The Westin Miyako Kyoto

The Westin Miyako Hotel in Kyoto: One of the Most Beautiful Hotels in the World in One of the Most Beautiful Cities in the World We have stayed at this Frank Lloyd Wrightish hotel in Kyoto for many years, and it never disappoints. The rooms are minimally but perfectly designed...

The Westin Miyako Hotel in Kyoto: One of the Most Beautiful Hotels in the World in One of the Most Beautiful Cities in the World We have stayed at this Frank Lloyd Wrightish hotel in Kyoto for many years, and it never disappoints. The rooms are minimally but perfectly designed for comfort, the service is impeccable, the dining, varied and most excellent. And let me repeat this: the staff is extraordinary. They are attentive, kind, and wonderfully full of cheer -- and this is coming from someone who has the darkest of personalities. Although corporate in nature. The Westin Miyako persists in being one of my favorite hotels in the world. It is perfectly situated in the northeast hills of Kyoto, within walking distance of many temples, among them Nanzenji, and our personal favorite, Konchi-in, the Temple of the Monkey Reaching for the Moon, not to mention The Philosopher's Path and Ginkakuji (the Silver Pavilion). If you rightly live with the idea that Kyoto is among the most sacred of sacred cities in the world, and, like the Monkey Reaching for the Moon, with the persistent illusion, which we continue to nurture, that there is nothing more beautiful than Kyoto under snow, then visit this hotel as soon as you can, and stare at the snow slowly covering the rooftops of the temples, shrines and houses of Kyoto from your hotel window and balcony. There is quite possibly nothing I find more annoying than poetry. But this is what Kyoto and this hotel compelled this author to write a day or so ago -- please forgive his lack of poetry technology: This Morning I Awoke to Snow Falling This morning I awoke to snow falling, pressing down on the hills, on the rooftops of the houses and temples of Kyoto, on the balcony of our hotel, and somehow, for some reason, I became convinced, or convinced myself – fool that I am – the world, or this small corner of it, was a little kinder, or just a little less violent, than the one represented to us. And that Bashõ had finally returned to his hut, hidden in the deepest recesses of the temple grounds of Konpukuji, in the steep, tree- and snow-covered hills of northeast Kyoto – that he had finally stopped protesting the violence of the world by depriving it of his writing. Now, finally, I understood what I had mistakenly thought was the sound of bamboo stirring in the wind – it was all the while the poet brushing ink onto snow-covered leaves, dropping them into a nearby stream and watching the sorrows of the world turning into the sacred nothing of snow melting and flowing by. This morning I awoke to snow falling and pressing down on the hills of Kyoto. Kind reader, do please understand that Basho's hut does, indeed, survive, or some rebuilt but poignant version of it, in the hills just beyond the hotel. It is not so easy to find, and you will have to find a patient taxi driver, and it does not open to the public until March. We often look for it, rather irrationally, in the month of February, only to find it closed. But look for it we must. And coming to Kyoto in the winter months is something I highly recommend, not that the city is still not flooded with Japanese tourists touring their own city and country, rightfully so. And not that you cannot find the stillness of internal life connected to nature in every corner of this marvelous city. And The Westin Miyako Hotel is vitally connected to this experience. So, in a word, I highly recommend this hotel, and Kyoto, with all of my heart. The 'heart' part is something I rarely extend to anyone or anything. RICHARD MILAZZO richardmilazzo.com

Outstanding Conceige Service: we asked for advice on a relatively complex travel request and the Conceige, Kaori was brilliant. She saved us time and money, making our onward journey much easier. Also her restaurant recommendation was was excellent.

Wonderful hotel experience at the Westin. From the moment you arrive, the staff is quick to help you check in and assist with any questions you have. The staff are really excellent from the front desk, concierge and M Lounge on the 3rd floor. We were upgraded to a nicer...

