The Westin Miyako Kyoto

Due to a last-minute emergency I had to make a booking on the same day as check in for a couple of nights in Kyoto. The Westin seemed like the best value for money at the time so I proceeded in booking a Deluxe room as a platinum member. I sent a message through the Marriott app as I would arrive around midnight. When I finally arrived I was really pleased to see staff available for check in and that I was upgraded to a junior suite. A really great start! Options offered for check in gift was 1000 points or a bottle of sake.||The room itself was great, spacious, clean, and I really enjoyed my stay. It’s a bit of a shame I waited this long to try this hotel as it was really nice.||The hotel itself is located in northeastern Kyoto and is fairly close to the subway Keage Station. The hotel also offers a free direct shuttle to Kyoto Station during the daytime and is a convenient option that I appreciated. Pickup is on the southern side of Kyoto Station where there are many other hotel shuttles. If you’re looking to do sightseeing then it is important to utilize any of these options or a taxi as, while the hotel is a prime location to relax, there isn’t much to do, see, or buy in the local area.||I was unfortunately too busy to check out breakfast at the hotel restaurant however I did go to the Westin Club for evening cocktails as well as a quick breakfast on my last day. Evening cocktail service was nice with some snacks but nothing too substantial while breakfast was a nice experience. ||The hotel also features an onsen which I was happy to utilize. There was the standard hot tub as well as open air tub, cold bath, and sauna. This is always a great amenity in Japan and I’m always really glad to see western hotels featuring this.||Overall I really enjoyed my experience and this was one of the better hotels I’ve stayed at in Kyoto. I absolutely wouldn’t mind staying again. It’s a great choice as a destination and a place to relax and getaway. It’s a decent choice as a base for sightseeing.

We spent 5 great days at the Westin Miyako in Kyoto. During that time we fell in love with this hotel and their excellent staff! We would love to come back to Japan and stay here again in the future. We splurged for a club level room and I would definitely recommend that if possible, as the club lounge is a great place to spend time for a heavy snack or evening drink and the staff there were excellent too. Everything was spotlessly clean, the housekeeping was superb and this hotel has so many surprises like the Japanese gardens/trails, the excellent spa, the Family Mart on site, and the fantastic rooftop garden where the sunsets will leave you speechless! I could go on and on about this hotel, the location is great, the onsen is amazing and the staff were so friendly and helpful at all times. Highly recommend for a great stay in lovely Kyoto.

It's such a grand hotel! I forgot what it is like staying in a five star hotel! The room is very spacious, the bed is really comfortable! The bathroom is big for Japanese standards. The toilet seat has a sensor that instantly opens up and closes. Room amenities are top notch as well! Stayed for two night and I was reluctant to leave! I wanted to stay a few more days.||The view is fantastic, the breakfast buffet selection is adequate (it has western and Japanese breakfast options and ice cream is served during breakfast!). ||If you want a luxurious stay, pick this hotel. Location is away from the bustle and noise, so it's really quiet and calming. We arrived during dinner time and took a taxi to get to our restaurant. It was after the bridge. We walked back and it was very calming and quiet and safe. The side walk is well lit and I enjoyed the 26 minute walk (this includes all waiting at the stoplights)||This is a lovely first impression of Kyoto's sereneness|Would love to come back again

Our stay at the Westin Miyako Kyoto was perfection! This hotel is very underrated compared to other Marriott properties in Kyoto - the rooms are spacious, the breakfast was the best we had throughout Japan, and the onsen and spa facilities are excellent. There are beautiful gardens around the property, perfect for downtime in between exploring. As an elite member, you can choose to have breakfast in the club lounge on certain days - the selection is a bit smaller up there, but the views, service, and tranquility are unmatched. We would recommend the Westin Miyako Kyoto to all!

Beautiful hotel with excellent service in a quiet neighborhood. All of the gardens were beautiful and we enjoyed the private bird trail. The onsen was a wonderful bonus. We enjoyed soaking after our long walks. The location is a bit further out but we didn’t mind it as it meant that it was quiet. Plenty of restaurants to eat nearby as well if you do not wish to eat at the hotel-just note that most of them close around 8-9:30 unless it’s fine dining. Overall a wonderful stay. FYI there is a bus shuttle that runs about every hour to Kyoto station and 2 additional stops near the Gin district.

