Hotel Granvia Kyoto: The Most Convenient Hotel in Kyoto?

In terms of location, Hotel Granvia Kyoto is impossible to beat.

The hotel is literally inside Kyoto Station. You can enter the hotel without leaving the station building.

You have buses, subways, taxis, and trains right outside your door. They can take you anywhere in the city you want to go.

The rooms give you more space than the average Japanese hotel. They feature some unique designs, and you have lots of amenities in your room.

The hotel offers a number of cool services as well. You can enjoy 11 different restaurants… and they feature some world-class breakfasts!

The area around the hotel offers lots of fun attractions you can easily walk to.

You can get to anywhere in Kyoto from the station attached to the hotel.

Regarded as one of Kyoto’s best hotels, Hotel Granvia Kyoto is perfect for guests looking to combine luxury with convenience.

Hotel Overview

The Hotel Granvia Kyoto is a five-star hotel inside Kyoto Station.

It has 536 rooms, eleven restaurants, and a wide range of facilities. The Hotel Granvia isn’t cheap – but it gives guests a very convenient place to stay.

Kyoto’s attractions, dining, and shopping are all easy to get to from the hotel. You can even enjoy some great dining and shopping inside the hotel itself!

The English speaking staff want to make sure you have a great stay. They’re glad to help you with baggage storage, travel arrangements, dinner reservations, and sightseeing advice.

The hotel features over 1,000 pieces of museum-quality artwork. You’ll see all kinds of sculptures, paintings, and photographs spread across the hotel. They really add a luxurious feel to your stay!

The hotel offers 3 great breakfast options. It also has an indoor pool and a hot tub (restrictions apply for guests under the age of 20).

Check-in starts at 3:00pm. You can check-out until noon.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Incredible location
• Amazing food options – particularly for breakfast
• The hotel caters to a diverse range of guests. They offer everything from family and universal rooms to halal food to LGBT weddings

 

Cons

• Rooms are expensive
• The rooms are a little disappointing for the price
• No single traveler rooms
• The rooms sell out on a regular basis. Make sure you book your room well in advance.
• Some restaurants won’t let children under 5 enter. Guests under 20 can’t use the swimming pool (except during very limited hours early in the morning).
• Breakfast can get crowded

Making Reservations

Be sure to compare the prices on websites like Booking.com or Agoda to find the best deal.

Check prices and availability on Agoda.com

Location

The hotel’s location inside Kyoto Station makes finding the hotel a breeze. Step off the train and you’re there!

Okay, so it’s a little more complicated than that – but not much.

The hotel lobby is on Kyoto Station’s second floor. To get to the lobby, simply walk through the Karasuma Central ticket gates. Head to the second floor on the escalator or elevator.

The location makes it convenient when you arrive or leave from Kyoto. It’s also an ideal base for travelers looking to explore all Japan’s ancient capital has to offer.

You have rail and subway trains inside the building. The terminal of the city’s bus network and a large taxi stand sit right outside the building.

You won’t have any trouble getting around town.

Attractions in the Area

The Gion District is home to geisha and beautiful, traditional houses and streets. It’s only 5 minutes away on the subway (to Karasuma Station, followed by a short walk).

The spectacular hilltop temple Kiyomizudera takes 13 minutes to reach by taxi. It’s 30 minutes by bus (with a little walking as well).

Kyoto’s main attraction, the Kinkakuji Golden Pavillion, is 35 to 45 away by bus and subway, or around 20 minutes by taxi.

Attractions You Can Walk To

You have lots of fun sites to explore in the area around the hotel.

Kyoto Tower is one of the city’s most famous landmarks. It’s just north of the hotel.

You can get there in a few minutes on foot. If your room at the hotel doesn’t come with a view, I suggest you check out the city from the tower’s viewing platform.

Keep walking north to get to the Higashi Hoganji temple and Shosei-en garden. You can reach both in less than 15 minutes.

Toji Temple’s wooden pagoda is the largest wooden structure in Japan. It takes about 15 minutes to walk to the temple from the hotel. It’s just south of Kyoto Station (and thus the hotel).  The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s worth a visit if you have some time to kill.

Shopping

You’ll find a wealth of shopping opportunities around, within, and under Kyoto Station. The area offers department stores, shopping malls, and much, much more.  The food you  can try in and around Kyoto Station is an experience in itself.

Getting to the Hotel

From Kyoto Station (if you arrive by JR Train, Kintetsu, or Shinkansen)

Get off your train and head towards the central Karasuma gates.

Turn right once you go through the ticket gates. Make your way up the escalator to the 2nd-floor hotel lobby. Look for the sign (in English) pointing the way.

From Kyoto Station (if you arrive by Highway bus)

Walk into Kyoto Station from the bus stop. Take the elevators up to the walkway on the north side of the station.

Look for the main Karasuma gates (near the central atrium). You’ll see them between two sets of elevators.

Find the sign for the Hotel Granvia Kyoto and take the elevator to the second floor.

From Kansai International Airport

By Train (If You Have the Jr Pass)

Take the JR Kansai International Airport Express Haruka to Kyoto Station.

Follow the directions above for arriving by JR Train.

By Bus

Take the Limousine Bus to Kyoto Station and get off at the Hachijoguchi bus stop.

Follow the directions above for arriving by Highway Bus.

From Osaka International Itami Airport

Take the Limousine Bus to Kyoto Station. Get off at the Hachijoguchi bus stop.

From here follow the directions for arriving by Highway Bus.

Rooms

The rooms range from twins and doubles to larger rooms designed for families. The hotel also offers suites for those who want the ultimate in luxury accommodation.

