721-1 Higashishiokoji-cho Karasuma-dori Shichijo-sagaru, Shimogyo, Japan | (618) 248-8274
Excellent location in
heart of the city across from Kyoto Station
Shares building with tourist information center
Sharp, contemporary rooms with flat-screen TVs
Japanese Western Rooms
available with tatami mats and floor cushions
Stylishly decorated restaurant
serving buffet meals
Sky lounge with
panoramic views
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Discounts to the public
bath and observation deck that share the building
Most rooms are tiny
Fee for breakfast
Some rooms retain the smell of cigarette smoke
No pool or fitness center
It’s all about location at the Kyoto Tower Hotel, an upper-middle-range property
located in the heart of the city across from Kyoto Station. The hotel shares a building with a tourist
information center, a public bath, and a soaring tower with an observation deck
offering panoramic views. There’s no fitness center or pool, but the hotel has
a restaurant as well as a bar with impressive views. The property’s 162
rooms are contemporary, but tiny, with little room for anything beyond sleeping. Guests willing to trek a bit farther from Kyoto Station might want to compare rates with Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto-Hachijoguchi, a mid-range property with modern rooms and a tasty breakfast buffet.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Upper-middle-range hotel in tourist-friendly building with observation deck
Located on a bustling street across from the main railway station, Kyoto Tower Hotel is housed in a nine-story building with three sub-floors and a tower more than 300 feet tall. The lighthouse-inspired structure was built in 1964. The lobby, renovated after our visit, is located on the 8th floor and has a contemporary look. Inside the Tower Terrace Restaurant, charming chairs in shades of green and a mix of floral and plaid patterns create a cute, trendy vibe. At the Sky Lounge, tables wrap around the room in front of panoramic windows, where guests can relax and take in views of Kyoto -- and even Osaka on a clear day. The hotel's prime location means it attracts guests from all categories, from families and couples to business travelers and those traveling on their own.
Location
In the middle of the action, next to Kyoto Station
In terms of location, Kyoto Tower Hotel's central Kyoto address can't be beat for tourists or those in town on business. It's across
from Kyoto Station, which houses a railway station, a shopping mall, a hotel, and a movie theater. The area bustles with plenty of restaurants and shops on neighboring blocks, and the Higashi Honganji temple is 10 minutes away on foot. It’s less
than a 20-minute bus ride to Gion Geisha District and Pontocho, a vibrant alley that's full
of restaurants and authentic tea shops. Several temples can be reached in less than 45 minutes on
public transportation, including the stunning Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine, which takes 25 minutes to reach via train. Osaka International Airport is a 45-minute drive or
an 85-minute ride on public transportation.
Rooms
Small, contemporary rooms with cramped bathrooms
Almost across the board, rooms here are small, and in some there isn't any room on either side of the bed to maneuver, almost like sleeping cubbies on small boats. Decor is spartan, but sharp and contemporary, with dark brown carpets, white walls, dark wood veneer furniture, and charcoal gray accents. All
rooms have flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, mini-fridges, and
electric kettles with green tea. Standard bathrooms are tight on space with
small shower/tub combos. Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash are available in dispensers, and slippers are provided. Larger Japanese Western
rooms are available with decorative zabutons (floor cushions) on tatami mats in addition to beds. These rooms have additional seating areas with sofas, coffeemakers, and attractive accents like wood-slat room dividers. Bathrooms in these rooms are more up to date, with basin sinks and full-size shower/tub combos. Guests have reported that the smell of smoke lingers in some guest rooms, even when non-smoking rooms are booked.
Features
Buffet restaurant and sky-lounge bar
Kyoto Tower Hotel has a restaurant offering a buffet of fresh foods with Japanese and Western options. The buffet features a variety of fresh foods, including a vegetable bar and juices. Breakfast is not included in room rates. There’s also a bar with panoramic
views plus cocktails and beer. The hotel offers discounts to the public bath in the building and the
observation deck at the top of the tower. A travel desk that's housed in the same building
offers travel services like money exchange as well as SIM cards, tour tickets, and
transportation passes for purchase. Wi-Fi is free throughout.
