Park Hyatt Kyoto — Hotel in Kyoto

Just came back to London and I'm heartbroken after our trip to Japan, as we already want to return. We stayed at the Park Hyatt for four nights, and what a place!

Where to start?

Our arrival and check-in process were so pleasant and comfortable. We sat by the fireplace with a glass of champagne, surrounded by the amazing interior design. Check-in was quick and very well explained. Moreover, this was the first hotel where we were asked our preferred breakfast time and when housekeeping might visit. I found this not only comfortable for us, but it was also very professional of them to avoid crowded breakfasts or unserviced rooms.

The room, with its garden terrace, was very big. The interior design was stunning. Wood, marble, and other materials worked so well together. The wardrobe was insanely large, with a separate section just for trousers. Staying in big hotels in Europe, I've never had anything like this, and I'd been told that hotels in Japan are very small. All amenities were from Le Labo, one of my husband's favorite perfumes, which was a nice touch. Sorry, but I can't avoid mentioning Mr. Toto, as it was also different at the Park Hyatt, an upgraded version, I'd say. I loved the idea of a letter in the bathroom with a list of what they had in the hotel, so you could call and order eye masks, pajamas, pain patches—it's so smart. Of course, I ordered pajamas, and to my regret, they were so, so good that we ended up buying them. Now, it's the most comfortable souvenir we bought.

It's unbelievable how you want to go and explore Kyoto, but you literally don't want to leave the hotel, as it offers you so much tranquility.

The spa was amazing. It was even different from the Four Seasons when we returned to Tokyo. And the Four Seasons had a good spa, but not as good as the Park Hyatt—we really felt spoiled. And before, I thought the best Park Hyatt for us was only in Biarritz, by the ocean, which gives you unforgettable memories. No, there's another one that will stay in my memories forever.

And it's not only because of the beautiful design. Of course, it's because of the people. All the team who made us feel at home, took care of everything, gave us a smile every time, and I was literally crying when it was our last day. For me, the people at the Park Hyatt are incredible, from the doorman to housekeeping, whom you never see but you feel their work.

Japanese breakfast at The Bistro was something speechless, a food journey through different ingredients and small dishes. the Western breakfast was good, but the Japanese breakfast stole my heart. After each breakfast, I also ordered Japanese soufflé pancakes. I have no idea how I managed this, but they were the best I've had in my life.Thank you, chef!

Also, the staff at The Bistro were so kind. I don't remember the manager's name, but he was the sweetest guy, and also Hiroki and Sena. They are great at hospitality and have big hearts! I appreciate their advice, being quick, responsive, and very, very smiley! This is how hospitality should work in the whole world.

The concierge and reception team were incredibly helpful. Daiki was helping us when we were planning our trip in London, always very responsive and providing knowledgeable information. All our restaurant bookings were managed perfectly, and any request we had was fulfilled.

The Park Hyatt is a truly spiritual place. The hotel is different from any others. You can connect with yourself and, even more, with nature. You can hear the voice of trees dancing, you can hear water dripping in the chain next to the pomegranate tree, and you feel only two things: Life and Time.

Thank you to all the team who took care of us and delivered exceptional service: Daiki, Emi, Aoi, Sena, Hiroki, and everyone whose name we didn't memorize. You are a great team, and we wish to see you again in the upcoming future!

PS: if you visit, please pay attention to the stones in the entryway garden that are 300 million years old and came from Colorado. The stones were a gift from Thomas Pritzker, the executive...

My stay at the Park Hyatt Kyoto left me with mixed feelings, and unfortunately, as a Globalist Hyatt member, I can't rate it higher than 3 out of 5 stars. While the hotel's hard product aka physical aspects are undeniably beautiful, the recurring issues with service cast a shadow over the experience. Breakfast is not specifically anything special. FYI, the Japanese upgraded breakfast is an decently large upcharge from the included standard Western breakfast for elite members.

Despite being an upscale hotel with a price tag to match, it was disappointing to find that the service did not live up to its price tag. This sentiment seems to echo past reviews, indicating that it may be an ongoing problem rather than a one-off experience.