What an amazing experience! I am a Marriott titanium member and the hotel is so accommodating in every way. From the minute you arrive they are there to help with your luggage and escort you to your room. The breakfast was outstanding in every way the staff the chefs the food OUTSTANDING! The lounge is incredible with beautiful views and great appetizers and drinks. This hotel is a must if you are in Kyoto.

The review rating is not fair to this hotel. This hotel deserves more than 5 stars out of 5 and I’m not exaggerating. We were there for 2 nights (with my husband and 2 daughters) we were in a room with two rooms and they provided cribs as well. Everything was perfect. The breakfast is really nice and as well as the lounge if you can have access. They have a gorgeous view of the city. We had two incidents and they were corrected very professionally. The staff really goes out of their way to make the experience incredible. This is especially about Mr. HIGAKI the night manager. We tried sending our luggage to Osaka the night before through his Italian colleague. When my husband went to check he found out that the luggage was still there. The night manager promised to take the luggage himself to our next hotel in Osaka as he was driving there. He was incredibly kind and professional. At check in my daughter was very irritated because of the long trip and she was very tired too everyone tried helping getting her water, drawing book and crayons, balloons etc. these small things really make a difference. A hotel can be really grand and gorgeous but if the service is bad you will never remember it but this hotel has both and truly deserves the award of being one of the finest hotels in the world. Thank you and definitely coming back. P.S having said that we didn’t even try their spa which I have no doubt is incredible too.

We spent 5 night here and we didn’t want to leave. This is one of the most beautiful hotels we ever stayed at. The rooms are modern, clean, and spacious. It was one the highlights of our trip. It will be our home hotel when we return to Kyoto. The grounds are absolutely breathtaking. The view of our room was towards the forest area with small waterfall. The customer service is top notch and loved the Japanese level of customer service provided. We loved that we felt like we were immerse in the culture. We personally loved that a lot of the staff speaks little English. It felt more authentic to our trip. The only thing we didn’t like was a when I was inquiring about the laundry service, a team member that speaks multiple languages, intervene and suggested we go with a local laundry service instead because the hotel one would be too expensive. While I appreciate the offer to save money, my husband was very offended that he suggested we couldn’t pay for it. And while it is subjective, we don’t think he would have offered that to Japanese guests that were staying there. We ended up doing the laundry with the hotel, since we had inquired prior to arriving for the prices and we knew the cost. Other than that, we loved the hotel and hope to be back soon. Hopefully one day, they allow guest with tattoos in the spa area. If they never do, is still not a deterrent to not stay.

Beautiful property and top notch customer service. There is a Family Mart located inside the hotel which was amazing. The suite was comfortable, elegant, and very clean. First rate hospitality.

We stayed here five days in August 2024, used the pool, ate breakfast each morning, and dined at each of the Dominique Bouchet restaurants. The hotel staff (for a fee) sourced a lovely ikebana and champagne for our room on arrival too. Great location next to Keage station, plus taxis usually waiting at front door, but a 25-minute shuttle ride from Kyoto Station. Treated marvelously by all staff who may be the friendliest ever. A true five-star luxury hotel

We loved everything about our stay at the Westin. The shuttle service that picked us up from the train station was awesome. Our room was over-the-top beautiful. We love the fact that the hotel had several of its own gardens and walking trails. The food at breakfast was plentiful and delicious. The location couldn't be better. Finally the spa was amazing.

Although this hotel is not that central it's still near some cool sites and it's very close to the subway so it's easy to get around from here. The hotel upgraded us so we had a beautiful suite. The gardens were wonderful that were on the property. The food, namely the breakfast was not the best, but that's how it goes.

I had a 6 night stay recently. It was nice. Biggest issue was english was a challenge for most of the staff. And every thing moves much slower than an equivalent hotel in the us.

