Hotel Granvia Kyoto

Good customer service and convenient location. The hotel is in Kyoto Station making it very easy to get trains and there is taxi line right outside. Main drawback is that the hotel feels dated with a circa late 1990s/early 2000s feel. |We stayed in a Granvia family deluxe room. Granvia is one of the top floors and the rooms are considered recently renovated. We had originally booked a Graniva deluxe twin room (all that was available when we booked) but upgraded to the larger room (non-smoking, granvia family room) when we learned it was available at check in. Our family room itself was OK. It felt dated with heavy furniture and had 4 twin beds, which felt slightly odd.|Executive lounge was very good; concierges are very helpful. We used the concierge to make a restaurant reservation. The woman who helped us was very thorough and nice. She read through our pre-arrival notes and noted we had a nut allergy even before I had a chance to even mention it. She made it a point to communicate this to the restaurant we were going to, both when she called them and on a note she gave us to give to the restaurant. Breakfast buffet (included in our hotel package) was extensive with both Western and Eastern cuisine choices. Their coffee / tea machine makes the best hot green tea matcha lattes!

We had a lovely stay at Hotel Granvia Kyoto! It's clean, comfortable, and has a warm, welcoming atmosphere. The staff were genuinely friendly and went out of their way to be helpful, which made us feel right at home. Our room was surprisingly spacious—both the bedroom and the bathroom, which was such a pleasant surprise!One of the best things about this hotel is its unbeatable location—right at Kyoto Station. It made traveling around, especially hopping on the Shinkansen or taking the Japan Rail to explore local spots, incredibly easy and convenient.Kyoto Station isn't just a transport hub—it’s a vibrant place full of life! With so many shops and restaurants, we found ourselves happily wandering, eating, and browsing for hours. It was the perfect spot to relax and enjoy some leisure time between our adventures. There’s something for everyone, and the atmosphere is so lively—it really added to our Kyoto experienceThe only downside was that our room was quite a distance from the elevator, which meant a lot of walking back and forth. It wasn’t a deal-breaker, but next time, we’ll definitely request a room closer to the elevator to save our legs.Overall, we’d happily stay here again when we return to Kyoto!

We make a point of staying here every time we come to Japan for our summer vacations. The staff are incredibly polite and respectful and always do a great job. The buffet is delicious with able quality and variety, and the convenience of being located in Kyoto station can not be beat. Did I mention that there is a 7-Eleven right downstairs from the hotel!?! In my opinion, this hotel is a perfect home base while visiting Kyoto and the surrounding areas.

Hotel Granvia Kyoto is spotless, spacious, and incredibly convenient - located right inside Kyoto Station. The room was large and comfortable (great if you’re traveling with a pram or big luggage), and the hotel is modern and well-maintained. We didn’t dine at the hotel, but there are several high-end restaurants on-site, with about 20% off for hotel guests. You’ll also find plenty of Western-style dining options nearby, making it easy for international travelers. That said, a major downside - especially for families or anyone who values hotel leisure facilities - is that the pool and gym come with a ¥1,100 fee per person, per day, including children. Kids are only allowed in the pool from 7 AM to 9 AM. As someone who travels often, this is the first hotel I’ve stayed at that charges guests extra to use basic facilities like the pool - even for young kids. This policy wasn’t clearly disclosed during booking or on the website, and I only found out after checking in. If you’re booking this hotel because of the pool or gym access, like I did, I’d strongly reconsider. ✅ Great for business travelers or couples who don’t need leisure facilities. ⛔ Not recommended for families, or guests who enjoy swimming or working out during their stay.

We stayed for 4 nights as part of a small group tour. The room was booked on our behalf by the tour organizer.||We had a superior twin room, on the 10th floor. We were pleasantly surprised by the size of the room, much larger than the previous 2 hotels we stayed at in Tokyo and Hiroshima. We overlooked the trains but we did not find it noisy at all. The room had all the amenities we needed, and there was a daily delivery of an English newspaper.||The room was very comfortable. We loved the traditional Japanese-style bathroom, the shower was wonderful. ||We had breakfast included and there were many delicious choices.||With the train station right there, the nearby department store, shops and restaurants made it a perfect place to stay.

As others point out you stay here for location at train station. Was super convenient as we arrived and left via train station and did day trips. I would agree that it could use updates. Carpet in lobby was worn and chairs in room should have been replaced. Room size was ok- not annoyingly small but not spacious. Bathroom was clean. Room darkening shades were great and it was quiet. Western breakfast buffet was efficient and adequate- standard free hotel breakfast. I would have preferred a bit more luxury but given the great location I would stay here again

The hotel is located directly above the train station which was great. The location allowed us to explore the city by foot although some areas are a long walk. The hotel is clean and well kept. We were upgraded to a larger room upon check in and were very surprised how nice it is. We had a beautiful sitting area along with an upgraded coffee machine, DVR, robes, etc. The beds were comfortable and the AC/heat worked great. The staff is very welcoming. We will be back.