To illustrate the service issues, let me share a specific incident during our stay. We had just come from a 5 night stay at Conrad Hilton, which had impressed us with its attentive service despite the lower cost (still about $800 a night). I will note that there is an operations scale between a large hotel like the Conrad vs a small hotel like Park Hyatt. At the Park Hyatt, we encountered service lapses during breakfast. The worker, Choi, seemed absent minded or tired and lacked in typical Japanese hospitality manners. Breakfast can also be hectic with clientele not understanding how to order. The service here is generally less attentive and have less attention to detail than you'd expect for the price tag. There is a clear learning experience that Park Hyatt Kyoto can take from Conrad Hilton.

Later, we ordered room service, and knowing that the order was going to be large, to ensure accuracy, we even took the extra step of emailing the front desk our room service order in numerical order and the menu item names exactly from the booklet. Despite this, the order still arrived wrong and incomplete. This experience was stressful for the both of us and the meal was not enjoyable due to the ongoing ordeal.

By the time we were able to figure out the incorrect bill, the food was already cold. Even more concerning, it took multiple calls just to confirm that some items were missing. When I visited the lobby to address the situation, the front desk seemed to distance themselves from the issue, despite the head of the in room dining department acknowledging there was a miscommunication with the front desk themselves and the food & beverage team. This boiled down to a lack of understanding of your own menu items/booklet information.

In summary, while the Park Hyatt Kyoto undoubtedly boasts stunning physical attributes, it's essential to be aware of the recurring service issues. It's disheartening to experience lapses in service, especially given the premium price tag associated with this hotel. The multi-language skills of the staff is also not where it needs to be. Ultimately, I would only recommend booking this hotel on Hyatt points and not cash. Park Hyatt Kyoto is not worth the cash price of $1000-$3000+ until they can fix their service issues as mentioned in other fair reviews in...

This place was quite luxurious…

Booked for my last night in Kyoto (tough finding availability!) for 40k Hyatt points as a Globalist. Came from Hilton/LXR’s Roku Kyoto, so it had a lot to live up to and I would say it was different but also excellent.

Unlike the Roku, the Park Hyatt is located in a popular tourist district that is also walking distance to the most popular tourist district (Gion).

Theres many nice shops and food stores nearby and plenty of temples and shrines to check out. Enjoy everyone in their kimonos and yukata!

As for the hard product, it was definitely gorgeous, kind of maze like in a fun Kyoto way. As a Globalist, I was upgraded from a standard King to a “King View” which didn’t overlook the famous pagoda but overlooked the Michelin star restaurant and had two walls of huge panel windows.

Our room was maybe even more spacious than our standard room at the Roku (impressive as it’s much more central) and full of light on a high floor.

We went to Yasaka (the French-inspired Teppanyaki) for dinner on the property which, while not cheap (500 USD for 2 with a couple drinks) was absolutely gorgeous with views of the whole city and we happened to be there on a sleepy late Monday where we had an impromptu private presentation for us. Ryotaru, our chef, talked to us as he prepared dishes at beautiful as they were delicious over around 6 courses, my favorite being the amuse bouche, a toasted cheese wrapped prawn. For my fiancée, it was over-the-top romantic.

We also enjoyed breakfast at the Kyoto Bistro (free as a Globalist) which included a nice buffet of fresh baked goods, some salad, fruit and your choice of a hot Item. My fiancée loved the avocado toast and I agreed that my chicken congee was quite tasty too.

There was also a free champagne happy hour from 5-6 for Globalist which got me a little spinny with my jet lag but felt very luxurious seated next to a fireplace.

The staff were also helpful and kind showing us where the spa was for instance, which my fiancée loved (“all the products and features of a real spa!”) and while there is no large pool there was a nice steam room as well as a hot tub and a cold plunge. Note that it is separated by gender.

Overall, if I found myself in Kyoto again with points to spare on a romantic vacation, I’d love to stay here. Taxis and public transit were both easy, the location was excellent and I felt like the staff were all there to make us welcome.

I’d also like to try nearby Sowaka someday for a more typical ryokan experience! I wonder how the two places compare.

Note: there seems like there were several other Globalists there I heard during champagne happy hour, complaining that they couldn’t get a free suite upgrade. I didn’t mind since our room was gorgeous but if that’s something you care deeply about know it may not...