Kyoto Granbell Hotel

We wanted a hotel in Gion with a public bath/onsen and Kyoto Granbell fit the bill. Originally we booked a moderate twin 18m2 but I was worried it would be too small so we upgraded to the Japanese twin 22sq meters and it was exactly what we wanted. The room was spacious and felt very comfortable. We had enough room to spread out and it feel like we were on top of each other. The lobby area is great with free coffee and snacks & wifi. We didn’t do breakfast but it looked good. I used the onsen every day and it was great! Fully stocked with shampoo, lotion, q tips, cotton pads, water station. Small but functions and very beautiful. The location was the best! Two doors down from En en for great Gyoza, 5 min walk to Hiniku to come, around the block from Pizza Stada, and a couple blocks from the bus station & the Main Street in Gion. Staff were lovely & spoke pretty good English. Comparable to Coutryard Marriott. Highly recommend. Would stay again.

Nicely designed boutique hotel. Cannot comment on the food as we didn’t take this option but room was clean and practically designed. Staff very professional and friendly. Located well for good restaurant choices.

This was a great stay. The hotel is very comfortable and has free coffee, water fill up, snacks, and comfortable lounge. The location is the best part in Gion and close to Pontocho alley. It is located a short walk from several train lines that make it very convenient. There are also some nearby sites like Yasaka Shrine. I also walked to Kiyomizu-dera temple which is about 20-30 minutes walk away. I stayed in the king size room and though it is a little small on space the bed was huge and I even slept on it width wise to watch the television at night. I didn’t have the breakfast because I went out very early but it looked typical Japanese/Western mix.

Starting with the positives - great hotel, superb location, fabulous staff, tasty breakfast, modern design. On the surface it’s all great. As expected for Japan, rooms are small but there’s definitely a case of design over practicality in this hotel. Room space could be so much better designed. There’s a completely superfluous sofa between the beds which we had removed as otherwise there was nowhere to open a suitcase. Limited clothes hanging space too. They provide an unnecessary, collapsible laundry basket, but no suitcase stand. Shower toiletries on a glass shelf above the sink which means you have to reach out of the shower curtain to access them, shelf ends up soaking wet and you’re pushing down on the dispensers which makes the shelf unstable - again, I imagine an interior designer’s eye, not practical. Didn’t spoil our stay by any means, but was frustrating.

This hotel lies in the heart of Kyoto, making it incredibly convenient for exploring the city. It's truly central and within walking distance to everything, from shrines and shops to restaurants and transit. The staff were helpful and nice throughout my stay. A special plus: the clean sento (Japanese bath) on-site was a relaxing way to unwind after long days of sightseeing. If you can, book the standard double room, it's noticeably more spacious than the other options. In a city where hotel rooms can feel quite compact, that extra space makes a real difference for comfort and luggage storage. Otherwise, this hotel is central to everything, and the value is hard to beat. Highly recommended for travelers who want convenience, helpful service, and a touch of local tradition.

Excellent hotel, very nice design and location.