Hotel Granvia makes getting into and out of Kyoto easy given it connects directly to the train station. We thought there would be a lot of noise. However the hotel was very well insulated and we heard no train noise from the rooms. |The breakfast buffet also had a lot of choices and chefs making omelets. |There was also a nice public courtyard on the 7th floor.

The Hotel Granvia Kyoto is my favorite resort in Kyoto. Located minutes away from the train station, it has staff that will blow you away with their service! From the lobby greeters, registration desk staff, bellman desk and concierge staff - they all do an amazing job of taking care of your needs! The rooms are quiet, larger than the average hotel and have great towels and bedding for a comfortable stay! Our room had a great view of the Kyoto Tower. Located close to tons of shopping and restaurants - you can get overwhelmed with the available options! I love staying here each time we come to Kyoto!

Hotel Granvia Kyoto was a great place to stay while in Kyoto. Since we arrived and left on the Shinkansen, we didn't have far to walk. It has an elegant but dark lobby, often filled with tour groups. Once you get acclimated to the hotel, you realize that there are several ways to access the hotel lobby, depending on where you are going or coming from. The convenience of the hotel is the selling point. You are right in the middle of Kyoto Station with access to lots of places to shop and eat. And also catch a train for a day trip or depart for your next destination on the Shinkansen. The rooms were clean and fairly spacious, by Japanese standards. And surprisingly quiet. I booked our rooms through Agoda but did not pay for the breakfast since our Kyoto stay was short and we had many plans. I will definitely stay here again when I'm in Kyoto.

We recently stayed 3 nights here, and loved every minute of it. The room was spacious and luxurious, with a big comfortable bed and modern elegant furnishings. The bathroom was big as well, with a nice shower, and everything was immaculately clean. We had a neat view of the shinkansen platforms, which will entertain the rail buffs out there. Front desk staff were warm and welcoming. Elevators were fast and efficient. An excellent breakfast buffet was included with the room rate -- as with most Japanese hotel breakfasts, the Asian food tended to outshine the Western food (Japanese scrambled eggs are often kind of soupy, bacon is usually not browned very much nor crispy, and the sausages are not the typical breakfast sausages that Americans are used to). The coffee/espresso machines are a godsend! Of course, one of the major highlights of staying here is being right in the heart of Kyoto Station, for the convenience of being right in the transit heart of the city, for the amazing shopping, and for the eye-popping architecture. You could seriously spend a whole day just in the station and not get bored. I'm so glad we stayed here -- it was absolutely worth the price!

I booked this hotel via Expedia and it had excellent reviews. I was a little worried when I heard it was located inside the Kyoto train station. It was a little difficult to find once we exited the Shinkansen. Look before you arrive to note the correct exit and direction to find the hotel. The train station is huge. Our check in was pretty quick and easy. We were placed on the top of the hotel -15th floor. Being on the 15th floor we had extra security doors to get into our room. There were several restaurants on our floor. We tried a walk up reservation but they were booked. We did pay extra for the breakfast buffet. It was pretty pricey but being celiac I liked the western and Japanese style choices. The last morning of my our 5 night stay I realized the buffet was actually coded with gluten free, vegan etc. Our hotel room was very nice and spacious. We had a coffee pot, tea pot and free daily waters. The service was good and I would definitely recommend staying here.

Pretty decent for being at Kyoto Station where it is busy and congested with tourists and passerby locals in the central heartbeat of this City of 10,000 Temples. Staff is courteous and the room was pretty comfy with a Northerly view. The lobby area is a dark sexy lit area and is cooling and calming. Because this is a busy hotel, it's somewhat run down and if you arrive before 3pm, you may have to wait before checking into your room. If you pay for the club lounge, it's pretty clean and has a decent selection of sweet and savory snacks to devour in between lunch and dinner time. Since it is right at Kyoto Station, you have access to pretty much anywhere in the world with your JR pass. Lots of food. I recommend Cafe Hoshino for lounging one of many to go places including a grocery store that has lots of sushi, sashimi snacks. As for tourists sites, you have bus access to Gion 15 minutes away, free JR Line access to Arashimaya or Inare; and easy access to all the sites you need to check out (mostly by bus). All I know: it's always great to be in Kyoto and this place does not kill the buzz at all.

My family and I stayed here the last 3 nights while we were in Japan recently. Friendliest staff, amazing environment and the hotel room we were in was amazing. I definitely would come back here one day again.

We really enjoyed staying here for the location and the wonderful service! Everything is super convenient and the hotel is clean. The staff is helpful and super nice! We were able to have our luggage shipped to the hotel prior to check in time which made our time in Japan less stressful. I highly recommend this hotel!!

