Review: Hilton Kyoto (Opened 2024) – Executive Room Upgrade, Lounge, Breakfast & Rooftop Bar
When I decided to visit Kyoto during this trip back to Japan, the first place that came to mind was the newly opened Hilton Kyoto, which welcomed its first guests in September 2024. After checking out of the DoubleTree Kyoto Higashiyama (full hotel review here), I headed straight to the Hilton Kyoto. The main purpose of my stay in Kyoto was to visit people I regularly work with, but since it’s Kyoto, I made sure to set aside some time for sightseeing as well. I was able to visit Rurikō-in, Mt. Hiei, and even cross over to the Shiga side to explore the Sakamoto area.
Hilton Kyoto is conveniently located right in the centre of the city, just steps away from Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station, making it an ideal base for both sightseeing and business. Thanks to my Hilton Honors Diamond status, I was upgraded to an Executive Room for this stay.
In this article, I’ll share a detailed look at the hotel’s facilities—including the Executive Lounge, the rooftop bar “CloudNest,” the breakfast featuring Kyoto-style dishes, and the guest-only pool and spa—along with plenty of photos. At the end, I’ve also included tips on convenient and cost-efficient ways to get around Kyoto, so I hope this helps you choose the perfect hotel for your next stay in the city.
Contents
How to Get to the Hotel
An Unbeatable Location for Both Sightseeing and Business
Diamond Benefit: Upgraded to a King Executive Room
Rooftop Bar with Panoramic Views of the Higashiyama Mountains
Diamond Member Benefit – Executive Lounge
Breakfast Buffet with Kyoto-Style Dishes
Fitness and Relaxation Facilities for a Refresh
Useful Information – Kyoto Subway & Bus Day Passes
How to Get to the Hotel
From Kyoto Station
I think Kyoto Station is the station where most people arrive at in Kyoto. From there, take the Karasuma Line to Karasuma Oike Station, transfer to the Tozai Line, and get off at Kyoto City Hall, and the hotel will be right in front of you. It’s only one stop from Karasuma Oike to Kyoto City Hall, so you can also walk there in less than 15 minutes without changing trains.
If you take the Kyoto City Bus, get off at Kawaramachi Sanjo stop and you’ll be there in no time. It seems that chronic overcrowding on city buses has become a problem recently, so I recommend using the subway.
Also, if you have large luggage, you can’t get on the city bus. You can take a taxi from Kyoto Station, but I’ve heard that it’s hard to catch a taxi at Kyoto Station. If you have heavy luggage, you can have it to delivered from Kyoto Station, so you can move around more freely (see useful information in the review of the DoubleTree by Hilton Kyoto Higashiyama).
From Keihan line or Hankyu line
The hotel is also very close to Sanjo Station on the Keihan Main Line, so I think it’s the most convenient way to get to Kyoto from the Keihan line.
If you’re using the Hankyu Line, leave Kyoto Kawaramachi Station and head north along Kawaramachi-dori, and it’s about a 10-minute walk. If you want a more atmospheric street, you can also walk along the parallel Kiyamachi-dori.
The hotel entrance is on Kawaramachi-dori. Both its height and appearance blend in well with the city of Kyoto. The entrance is down a quaint alleyway, which contrasts with the busy Kawaramachi-dori.
An Unbeatable Location for Both Sightseeing and Business
Being close to the subway station, as well as the Keihan and Hankyu lines, makes the Hilton Kyoto a convenient location for both sightseeing and work. The long-established Hotel Okura Kyoto is also nearby. If you head south, you will soon be able to reach Pontocho and Kiyamachi Street.
If you use the Tozai subway line, you can easily go to the Kyocera Museum of Art and Nanzenji Temple to the east, and Nijo Castle and Arashiyama to the west.
If you can make good use of the Keihan Main Line, it is also very convenient for sightseeing. If you are mainly sightseeing in the eastern part of Kyoto, you can get off at the nearest Keihan Line station and walk from there to avoid getting caught in traffic jams. Also, if you are heading further north on the Eizan Electric Railway, it is easy to transfer at Demachiyanagi Station.
The Hilton Kyoto is said to have a design themed around “textiles”, but the stone used here and there in the lobby also catches your eye. The stone placed casually in the center of the lobby is said to be a type of andesite and it also gives off the atmosphere of a Japanese garden.
Since I arrived at the hotel before check-in time, my room was not ready yet, but I was told that I could rest in the lounge, so I decided to go up to the 9th floor. When I got off the elevator, I saw a small garden in front of me. The atmosphere was quiet and calm.
Most of the guests seemed be out sightseeing during the daytime, so there were not many people coming for afternoon tea. There were plenty of other things to enjoy besides only drinks, such as matcha chiffon cake, so please stop by the lounge in the afternoon!
Diamond Benefit: Upgraded to a King Executive Room
This time I booked a King Guest Room, but as a Diamond member, I was upgraded and guided to a King Executive Room. The executive rooms are on the same floor as the lounge. Especially when staying at a hotel for the first time, I am always excited when I open the door.
In addition to the doors, furniture and shoji screens, the ceiling is also wood-grained, and the interior is very calming, like a Japanese-style room.
It has only been open for about two months, and you can feel newness everywhere you look. As a Diamond member, a matcha cookie with figs, sweets and grapes were waiting for us as a welcome gift along with a thank-you card.
The bathroom is in a separate room, so it does not get crowded even when the bathroom is in use. I thought it was interesting that the bathroom was separated by a movable partition, and the sliding door could be opened all the way.
