timetable for the ship, so you can think of it as a walk because it is about 10 minutes walk during the day. 4:30 is the last service, and after that time, there is a pick-up service when you call. Of course, it's possible before 9 o'clock. The road is so narrow that I think the driver is amazing. It's really good to relax comfortably, but it won't be easy for people with older steps and steps. Bedding is so comfortable that it's perfect for sleeping and healing. There is time to take the boat, but after 5:30, the boat can be picked up by car without running. We come in when it rains, but there is a lounge next to the boat, so it was nice to be able to sit comfortably and rest. I ordered dinner after seeing the YouTuber's room service, and I ate it like Ochazuke in Onigiri, and the water was really good. The water was brought in a thermos, and all the udon was prepared (the table was taken out from somewhere in the house and assembled), and then brought to me, but unfortunately, it was blown. The staff who brought the food was very kind and hard. I think I'll think of this place next time I need a break.

In Kyoto’s competitive hotel landscape, it may be a bit laborious to find a luxury all-villa resort at the Japanese ancient capital, which is always bustling throughout the year. Hoshinoya Kyoto, opened by Japan’s renowned resort brand, is a private and lavish retreat tucked away in the Oi River valley at the west side of the city - it is so secluded and only accessible by a private boat ride through the pristine forest of Arashiyama. We have enjoyed a spirit-cleansing sojourn at this ethereal resort compound which can date back to 400 years ago.||A 15-minute boat ride transported us from the hotel’s lounge located next to the congested Togetsu Bridge, through crystal-clear water of and forested mountains along the picturesque Oi River, to the tranquil sanctuary, which welcomed us by the elegant Gagaku music performed at the entrance garden.||Staying at the second-largest one among the 25 private riverside villas at the resort, we were surrounded by the serene nature, flowing river and traditional Japanese elegance - at this mansion built by an ancient noble in the 17th century. Our spacious villa, though having a long history, has blended modern amenities into the Japanese Zen-style decor. Dressing in traditional kimono, enjoying sumptuous breakfasts at our riverview tatami living room, practising calligraphy in the soothing scent, and bathing at the vintage wooden bathtub - we have deeply immersed ourselves in the timeless beauty here.||From the grand dining house headed by Michelin-starred chef Ichiro Kubota and featuring exquisite kaiseki cuisine, to the floating tea house overlooking the Oi River valley and the guest lounge hidden in the forest, we have enjoyed impeccable services and state-of-the-art cooking at this wonderful resort.

The hotel is remote in a beautiful way. Surrounded by amazing nature, on a river, arriving there by boat, it all feels out of a romantic old movie. We would arrive late at night and they were incredibly prompt about the pick up every time. The cons were that the rooms are a tad dated, getting to center of Tokyo is a hike. Concierge was less well trained than other similarly rated hotels but they did try… For a true zen, unwind experience I do recommend it!

I really wanted to love this place, but it doesn’t come close to a 5 star hotel. It was an extremely disappointing experience. • The room was very dark & depressing. There are no blackout shades making it hard to sleep. There weren’t any eye masks in room. It was unpleasant to spend time in the room & we made sure to come back late at night. And there was no nightstand on one side of bed!!! Breakfast was delivered two hours earlier of our ageed upon time (and yes, hotel staff repeated back our time) and despite my efforts to tell the server to come back as we were still sleeping, server continued setup for 20 minutes, and then we were further disrupted 2 hours later for pickup for food that we hadn’t eaten. • The expensive dinner experience we had the first night was very disappointing — not what we expected in terms of food quality for price. • There’s no bar/lounge onsite to get food/snacks, nor is there anything to do at the property • Location for new visitors is inconvenient…It’s not very easy to get in and out to the city. Because of this awful experience, we asked for assistance to cancel our upcoming stay at Hoshinoya Okinawa, and were denied. And kind of sad that they didn’t even try to make things right with some kind of compensation. They simply didn’t care. this was by far our most disappointing stay. I was sorry we booked 3 nights & will be glad to leave tomorrow. This is no way a 5 star hotel!!