You can't beat convenience, and how convenient is it to have a hotel directly in the heart of Kyoto Station? We stayed in this hotel from July 1 through July 4, 2018 for three nights and wish we would have stayed a lot longer. Next time we make another trip out to Japan, we will probably stay a whole week in the Granvia and make day trips out to Nara, Inari, Tokyo, Kifune, and Kurama with our Japan Rail Pass. PROS: - rather reasonable to stay in a centrally located hotel. We paid about $230 USD per day, in off-peak summer season. - totally and absolutely convenient, I cannot stress this enough. Sure, you may pay less for a less central location, but this hotel is IN the train station and only a few minute's walk to your trains, buses and taxis. - walking distance to all the shopping your heart could ever want, take for instance, The Cube (I didn't have time to go and I regret it). You can walk down into the underground and do all the shopping you want at Isetan and other department stores! - tons of restaurants and eating places nearby, all walking distance! Yebisu Bar (green tea beer and the best Margherita pizza..ever!), my ultimate favorite place, is right across this train station, about 5 minutes walk away (see separate review). - Pondo Ekimae is around the corner, about a block an a half away, if you want your socks to be blown off by the great (but pricey) Wagyu beef. - Isetan basement is the mecca of fried foodstuff and other sundries. Check them out at basement level. - Mister Donut and other eateries in walking distance. For hot coffee, we went to 7-11 and Family Mart outside of the station, around the corner. - Kyoto Station is, in itself, a total tourist attraction; from the tons of shopping, to the lit stairway light show at night with sounds and music, the shopping, the skyway walk, the rooftop bamboo garden lit up at night, and all a few steps from your hotel! -Very receptive front desk and staff; we even got bows from the housekeeping staff every morning! THE ROOMS: - spacious, in Japanese terms. At least we could open our suitcases! The room wasn't as nice as the Keio Plaza Hotels renovated twin room, but it was a $100 less a night too! Not bad for a hotel right in the middle of a major train station! - there were three of us, so there was no charge for the extra bed in the twin-bed room, but I had to email them directly (in English) to request the extra bed as there was no such option on their website. - nice robes in the closet, with disposable room slippers, a nice touch! - separate tub and shower area, so you can soak. - clothes line over the tub, so you can wash and hang laundry and stuff. A tip I learned from my Japanese nanny as a child: wash your laundry, squeeze out as much as you can without ruining your item, then roll up in a towel and leave overnight, then hang! Dry by the afternoon! - as usual, the Japanese hospitality of stocking toothbrush, toothpaste, combs, folding brushes, hair ties, facial soap, regular soap, shampoo, conditioner, cotton swabs, razors and cream and scrubby cloth! If I knew they stocked all these things, I would have never brought any! WISH LIST: - no coin laundry at all...and DO NOT follow the current Google Maps tip to the coin laundry nearby, it will have you walking in circles for a ridiculous amount of time. I gave up after 45 minutes with a heavy load on my back in the summer heat of night, with the local teenaged boys heckling me (yes, these things do happen in Japan, and they don't know I can speak the language). I tried to book my hotel from for this upcoming March of 2019 but the rates are now doubled, $464.00 a night, dual-occupancy. Don't think I'll stay here when it's off-season, but you got a bargain when it's off-season!

We got this room through Agoda for a little over $200/night for a "triple" occupancy room during March 2019. There were 3 twin beds in the room, and we still had a little (VERY LITTLE, like fire hazard) room to put suitcases down open. NOTE: check in time is very strict, so don't try to come early thinking you might be able to take a short nap. It's not happening. They will store your luggage, and they will NOT let you check in early, unless you pay for the previous night. It seems that way for all Japan hotels, which is silly if the room is empty and available. This hotel is super convenient, located in KYOTO STATION!! We could see the train station from our room, which was fascinating! My kids had never been on a Shinkansen so they watched them for a while and the next day we took the Shinkansen from Kyoto all the way up to Tokyo, and didn't even need a cab/etc because we were staying right above the station. The staff is more on the "upper class" level, so when I checked in, I had to sit in a nice chair at a nice desk, all formal-ish like I was taking out a mortgage or something. As my other reviews state, I rather stay in places for their location, and not necessarily their room size/view etc. This place in addition to being in the train station, is located next to Isetan, which is an 11-floor dept store with food basement, Mister Donut (hello breakfast), 7-11 and right across the street from a ton of restaurants and shops.

This is probably the most convenient hotel ever invented in the history of hoteldom, capsule hotels and cruise ship rooms excluded. It's located within the Kyoto train station, which means that you can be on a subway going somewhere in town, a train going off to visit a temple, or a Shinkansen off to visit the rest of the country in minutes. My room was a decent value for $140. It had two twin-sized beds, one of which I used, and no, they couldn't be pushed together like the ones on a cruise ship. The bed was comfortable enough, the room was clean enough, and the shower had more water pressure than all Southern California showers put together. The service was exceptionally polite and deferential, and was the first time that a bellhop (an untipped one, mind you, this is Japan) not only gave details on the various room features, but also showed where the emergency exit is. The room had a great view of bullet trains coming and going every two minutes -- and was surprisingly quiet, given the amount of train stuff that was going on down below. I'd recommend this hotel as a future base of operations for any of your Japan adventures within a 400 mile radius.

