kdd

Hi,

We are doing a trip to Japan in early April. Due to late planning and Sakura season, I am left with very little choice in Kyoto hotels. Currently trying to choose between the Granvia and Westin. Westin based on only executive club room available in non-smoking category is the more expensive option of the two but don't mind paying if this offers something special.. Which hotel would you recommend for our stay?


Thanks!

KimJapan

Before committing to either of these have you tried Hyatt Regency, Kanra Kyoto and Ritz Carlton Kyoto? After those three the Granvia and Westin may be much the same apart from location - Kyoto is big though so in the big picture location shouldn't be the deciding factor as you're not a walking everywhere anyway. I'd be inclined to go for the club option as breakfast will be crazy busy in hotel restaurants.

kdd

Yes have tried those hotels. Unfortunately there is no availability for our dates. I am not sure I like the idea of remaining within a station despite the conveniences it might offer, so am leaning towards Westin.

DonTopaz

Some people like the Westin, but I hated it. There are some things about it that I liked: location was near both a subway station and some sights, and the grounds were pleasant enough to walk. But the hotel is sprawling and enormous, with some parts of it apparently not having been used for ages. The rooms that I saw were very dated and did not have a separate shower. I'd been scheduled to stay there for 3 nights, asked to switch rooms after the first night (the "upgraded" room I'd been given was smoky and in generally poor shape), and was given an even less-welcoming room. On seeing the 2nd room, I checked out and went to the Hyatt.

I haven't stayed at the Granvia and would have shared the OP's skepticism about staying within the confines of a train station. But having seen the Granvia, I think that those concerns are in large part unfounded. The Kyoto station complex is contemporary and huge, with most of the public space given to retail, entertainment, and leisure -- in most parts of the place, you'd never know that you're in a train station. While the station area isn't my first choice of places to stay in Kyoto (Gion or the city hall areas would be my personal choices), it is a very reasonable choice and offers some advantages (esp. access to transportation & restaurants). Between the Granvia and Westin, I think the Granvia is a slam-dunk winner.

That said, I suspect that many places that would suit you well are available, but that would be difficult for a non-Japanese resident to find. A good way to get reservations at such places would be to contact Kim at [email protected] -- several people on this board have been extremely pleased with her service.

KimJapan

There are some rooms at the Westin that are ok but the service isn't what I'd like to see. Other rooms are still in need of an update. They try and for such a big place don't do so badly. The Granvia public spaces are quite a bit nicer than the rooms, which are fine but not 5*. They also have a club level which gives a bit more privacy and personal service. Club staff are gracious and helpful.

Maybe make some kind of "compromise" so to speak, and stay in a lower grade and cost hotel f for a few nights and finish off with two fabulous nights at the newly reopening Hoshinoya Kyoto?

I'm happy to help too if you like.

Kavey

The Granvia was a superb location, the standard rooms are nothing special, but perfectly comfortable. They could be anywhere in the world.

We spent a couple of nights in Shiraume ryokan in Gion then three nights at Granvia, which was a perfect combination as Granvia is of course excellent for travelling around and outside of Kyoto.

It's not weird staying in a station, as it's essentially so much more than that, also being a shopping mall, again staying there is still better than it might sound. There are also some handy restaurants and the department store food halls close to hand for dinner.

We didn't eat any meals in the Granvia, breakfast included. We preferred to pay about 10 times less and visit bakeries in the station or at our destinations for the day. They were also very rude in the bar, we went up as Pete fancied a drink. I didn't want one. They told us we couldn't stay, even though we were residents of the hotel. I asked if I could pay a cover charge, instead. Nope. We left and went elsewhere. So I would say that they are quite money-grabbing in their catering. Their concierge/ desk staff were super, and particularly helpful with organising takuhaibin luggage forwarding. I would stay again IF I got a great room-only rate. Check booking.com and agoda.com...

For more info on Shiraume ryokan here's my blog post: http://www.kaveyeats.com/2013/03/her...n-me-into.html

mjs

It's been awhile as the Hyatt had not opened when I Iast visited Kyoto, but the Westin had some very nice Japanese style rooms out back.