The bathroom had a bathtub and a washing area, which is common in Japanese hotels, but once you’re used to British and European hotels, it’s an impressive use of space.
Although the hotel is in the city centre, the soundproofing meant you can’t hear any of the noise outside from the room. Since it’s a new hotel, the ventilation seemed good. I always travel with a lot of luggage, so even when I opened multiple suitcases there was plenty of room, and I was able to relax and enjoy my stay.
Rooftop Bar with Panoramic Views of the Higashiyama Mountains
went back to the Hilton Kyoto at dusk because there is an observation bar called “Cloud Nest” on the rooftop. When you go up to the rooftop, you can see that Kyoto is surrounded by mountains on three sides. In particular, the Higashiyama mountain range can be seen right in front of you, and you can see all the way to Chion-in Temple and Nanzen-ji Temple.
At dusk, you can see the cityscape of Kyoto and the mountainside turning orange, and I was able to watch the sun setting for the first time in a long time. When I’m in London, I rarely go outside at sunset, and in the first place, it’s cloudy in winter and it’s rare to even see the sun.
With Higashiyama in the background, there are pine trees arranged like bonsai, a stream, and bird ornaments (maybe a night heron? Does anyone know?) placed here and there, and I felt comfortable as if I was on a veranda.
Of course, even if you’re not a guest, you can use the bar. After the sun went down, it felt quite cold so I recommend bringing a jacket. It seems to be open until 9:30 at night, so you can use it for lunch, dinner, or a drink before or after dinner.
After sunset, the lights on the tables were lit up in the darkness, creating a fantastic atmosphere. Please note that the restaurant is closed for the winter from December 1st.
Diamond Member Benefit – Executive Lounge
The best thing about being a Hilton Honors Diamond member is being able to enter the lounge.
I had heard that Hilton Kyoto also had a nice lounge, so I was really looking forward to staying there.
Tea and sweets were available in the afternoon, but the best part of the lounge is cocktail time. I visited right after it started.
There was a wide selection of dishes that went perfectly with alcohol, from beautiful small dishes to elaborate stews, and ham and cheese. I was thrilled to be able to enjoy Kyoto-style obanzai in the lounge.
I had made plans to have dinner with a friend in Pontocho, so I had a light meal here with a bit of regret, but I think the quantity and quality of the food in the lounge is enough to satisfy you when you’re too tired to go out to a restaurant.
The menu changes slightly depending on the day, so if you’re staying for a few days, you can enjoy different dishes on different days.
Breakfast Buffet with Kyoto-Style Dishes
Breakfast is served in both the restaurant on the ground floor and the executive lounge, so you can choose according to your mood and schedule. This time, I tried both.
Teori – Ground Floor Breakfast Restaurant
The restaurant on the ground floor is buffet style, and it is impressive that Japanese elements that are characteristic of Hilton Kyoto are incorporated everywhere. What particularly caught my eye was the wide selection of Japanese food. There was miso soup with Kyoto-style dashi and several types of obanzai, so you can enjoy healthy seasonings in the morning.
With freshly cooked rice, grilled fish, omelettes, and pickles served in small portions, it felt like having breakfast at a ryokan. There were also many types of small dishes, and if you took one at a time, the tray would fill up in no time.
The selection is also great for those who prefer Western food, and egg dishes such as omelets are made on the spot with your choice of ingredients. There was also a wide variety of freshly baked bread, and the Danish pastries were so popular that they quickly ran out.
The plants by the windows brought in gentle light and buffered the hustle and bustle of Kawaramachi-dori in the morning, allowing me to enjoy a leisurely breakfast.
Executive Lounge – 9th Floor
Meanwhile, breakfast in the Executive Lounge can be enjoyed in a more relaxed atmosphere. The lounge’s unique, quiet space is perfect for relaxing before sightseeing or work.
Although the number of dishes offered is smaller than on the ground floor, there is a good balance of Japanese and Western cuisine, and you can enjoy a Kyoto-style breakfast, especially obanzai and seasonal simmered dishes. In contrast to the bustle of the restaurant, the lounge had a relaxed atmosphere and I was able to spend a quiet time there.
There was ample seating, and enjoying breakfast in a calm environment is truly a privilege that only the lounge can offer.
Fitness & Relaxation Facilities for a Refresh
Hilton Kyoto also has a wide range of facilities where you can relax and unwind during your trip.
The gym on the basement floor is equipped with the latest machines and is available to guests 24 hours a day. Opposite it is an indoor pool. Some hotels open their gyms and pools to members, but Hilton Kyoto only allows guests to use them, so it doesn’t seem to get crowded. I always bring my swimsuit when staying at a hotel with a pool, because bringing exercise clothes and shoes makes my luggage bulky and heavy. During this visit to Japan, I used the pool, just like at Hilton Tokyo.
In addition, eforea, a spa located inside Hilton hotels all over the world, is also located here at Hilton Kyoto. Hilton Kyoto apparently offers three types of original blended oils. It is also available for non-guests.
Useful information – Kyoto Subway & Bus Day Passes
If you frequently use the subway starting from Kyoto City Hall Station, the station closest to the hotel, I recommend the Kyoto City Subway 1-Day Pass.
If you plan to use both the subway and bus, a one-day joint pass is available (1,100 yen). In addition to city buses, you can also use buses operated by other bus companies such as Kyoto Bus and Keihan Bus.
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