All rooms come with high-speed Internet access and “relaxy angel” beds. You have to try these beds to believe how comfortable they feel! You also get to enjoy the Hotel Granvia’s original toiletries, manufactured by Hohonica.

All the rooms come with universally designed light switches. They make turning lights off and on easy for anyone.

The rooms also come with a safety deposit box and a multi-function shower.

All rooms above the standard level feature a light alarm. The alarm gently mimics the rising sun; it peacefully wakes you up without startling you.

Room Types

Standard Double

While none of the rooms here are cheap, the standard rooms are the most affordable.

The standard double gives you between 258 to 344 square feet of space, depending on what’s available. It’s quite large compared to most other Japanese hotels.

The bed is also larger than usual. It’s 4 ¾ – 6 feet wide and a little under 7 feet long.

Triple

The triple rooms give you more space (441 square feet).

They have the same size bed – 3 ¾ feet wide by a little under 7 feet long.

The triple can accommodate four people with an extra bed if necessary.

Family

The family room gives you a whopping 667 square feet of space.

These rooms can sleep up to five people. They have four single beds and a sofa you can convert into a bed.

The room comes with the same size beds (3 ¾ feet wide and a little under 7 feet long) as the triples.

You get two sinks and separated bath, toilet, and dressing areas. Several people can use the bathroom at the same time.

You also get a living area with comfortable armchairs and a sofa.

Standard Twin

The standard twin is generous in size.

The rooms range from 280 to 323 ft². The beds are 3 ¾ feet wide and just under 7 feet long.

Superior Twin

The superior twin (366 ft²) comes with more space and more of Hotel Granvia’s luxury touches.

Universal Room

The universal room (366 ft²) is a great option for wheelchair users.

It comes with removable toilet and bath rails and an adjustable chair for the bathroom. You also get an emergency call button.

Deluxe

The Granvia Deluxe rooms feature sophisticated designs. They all come with impressive views over Kyoto.

The traditional Japanese-style bathroom helps you have a relaxing stay. You get plenty of room to unwind in the tub after a day of business or sightseeing.

The Deluxe double offers 280-366 ft² of space, and the twin is 366 ft². The premium twin gives you a large 517 ft² of room to relax.

All Deluxe and suite rooms come with a Nespresso machine and an air cleaner/humidifier unit.

Suites

All suite rooms come with a spacious living area.

The living area features comfortable sofas and armchairs and a multi-purpose dining table.

You also get a generous bathroom. It’s outfitted with a variety of special features.

The semi-suite double and twin give you 538 ft² of space. The premium twin gives you 710 ft².

The Executive Suite (753 ft²) keeps your business needs in mind. It features a striking modern living room with a large desk and sofa set. It’s perfect for entertaining or meetings.

The 538 ft² Dream suite emphasizes luxury. The living room, bedroom, and bathroom feature some truly unique decorating elements. I’ve never seen such a stylish hotel room in my life!

The 710 ft² Harmony suite features soundproof walls. You can play musical instruments in your room without disturbing the other guests.

The Chouraku suite (786 ft²) celebrates Kyoto’s reputation for refinement.

The decorating style gives you a taste of Kyoto’s timeless elegance. You get some incredible views of the Kyoto tower from the jacuzzi!

The Granvia Lounge

The Granvia and Suite rooms give you a special privilege – they come with exclusive access to the Granvia Lounge.

The private lounge opens from 7:00am-8:00pm. It has a self-service beverage station and work counters with LAN cables. The lounge also offers a 24-hour computer room, a check out counter, and a concierge.

You also get free use of the pool and fitness center (regular guests pay an extra fee).

Prices

The prices below come directly from the hotel’s website.

We list them here to give you a rough idea what you can expect to spend. They represent the average cost of each room type. It may cost more or less when you book, depending on demand.

• Standard Double: 30,000 – 47,520 yen
• Standard Twin: 33,000 – 45,144 yen
• Universal Room: 43,000 – 51,084 yen
• Superior Twin: 43,000 – 51,084 yen
• Triple: 50,000 – 59,400 yen
• Family: 71,000 – 84,348 yen
• Granvia Deluxe Double: 52,000 – 61,776 yen
• Granvia Deluxe Twin: 52,000 – 61,776 yen
• Granvia Deluxe Twin Premium: 70,000 – 83,160 yen
• Granvia Family: 81,000 – 96,228 yen
• Semi-Suite Double: 73,000 – 86,724 yen
• Semi-Suite Twin: 73,000 – 86,724 yen
• Dream Suite: 80,000 – 95,040 yen
• Granvia Semi-Suite Twin Premium: 100,000 – 118,800 yen
• Harmony Suite: 130,000 – 154,440 yen
• Choraku Suite: 200,000 – 237,600 yen
• Executive Suite: 200,000 – 237,600 yen

The Art

You won’t believe the quality of the art you’ll see in the hotel.

The hotel features over 1,000 works of art from well-known artists. These aren’t your typical cheap motel paintings!

Every time you walk down a hallway you haven’t seen before, it feels like you’re stepping into an art museum!

Hotel Facilities

These services include:

• An English-speaking concierge service (8:00am to 8:00pm).
• Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.
• Fitness facilities including an indoor swimming pool, sauna, hot tub, and gym. You pay extra to use them (1,080 yen per day)
• Poolside foot and body massage (also an extra charge)
• Swimsuit rental at the reception

*Note: All guests under 20 must have an adult with them if they want to use the pool. They can only use the pool from 7:00am – 9:00am.

Guests with tattoos aren’t allowed in the swimming area.