Hotel Gracery Kyoto Sanjo

I read some mixed reviews of this hotel but overall think it’s a good hotel and would recommend it. The location is fantastic, just steps away from a covered shopping area and Nishiki market. Staff were pleasant and helpful. Room was clean, and I felt very modernized. Decent space for a Japanese city hotel. I read afterwards that there is free coffee but no one had told me about this when checking in so that’s a negative. The only other negative is that the fridge was noisy but fortunately I had a white noise machine, otherwise I would have stayed awake. Wi-Fi was also almost nonexistent. I switched back to my 5g. Rooms were quiet though and yes the bed and pillows are firm but I liked that and slept well

Spent first 4 nights here in the specialised Kabuki Room (see photos) in the south building and the 2nd 4 nights in a standard room. The Kabuki room, which replicated a theatre, was a nice change and provided many a giggle and challenge at times, particularly when trying to find the right light switch to turn off at night. As the Kabuki room was superior we had access to the premium lounge between 7pm-10pm for free drinks and snacks which was nice. Used the laundry room too which was a good bonus (cheap to use too - £2.50 a wash and 50p per 20 minutes for the dryer). Well located in a covered shopping precinct so access to shops and eateries was just outside the door. Female staff were more approachable than the males and seemed to have more English but all were helpful. We used luggage forwarding when staying here which worked very well and it was in our room waiting for us 2 days later in Tokyo. Hotel is comfortable, clean and well maintained.

Reception is in South building not North even if you’re booked in North. Staff are a mixed bunch with some helpful and some not. Their English is ok. Use Google translate if needed. They do luggage transfers. The rooms are decent size but not overly huge. The room servicing is a choice - if you get it, then you won’t get bottled water. But you get new towels every day. Amenities were great and iron plus hairdryer was decent. There’s a lounge on level 2 in North Building with free coffee and drink machines plus coin operated washing machine. A 7eleven is on level 1. 10 min walk from Sanjo station but there’s plenty of bus options which take you to Arashiyama etc. in the middle of shopping district with plenty of shops, food options etc.

I stayed at Hotel Gracery Kyoto Sanjo and it was absolutely perfect!||It’s about a 10–15 minute walk from nearby subway stations, but I honestly didn’t mind at all—because the walk takes you through the charming and bustling Teramachi shopping district. I was so caught up by the area that I completely walked past the hotel at first, distracted by restaurants, karaoke spots, kimono rentals, cat and pug cafés, and even a samurai museum!||This hotel is in a prime location if you want to explore Kyoto’s shopping, culture, and entertainment—all within walking distance.||The staff were incredibly welcoming and helpful, and the amenities exceeded my expectations. There’s a beauty bar available to all guests with facial cleansers, lotions, razors, toothbrushes—everything you might need! It felt like a thoughtful and luxurious touch.||The rooms were clean, cozy, and modern. You use your room key card to activate the electricity and control the lights and AC. The beds were super cushy, and the room even came with bath salts, face masks, and a full pajama set, which reminded me of a ryokan experience!||The bathroom layout was impressive: the toilet had its own room, while the bathing area was designed like a mini onsen. There’s a sit-down washing station and a deep-soak tub—I could submerge up to my shoulders, and it was heavenly! There’s no shower curtain, but the entire space is designed to let water drain easily.||Hotel Gracery also practices strong sustainability (SDGs). Full room cleaning is every 3 days, and if you opt in to the eco program, they still provide fresh towels and bottled water as a thank-you. I really appreciated this thoughtful balance.||Breakfast was also a delight—I had beautifully prepared eggs, shrimp, and pancakes, and everything was delicious.||The only small downside was that my room didn’t have much of a view. I’m sure upgrading to a higher-floor, street-side room would help, but honestly—I wasn’t in Kyoto to stare out a window. The city was calling!||Overall, I absolutely recommend Hotel Gracery Kyoto Sanjo! Whether you’re solo or traveling with others, it’s a beautiful place to unwind between Kyoto adventures.