Westin has done a great job making sure every one of their resorts is known for their 'heavenly beds' the Westin perfume smell as you enter the building and their amazing staff- I just love this chain! Kyoto Westin upholds and surpasses these standards. From arrival and the ease in checking in, to the spacious rooms and I cannot say enough about the staff, Amazing! The 2nd & 3rd floors where the restaurants & lounge are located is a bit sterile, a lot of unused empty space. The lounge is very nice but the food choices are less than mediocre (nuts, maybe a dessert, fresh fruit) coffee, sodas & spirits. The breakfast buffet is a wow! pancakes, omelette station, Japanese food choices. Don't be late! While food is out, they will not seat you past 10am and they give you 30min to finish. The on-site 'Bird Watching Trail' is worth a walk. It's maybe 1/4 mile uphill (and it's a little steep at times) but so peaceful and relaxing. My pillow was a bit hard for my liking the 1st night and I called up housekeeping and within minutes, there was a knock at my door with 2 different pillow choices, that's what I mean about the staff and service. While not close to city center the Westin shuttle service leaves at 10 and 40 past every hour and drops you off/picks up at the main subway station or by the Gion area. Note; Westin Shuttle ONLY RUNS 9am-6pm. Laundry mat, McDonalds, 7-11, Italian pizza place all walking distance.

Reviewing for RAQUE only. Our family dined here for a 5pm dinner service. I highly recommend for the amazing views of Kyoto , impeccable service and delightful food choices. It's all you can eat with several chef stations. A beautiful mix of western and eastern choices. On the spot sushi making, a drink bar, and a massive dessert selection. The service is what we all expect in Japanese service, they just care and want to do their best , such a welcome change to western standards. Elementary kids fine for free with a paying adult. We will absolutely be dining here again.

What a great team at the Westin. The hotel is a little dated but it's a great option for Kyoto, close enough to the heart of things. The food for breakfast is top notch with tons of options. The on-site onsen is a unique Japanese experience and the gardens are beautiful.

What a pleasant stay! The level of service at the Westin Miyako Kyoto is the epitomy of Japanese culture. Each time were in the lobby, we were greeted by no less than 5 smiling faces. At check-in, the receptionist walked us to our room nand gave us a brief tour, and our luggage that we had shipped from Tokyo was already in the room. I was a bit nervous before arriving given all the notices about construction but our room was renovated, spacious, and very clean. As a platinum member, we got to enjoy complimentary breakfast with the option of Japanese bento style, or the Western buffet. For both mornings, we opted for the Westerm buffet as it actually included a few Asian dishes; I particularly liked the chilled udon. We were also able to enjoy the executive lounge, which had a generous selection of alcohol (we had a mini Japanese beer and shochu tasting) and hors d'oeuvres. Regarding transportation, the shuttle bus to/from the Kyoto JR train station was super convenient and timely (takes aboout 30 minutes). There is even a small reception office inside the station for questions, and I believe you can leave your luggage there. The shuttle also drops off at Sanjo-Keihan and Gion-Shijo but cannot pick up there. This was a redemption stay, and for 35k points a night, it was a steal.

Luxe, in a 70's kinda way. You have to remember - this is Kyoto, which means that there are a bajillion and one tourists plopping in pretty much every day of the year. This hotel is kinda ground-zero for a whole bunch of these tourists, and they seem to handle it fairly well. That said, it is also pretty much unchanged since the 70s, for good or for bad. The beds are good, the rooms are good, the gym is good, and, well, everything is "good", but all in a 70s kinda way. Oh, if you're SPG platinum, you get a couple of choices for breakfast, but none of it is particularly memorable...

The Hotel: superb service and newly renovated rooms. The staff is polite and informative as expected from Japan. Dominique Bouchet Kyoto "Le Teppanyaki": this is an elevated teppanyaki experience with the highest quality Wagyu and Lobster prepared and cooked to perfection. What was really appealing was every piece of food had a meaning. For example, they turned your lobster shell into a soup for you to enjoy. No fancy tricks, just luxury style preparation with an intimate eating space.

A blend of old and new. The rooms are well appointed but not the best Westin quality. Just a tiny notch below. The staff is very nice but not very many English speakers so be prepared to point at items to clarify. The real kick is the location. You are a few hundred feet from a subway that will connect you to all the other trains. The hotel shuttle service is reliable. The serene beauty is punctuated by the proximity to dozens of businesses and restaurants. The highlight is access to the Philosophers Trail. A Kyoto highlight that is pretty and will take you by the temples and wonderful little touristy businesses.