I spent four nights in the Tsukihashi Maisonette at Hoshinoya Kyoto, and the experience was nothing short of enchanting. Upon arrival, I found myself in a charming boat waiting room—a unique introduction that set the tone for the stay. The hotel is accessible by a scenic boat ride, a comfortable buggy transfer from the waiting room, or even a leisurely 15‐minute walk to the main gate. The staff impressed me from the start, offering exceptionally polite and friendly service in fluent English—the best I’ve encountered in Japan. The hotel itself radiates beauty and elegance, creating a refined yet welcoming atmosphere. On my first night, I enjoyed a Kaiseki dinner that rivaled the quality of Michelin 2-star cuisine, yet it came at a much more attractive price. The dining experience was professional without feeling overly formal, striking the perfect balance between sophistication and comfort. For breakfast, I sampled both Western and Japanese styles. I would recommend opting for the Japanese hotpot style, which was both unique and special, with daily ingredient variations that kept the experience fresh. The seasonal dinner set was equally delightful. It’s worth noting that, aside from the Kaiseki dinner, all meals were served in the privacy of the room, adding an intimate touch to the overall experience. An unexpected highlight was the hotel library, which offered 24-hour access to tea, coffee, and local snacks. This thoughtful amenity provided a cozy retreat for relaxation or a quiet moment of reflection at any time of the day.

Hoshinoya Kyoto was more than expected, in particular after reading some of the negative reviews. The grounds are spectacular and our room was so relaxing. This was a special trip with my two daughters and myself. They arranged 3 extremely comfortable beds in our room and we had a very nice sitting room with a gorgeous view. The staff was gracious and ever so accommodating. We were able to walk into town and enjoy the sights and food in town and took the boat back to the resort in the early evening. Overall a fabulous experience.

I and my friend saw this hotel by chance. Then we tried to look for the hotel and followed the google map. If we like it, we don’t mind making a reservation. But staff at the front desk and chauffeur were reluctant to answer your questions IF YOU ARE NOT THEIR GUESTS. (I would say it was my 1st time that I conquered how unfriendly and arrogant Japanese employees’ behaviors). We had been staying to a few hotels which are considered the best hotels in the world- Peninsula Hong Kong, Four Seasons and st. Regis Singapore and people were hospitable and modest. Unfortunately, the impression I got today was they treated me like a s***…

We had a wonderful stay at Hoshinoya Kyoto. The warm hospitality by the staff definitely made the experience to the next level. I especially like the elegance and attention to detail of the staff who arranged and confirmed everything for us from during the stay until the exit. We didn’t have to worry about anything but to just enjoy the complete relaxation at a zen-like environment. Luxurious food and facilities can be found in many similar level hotel/restaurants, but the interaction and hosting from the persons at the hotel made Hoshinoya Kyoto unique. Although it is the first Honshinoya brand I have ever stayed, I am already looking forward to the next Hoshinoya stay because of this experience! 😍

The Hoshinoya Kyoto is a magical and peaceful place with impeccable service and wonderful food. Absolutely worth the trek. From the moment you arrive at the boat waiting room, you are taken care of. Whisked away to a waiting room with warm towels and tea while your luggage is set up on to the boat you will eventually take to the resort. The ride is short and lovely. We took ours at dusk. You are given a steward / concierge to help acquaint you with their facilities and make you feel at home. He/she can arrange for your reservation in a stretching class, reserve an in-room massage or set up dinner or breakfast for you. The food during the traditional kaiseki meal was beautiful and delicious. The rooms are well appointed. Wooden tubs with bath accoutrements. Luxury skincare products in the bathroom. Just an overall wonderful experience.

The room and service was great over all which makes sense since it is one of the most expensive hotels in Kyoto. I went there with my girlfriend from the US. It was her first time in Japan my home country and thought Hoshinoya would be a great place to show her some good old Omotenashi service. The food, the interior design, the boat, the river, and most of the other things about Hoshinoya was great. But like I said, being twice as more expensive than the average ryokan, this is to be expected. However, when I was standing by the river with my girlfriend, a rude staff came up to us with a rude attitude and a frown, and told us in English "You can't be here, private property please leave." before asking if we were guests. I was shocked. My girlfriend was already insecure being in a new country. I had to ask her again to double check i didn't hear her wrong. "Pardon me?". She repeats her exact same line. In absolute shock, I tell her that we are guests staying there. THEN, with out apologizing nor looking like she had remorse for what she had just done, she says "what is your room number then?". INSANITY! This incident made my girlfriend so insecure that she wasn't dressed well enough for the establishment and utterly ruined our time in Kyoto. I would never recommend this hotel to anybody who likes to wear jeans and T-shirts since you would risk getting kicked out and having your significant other questioning her own fashion style. AVOID if you are not in a suit. AVOID if you wear caps. AVOID if you do sneakers and denim in the morning. To add on to this, after I reported the incident to multiple managers, all we received was a mechanical, we are sorry and look into the incident. No refund, no voucher, no nothing. I was born and raised in Japan and this was utterly unbelievable that after all that the only thing they did was to say "sorry". I spend over 1000 dollars a night here and regret so deeply.