Wonderful hotel experience at the Westin. From the moment you arrive, the staff is quick to help you check in and assist with any questions you have. The staff are really excellent from the front desk, concierge and M Lounge on the 3rd floor. We were upgraded to a nicer room as Bonvoy members. The hotel is within a short walking distance of the subway.

Beautiful spacious rooms, great location in Kyoto, right off the ginza line, walking distance to many of the shrines. On the mountain, and set back so rooms are quiet. Free pool and spa and excellent restaurants. We went to the buffet twice. Excellent made to order sushi and assorted western...

Beautiful spacious rooms, great location in Kyoto, right off the ginza line, walking distance to many of the shrines. On the mountain, and set back so rooms are quiet. Free pool and spa and excellent restaurants. We went to the buffet twice. Excellent made to order sushi and assorted western and Japanese well-prepared foods. Free shuttle to gion and the station. Outstanding concierge who helped us plan our days in Kyoto and made terrific suggestions s. In addition they treat bonvoy members well, with discounts in food and alcohol. Excellent well-managed hotel.

On our recent stay here, we found this hotel to be very good. It is in a great position, just a bit out of where all the action is, but an easy taxi ride there. Nice decor and rooms, excellent breakfast and very helpful staff. Rooms are large with nice...

On our recent stay here, we found this hotel to be very good. It is in a great position, just a bit out of where all the action is, but an easy taxi ride there. Nice decor and rooms, excellent breakfast and very helpful staff. Rooms are large with nice gardens surrounding.

Overall we loved our stay here. The hotel is a great combination of modern and traditional Japanese. The service was top notch. It is located a couple miles outside of city center but taxis were easy to get or it was walkable. I appreciated the free shuttle from Kyoto station....

Overall we loved our stay here. The hotel is a great combination of modern and traditional Japanese. The service was top notch. It is located a couple miles outside of city center but taxis were easy to get or it was walkable. I appreciated the free shuttle from Kyoto station. We were upgraded to a wonderful suite based on Marriott status and the buffet breakfast was good. We loved the onsen and wish we had time to explore the gardens. Overall a truly lovely stay.

Hotel staff are super nice and professional. The hotel has great amenities like the indoor and outdoor pool, fitness center and onsen. The hotel also has a free shuttle that can take you to the Kyoto station. However, the cleanliness of the hotel was a big concern. Worn down carpet,...

Hotel staff are super nice and professional. The hotel has great amenities like the indoor and outdoor pool, fitness center and onsen. The hotel also has a free shuttle that can take you to the Kyoto station. However, the cleanliness of the hotel was a big concern. Worn down carpet, a chair in our room had a stain on there, and we found a cockroach in our guess room.

Westin Miyako Kyoto has 2 different hotels in one. One part is a standard part as you can see all over the world and another which is accessible from the 7th floor and called the kasuien. This part is more traditional. It is also more expensive but definitely worth. We...

Westin Miyako Kyoto has 2 different hotels in one. One part is a standard part as you can see all over the world and another which is accessible from the 7th floor and called the kasuien. This part is more traditional. It is also more expensive but definitely worth. We had an unique experience in the traditional Rykon part. The suite was beautiful and a true 5 star experience. We loved it and will definitely come back. The service was excellent and one of the best we ever had. The hotel has some good restaurants. Also, they offer shuttle services to Kyoto station back and forth. Which is very handy. Also, you can leave your luggage in Kyoto station when you arrive as they have a small check in point. Overall a GREAT experience and would definitely recommend. I still remember the wonderful smell of the room.

We stayed here 6 nights. The suite on the top floor with the executive lounge. We found everything to be very nice and the lounge was great. Better to have breakfast in the lounge as opposed to the crowded restaurant. We also had them arrange a day tour of Nara...

We stayed here 6 nights. The suite on the top floor with the executive lounge. We found everything to be very nice and the lounge was great. Better to have breakfast in the lounge as opposed to the crowded restaurant. We also had them arrange a day tour of Nara for us which was just great. Why not 5 stars? The walls are paper thin. You can hear everything in the room next door to you. The noise at night is quite bothersome. Hard to sleep with all of the noises.

