michj

Have decided to fly into Kansai arriving Kyoto prob around 8pm Sun Feb 14th. We will take train early morn to Yokohama for business Wed Feb 17th. We we're hoping to stay at Hyatt but it is closed for earthquake updates. My husband is 6'3" and not keen on sitting on floors due to back issues so that cuts out ryokans. Any suggestions? We would like to stay central due to limited time. Thank you!

CaliforniaLady

We stayed at the Westin Miyako Kyoto, which is a huge hotel with tourist groups, but I did like the indoor pool, and the concierge service was fantastic. Also, they have a really nice Executive Club Lounge--we even skipped dinner a couple of times and ate there.

I agree with you about the ryokans--they never appealed to me. They are so very expensive, and they can't even give you a mattress. I'm kidding, of course. But I prefer a nice soft bed with a duvet.

curiousgeo

Across Kyoto Station is the New Miyako Hotel, popular with tour groups but conveniently located to the Shinkansen platforms. On the north end of the station is the Granvia Hotel, a surprisingly quiet property given the location. Lots of shops and restaurants located in and around the station area with plenty of transportation options to get around the city.

kja

Check booking.com

Good luck!

Kavey

I echo Kja. Check booking.com, agoda.com, japanican.com and see what you can find. One of the nice things about booking.com is that the vast majority of properties do not require payment upfront and they allow cancellation until 3 days before (make sure you check before booking), so you can find something that will do quickly and book, then spend a bit longer looking for something better knowing you have a fallback.

DonTopaz

The Ritz Carlton has a good location and offers an excellent level of service, and it is available for your dates.

I've stayed at the Westin Miyako, and I didn't like it at all (in fact moved out after 1 night and went to the Hyatt). Although the grounds were nice and the location was ok (next to a subway station), the rooms are very dated, the size of the hotel was off-putting, and the service not at all up to par for Japanese hotels of that price range.

Les

Just returned from a trip to Japan and India. In Kyoto, we stayed at the Hotel Granvia, which is actually in the main Kyoto train station. Very modern,comfortable rooms, and you'll be in the hotel within 5 minutes of arrival. A bit pricey, but an excellent hotel (five stars, I think). Location can't be beat for convenience, of course (being in the train station). Access to all trains, city buses, cabs right at your front door. Restaurants, shopping close at hand (there's a huge department store in the station).
And the station itself is well worth seeing.

Kavey

Les, we stayed 3 nights at the Granvia on our first trip (and the other 2 in a traditional ryokan in Gion) and agree that the location is excellent. Really good for transportation, obviously - not just local trains but regional trains and local buses too.

Some great dining options - one of my favourite katsu restaurants has a branch on the 11th floor of the shopping side.

I think rooms are good and staff at the front desk and concierge are very helpful. I think breakfast/ bar/ food there is very expensive - we didn't eat / drink anything at all there.

mrwunrfl

I've stayed at Westin Miyako Kyoto and had a wonderful room with access to the very nice club.

My understanding was that there was an older part of the hotel, maybe a separate wing/building, that was not very nice. So it was important not to choose a room at the lowest price.

That was at least 10 years ago. For all I know, that other part of the hotel could have been renovated and be up to what you would expect at a Westin, or the good part has gone downhill (I doubt it).

mjs

We stayed at the Westin about 10 years ago in one of their Japanese style rooms so that my family could get a taste of a more traditional Japanese style Ryokan without the food. I thought it was fine and the location good.