When we arrived, our accommodations were incorrect. We booked a queen bed single and were given a double twin bed. For 5 days on our vacation, my partner and I couldn’t sleep together without rearranging the room. We had to move a table and couch to push the two twin beds close together as you can see in the photo. The hotel staff did nothing to assist with correcting the mistake and we felt as though this was very deceptive. We booked through Capital One and when they contacted the hotel, they were not willing to make adjustments still. Additionally, the rooms were not as clean as the other hotels we have stayed in during our stay in Japan. The pillows were flat and small, the tv has limited channels, and the bathroom accommodations were just okay in comparison to other hotels. They have coin laundry, but throughout our stay at different times, 1 of the 2 washers was always out of order. The breakfast was mediocre in comparison to the surrounding hotels and eateries. They do offer eco cleaning which is nice, however they do require a “deep clean” on the third day. They do provide pajamas and slippers but they were not very comfortable compared to the provisions at our other hotels during our Japan stay. They also provide face masks and bath salts which was nice. The WiFi was really terrible and often did not work or had minimal coverage. The saving grace of this hotel is the location. It is in the middle of numerous street markets and shopping districts. I would not book here again as there are plenty of hotels in this area. The staff was kind, but I cannot justify recommending this hotel based on our experience. Very disappointing.

Location of this hotel is fantastic, our room was ok, with a wet shower room and seperate toilet. HOWEVER our stay was extremely let down by very HARD pillows - they were truly hard, gritty and uncomfortable! This really ruined the stay. I asked at reception twice during the stay, and both times flatly told me no other pillows available in the hotel. It’s a shame… as the shower, amenities, cleanliness and location is fantastic… but the reason why you stay in a hotel - is to get some sleep… and unfortunately all of my family did not sleep well during our 2 night stay. This needs addressing before it becomes a problem.

The service here was excellent. My mother and I really enjoyed our breakfasts, and when we misplaced our breakfast vouchers the manager was very kind and replaced them for us. There are also many great shops and restaurants nearby and a movie theater right across the street.

Very mixed experience here. The staff were sometimes helpful and kind, some times quite snobby and rude. The breakfast was not good, and quite a disappointment after the pictures I saw and the standard I've experienced in Japan. However, the worst part was the bed. I've traveled throughout the world, including Asia, and never encountered such a hard bed. It might as well have been the floor. I couldn't sleep the first night. They added a mattress that didn't fit the bed, which made it a bit better. The coffee in the lounge, again, was terrible and surprisingly so considering all my other experiences in Japan. I would not want to stay here again.

Part 2 of my wife, Shana, giving her thoughts. I took a trip to Japan earlier this month with my adult nonbinary child, Meredith. Our trip was for seven days, which we divided between Tokyo (4 days) and Kyoto (3 days). While we were in Kyoto we stayed at the Hotel Gracery Kyoto Sanjo, and this review is for that establishment. Design-wise, the Hotel Gracery is a beautiful mix of traditional Japanese and Western concepts. Japanese art adorns the common areas of the hotel, both inside and out. The rooms are spacious by Japanese standards (comfortable by Western, though not big), very well appointed, and scrupulously clean.  Though the hotel does not have a restaurant or bar, they do serve a lavish breakfast buffet for their guests daily. The buffet offers Japanese AND Western dishes and the menu varies daily. We stayed long enough to enjoy three delicious breakfasts and made sure to sample as much as we could! One of the very best things about the Hotel Gracery is the location. It sits smack dab in the middle of a vibrant neighborhood of shopping, restaurants, and shrines. There is plenty to do and see around every corner, and food fit for just about every taste.

Used to be my favorite hotel in Kyoto. But not so much anymore. It's slipped a bit in service and the North Tower is a lesser product. The dryer takes forever and beds are hard. Nice to have a private entrance to 7-11.

The hotel was nice, it served its purpose for the while that I stayed there. When I first got there and attempted to check in, the staff informed me that I was unable to do so, until 2 pm. They were very kind, and held the bags in a room until that time came. The room was not all that spacious, and the pillows were not very comfortable, but it worked well enough. The shower was very spacious, and the water pressure was quite good. The toilet was fine, except for a sink attached to the top of it that would go off whenever you flushed. The system of sticking a magnet to the front of your door was an interesting choice, and could easily be missed, but once I figured it out, I was fine. The room cleaners always did a good job, they changed out the towels and made the beds very nicely. In my opinion, the North tower is better than the south. I would stay there again.