Luxe hotel right in sprawling Kyoto station, so very easy and convenient to grab whatever train you need to whatever destination. The hotel is quite comfortable, with a number of high-end restaurants attached (French, Chinese, and of course, several Japanese) plus a wedding boutique and a nice jewelry store. Anything else you need, you can just step out into the station's numerous underground malls. The standard room I had was on the smallish side - not surprising in a big city venue (plus it is Japan) - but nicely appointed with complimentary water bottles, slippers, and toiletries like razors, combs, hair brushes, and tooth brushes, in addition to the obligatory soaps and shampoos. The bedding is comfortable and the room very quiet, despite the proximity of the train station. Plus, the toilet has that classic Japanese heated seat with a very intimate "cleansing" system sure to perk you up (I felt I should pay the seat for its, ahem, services). Quibbles about the hotel is that 1) If it's your first time at Kyoto Station, signs pointing to the hotel are rather sparse - I actually stopped into the lobby of a rival hotel to ask where the Granvia was; 2) the restaurants, while excellent, are often jam-packed with long lines - I opted for room service (which was tasty and timely) or quicker Kyoto station dining options; 3) there's a fee to use the fitness room and pool unless you're in one of their suites or elite member. Wifi, however, is complimentary and is excellent. The Sky Lounge on the top floor is definitely a great place for a post-prandial drink - and a must-do for breakfast so you can see the city rooftops while noshing on your eggs. The other breakfast option - Les Temps on the lobby floor - is also very good and opens a half-hour earlier than the Sky Lounge (which was a god-send for those like me who were majorly jet-lagged!).

Hotel Granvia Kyoto is an upscale western hotel located right in the heart of Kyoto station. If you're travelling to and from Kyoto and location is important, this hotel should be an option. My Overall Rating - 4 Stars (Atmosphere, Service, Facility, Return) Atmosphere - Location. Location. Location. The central hub of Kyoto is the rail station, and if there's one reason to stay at the Hotel Granvia it is you can hop off the bullet train and walk to the hotel. The hotel lobby is quite spacious and it feels like a western hotel. What's also very cool is you'll take a walkway above the trains so you can see people line up and board. One major item of note is that the Kyoto station is big, so it's quite a long walk to the hotel lobby, which will be on the second floor. Also - ask for a room with a view of the tracks to see them in action. Don't worry - the trains are not loud. 1 Star. Service - If you are a westerner, you will be happy to know they speak English very well. Upon arriving off the train with luggage in tow, we were immediately met with a bellman in the lobby who promptly took our luggage. After check-in, they led us to our room and described everything. The concierge was also helpful in translating some things for us as we worked to book our tour guide. 1 Star. Facility - If you're used to nice, western hotels, the Hotel Granvia is just average. Our room had a king and rollaway bed for our kids, but it was tight. The bathroom wasn't too big either and had a small lip in the entrance that we kept running our toes into (ouch). Now the bed was very comfortable and the toilet was an awesome Japanese toilet with a heated seat and appropriate sprays. The dryer was broken though but everything else functioned well. So things to consider: - location is great - bed is great - room is small - bathroom is small - it's a long walk to the elevators from the train station entrance In the end, the location and proximity to the Kyoto train station should be reason enough to stay here. The rooms do their job if all you want is a bed to sleep on while staying near the heart of Kyoto. 1 Star. Will I Return? - Yes. Even though the prices are high, the location makes it a worthy stay if you're vacationing or working in Kyoto. I was here with my wife and two children on vacation and it worked out very well for us. 1 Star. My Yelp Rating Scale (Sum of all parts): 1 Star - Atmosphere - Is it a cool dive? Perhaps an upscale place? No matter the type, atmosphere plays a big part and I'll give a star if I like it or thinks it has great charm. 1 Star - Service - You can have a great meal with bad service. But that's also what can make a five-star joint drop to four. It's important to the dining experience that service is great and on point. 2 Stars - Facility - I'll award up to two stars for the facility, since this is the main reason we go out. Sometimes the extra star is given for value, but it's really all about the facility. 1 Star - Will I come back? - If I know for a fact I'll return, I'll give this a star. A place has to make an impression for me to return. Each Category can be given up to 1 star except food (2 stars) because I consider all these categories important to the overall dining experience. I will sum them up to provide my final Yelp score.

It was a beautiful hotel. We stayed here while we were in Kyoto. This hotel is located right outside of Kyoto train station. It was very convenient for taking JR and Shinkansen (bullet train) and subway. Lots of shops and restaurants were around here. Everything was walking distant. Our room was big enough for 2 twin beds and a rollaway bed. Bathroom was huge with full of amenities. Their had lounge that offered to all customers. Their breakfast had many selections from cereal to pastry to hot coffee, milk, yogurt drinks and juices. Late afternoon, they also had happy hours with champagne, wine, beers, olives, cheeses and some snacks. It was a nice and clean hotel, staffs were friendly. They spoke well English, and they could help your with directions. Highly recommend this hotel to everyone.

