Hotel Granvia Kytoto, Japan

Hotel Granvia Kyoto is a luxury property that literally towers over the city of Kyoto, providing a real sense of scale to all the city has to offer as well as being a comfortable, convenient and romantic place to call home.  

• Location: Above the JR Kyoto Station in central Kyoto. 
• Accommodations: The hotel has a total of 537 rooms ranging from spacious doubles and twin to a range of impressive suites. They are all situated between the 7th and 15th floors of the building, and they are all larger than typical hotel rooms in Japan. The decor is modern and contemporary; on one side of the hotel the rooms overlook the city with a 270 degree view, while the other side allows for views of the busy train station and the southern side of Kyoto.
• Dining options: There are 11 restaurants and bars on site including a dedicated tempura restaurant, Kyorinsen, the Gozanbo teppanyaki, all day dining at Le Temps and dinner and cocktails at the Southern Court on the top floor.
• What else is there: Besides a lovely pool and fitness centre (complimentary to guests in suites or staying on the Granvia Floors), the hotel had a private healthcare clinic, a bakery, and various shops and boutiques.
• What’s nearby: The sights of Kyoto are on your doorstep, however, the JR Kyoto Station Building Complex itself is a highlight. The unique building has a futuristic architectural structure, and is home to Japan’s renowned Isetan Department Store, the exquisite Kyoto Theatre, and The Cube & Porta underground shopping and dining mall. Within are sights including the Kyoto Tower, Toji Temple, Nishi & Higashi Hongan-ji Temples, and the Shoseien Garden. Gion, Pontocho and Shijo Kawara-machi areas are five-minute subway ride, and the famous Kiyomizudera Temple is a 15-minute bus ride. 
• Why go: This large, luxury hotel truly has it all for a romantic city break in Kyoto; spacious rooms, luxury facilities, and a hard to beat location which gets you everywhere should you wish to explore.

The Space

Packed with impressive sights and natural beauty, Kyoto is one of the world’s most culturally impressive cities. It was one of the few places in Japan untouched by World War II and is home to a fifth of the country’s national treasures including 17 World Heritage Sights. There are literally hundreds of historical markers, and trying to see everything all in a city like this is impossible. If you are planning a longer stay, the Hotel Granvia is a luxury property which towers over the city and enjoys a prime, if unusual, location. It’s been built right on top of the JR Kyoto Station, itself a modern architectural wonder, which means you are well connected by rail, metro and and bus to all the major sights in Kyoto, saving on valuable sightseeing time. And there’s another bonus; you can see some of Kyoto’s famous landmarks from many of its beautifully appointed rooms. If you are planning to travel further afield in Japan, the hotel is also connected by Shinkansen to Kansai International Airport and many of Japan’s major cities including Osaka, Tokyo, Hiroshima, Nagoya and Fukuoka. 

Where We Stayed

Our home for fours nights was a Granvia Deluxe Twin Premium on one of the two Granvia Floors, which comes with exclusive access to a specially designated private lounge, called the ‘Granvia Lounge’. The spacious room was comfortable, luxurious, and had beautifully functional spaces, with highlights including expansive city views and two large beds dubbed  ‘Relaxy Angel Beds’ by the hotel. The decor was elegant and modern Japanese, with novel touches including the traditional Japanese-style pendant light which is inspired by moonlight, a bathroom with a separate soaking bath, and a built-in air cleaner with a humidifier function. The room also had a dining table and chairs, luxury toiletries by Hahonico, a 50 inch LCD TV, and top notch, high-speed, complimentary Wi-Fi. The Granvia Lounge Granvia Lounge was located on the 15th floor and open from 7am to 8pm daily, offering services including check-out, tour booking assistance, restaurant reservations, a self-service bar, and 24-hour computer access if you haven’t brought your own device. Between our 15th floor room and the luxury lounge, it was often difficult to get motivated to get out and explore the city.

UltimateTravelMagazine.com Loves 

• The location which puts local sights, and Japanese cities including Osaka, at your doorstep.
• The views from the top floors.
• The spacious accommodations.
• The top notch service.

Insider Tips  

• If you can, save time to visit the Isetan Department Store basement food court, where you will find traditional boxed lunch bentos, Japanese sweets, a fine selection of sake and local beers. It’s a great place to pickup lunch to have on the go, or edible souvenirs.

The Details

The Hotel Granvia Kyoto is located at JR Kyoto Station, Karasuma Chuo-guchi, Shiokoji-sagaru, Karasuma-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, www.granviakyoto.com.