This place was one of the fewer "nicer" hotels that we found in Kyoto. The check-in process was nice, and we got upgraded to a nicer, larger room. Our room was quite large with a enormous king bed. Service is top notch. We had the lady that we checked in with, walk us to our room and make sure we got there with our luggage. The stay was pleasant, and definitely had enough outlets to go around, which was my biggest concern being at a hotel in Japan. I recommend staying here if you are in Kyoto, as it is conveniently located to their train station, that will take you to Osaka and other major cities.

Stayed at plenty of hotels but this was one of the most memorable. Japan takes hospitality to another level and this hotel has a great view (especially try the breakfast), awesome amenities, excellent rooms, and staff that take this experience to the next level. This is my 2nd week of my trip throughout Japan and I'll definitely be back here on my next trip.

Great hotel, it's located in the heart of Kyoto with a big dining area. There's a lap pool for swimming and a lovely spa. Easy assess to the train and the rooms are spacious and very nice.

The staff has been 100% amazing. Every person does a wonderful job and makes you feel like a champion. The rooms were perfect, new and modern. Bathrooms designed well and great amenities. Breakfast buffet is an outstanding way to start the day. Cocktails from the bar are made with care and served the right way. A few shorts steps from Subway. A free shuttle ride to Gion district. I want to come back as soon as I can. The concierge, Kahano and Kaori, found my phone that fell out of my pocket in a taxi. They called all the companies until they found it. Amazing.

The Westin Kyoto was one of the best hotel experiences I've ever had. Even with all of the renovations going on, I found the facilities to be exceptional. The service here is top notch as well. Every employee always greeted me with a friendly smile and was willing to do whatever necessary to ensure I had a comfortable stay. The breakfast buffet every morning was the perfect start to my day. I highly recommend this hotel and it deserves nothing less than 5 stars.

We are SPG guests and used points to stay here for 3 nights . The hotel is located not in the central but they do offer shuttle service from Kyoto Station and from The hotel to the train station and Gion and back to Kyoto station so I thought that was super convenient. There are a few temples within walking distance like Nanzenji. The room is bit older but it's clean . From the 7th floor you can walk to the back trail called the Bird Watching Trail , takes about 15 minutes to hike up to the top and you can get a good view of the mountain plus some fresh air and bird watch . Overall we were pretty happy with it. Just keep in mind it's not close to Kyoto station . The shuttle takes about 30 minutes from Kyoto Station to the hotel.

Room was very nice, service is excellent. Not close to the train station, but a short walk from the garden. There is a shuttle taking guests to kyoto station and gion area, but we chose to do the 20min walk instead. There is also a convenience store about 5 min walk away. The hotel itself seems slightly on the older side, but at least it was nice.

Nice four night family stay here last summer. Good balance of the western creature comforts we were looking for, but with a distinctly Japanese flavor that lets you know where you are. Picturesque and quiet hillside location with walkable access to several temples including Kiyomizu-dera. Wouldn't stay here if you're looking to be in the downtown action, as it's a 20-30 minute commute back from dinner... but was perfect for us, as it felt like retiring to a quiet suburb after a day of sights. Views of garden and out over Kyoto from many parts of the building. Charming outdoor pool area that the kids enjoyed several times on these sweltering summer days. Several hotel restaurants that were extremely expensive (like 5x what we paid for good meals outside), so presumably cater to business traveling groups. Note for American families/groups: We ordered connecting rooms through Starwood in the US, but front desk couldn't accommodate that on arrival because they have few or zero of this room type. So we had to split the family up for a night and then were able to pack into a 1 BR suite that became available. Would suggest arranging this with the Kyoto hotel directly if this is important to you.

Westin Kyoto was nice. We stayed here for one night and had an upgraded room on the upper level. On our level, there is the section for the Executive Members to receive free food and beverages. Members need to have a red room key. Our room had the views of the hills and some buildings, which wasn't as attractive. The hotel is located in the hills of Kyoto, so it is quiet. Location is far from the main area, so there will be a few subway transfers before arriving at the hotel. Luckily, the subway station is around the corner from the hotel.

Old style hotel. Wonderful lobby and has welcoming feel. Staff is super friendly and speak English generally well. The rooms we were in were fine just old and dated. Rooms are super quiet and ac works really well. The breakfast buffet was super nice and had lots of choices. My only gripe is the fact that they charge you to use the pool. Never had that experiences as a Westin before. The hotel is perfectly situated with a 20 min walk to downtown areas and very close to good restaurants. Overall a good choice.