This is truly a five-star hotel with all of the amenities one would expect from this level of establishment. This statement comes with the caveat, however. You really must stay in one of their higher end rooms to appreciate this fact. Because if you do not -- if you stay in one of their lower level rooms, you may be very disappointed. To explain, this was the first time I ever stayed at this hotel. I normally stay at another location when I travel to Kyoto. But, due to the fact that this hotel is so centrally located, I thought I would give it a try. I booked my room online after reading the information provided about their various rooms. Initially, I chose one of their basic rooms believing, via their on-line description, that it would be fine. What they do not tell you on their website, however, is that these rooms have absolutely no view of the city or of anything else for that matter. In fact, when you look out of the window of these rooms you are right up against a metal/mirrored wall that looks like some type of high-tech prison from a futuristic movie. The moment I entered this room, I knew I could not stay there so I returned to the desk where the staff member was less than cordial to me almost rudely stating, "I guess you don't like the room that you choose." I won't really go into that exchange, however. But, what I will say is that I upgraded to the top floor, and I was more than happy to pay double the price that I had initially intended to pay. The new room had a nice view of Kyoto as well as providing lounge service where they serve fresh squeezed juice, coffee, and snacks all day long. Overall, this is a very nice hotel. But, again, know what room you are reserving because if you are not very specific you may end up staying in a futuristic high tech prison straight off of a movie set.

Entire building is attached to the station, needless to say it's so convenient. Even if you come here by car, it only costs you ¥1000 a night for parking if you stay here. Yes, it is pricey but after you experience the luxury they offer, it makes sense to you. Room very specious(at least where my brother and I stayed) and service is top notch.

Gorgeous lobby with friendly staff. Progressive hiring of female bellhops scores points in my book easily. Some of the best pillows I have slept on - no neck pain!! Warm comforters, tons of bathroom amenities, coffee and 2 selections of tea bags - green and roasted rice. Even better is the location in Kyoto station for access to subway and bus lines, 7-11 for your 1.5 yen onigiri for the road and refreshments, post office across the street and 2 Starbucks in the Porta mall below street level. The entire family agreed to stay here again in Kyoto. Housekeepers dress in adorable uniforms with hats.

During our short stay in Kyoto (3 days, 2 nights), my mother booked us a room at this hotel, Hotel Granvia Kyoto. Located in Kyoto Station, this was one of the most conveniently located hotels in Kyoto (especially if it's your first time going there and would be using the trains and subways to get around). Although it was a bit confusing to find this hotel in the station, as we got closer to it, there were signs leading to it. This is located near the Kyoto Tourist Information Center. The room we booked was very nice! Like many other Japanese hotels, they offered a variety of amenities to use during our stay. This includes: robes, slippers, face wash, make-up remover, toothbrush, and hair dryer. I really liked how the bathroom was spacious so there was room to move around. This hotel will also hold on to your bags before checking-in and after checking-out. As previously mentioned, the location was the most appealing aspect of this hotel. Since it is located in Kyoto Station, you have transportation access to any tourist destination in Kyoto. This is really helpful, especially if you want to get to somewhere really early (and before the crowds start coming)! My mother and I took full advantage of staying here. During the day, we went out to the tourist spots, since most places seem to close around 5pm. At night, we explored and shopped at the station. It was really easy to go shopping for omiyage at the station and just take it back to our room. Plus, the gift stores sell lots of Kyoto specialty items. This station also has two department stores connected to it, which was also interesting to look around. If you're visiting Kyoto for the first time, I would recommend staying here for the convenience of location and plethora of shopping places to explore. Happy yelping!

Totally overpaid for this hotel and would not stay here again. I guess what you're paying for is the convenient location. My initial reservation I noted a child. When I arrived at the hotel the clerk asked how old my child was and told me she had to see if we would be charged additionally. She went to talk to the person next to her. No eye contact with me. She took three steps back and told me we had to pay. I didn't really have a choice. So messed up. Not the customer service we've experienced in Japan. Disappointed. I think if you are going to stay here, spring for a deluxe room. We didn't and our room was kinda gross. Mildew growing in the tub and under the basin, Dirty carpet, stained curtains and worn wallpaper. We called the front desk after check in to see if we could get a nicer room but we're told not without paying more. I emailed the hotel with our complaints of mildew in the bathtub and that the sink basin and what looked like blood on the curtains. I asked them to email in response as we'd be out all day sightseeing. No email. We got back top the hotel later that night and were told that our complaints were addressed by housekeeping. They clearly weren't as you can see by my photos. Someone did come and caulk over some of the mildew in the sink basin but that was all. The pictures of the deluxe rooms looked nice but definitely not like our room. The positives were the convenient location, nice toiletries and the ac worked well. Oh, I almost forgot to mention the shower. The water pressure was awful and while bathing the water would get really cold and switch to scalding hot in a matter of seconds. I was afraid to bathe my child if fear he would get burned.

Visiting Kyoto to see old friends! Decided to stay here again because of the great location, wonderful service, clean and comfy room, and to check out the dessert buffet at les temps. Booked directly through the site and was upgraded.

