Hotel Granvia Kyoto

The room was extremely comfortable, the beds, sheets and pillows, the bathroom, the amenities, the size of the room is perfect and the location too.

Two things caused me some discomfort, they were minor things but could affect other people: because the hotel was very close to the metro station, there was always a little noise from the trains arriving, but I think this was only the apartments facing the back. Another thing, was the distance from the elevator to the apartment. However, there was a fire escape very close to the apartment which was good.

I’ve stayed here before and it’s exactly as I remember it - beautiful, well located, and the service is impeccable especially the knowledge and responsiveness of the concierge for restaurant reservations and recommendations. Being located at Kyoto station means you’re well connected to the rest of Kyoto as well as other cities for day trips. Will stay here again next time I am in Kyoto.

A minor point but the bathroom in my room was quite dated, with the shower in a bath that only had a thin shower curtain cover which meant water consistently sprayed onto the bathroom floor. Might have just been the room I booked.

The location could not be more convenient just above Kyoto station. the bus interchange is just outside and there are loads of restaurants in the station complex (including ramen street and those belonging to the department stores in the building). The room was comfortable and western style although perhaps now a little dated, and my room had a nice view of Kyoto tower. definitely recommend staying here for convenience of location and facilities in the station building.

The hotel is huge and like a bed factory, so there were long queues for reception / check in and because of the size of the hotel, the staff were not as attentive as staying in a smaller property but that’s to be expected when staying in such a large hotel. also had to pay extra to use gym and pool which was not expected (it depends on what rate whether this is included or not)

The Granvia is a comfortable and well run hotel located inside Kyoto Station. Kyoto Station is an architectural landmark and always a pleasure to see. It is also a transportation hub for busses, subways, and local train service, essential for visiting the far flung attractions of Kyoto. This was our fourth stay in this hotel. The hotel concierge service is exceptional, and I communicated frequently with my concierge contact, Saori, long before the start of the trip to arrange restaurants, and tourist visits. When she realized that we were interested in fusuma (Japanese sliding door painting), she located and identified a number of temples that were open only at very limited times, and that were not mentioned in any guidebooks.

The concierge stand now closes at 5PM, it used to be later. This is a problem when you need help with unplanned evening arrangements. This is a particular problem in Japan where the general population, even is tourist favored businesses, really does not speak any English.

The location of Hotel Granvia Kyoto was absolutely incredible. Situated literally atop Kyoto Station, it provided unparalleled convenience for exploring the city. This central position meant easy access to transportation, allowing us to effortlessly travel to any destination in Kyoto and beyond. The hotel's prime location was undoubtedly one of its standout features, making it an ideal choice for travelers seeking convenience and accessibility.

While my experience at Hotel Granvia Kyoto was generally positive, there were a few aspects that fell short of expectations. One notable disappointment was the lack of an espresso machine in the room and limited accessibility to coffee. As a coffee enthusiast, I had hoped for the convenience of having espresso readily available in the room. Unfortunately, this was not the case, which was a letdown considering the overall quality of the hotel.

Great location, amazing customer service, and great provision of gourmet coffee in the rooms for free. Concierge was also knowledgeable about lots of things and very helpful with any enquiries we had about anything in and around Kyoto.

If I had to critique something, the room we got was a little bit far from the lift and we didn't really consider hotel breakfasts as the price was about twice that of a standard meal elsewhere (acknowledging though, the breakfast is a buffet). The ground level cafe also serves a coffee for the price of an average meal in Kyoto, though it looks like a nice place to enjoy a cuppa and is still always busy with a queue anyway!

Hotel was very clean, staff were helpful and friendly, and the rooms were well appointed. The Kyoto station area is a destination in its own right with grand buildings, outdoor areas and full of shops. The hotel makes it very easy to get anywhere really being at the major station. Although this isn't the place if you want a small hotel experience tucked into one of the Kyoto neighborhoods, it is central and access to trains and taxi's make it a great hub. It was also very quiet both in the rooms and throughout the hotel (of note given it's right in the train station complex).

Be aware the pool is not for families. It's very nice and large (for Japan) but is really a lap pool for the fitness and wellness area, costs extra to use, and kids under 18 can only use it in a two hour window in the mornings. Most hotels in Japan don't have pools so not a biggie but was a surprise. It also has much more of a 'corporate' vibe relative to other places we stayed but again not a biggie as it's very spacious, clean, helpful and well organized.

Very convenient right above Kyoto train station. Easy walk to bullet trains, buses, metro and taxis, can't beat. Train station is full of eateries. Isetan, a big department store, is just next door. One can spend a whole day shopping and eating in the underground mall in Kyoto station. If you get too tired or you need to off load all the goodies you bought, you can just walk back to the hotel. This is our second stay in Granvia Kyoto and definitely not the last.

If your booking included breakfast, forget it, every morning there is a queue no matter what time. We booked a room with lounge access, we can get breakfast in the lounge or 2 other places. We never had to wait if we take breakfast in the lounge or in their Japanese restaurant, but if your reservation only allows you to have their buffet breakfast, you would have to queue. We left early one morning at 6:30 am, there was a queue at the restaurant for buffet breakfast. We came back at 9:30 am, there was still a queue! A better way is to book the room with no breakfast, get your breakfast at the train station, eateries open early as it's a major transportation hub, it's cheap and full of choices.

The ideal location for first time in Kyoto and as a solo female traveller. So easy to get to everywhere! The view was spectacular and was great to get established in the city. Fantastic food shops and other shops with anything you may need on the doorstep. The Granvia lounge was so calm and breakfast good in all restaurants, really delicious. The bed was super comfortable - must also mention the amazing robot toilet and the shower with three different shower bits. I highly recommend. Also you can pay more for an early check in if you need - very handy when tired from the plane. I'll be back for sure.

Loved it all! But if at a push - some bath salts would have been a bonus. But to be fair they were so generous with everything else!

I've always wanted to stay in the Granvia, as it is attached to Kyoto Station, which means it is super convenient. We paid for a room with lounge access, and the lounge was my favorite part of the hotel. It was like a small oasis, where you could just relax. I ate breakfast there 2 of my 3 mornings. All of the staff at the hotel were very kind and helpful. We received a small gift of cookies from the hotel. I appreciated that they offered lounge check-in/check-out. The shower was fabulous and had 3 different settings.

I wish the lounge had longer hours, it closed at 8. I would have liked to just be able to sit and relax there and get another bottle of setzer. The hotel is quite large, and our room was towards the end, so it could take a while to get to the elevators. I thought Le Temps was a little loud and busy when we ate breakfast there. We only ate the one meal and then stuck with the lounge as it was more peaceful and relaxing.