This hotel is not up to Westin standards and I would never stay here again. The rooms need a serious makeover starting with the dated furniture and soiled carpet. The bathrooms are a bit better with heavenly shower and nice robes, but marred by cheap shower curtain, thin towels and that awful green soap. The balcony was not too usable without furniture and had nice view ... of the HVAC system (but can't hear it over the loud street noise). Time for earplugs. I went downstairs to register my displeasure staff was unwilling to change room because hotel was allegedly at capacity. I travel overseas a great deal for work and this is probably the worst property I've seen in a year which is even worse given the high quality we found at every other hotel we visited in Japan. Embarrassing to see Westin name on the door. Positives: *Heavenly bath and bed *Free water bottles restocked daily *In room refrig *Generally good in-room wifi *Laundry prices are not absurd *Shuttle every 1/2 hour to Gion and main JR train station *Very close to subway stop *PJs/turndown service *Excellent concierge Negatives: *Cigarette smoke in hallways (not a single non-smoking floor) *Bars unusable due to heavy smoke *Wifi requires daily login *Dated furniture and carpets *Traffic noise in rooms facing street *No bus service *Thin towels *No convenient coffee (e.g. starbucks) or convenience store nearby (e.g. 7/11) *Mediocre staff attitude across-the-board (exc. Concierge) Don't be fooled by the low rates - you get what you pay for here. Also check orbitz as you may find a lower rate than on spg website.

This hotel overall is nice. The lobby and inside restaurant/banquet rooms make it look 5 star. The staff is very nice and accommodating for any need. The breakfast buffet is very good and is a mix of traditional Japanese offerings along with western options. The rooms are dated and seem to be lacking in some areas. Overall it feels clean though. There are also traditional yukatas (Japanese robe) found in the drawers. One thing we noticed, no matter how many times we tried to adjust, the shower water would get a burst of scolding hear about every minute or so, which made for an unpleasant experience when it washing up. Our room had a beautiful view of the philosopher's garden which made for a nice experience. The hotel is conveniently located by the subway station Teague stop as well as things like the zoo and art museum. They also offer a shuttle to places like Kyoto station or other subway stops. I would say I would stay here again because of the accommodating staff (most speak English which is a plus) and, knowing that the hotel room is just a place to sleep at the end of the day.

Pretty nice hotel. The soap and shampoo are my favorite. Breakfast buffet was a little disappointing. Large assortment but the taste and freshness were so so. Very close to metro station Keage.

Had a lovely experience at the Mayfair Tea Room. Highly recommend for tea, desserts and coffee

If you've ever stayed at a Westin before, this should feel like coming home. And for us, after several days of walking, sight seeing and travel by train, this felt like home. A few quick notes: 1. They have a happy hour. Partake. Your drinks will be roughly $6. This is the best deal in town. 2. Staying here, you are a bit removed from everything else in Kyoto. We liked that, especially since you're only a 25 minute walk or 10 minute cab ride ($10) into the heart of downtown. 3. Getting a queen / king bed is impossible. We ended up with 2 full size beds. 4. The breakfast buffet in the morning is slightly over priced, but still a decent value. 5. You're less than a 5 minute walk to the train. This is one of the more memorable Westin Hotels that we've stayed at. A very good choice for seeing Kyoto.

Excellent hotel! I was very impressed. I'm not sure why people gave it such a horrible rating. Got an upgraded room on the fifth floor and the bed was huge. The room was very large even compared to western style. The bathroom was super clean and the heavenly shower was surely heavenly. I love Japanese toilets, they are really awesome haha. The hotel staff was really helpful, most spoke English very well. They also send your post cards for 70 yen. The bus fills up quickly so try to get there 15 min before the bus leaves. The pool was ok, they make you wear a swimming cap. They will charge you 5$ to use it though but if your platinum member with SPG it's free. Also, not sure about the breakfast. It was free for platinum members but others would have to pay 18$ for continental and 30$ for full breakfast buffet. It wasn't worth it if you have to pay for it. Overall everyone was super helpful and friendly.