Normally, a hotel located right inside a train station is a red flag. But after a little research from listening to some of my friends my wife and I decided to a leap of faith and book the Hotel Granvia in Kyoto. And wow, are we glad we did! As advertised, this hotel is connected to Kyoto's central transportation hub. Which really makes it a convenient launching point to some of the cities many landmarks and beyond. Getting here from Osaka's airport was a breeze, just a 30 minute inexpensive train ride and you're here. We were also able to hit up nearby Nara and Hiroshima as well. I cannot stress how awesomely convenient this was. And oh YES!, there is a hotel here too! And it's nice! very nice! The rooms are comfortable and stocked with all the 4 star amenities (at a three star price) you would expect. And even though you are a stones tthrow from trains and busses, the rooms are super quiet so getting a restful nights sleep will not be a problem. The front desk is very helpful and eager to help. They were great at offering suggestions and routing us out walking tours and helped us find some excellent restaurants. The rooftop bar overlooks the city and the bartenders can sure make a mean sidecar. Do not let the train station thing scare you off, this really is a benefit.

How could anyone NOT give the Granvia a five star review? This place is an oasis of western luxury in Japan! Gorgeous comfortable sized rooms. Quiet place to sleep in the busy heart of bustling Kyoto station. Staff that speak English and will help with anything. Concierge desk is top notch! Best sushi in the world (Sushi Iwa) only a few minutes by walking. The on-site western style breakfast at the Granvia is the BEST in Japan. I know after sampling 100 others! Staying here is one of the best choices you will make in Japan.

The Hotel Granvia is located in the upscale Kyoto train station. Easy access to everything. There are hundreds of shops in the area and plenty of sights to see. It is centrally locates to everything. The staff was very friendly and always had the answer to your question. The rooms were spacious, large and very clean! Also, if you have time to grab a donut at Mr. Donut - I'd recommend that. I'm not a fan of donuts but I went back three times before we left. (The only issue I had was that I booked through Booking.com and the hotel didn't have our reservation so we ended up in the very last room which was a smoking room. I plan to contact Booking.com to see if the issue was them or the hotel.)

Stayed in a queen room (280ft), which was a good size for the two of us. Our room faced the Kyoto tower so at night it was a nice view. Places we ate at in the station- pasta more, mcdonalds, sizuya bakery, Mister Donut, 551 Horai, Manneken waffle... There are soo many options and malls though, you can't go hungry. Just a bit tricky to find it if you're looking for something specific. There was a don quijote inside a mall across the street on the south side that sold at least 8 different flavor kit kats at average prices (275-398¥). They give you a free bottle of water every day, BUT DRIP COFFEE COSTS 250¥ each!!! I didn't notice this till after the second morning, 1000¥ later... Ugh. I don't even drink coffee except on vacation bc it's always FREE! Currency exchange machine in the lobby had a decent rate at $100=102.02¥. All usd bills accepted. Good location if you're using the train/jr a lot (nara, osaka, fushimi, arashiyama), but you have to take the city bus (or subway) for 230¥ to go in town like to gion, nishiki market, kiyomizudera...

I seem to be the outlier here but we truly had a terrible experience. We stayed at this hotel in August 2019 while it is very warm in Kyoto and the AC in our room could not keep up. When we contacted management they said no one else was complaining so it was obviously an "us" issue and not a "them" issue. When it's 100 degrees outside it's not crazy to want your hotel room cooler than 70 degrees, but they acted like we were insane and denies our request to move rooms or to have a lighter blanket or even just a top sheet to sleep with. Maybe it wouldn't have been so bad if the bed were comfortable but it was hard as a rock and the pillows were also flat and hard. I woke up each morning drenched in sweat with a backache. I can't stress this enough, the convenience of being near the train is not worth it. Stay anywhere else!

This hotel had the potential to be great, but unfortunately fell short. We arrived at about 1:20 PM and gave our information to check in and were told our rooms wouldn't be ready till 3 PM which is fair enough since we did come early. We tried to check in at about 3:20 PM only to be told that our room wasn't ready yet which I found unprofessional since they knew we were waiting. Had our rooms been ready, I would not be writing this review and would consider this a 3 maybe 3.5 star hotel because of its convenient location and tolerable rooms. Besides saying "sorry" there was no effort to deescalate and try to make up for our experience until my aunt started demanding to speak to a manager. The manager offered us two things 1) free drink tickets for everyone in our room that could be redeemed at one of their restaurants, but we don't drink alcohol so didn't mean much to us (and we couldn't use it on something else besides other non-alcoholic drinks) then 2) to "upgrade" our room to the club floor. We accepted because we figured the lounge access would make up for our experience. Keep in mind his second in command had already offered to move us to a room closer to the elevator since my aunt has knee pains and the room we were initially given was somewhat far from the elevator before he came to talk to us. Well the "club lounge" was literally one of the most underwhelming things I've seen in my life! I have stayed at many hotels both in Asia and the US and I was expecting a VERY nice lounge given my past experiences at club lounges in Asia. There were no beverages such as bottled water or sodas which to me is the bare minimum. All they had was coffee, juice, and sugar candy.... No snacks like the other lounges in Asia. I asked the attendant about whether they put out more snacks at other times and she said they have cereal and bread in the mornings. I thought that the lounges in the US were the least impressive, but I stand corrected. So our upgrade wasn't much of an upgrade, since club lounge isn't anything special and our room was not any nicer than our previous one, just our TV was newer. Beyond my own experience, another family member on this trip staying in a different room was also disappointed in their room as well saying that many of the amenities advertised were not actually available and that their room was alsonot as clean as they expected stating that the carpet was dirty. All in all this hotel definitely missed the mark.

