The Grand West Arashiyama — Hotel in Kyoto

This little hidden gem of a property tucked away on a somewhat residential cute street far exceeded my expectations for the price. It was very convenient if you're planning part of your Kyoto trip with a visit to the Bamboo forest or Arashiyama Monkey park, or any of the beautiful temples or attractions in that area of Kyoto. The room was HUGE and comfortable. I was not expecting it to be a ryokan but there were ryokan like features such as a large area with a tatami-mat, complimentary Japanese robe & slippers (but still platform comfortable bed, private shower, and large dining area with table). Moreover, it was the staff who went above and beyond during my stay. There are not phones in the room so the woman who works at the front desk had to handle numerous calls for me during my 24 hr stay because the airline had lost my luggage [which, frankly, I preferred given the language barrier -- her assistance w/ communicating to the airport/airline was immensely helpful!] and the other thing that made this place beyond exceptions is the AMAZING complimentary breakfast at the cafe downstairs. It was my favorite breakfast of my entire 2 week trip throughout Japan! Both the hotel lobby and the cafe had an adorable & quaint atmosphere and again, that breakfast was expansive and delicious -- very unusual for one included in the price...

I stayed at this hotel for a few days with my sister and I'm really satisfied with everything. The staff is so friendly and helpful. The hotel is conveniently located near the shopping street, surrounded by plenty of activities and attractions like the monkey park, bamboo forest and beautiful temples. There are also snack stands and small souvenir shops everywhere. It's also just a short distance from the train station. The only bad thing is that almost all the nearby eating places close at 5/6 pm. It has nothing to do with the hotel, but it's just a bit annoying.

One of my favorite features of the hotel is the option to rent bikes. Cycling around the city allows you to enjoy the beautiful nature, especially since walking can sometimes get tiring. Plus biking is more fun and faster than walking.

The room itself was spacious, clean and well equipped with everything we needed. Daily cleaning was excellent. There's a l Lawson convenience store nearby. Perfect for grabbing a late-night snack. The hotel also offers complimentary water, coffee, tea,... at the reception.

While there isn't an elevator to easily transport your luggage, it's not a big issue. One of the staff members kindly carried our suitcases upstairs, which was such a thoughtful gesture.

I highly recommend this...

Beautiful hotel set right in the heart of Arashiyama, with warm, very helpful staff. ||Jo was brilliant, right from our arrival, up to helping us post our cases to our Tokyo hotel while we headed to Kanazawa. ||A creative, fun breakfast was included and could be eaten in the cafe underneath the hotel. ||Location: ||An enjoyable 20 minute walk across togetsukyo bridge to get to Sagano station / the bamboo forest. The hotel is conveniently located next to a bus stop heading directly into Kyoto. We were able to get Ubers within 1 minute. Plenty around that area and cost roughly £30 to get from Kyoto Station directly to the hotel. ||We had an apartment style room which was incredible designed, clearly using sustainable materials. Though still with a traditional flair, like tatami matts. ||Would recommend to anyone, particularly if they want easy access to...