I had a very positive experience at the Westin Miyako Kyoto, but there are definitely areas of improvement for the hotel to be had. There are various features here that are better than typical Westins, and some that are horribly lower than par. Let's start out with the pros: - CONCIERGE: Very professional, english speaking, and knowledgeable. They were able to help us book a restaurant in Kobe at the right time, emailed me the details, and sent me on our way. They also were able to provide a map and outline where to go on it. - PLATINUM RECOGNITION: They upgraded our room to a suite, which was very nice. The manager here also sent us an email welcoming us. It took 5 minutes to check-in because non-platinum/gold members rushed ahead of us and used the line, even though they had no status. No biggie since it wasn't long. - HAPPY HOUR: Surprisingly, they serve good drinks. Sapphire gin, pelligrino, coke zero, Kirin beer, etc. It was a free happy hour for platinum guests, and very generous of the hotel. - INTERNET: It's fast. That's all that matters. - SOAP: First SPG hotel I have ever been to that gives you Bvlgari shampoo/soap. - SLIPPERS: Softest ones I have ever received from a hotel. - TURNDOWN SERVICE: They offered it to us, which is very nice. Now, we need to go to the areas of improvement: - GYM: The gym really needs a makeover. There's one main machine, a few cardio machines, and old freeweights. I'm guessing that people in Asia don't treat the gym as seriously, so that might be why they haven't upgraded it. - BREAKFAST: I cannot complain that it is free for platinum members. However, they only provide scrambled eggs, a few pastries, salad, and some fruit. Most Westins have significantly better breakfasts than this one. Again, it is free, and for being free, it is quite decent. - RESTAURANTS: Most are overpriced. I would avoid eating at the hotel to save money. You could spend easily $100 USD+ for 2 people at the restaurants. Overall, I am going to stay here again when I visit Kyoto. The hotel overall is sub-Westin level compared to the states, but the service and platinum recognition is by far better than SPG hotels I have been to in the states (I range from Platinum 50-75).

My friend and I stayed in the Westin Miyako Kyoto for one night, and we were sightseeing most of the time, so we didn't get to use any of the amenities. The beds were super comfortable, and everything was very clean. We also had a great view of Kyoto from our hotel room. The one thing we were bummed about is that there was no little coffee shop close by to grab a coffee and something quickly for breakfast. The hotel has a few restaurants inside, but the breakfast was about 2700 JPY for the buffet, and the cappuccinos we ordered the night we arrived (which were delicious) cost about 1000 JPY each. Our full day tour bus picked us up from the hotel at 7:45am, and as we only wanted something small for breakfast and didn't want to spend 2700 JPY each on a buffet, we had to wait until lunch time to get food and coffee. However, other than that, this hotel was very nice, and I would recommend it.

We were there four nights.It seemed like a good locations to get to different parts of Kyoto each day and the Gion Matsuri. Subway station was nearby. I would recommend buying some combination of subway, bus pass for the number of days you need. Hotel Bus to hotel from Kyoto station was good and convenient. Room was large but carpets and wallpaper seemed to be quite old. Lobby was nice and hotel staff very helpful especially all Concierge staff. Paolo, a trainee who spoke Italian was very helpful. We had a plan for the day and she listened to our plan and came up with a better plan to be more efficient and see things in Kyoto. They also ideas as to how to get to Nara. Used the hot tub two times before it closed. Nice staff there too. The 3rd and 5th floor gardens were superb with nature and sounds of nature. There was some construction outside. We heard that was for an onsen. We got shaves and facial treatments at the barber shop in the basement. Excellent establishment and so relaxing. The convenience store in there is a great place with excellent souvenirs and small food and drinks for reasonable prices. We had the breakfast buffet one day. Buy it at the front desk for a discount. You can use it there or for a traditional Japanese breakfast at the Chinese restaurant. Both looked great. I don't think you would go wrong with either. We ate at Kunugi their Teppanyaki restaurant one night and tried meat and seafood. The staff was attentive throughout and all greeted us upon departure.