Lovely hotel with nice hardware but service is lacking for such a culturally rich hotel. Stayed here for 2 nights and was upgraded to a suite. Nice hotel with many facilities and there was a shuttle service running between the hotel and kyoto station which was very convenient. Room was...

Lovely hotel with nice hardware but service is lacking for such a culturally rich hotel. Stayed here for 2 nights and was upgraded to a suite. Nice hotel with many facilities and there was a shuttle service running between the hotel and kyoto station which was very convenient. Room was big and nice. But the housekeeping did not seemed to be doing a good job. When going into the blanket for bed the second night, there were many strains of hair under the blanket. Breakfast the first day was also disappointed by the staff at the restaurant. Went in at around 930am which was definitely not the peak period and requested to sit by the window since it's empty but the staff told me that it's reserved or closed. So i just went to sit at the table they assigned. But around 10 mins later, other people were allowed to sit at the tables by the window. Disappointing experience. Breakfast was offered either buffet style or japanese set and you can only choose one. The spread for the buffet was limited though. Overall, nice hotel with good rooms and really huge. It took some time to walk to my room. But service is seriously lacking.

I seldom dish out five-star reviews. The highest compliment I usually pay is four-star, where a level of expectation has been reached, and an experience was excellent. What makes a five-star review, then? Simple. A hotel like the Westin Miyako Kyoto exceeding expectations on almost every level I can think...

I seldom dish out five-star reviews. The highest compliment I usually pay is four-star, where a level of expectation has been reached, and an experience was excellent. What makes a five-star review, then? Simple. A hotel like the Westin Miyako Kyoto exceeding expectations on almost every level I can think of. ‘Oldness’ is Japan doesn’t matter, so long as you have high standards. For example, find an old spot down a spacious corridor here and you’re likely to find it clean, tidy, decorated and furnished, regardless of whether anyone would use it or walk regularly past. Through a door we found after visiting an on-site bird-watching trail, we discovered a part of this vast hotel we’d missed the previous few days of our stay. Yet, despite its size, the hotel runs like clockwork thanks to the apparent loyalty of its employees and the joy they pass proudly on to their guests. If their joy and happiness is a facade, we didn’t care. From the pleasantries and helpfulness of those manning the lobby, to the busy people running the exemplary breakfast room, everyone we encountered made us feel wanted, needed and special. That’s the kind of hotel I revisit. I would come back here without a second thought.

Very comfortable hotel but a bit remote from downtown Kyoto - around 30 mins walk.. which can be very pleasant and partially a bit uphill. Do bear in mind that some rooms (even the juinor suite we had) can overlook a graveyard which might be uncomfortable for some. The food...

Very comfortable hotel but a bit remote from downtown Kyoto - around 30 mins walk.. which can be very pleasant and partially a bit uphill. Do bear in mind that some rooms (even the juinor suite we had) can overlook a graveyard which might be uncomfortable for some. The food choice for vegetarians is highly limited (as it is in most of Japan) but staff are very pleasant and helpful and convenient for some sightseeing locally

I messed up on the booking here. We stayed at the Intercontinental in Osaka the day before and had a wonderful time. The Westin Kyoto was a very different experience. First, for the price, the hotel itself isn’t special, and the high rate doesn’t include breakfast. The food at the...

I messed up on the booking here. We stayed at the Intercontinental in Osaka the day before and had a wonderful time. The Westin Kyoto was a very different experience. First, for the price, the hotel itself isn’t special, and the high rate doesn’t include breakfast. The food at the restaurant for lunch was the worst we had on the entire trip, at any restaurant. A simple draft beer at the bar is 1,900yen. Finally, I’ve never been to an onsen with extremely young, screaming children. I messed up and should have read more reviews, but maybe this will help the next couple.