The staff is amazing. I had left my wallet in the safe in my room. The staff mailed it to me automatically and everything was perfect when it arrived. I am so grateful to the staff for their honesty, professionalism and support! I will never stay any place else on my visits there! Also, perfect location to trains, buses and heart of the city. A must stay if you are heading to Kyoto!

Rude staff, and I mean rude! From the check in counter who refused to process a separate breakfast transaction because she said it was too difficult, to sassy bell hops that wouldn't accommodate us as we waited for our family. I mean, we're paying almost $500 USD a night, you'd think the service would be a little more friendly. I guess when you're in a good location you don't have to worry about being courteous or polite. I don't know how this staff can get away with the worst service ever. What's unbelievable is that there are a TON, and I mean a TON of staff standing around to "assist" you and they are doing nothing because they don't really understand any English. Will not be staying here ever again. I'll take my hard earned money elsewhere.

Didn't really know where to book a hotel when visiting Kyoto and even with friends' suggestions, we ended up booking here since it was rated pretty high and it was close to the train station. Little did we know that it's IN the train station. I don't think we've ever experienced such an amazing convenience. I made sure to note down to stay as close as possible to a train station if not directly in it for future trips. Reasons why to add some value to proximity? First off lugging your luggage around to your hotel can be a huge pain, especially if the weather is HOT which yes...people are dying in Japan from the heat. Second relates to the first with the weather. You don't leave the AC when you go from hotel to train. There's also plenty of shops and food places like Mister Donut that's in an easy walking distance. The taxi line is also very close and they have a foreigner friendly (aka speaks English) taxi line too for no additional cost. Checking in was seamless and you can tell they strive to deliver a high level of service. They offered one of our friends a seat in this checkin area and gave him a hot towel since he was just waiting for us while we checked in. They have a luggage storage area too in the lobby and yeah, can't get over how awesome it was to stay at the train station which is pretty much where you're going to take any transit from. The pool does take a last checkin about an hour before they close and it costs about $10-$12 a day to use it, bummer but paying to use the pool seems like a standard thing in this part of the world. All in all, can't get over how convenient it was location wise.

Very surprised at the quality of this hotel & the rooms for the price. You don't have the leave the station and when it is raining or hot outside and you are coming off the JR train it is a nice relief you can just go to the hotel never stepping outside. Beware though, the swimming pool is not for kids. The station has everything you need & then some but you are there to go visit some other sights and it is very close to some major temples. The JR train also goes directly to the bamboo forest.

The entrance of this hotel is in the second floor of the Kyoto station building. As soon as you enter the hotel it looks luxurious with the gorgeous black marble stone used all over the entrance and lobby.I've been in this hotel for a cafe at the lounge in the 2nd floor and a ceremony hall in the 3rd floor. The cafe had nice drinks. I had some drinks here with my family and friend. I remember that I had a soda drink with some citrus, that has made me cool down with the heat outside. Also the waiter there were considerate for serving. The 3rd floor hall had a great view in front of the "Genji" hall. As soon as I went up the escalator from the second floor to the ceremony, I was amazed with the nice view of the Kyoto tower right in front of me. We had a buffet, that had nice food and sweets. All the dish were nice tastes and the sweets were great. The food had varsity of vegetables, seafood, meat and fruits.

You're clearly paying for location with the Hotel Granvia Kyoto, as it is directly attached to Kyoto Station and is at the center point of Kyoto. By the time you pay over $200 a night, experience the awe over the size of Kyoto Station and the exterior of the hotel, and enter into the upscale lobby area, you'll be suddenly disenchanted by the actual guest rooms. They are quite antiquated and if you're visiting Kyoto after the more modern Tokyo, you're in for an adjustment - albeit a slight one. That being said, sometimes its simply worth it to pay for peace of mind. You may find that planning for cities outside of Tokyo takes a little more research. The concierge here is extremely useful, and helped us plan out our days and figure how much time it was going to take us to travel between destinations around the city. They were extremely patient, prudent, and informed. If, however, you have done a lot of research on what you want to do in Kyoto, I'd recommend finding cheaper lodging. And to be honest, Kyoto isn't that overwhelming. It's just more crowded and older than Tokyo. Everything is still just a bus ride away. Essentially, it's an average hotel masked behind an opulent lobby and sneaky convenient location. Which I have to wonder if that is intentional. Seems like it is. There IS a Mister Donut within the area, though, which is yummy and fun to say. If you are confident in your Kyoto travels: 2/5 If you are not confident in your Kyoto travels: 4/5 Guest rooms: 2.5/5