Staying at this hotel was one of the BEST hotel experiences we've ever had because of two words: kabuki room. There is no other room you should be thinking about or looking at; book it and you'll fall in LOVE instantly! The pictures truly don't do it justice, and it's more than a room - it's a full interactive experience! My only regret is that I didn't book staying here for longer. The hotel staff is fluent in English, so checking in at the South Tower was incredibly easy. They gave us our key cards, that are needed for getting up to your room in the elevator. The hotel is equipped with a laundry room, computers, and even a common room that you can have drinks or snacks and just relax. As soon as we scanned the key card into our room, we put the key into the slot to activate the lights. What happened next, we heard taiko drums and a kabuki welcome that would start a traditional show! I was so gleefully happy, I even outside the room once or twice to re-experience it! I don't want to give away all the other amazing secrets of the room, because it truly had me amazed throughout our stay. Look around and touch everything - BIG hint there! The tatami mats and the futon beds were really comfy, and the pillows were better than what I was expecting. Make sure you use the bath salts that are under the sink for a relaxing bath! I took some home so shhh! The view from this room is also really nice, overlooking a temple and the pedestrian traffic down below. The sunrises in the morning were glorious. Ignore the price tag; ignore what you think about this maybe being corny - this is what every room should be like!

Location is amazing, close to the river to be on either side within minutes. Room is spacious with TV, bathroom, refrigerator, kettle, and many charging ports. Air conditioner is extremely quiet and effective! Bathroom is nice with a deep soaking tub, shower, and bucket(?). Toilet room is fancy with the high tech toilet. Great place to learn how to use a Japanese toilet if you're here for the first time like me!

Hotel Gracery was a great choice for our first time in Kyoto. It's a great central location - essentially in the middle of an open air mall, a bustling street with restaurants, shops, coffee, and even shrines. To top it of off, close to the water, and of course JR line. Despite being so central, the hotel itself was very quiet. When we arrived, we were welcomed with a congratulatory note for our honeymoon, a towel crane and paper cranes. It was a sweet touch. We stayed the first night in a standard room and next two in the Kabuki room. The rooms felt large for Japan standards. Also each equipped with a large bathtub. The rooms were identical aside from the Kabuki touches and decorations, such as the ceiling having different tiles of traditional japanese patterns and red lantern lights decorating the room. Was it worth it? You know what, yeah. We at least enjoyed it. The room was unique and fun to look at, although not sure I'd pay the premium a second time -- though I'd stay at the hotel again. Other notes: - laundry service was as you'd expect: expensive but works in a pinch - there a southern and northern tower. Southern is right on the "mall", the northern right behind accessible from short alley

Location is convenient! It's located in the shopping district but it's quiet inside. I noticed the rooms and hotel is VERY CLEAN & modern. They have 2 towers. The South tower was just opened a month ago I believe. They're literally right across from one another so it wasn't a big deal my parents were on the other tower. Room sizes are typical of Japan standards but the twin room (2 beds) we were in was larger in comparison to the double room (1 "queen" bed). They have a restaurant in the south tower that I've only noticed was opened for breakfast so I'm not sure of the hours. There's a 7-11 that's opened 24h connected to the north tower. They also offer complimentary coffee and bread from 0730-0930? In addition to laundry service, there are also coin laundry facilities located in both towers, 300¥ for washer and 100¥ for 30 minute drying time. They charge 10¥ per call, even if it's local. Great service, clean hotel and great location. Worth it IMO.

We had originally booked our stay at a nearby ryokan that cancelled one of our nights just a few days before our arrival. Yikes! Fortunately hotels.com helped us rebook and Hotel Gracery was able to accommodate us. We could not have been happier with the turn of events. Friendly staff, great room with comfortable bed (and pillows!). Traditionally Japanese rooms (read: small) but certainly adequate for me and my husband's three night stay. Loved the soaking tub and the complimentary bath salts, as well as the pajamas they provided. The hotel is conveniently located downtown on Teramachi Dori just a short walk from Sanjo Station. Loads of shopping and eating and sightseeing just steps from your door (Nishiki Market and Ponto-cho Alley are just a stone's throw away). Main bus stops located only a block or two away (to the east and to the south) allow you to easily connect to all of Kyoto and beyond. We had breakfast included with our room and the delicious spread was well worth it. Glazed salmon, mackerel, assorted sushi, tamago, okayu... (along with your traditional American breakfast options of cereal and yoghurt - buy why would you???). Also excellent coffee and matcha lattes. And they pump in bird sounds which is so relaxing. Our days began well in their restaurant. Excellent home away from home and jumping off point for all of our touring around. We were sad to leave and look forward to our return!

Well located hotel, clean, friendly staff and great breakfast. It is located at a commercial gallery of Kyoto with walking distance access to subway, restaurants, shopping and attractions. There is a 7 eleven at the ground floor, which is useful to withdraw money or buy miscellaneous. We were traveling for already few days and wanted to wash some clothes, and they had a laundry DIY for a very reasonable price (300¥ to wash and 100¥ for 30 min drying). I recommend this hotel.