Ace Hotel Kyoto

Our stay at the Ace Hotel Kyoto had some notable positives but ultimately left us with mixed feelings. The best aspect for us was the hotel’s direct access to the train station, allowing us to come and go without ever stepping outside or dealing with the weather — a huge convenience. Additionally, the hotel is connected to a small shopping center, and walking distance to convenience stores. The rooms themselves were nice and fairly spacious, equipped with toiletries, and featured some unique touches like a record player (which we didn’t end up using). However, we found the beds to be quite hard and the pillow too flat, which affected our comfort. The lobby area was a bit disappointing. Seating was limited, and the long work table was always crowded with what appeared to be non-guests working on their laptops, creating a rather loud and distracting environment. As for the staff, they were polite but didn’t come across as particularly gracious, friendly, or helpful. Their attire seemed sloppy and did not reflect the quality we expected from a hotel of this standing. Overall, the hotel seemed to be focusing more on projecting a trendy image than on delivering genuine hospitality and attentive service. While the location and room quality were decent, the overall experience fell short of our expectations. We will likely choose a different hotel on our next visit to Kyoto.

This was our second stay at Ace Hotel Kyoto, having first visited last February, and that alone probably says a lot. We returned because the hotel made us feel genuinely at home the first time — something we value more than novelty when travelling. The rooms are spacious by Kyoto standards and feel more like a well-designed apartment than a conventional hotel room. Storage is excellent, with plenty of space for suitcases, drawers for clothes, and a sensible layout that actually works for a longer stay. Lighting options are particularly good, the air conditioning is easy to use and effective, and the hotel is impressively quiet — no street noise, no disturbance from other guests. Sleep quality was excellent overall. The bed was comfortable with top-notch linen, though the pillows were very soft and downy (a little too flat for our taste). We asked for an extra pillow and it was provided without fuss. The bathroom deserves special mention — the shower and toilet facilities are so good you’ll wish you had them at home. If there’s one small compromise in the otherwise generous room design, it’s furniture. For a room this size, a second chair would be very welcome, especially for couples. It’s a minor point, but noticeable. The hotel’s location is excellent: central, calm, and feeling very safe. Taxis are easy to get and it’s a great base for exploring Kyoto without feeling overwhelmed by crowds when you return. Service throughout our stay was attentive and charming, particularly at breakfast, in the restaurants, and at the front desk. Staff strike a lovely balance between being helpful and letting guests get on with things. Fellow guests tend to keep themselves to themselves, which adds to the relaxed atmosphere. There’s good food and coffee on site, including Stumptown Coffee and the hotel’s Italian restaurant, which adds convenience without making you feel trapped into dining in. Our main wish is that the hotel offered more dedicated spaces for guests to lounge, relax and read. Given how much space the building has, it feels like a missed opportunity. The lobby is often busy and noisy, and other areas are sometimes roped off, which limits places to simply sit and unwind without activity around you. That said, this is still a very comfortable, thoughtfully designed hotel that we’d happily return to again. We’d particularly recommend it to first-time visitors to Kyoto and couples without children who want somewhere stylish, calm and genuinely easy to live in.

Certainly lived up to its name ‘ Ace hotel’ . Cool and contemporary in a brilliant location . Breakfast has to be the best ever !!

Probably our favourite hotel in Japan. Our room was a nice size and the shower was excellent. We had breakfast included and the choice was really good. The hotel was very quiet and the beds super comfortable. Decent location with the usual combinis and drug stores nearby along with a Mac Donald's if you feel the need for a burger and fries! Loads of restaurants within walking distance and you are right above the subway for traveling to various sights. The good news is that you can get from the subway to the hotel without going outside. Follow the signs to the south unmanned exit and as you pass through the ticket machines go left and back on yourself and you will see the sign for the hotel by an escalator.

One of the best hotels we stayed at in Japan. This hotel just has a great vibe! Front desk staff are friendly, professional and welcome the opportunity to make your visit a pleasant one. Great breakfast options and three restaurants to choose from, all with excellent and attentive serving staff. The rooms are very well appointed and the inclusion of a TEAC turntable and a few albums is a great touch (need more jazz)! The location is excellent and there are lots of interesting restaurants and markets in easy walking distance from the hotel as well a a subway station just next door. This is certainly the place we will stay if we ever return to Kyoto.