My husband and I had an amazing 3 nights here. The staff were out of this world and went out of their way to make us comfortable. Location wise it's a bit far from Sanjo station where there is more than enough to do but the frequent shuttle will get you there for free and there are many options to get back. There are some temples nearby which you can walk to to soak up culture. We used the gym a few time and given the cost associated felt it should have more to it. Most hotels would include a couple of cardio machines and weights for free, but the sauna was very nice and facilities extremely clean. As SPG members we frequented the Executive Lounge. My suggestion is to have your breakfast at Aquablue instead which is included and has many more options. One staff member at the Executive Lounge made me go back to my room to change shoes when I walked in wearing flip flops. I found this rude but expect its policy. It maybe dated in certain rooms but floor 10 was nice. While we noticed little things like coffee mug stains on the side tables from probably 5 years ago it didn't get in the way of an enjoyable time. I will also say, it was odd that there is no ATM anywhere in this hotel. As an international traveler it made no sense and Kyoto is infamous for not accepting foreign debit cards in their ATMs. They should work on this.

Decent and standard Westin with the typical amenities although you do get yukata and slippers which are a nice plus. The staff are friendly and the rooms are nice although there is a lack of outlets for sure. All Western plugs work here as well which is very convenient and there is free wifi although the strength of the signal varies and wavers. You do have to pay 515 yen a day to use the tiny gym which only has 2 treadmills, 2 cycles, and 1 elliptical and a very sparse set of weights. There is a small indoor pool though. It is a good 10-15 minute drive from downtown but there is a Lawson's about a 5 minute walk away for necessities. Overall a decent option if you are staying in Kyoto.

we had a nice stay until check out when we realized, we were charged twice for a breakfast on 21 May. The man at the desk charged us ¥2700 for breakfast vouchers and have us two vouchers. We paid in cash. On our bill on 23 May, there was a charge for ¥5400! I tried to tell the desk person we paid cash for one of those; she asked for a receipt. She said it was not in the system. So what did that man do with that ¥2700? Because we didn't have a receipt they would remove the charge. Get a receipt for every transaction and keep it until after checkout!!! He was an older gent with a shaved head, for all I know he could have been scamming us & the hotel! Won't stay here again, kind of suspect.

Great breakfast buffet - very nice staff Can be crowded especially during cherry blossom season

Had a very pleasant 5 night stay at this Westin location. The customer service here was phenomenal from check in to check out. Checking in was a breeze and the queen sized bed that we originally booked turned out to be a king!. The room was quite spacious for Japanese standards. It had all the amenities we needed to make it a comfortable stay including Pjs, water bottles, coffee/tea, heavenly shower head which felt amazing after a full day of walking. Like others have said, the hotel is not near Kyoto's main station so you will need to transfer from the Keage station. This was not a problem at all since shuttle service was available 3 times every hour from 8 am - 9 pm. It will drop you off at 3 stations including Kyoto and there is pick up service only at Kyoto station. This was very convenient if you have luggage and also saves a few bucks from not having to take the subway. There is a convenience store located on the first floor of the hotel and many temples along the Philosopher's Path within walking distance. There is also a gym for those that want to squeeze in a work out during vacation (like me). It has all the basics including treadmills, weights, and elliptical. However, there is a ~$5 fee to use the pool and sauna.

Worst hotel ever. Bed will put me in the hospital. Not sure how they keep the Westin name as everything about his hotel was bad. Food was crazy expensive and tasted awful. Service tried but had to go above and beyond because amenities were so bad. 5 per person to use the pool. 5 per person to use the gym. Towels paper thin. Toilet was old and even though had a toto seat, it did not work. All in all a waste of money and time as not walking distance to anything.

We stayed at this hotel for 2 nights as part of a tour group with AmazTravel and Charming Tours. The hotel is well known for its brand and its higher hotel class. We did not get to enjoy much of the amenities of the hotel. However, the breakfast buffet was very good. They also provide a free shuttle service to and from city center. This is a scheduled service and because this is Japan, every single pick up and drop off has precise time slots. During the week, there are a lot of business people having meetings in the hotel. The free shuttle service may be full to capacity and you may not be able to be accommodated. Taxi to and from the city center will be expensive (as expected). The hotel room and hotel public areas remained very humid and warm. It seems that the air conditioning system was not adequate. Also, there were renovations around the hotel. Our view from our hotel room window was construction which was a disappointment. I would stay somewhere else if you are looking to be right where the action is in Kyoto City Center.