This place is good for an escape from city for a few days, otherwise there is nothing special here. Hoshinoya is like a chain, and its resort near Tokyo is the best according to a friend. You can either take a boat to get in this exclusive place (appx. 15 minutes) or take their chauffeur-drive car in, which is quite dangerous, frankly. That is pretty much the exclusive part. Simply put, it is not a place to come out and in very frequently. It is more like a resort. Inside, the atmosphere is really beautiful - it is all about nature. Air feels fresh and water is really clean. It is the mountain that the hotel is built in. Service is decent. There is not much that we experience, though. Price varies greatly - one family we met booked this hotel three months in advance and had a rate almost half of what we paid. We did not try the dinner menu, but I like its hot pot breakfast, with seasonal Kyoto veggies. Overall, it is a good experience as you boat your way in and take a break from the city. However, there is not so much value compared with the price, so you might want to try some other hotels, like Tawaraya, instead, for a Japanese-style hospitality.

My detailed full review: https://steemit.com/travel/@supertravelguide/a-week-in-japan-and-a-day-at-hoshinoya-kyoto I've stayed at many luxurious resort/hotel chain properties (ie. Ritz, Four Seasons, Rosewood, Fullerton, Wynn, Mandarin Oriental, Relais&Chateaux, etc) and even during this 7 day japan trip alone staying at Ritz Tokyo and Kyoto and two of most luxurious rokyans in Hakone (Gora Kadan and Madoki no Mori), yet I can confidently say that my one-day experience staying at Hoshinoya Kyoto was one of the absolute best among them all! First things first, this welcoming you to the hotel thing after meeting you at some meeting point thing is much more seamless, luxurious, convenient and comfortable than what I was made to think initially. The taxi drivers know exactly where to drop you off and you're escorted into a building facility at welcome rather than straight to the boat. Here, you're invited to the most amazing check-in experience involving a delicious ginger tea, hot towels, paperwork and the famous indoor boat ride along a gorgeously quaint river. Once we arrived at the resort proper, we were immediately taken back by the beautiful and scenic resort grounds that looked just beautiful as they were in the photos. We felt immediately relaxed just standing atop the gorgeous resort grounds and the upon entering our spacious room with warmly heated floors, a large window overlooking the river and the train pathway and the painstakingly modern bathroom readied with Hinoki style hot bath. Contrary to other reviews, I did not find that the resort was too inconveniently located or isolated from rest of Tokyo as you are allowed to freely roam back and forth between the main resort and the original welcome dock right near the bustling downtown Arashiyama area. And even in our one night stay where we chose not to venture out after check-in, we felt plentifully entertained and busier with various activities available at the resort available: drinking tea/coffee at the library, participating in morning stretch group class, enjoying small occasional treats at the salon (basically its Club Lounge), enjoying the inroom dining options and just relaxing sitting by the River admits it's gorgeous scenery. Highlights -The food! Both the mini kaiseki dinner and the morning hot pot was DELICIOUS and one of the best meals in our entire 7 day japan trip. Every ingredient tasted fresh and all seasonings done just right with lots of attention to details of the flavors. It was expensive and (probably) overpriced, but tasted very good -The thoughtfully laid out rooms with great nature views -The very friendly, warm and uplifting staff members -The AMAZING food -The irreplaceable feeling of relaxation and peace that you'll find immediacy taking a step into this resort -Fresh air quality and closeness to the nature without inconvenience Lowlights -it was hard to book using their website and price varied too much -this is a middle ground between a ryokan and a hotel, but wish it was just a ryokan where the food was included in Your stay. Otherwise the dining options was (although very good) very limited. -as others have noted, the staff there were indeed skewing young and did make a few small mistakes ie. Confusion over my luggage delivery service and booking wrong number of people for the morning exercise. However the staff here also were the most welcoming, genuinely friendly and kind people I got to meet and that far outweighed the negatives. Can't wait to try out other Hoshinoya properties!

Outrageously overpriced. Far short of expectations based on website. Service marginal at best. Anticipated a calm and serene environment but energy was bad, depressing. Bathrooms are well appointed.