The Celestine Hotel Gion

Love, love, love the Celestine in Kyoto. The hotel is beautiful - understated elegance. Every staff member we met is kind, gracious and engaging, but most of all helpful with any request or question. The beds are comfy and every detail was perfect. The guest lounge that serves coffee in the morning and cocktails at night is intimate and the bartender certainly knows how to mix a good martini. This morning the hotel offered a traditional craft event to give guests a small keepsake. It was an unexpected and fun activity and the lovely young woman who was our instructor was delightful. All in all a great stay -- couldn't have enjoyed it more.

Amazing!!! Just amazing. Everything was top-notch. Service is remarkable and extremely friendly. The location is perfect, very close to all major attractions but yet in a very quiet neighborhood. The entire staff, from the reception, restaurant, room cleaning, and to the last member, were so professional and kind, but we really wanted to praise Mr. Kenta, the concierge, who made us feel the unique Japanese friendly, warm, and polite hospitality everyone is referring to. Rooms are great, clean, and with every amenity needed. The Onsen (public bath) is small but sufficient and nice. This place is for sure on our list for next time in Kyoto!!!

Highly Recommended Stay in Kyoto I would like to strongly recommend this hotel for anyone visiting Kyoto. The staff demonstrate exceptional professionalism and hospitality. In particular, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Miss Yuki, who assisted us with our check-in and kindly introduced many wonderful sightseeing spots and activities in Kyoto, as well as to Miss Tsai, a Taiwanese staff member who supported us during check-out with great warmth and care. Their thoughtful service truly reflects the welcoming spirit of Kyoto and the hotel’s commitment to excellence. I am genuinely impressed by the quality of the team members who bring guests happiness and satisfaction through their dedication. They truly deserve recognition and applause for their outstanding service. Our two-night stay was far too short, and we are already looking forward to returning in the near future.

The Celestine Hotel Kyoto Gion has an excellent location right next to the beautiful temple park — truly one of the best areas to stay in Kyoto. The staff were incredibly kind and attentive, treating us like royalty from the moment we arrived. Their service is truly top-notch and the highlight of our stay. That said, the overall experience didn’t live up to expectations. Our room on the second floor was quite small and tight for two people with two large suitcases — there was no real place to store luggage, and our window had no view. The lobby and common areas are also small and constantly crowded with large tour groups, making it feel hectic rather than relaxing. Breakfast was disappointing — both the western and the Japanese dishes lacked flavor, and it felt like very little effort was put into the quality. It also gets extremely crowded, which made it stressful rather than enjoyable. The free “happy hour” at 6 PM is a nice idea, but it’s held in a tiny room that quickly becomes packed with people. Overall, while the location and staff are excellent, the hotel itself feels cramped and overcrowded. The lobby, restaurant, and rooms are all on the smaller side, and I wouldn’t stay here again. I’d recommend skipping their breakfast and exploring nearby cafés instead.

We had an amazing stay on our recent visit ( 4 - 8 October) to The Celestine. It was really well located in the Gion district right beside the older, traditional part of the town. From start to finish the staff made sure we had a superior experience. Overall the hotel was an oasis of calm with a modern minimal design. The rooms were really comfortable, spacious and tastefully decorated. Full marks for the Nespresso machine and Japanese tea service, the vanity drawers were well equipped with bathroom products and lots of extras. We loved the provision of the Yukata and leather slippers for a traditional experience in the room and when going to the Bath house. The breakfast buffet was extensive with a wide range of foods to suit all tastes but better still was the free 2 hour (4-6) happy hour every day. The extra service of free hourly shuttles to and from the station were so handy. Staff deserve great praise, they were so gracious and helpful, one member of staff even helped me trace my phone after I left it in a taxi. |Without question I will be staying here again.

Don't hesitate to book a stay here! The Celetine Gion was our favorite hotel in Japan. We would return in a heartbeat. The hotel onsen was my favorite part. Every detail was well considered from the innovative room design to the amenities in your room for daily bathing. We could wander the streets of Kyoto by day and return to a heavenly sanctuary at night. We loved our stay here

This is a gorgeous hotel in the middle of the temple district in Kyoto. Rooms are beautiful, quiet, fragrance free, and beds comfortable. Staff s helpful and friendly. ||||The gender separated onsen baths are beautiful. I highly recommend a stay. ||||One thing I DO NOT recommend is eating at the restaurant. Though the service was lovely and efficient there is an extremely limited menu. ||||The tempera option was a ridiculous amount of fried food without much variety and no fresh vegetables to cut the grease. I felt quite ill after eating all the courses. It became an endurance test as they just kept coming…one deep fried thing after another. 😳🤢||||Skip the high prices here and go somewhere good and reasonable. No one needs that much tempura. Ever. 🤣

Our stay at The Celestine Kyoto was absolutely perfect. The hotel is stunning — peaceful, beautifully designed, and filled with thoughtful details that make you feel instantly at ease. The facilities are excellent, from the relaxing onsen to the elegant lounge area, and everything is maintained impeccably. What truly stood out, though, was the kindness and attentiveness of the staff. Every single person we met was genuinely friendly and went out of their way to make our stay special. Their warmth added such a personal touch to the experience. We also took part in the Flower Petal Workshop with Marina, and it was one of the highlights of our trip! Marina was patient, inspiring, and made the entire experience so joyful. It was a beautiful way to connect with Japanese culture and creativity — highly recommended to anyone staying at the hotel. Thank you to everyone at The Celestine for making our time in Kyoto so memorable. We can’t wait to return!

We just departed and I wish I could go straight back to the gracious welcome we received upon arrival. The onsen was both soothing and lovely. The room was so well appointed and offered everything a traveler might need. The staff were kind and attentive. Each spoke English quite well.

You just cannot beat the location of this hotel!!! Great staff, and very clean. I really enjoyed staying at the Celestine. I highly recommend it.

Very pleasant experience. Beautiful interior spaces, clean & fresh. Professional kind staff. Our room was large and organized well. Great comfortable beds. We'll situated for seeing Kyoto. Quiet area with traditional houses. I highly recommend.

Asian decor through out with a hidden entrance to the lobby and the main guest room elevators. Greeted with a hot tea and a comfortable settings looking into the atrium. The service was impeccable not to mention the rooms. A little pricey but you definitely get what you pay for and it was worth every penny. The continental buffet was very intimate and cozy with fresh food that delights your palette in Japan. Their service was impeccable!