Genji Kyoto 源氏京都 — Hotel in Kyoto

Genji Kyoto is a hidden gem nestled amongst a quaint neighborhood next to a river. It is obvious that a lot of thought has been put into the design of this boutique hotel. This level of attention, down to the smallest details, is rarely found anywhere. The moment you walk through the bamboo lined walkway into the stylish lobby, you know this is a special place. The lobby itself is not a big space, but the decor, the garden, the bar and sitting area all come together to create a very harmonious space. We were welcomed with a glass of champagne and treat while they check us in, which was a very nice touch.

The staff members were all very friendly and helpful. We had contacted the hotel prior to arrival to get some dinner reservations made. Koko answered all my questions patiently and promptly via email. She was very helpful and made the arrangements for us. We arrived at the hotel close to 8pm and asked the check-in staff for a suggestion for a quick bite nearby. I'm sorry I didn't ask for his name so I can't give him a shout out here, but he gave us some suggestions, and when we selected yakiniku, he quickly made a reservation for us. It was a short walk from the hotel and we were blown away at how good the food was. Honestly, we didn't expect much at this late hour in this relatively quiet neighborhood. We also had a mishap with our luggage, Leila at the front desk was there to help us until we got it sorted out. Each day when we leave and come back to the hotel, we were greeted by the staff.

We have two rooms. One for our 3 kids which was quite spacious. We have a room with a river view, which is smaller, but the space was so efficiently used, it felt roomy. I will let you look through their website to see what the rooms look like, but they were so tastefully done. It's a great combination of modern comfort, sleek artistic design, but with a Japanese flair. There were nicely packaged coffee and tea in the room that would be replenished each day. You will find slippers and robes in the closet. The bathroom floors are heated and there is a good size tub and shower. The toiletry is good quality and they even provide bath salts. Of course, you will also find a Japanese style bidet toilet with a wall mounted remote control. I've stayed at 5 star hotels, but have never had a dyson hairdryer in my room before. The rooftop garden is such a nice space and we enjoyed some coffee up there one morning. The entire place is squeaky clean. While I know this is a new establishment, I have no doubt they will keep it nicely maintained.

The only drawback I can say is that it is a bit of a walk to the train station. If you walk fast, it will take about 15 minutes. At a more leisurely pace, it will take you 20+ minutes. We didn't mind it because we like getting our steps in so we can exercise and feel a little less guilty when we indulge in all the good food Kyoto has to offer. Also, because it is located in a quieter part of town with narrow streets, some taxi drivers will not drive you up to the hotel, but drop you off within a short walk, which wasn't a problem for us.

Overall, I would say Genji Kyoto exceeded my expectations in all areas. I will gladly stay here again the next time I'm in town. Thank you for making our visit to Kyoto such a...

The Genji Kyoto (a member of Design Hotels and the Marriot Bonvoy chain) is a beautiful boutique hotel, situated in the lovely and quiet neighborhood of Gojo-Kawaramachi.

I took a taxi from Kyoto Station to the hotel (~10-minute drive). I showed the taxi driver the directions map that the hotel has on its website. The taxi dropped me off at the ‘Rokken Bridge’, about a 2-minute walk to the interior street the hotel entrance is on. I guess that it’s difficult to access the small street by taxi since I booked a taxi when leaving the hotel and the pickup point was at the same spot as where I was dropped off on arrival. A staff member helped me with my luggage when I checked out and took my bags all the way to the taxi.

The closest bus stop (Kawaramachi Shomen) is a 5-minute walk from the hotel which is useful to get to central Kyoto and its attractions. Kiyomizu-Gojo train station (Keihan Main Line) is a 6-minute walk from the hotel which conveniently gets you to the Fushimi-Inari shrine and the Gion district. A 20-minute walk from the hotel shall put you in the center of Gion.

The hotel is quite new (~3 years old) and has been beautifully designed and decorated, combining modern and traditional Japanese elements.

The hotel staff throughout my stay were superb. All the staff I encountered were friendly and professional and spoke very good English.

Other than the room itself, I did not use the other hotel amenities, nor did I have breakfast/lunch/dinner at the hotel.

I was escorted to my room (River Balcony Deluxe) and was given an introductory tour/explanation of it. A welcome drink of my choice awaited me.

The studio type room design and decor, like the hotel in general, was great. Everything in the room is high quality and gives you a sense of luxury and comfort.

The scenic view from my room was fantastic as the hotel is right on the banks of the Kamo river. The room’s balcony was the perfect place to watch the world go by below.

The heated bathroom floor and the huge rain showerhead made for a splendid showering experience. Shower pressure was excellent.

The queen-sized bed was very comfortable and made the perfect place to fall asleep after a day of exploring.

Complimentary bottled water was provided daily.

The room’s safe was large enough to accommodate my 15” laptop.

The Wi-fi signal was strong and stable. The TV channel selection was good and had some international channel selections as well. Initially, it was a bit confusing trying to channel surf and it was easier to pick a channel from the main TV menu screen that is shown on the TV when you turn it on.

The hotel's top floor open balcony is lovely. Breakfast and dinner are served there, as well as a bar in the evening. The views of the surrounding area are fabulous.

As you would expect for a small luxury boutique hotel, the price is not cheap (~600 USD per night). However, given the location, quality of the hotel and service, I felt that the price was worth it. A comparatively similar hotel experience at one of the other 5-star hotels in Kyoto would cost double or even triple.

I would absolutely recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Kyoto. I would definitely stay here again, should I find myself again in this...

Almost perfect stay @ a River View Deluxe Balcony Room (1 level below roof top). Check in is at 3pm, but hotel had no issues keeping your luggage first (if you arrive early).

Room had a nice tatami setting (around bed area), and a small wooden flooring (around toilet area). Hotel also has yoga mats avail for loan during your stay (pretty nice setting in room to yoga / pilates away).

Bathroom is a large walk-in shower, with ensuite bathtub. Water control is easy, and pressure / temp is excellent. The shower floor is also heated (self-discovery by us).

Room has a decent sized table / bench, and a pair of outdoor chairs and table at the balcony (trust me, you want to spend some time there in the morning watching the ducks, cranes and other animals in the river).

Part of Kiyomizudera temple can be seen as well (in particular night illumination season from Nov onwards - see pic on the bright ray of Batman light).

Worthwhile to soak in the sun on the rooftop garden in early mornings, get some nice photos in (when the sun is hidden behind clouds).

We did not reserve with breakfast, but found it easy to walk along the river to get to the popular areas for meals / explore (including Nishiki Market and Kiyomizudera area - all within 20mins walk). Highly recommend to use the free bikes from the hotel to explore the river during the day.

Hotel is also quite accessible, via bus 4 or 17 from Kyoto Station (alight at Kawarachi Shomen stop, Hiccup during check in (after we dropped off luggage first, then came back to check in formally in evening). We were told to fill in details + pay the local room tax (again). Welcome drinks were oddly served - when we first arrived, we were told the drinks will only be served during actual check-in, in our room only. Wash basin situated directly behind the bed makes for some potential wet heads / pillows. Also, you can't quite lean against the wash basin area (since there is no proper bed rest for it). Bed faced the river (and with it, traffic and pedestrians, but unsure about privacy levels in evening / daytime - although they do have electronic blinds), but bed is stacked 1 side fully to the wall (so 1 sleeping partner has to get off from the end of bed, instead of usual side - elderly folks beware). The dining bench has jutting, but rounded, edges (that we keep painfully knocking our shins into). Due to floor setting, has some difficulty finding space to open 2 large luggages (but we managed to).

All, we would still love to stay back here @ Genji for the staff hospitality and warmth, and general location...