The Hotel Higashiyama Kyoto Tokyu A Pan Pacific Hotel

We requested a room facing the courtyard and loved it! Had a really relaxing stay. Good: pretty spacious for Japan standard, good water pressure, great amenities, having free self service laundry was a huge plus but they only have two machines so it’s almost unavailable as the cycles could take up to 5 hours if others were also using the drying cycle (we had to wake up around 5am to get a spot). They also have a free shuttle to/from Kyoto station. Loved their breakfast buffet. Bad: While the rooms were spacious it could have been designed better, the closets were tiny and we were in the executive room with two closets near the entrance but it could only fit 3-4 clothings, it was also very dark in the room and bathroom, wish there was a booking system for the laundry instead of a guessing game where we had to keep checking for its availability

Out of everywhere I stayed in Japan during my trip, this was my favorite. It is so tranquil, boutique, full of hospitality. There is a seating area and huge footbath area outside, as well as shuttle to Kyoto Station, which is an amazing perk! You will likely wake up to a beautiful wide view of trees, distant mountain, and the footbath outside. There are nice Japanese pajamas left in the room as well as slippers. Yes, there is a refrigerator. The staff were very hospitable and welcoming. My only negative about the experience is the staff member at the desk, being unorganized with charging me on things relating to my bookings. She made a mistake which caused an inconvenience in which I almost missed the shuttle, so I would recommend more training with bookings management. Overall, would stay here again in a heartbeat!

Pros: this hotel feels like a 5 star hotel, but at a 4 star hotel price. The staff are excellent, especially Tarumi at the concierge. She was exceptionally kind and gave us many tips. This review is a year overdue, but we still think of Tarumi to this day. The massage/spa reservations are a must if you stay here. Cons: a little off the main strip, so it is about a 15minute trek to the main areas, but this is precisely why we booked it. We did not want to be too close to the hustle and bustle. Not a lot of late night going-on's in the proximity but plenty of peace and quiet.