The Hotel Guide Director says
From the cherry blossoms blooming in Kiyomizu Temple to the plums in Tenman Shrine, not to mention the taste of Kyoto bamboo shoots.....Spring looks lovely on Kyoto. And the place I chose to stay in to enjoy Springtime Kyoto is Kyoto Hotel Okura.
The location is very convenient; a one-minute walk from the Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae subway station means you can avoid the congested bus ride from Kyoto.
This time I used a lodging plan where I could choose an Higashi Mountain-side room with a view above the ninth floor, overlooking the gorgeous Kamogawa river, in a pretty spacious "Superior Twin" guest room. The centrally located 17-story hotel stands out in Kyoto, where high-rises are scarce, and the view from my window was even more breathtakingly "Kyoto" then I would have imagined.
Higashi Mountain-side Superior Twin Guest Room
I was lead to my 15th floor Higashi Mountain-side Superior Twin Guest Room. Approximately 37 square meters, it was perfect for two people.
When the curtains were opened, a the calm trickling of the Kamogawa river was right before my eyes, with a few traditional bridges scattered below. The garden and the straight roads really gave off the "Kyoto" traditional feeling.
Chairs and a round table were set up beside the windows, with tea bags of green and roasted tea available, making it a wonderful spot to relax during your holiday. Not to mention the slippers, set up in the closet, were very comfortable.
This guest room included high-speed internet. I just plugged the LAN cable into my laptop computer and was able to use high-speed 100Mbps internet at no extra charge. This hotel does not offer this service in every room yet, so make sure you confirm during your reservation.
The DVD player and humidifier I had asked for during my reservation was set up in my room when I entered, and both were at no extra charge.
Bathroom
The bathroom included a shower booth, and the toilet included a bidet with a heated set. The shower booth and the bathtub are separate, which was a little bit of an annoyance, but the toilet included a bidet and was heated. Bathrobes are set up, which made coming out of the bath a comfortable experience.
Room Service
Room service is available between 6:30 and 24:00 (6:30am and midnight WESTERNERS DON'T USE 24-HOUR CLOCK THAT MUCH). The menu is separated into breakfast and set menus, a la carte, late night menus.
I ordered dinner through room service, and had the Japanese beef curry (?2,400), the mixed sandwiches (?1,500) and the cream of corn soup (?900). The menu was a little limited and I had some trouble deciding what I wanted, but the prices are quite standard. There are nine hotel restaurants, including a Teppan-yaki (Japanese grill), Kyoto-style, and Chinese restaurant, as well as a bar.
Public Space
My floor had a few seats available, but every time I went the area was crowded. I recommend going up the beautiful stairs to the second floor and finding the semi-hidden sofa space.
Breakfast: 17th Floor Top Lounge "Orizonte"
The breakfast here is buffet-style. Over 50 items are available, including western and Japanese-style dishes. I was surprised at the variety available, and had some trouble choosing what to put on my plate.
Coffee or tea is also available. It was a great place to relax after the meal with a drink, watching the Kamogawa flow by while deciding what to do for the day.
Concierge
The concierge, located next to the first floor elevator wearing a red uniform, told me the best tourist attractions and stores in the area. It is also possible to buy one-day bus tickets here.
Checkout is at 11:00am. Even after checkout, you can leave your bags in the cloakroom on the first floor at no charge.
Kyoto Hotel Okura, conveniently located one minute from Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae subway station, is a great way to enjoy the ancient city of Kyoto.
Kyoto Hotel Okura Reservation[octopustravel]