Excellent location, but the hotel is run down and out of date. The restaurants and lobby are all nice, it's the rooms that are run down and out of date. But even with that, the central location inside the Kyoto train station cannot be beat and the cost per night isn't bad. They have a great concierge, so that was a big plus. Had I not done all my previous research on TA and Yelp beforehand, I would've utilized their services. Room service food was meh and would not recommend ordering it, even if you're too tired and hungry to go anywhere. Just don't! I'd totally stay here again, I would just ensure my expectations were adjusted.

Very convenient location. Spacious rooms. Didn't have any complaints (their concierge was very good!)

I entered this Hotel Granvia Kyoto in front of Isetan Department Store. I had to walk a little long pathway of M3 to the front desk. I didn't know where the front desk was and I felt a little uneasy. On the walls of pathway Japanese paintings drawn by college students of Kyoto and Osaka who specialize in art were placed for a limited period. All of them were awesome!! On the halfway I walked on the pathway of glass windows. From the window I saw passengers waiting for trains on JR platforms. I passed through a Japanese-style restaurant and a souvenir shop, and then found a front desk. It was a little trip for me. If you enter in front of Kyoto Theater, you can find a front desk soon.

Made two separate reservations, they messed one of them up downgrading the room to a twin and to top it off on a smoking level. Asked for non-smoking as booked only to have them say not guaranteed. Recommend going to a place that actually honors your booking arrangements.

Well the staff are not friendly they are exhausted either from being so busy and understaffed or they are so unemotional human being that plays like a robot face! The guest rooms are not well maintained overpriced including the shower room.It is small even if they said it is a western standard size . Amenities such as pool and gym can't be used by anyone below 21 years old!They even need to pay a one time for being on a Granvia room and if you are not on a Granvia room you pay everyday a fee of almost 2000 yen to access it! The location is the only reason for me that I am giving them a 2 stars cause it is just on top of the Kyoto station(2nd floor ) for transportation access! The buffet breakfast Le Temp is good but staff are not quickly picking up the plates that you need to keep reminding them but they have the most restaurants that you don't even need to go outside of the hotel if you are tired of walking and have the convenience of just staying and entertaining your self in the hotel!

just arrived after Tokyo where the room was substandard. this room was amazingly large; hotel located in the station which is a great location to shops dining etc.got a great price on expedia ; much cheaper than the Tokyo room. staff were great with very helpful concierge

The first thing to note is that if you've never been to Kyoto Station before, this might feel like a bit of a nightmare to find - along with an absolutely huge hotel to boot. We ended up figuring out how to get here from the Shinkansen platforms eventually, but we went in through a side entrance and had to walk the full length of the hallway before we finally made it to the lobby. Once we got our geography senses around us, it was easier to figure out thereafter - but make sure you know where you are going first! The hotel is one of at least 2 (maybe more) hotels that are part of the absolutely grand structure that is this very modern train station. The front desk was able to take care of us quickly, with English passable enough that you should be able to check in with no issues. We then stopped by the concierge to pick up the directions for our various meals throughout Kyoto; similar to our hotel in Tokyo, maps were printed out to help give us a general idea of where we need to go. With very high ceilings, a nice cafe overlooking the entrance to the train station, I had high hopes for our few days at the hotel. While the amenities were passable, the room definitely had a bit of a smaller feel to it (at least by Western standards), with a bed that felt somewhat rigid. The restroom door has a small ledge you had to step over - which seemed somewhat unnecessary - and makes it a bit easy to accidentally stub a toe or hurt yourself. The bathroom definitely felt a bit on the older side - no showerhead high enough to fully wash yourself without holding the showerhead and manually cleaning yourself, and the shampoo/condition was put in large, refillable bottles by the tub. Perhaps the more disconcerting issue was an obvious gap between the shower wall and the tub, which seemed to make it rather easy for water to drip down into that gap. The view from the train station (at least from the room we were in) was alright - you could see out across Kyoto - but there was nothing remarkable from the view that stood out. In all - I'd potentially stay here again if I came back, simply because the convenience of being right at the station is difficult to beat. However, I felt that for the cost (which was around $250/night), the quality of the rooms itself was mid-tier quality at best. Additionally, having to pay $10 per visit to the gym is a real turnoff, considering that the facilities were pretty small and had dated equipment as well. That said, Kyoto is more known for its ryokans than for its modern five-star hotels, so it is hard to say that it would get materially better than this if you looked to stay elsewhere in the city.

Nice large hotel. Entrance is right in from the kyoto station. Rooms are nice and large. They have 3 English stations on tv but you shouldn't be in your room watching tv anyway. Service like most Japanese hotels is excellent and everyone working here is beyond nice. I would stay here again.