We stayed at the Westin Miyako Kyoto Hotel. My wife and I enjoyed our stay here. The staff were hospitable and helpful. There's A park across from the hotel and also Shops , stores, restaurants within a 1 mile radius. So you don't have to go far to enjoy good food.

* Hodgepodge - but good if you choose right * The old Miyako hotel (circa 1900 or so) converted to a Westin a while ago. There are signs of that conversion still lingering around with the very varied room types, experiences, spaces, etc. throughout the property. That also gets highlighted in the very mixed reviews on places like Yelp, Tripadvisor, etc. Each time I've stayed at this hotel over the years it feels like a different hotel with totally different room types and experiences. There are Japanese traditional rooms located in a pleasant little Japanese garden area, there are tour bus crappy rooms geared towards bus tours of Kyoto, and there are luxury suites. It truly varies. Pick your room carefully. Although I had a very reasonable rate I was given a complimentary upgrade at check-in to a very pleasant and comfortable room where I could hear a waterfall running and with a view of the hills and the city in the distance. The room was one of the converted and updated rooms, so everything was at a nice standard. Again, picking the right room is critical at the property - so if you have a very low rate and they offer you an upgrade jump at it and thank them. :) The location is also a mixed bag. It is far from central Kyoto up in the hills near the rather quiet Keage subway station. That said, it is very close to the Philosopher's walk, Nanzenji temple, Heian Shrine, the Kyoto Art Museum, and even the Kyoto Zoo. The subway provides a quick connection to central Kyoto, some of the Kyoto city buses stop nearby, and the hotel operates a free shuttle bus from Kyoto JR station that also will drop you off at Sanjo-Keihan and Gion-Shijo if you'd like. (One word of warning - the shuttle bus can get very crowded at check-in and check-out times so plan ahead or just take the subway.) All of that said, I like the quieter part of town. It is peaceful, and has decent access to get where you want when needed. It is lovely to wake up and take a morning stroll around the Nanzenji temple area, Philosopher's Walk, or the nearby bird sanctuary trail (they will even give you complimentary binoculars at the hotel to enjoy the birds). The reviews on Yelp talk about mixed service quality. I didn't have a single negative experience during the stay (and in fact have never had one during the multiple stays over the years). Service is always extremely professional - perhaps with slightly less English comprehension than some other international hotels in places like Tokyo - but always very professional and helpful. Complimentary wifi access was provided by an independent router in the room - with its own SSID and password. First time I've seen that in a hotel - I guess because as they retrofit an older property it is hard to get wifi working everywhere without having it right in the room. But I like having the private SSID - feels somewhat more secure to me (although, as a side note, since it is physically in the room I suppose it is more prone to an individual unit getting hacked sadly). The restaurants are also of mixed value - I have had some good meals over the years - but generally higher priced as you would expect. On this visit I opted to explore nearby options for breakfast instead of staying in-house, and had a very positive experience at the Green Box Cafe which was about a 5-10 minute walk: http://www.yelp.ca/biz/%E3%82%AB%E3%83%95%E3%82%A7-%E3%82%B0%E3%83%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%83%B3%E3%83%9C%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%82%B9-%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%B8%82?hrid=M0OybhryVCQ3-5OWxGByZg The one hope I have for the hotel is that they communicate the different options better to potential guests so people understand what they are booking into. It is unusual to have such a wide variety of room categories at a single hotel - and some people may expect something well above what they are paying for if it isn't clear up front that there are very different types of rooms and areas of the hotel. I'll be back - and hope I remember which rooms to choose! (I always seem to forget from visit to visit over the years - but as long as they upgrade me I feel nicely taken care of!) :)

Skip it. They've redone the lobby, but most of the hotel and the rooms is outdated with old dirty carpet. We switched hotels right after checking in.

Very comfortable. The rooms needed a little renovation, but totally acceptable. Staff is nice and helpful. Recommend.

Pretty run down for a Westin and overpriced for what you're staying in. No outlets by beds and AC was not working so they had to roll a unit into the room. They definitely need a sprucing up!!

Loved the stay until our historic documents and pictures we had gotten from the Edo period went missing. My sister's lock on her backpack was also tampered with. very disappointed. The staff tried looking in the trash for us but nothing was done to make up for the cost of those expensive pieces.