The Hiramatsu Kyoto Review: A Refined Boutique Stay in Central Kyoto

Overview

This hotel is described as a boutique luxury property in central Kyoto. I have always found the word luxury somewhat vague and overused. What stood out to us was not so much a conventional idea of luxury, but rather how the hotel blends the feel of a modern boutique hotel with elements of a traditional ryokan.

Nearby Attractions

Because the hotel is located in central Kyoto, a number of attractions, shops, and restaurants are within easy walking distance. The nearest station is Karasuma-Oike Station, about a 5-minute walk away. It serves both the Karasuma and Tozai Subway Lines, making it quite convenient for getting around the city.

The Karasuma Line provides quick access to Kyoto Station, which is useful for trains to other cities. The Tozai Line runs east-west and makes it easy to reach areas such as Gion and Higashiyama, where many of Kyoto’s historic sights are located. Overall, we found the location pretty convenient. For spots we wanted to see that are not near any train stations, such as Kitano Tenmangu, we don’t mind taking a quick taxi ride.

⭐️ Highlighted Spots Within Walking Distance

Gear Non-Verbal Theatre – under 15 minutes walking from the hotel. We had seen many positive reviews of this show online since our first trip to Kyoto and finally decided to give it a try. I wouldn’t call it a masterpiece, but it was definitely entertaining, combining elements of dancing, magic, juggling, and visual storytelling. For travelers like us who are not particularly interested in nightlife or bars, it’s a pleasant way to spend an evening. Tickets can be purchased on Klook or GetYourGuide.

Nijo Castle – also about 15 minutes on foot. Unlike many castles in Japan that primarily served as military fortresses, Nijo Castle functioned as an actual residence for the Tokugawa shoguns when they visited Kyoto. The complex also includes large gardens and several buildings, so allow 2-3 hours if you want to explore it properly. The last entry is around 4 pm, with closing time at 5 pm, so it’s best not to arrive too late in the afternoon.

Other nearby spots include Maikoya Tea Ceremony (Nishiki location and Karasuma Shijo location), Nishiki Market, and the Samurai & Ninja Museum. Some of these attractions are designed largely with international visitors in mind, so it may be worth doing a bit of research to see if they match your interests.

Our Room

Our deluxe twin room was spacious by Kyoto standards with an atmosphere that felt calm and refined without being overly stylized. The room size is 60 square meters and you can see the floor plan on the hotel website. The room features two twin beds placed against a wooden headboard wall. I personally prefer a thick padded headboard over a wooden one though. Both the mattress and pillows were very soft.

The beds faced a long window that runs almost the entire length of the room. Along the window is a built-in wooden bench with shoji screens and decorative wall panels above. The pattern on the upper panels resembled gentle waves. I think the shoji screen is a good design choice as it adds a traditional Japanese element while hiding the fact that the outside view is not particularly scenic.

Next to the beds is a seating area with two comfortable armchairs and a low table. It is a pleasant spot to relax in the evening after a day of sightseeing. Warm lighting and wood tones gave the room a very relaxing feel in the evening. The room also includes a desk tucked neatly into a small alcove, overlooking a small internal garden.

The bathroom is also generously sized with a jacuzzi and a spacious shower area. The fixtures and appliances were of good quality and in great conditions, and the water pressure was excellent.

We also quite liked the Sharp hair dryer provided in the room. It had a slim and simple design that made it lighter and more comfortable to use. We even considered buying one, but unfortunately this particular version does not come in 220V. By the way, if you are interested in high-end Japanese hair dryers, we would also recommend checking out ReFa.

Every morning when we left the hotel, staff would quickly check with us what time we would return so that they could arrange making up the room.

Breakfast

Our room rate included a light breakfast, which was quite similar to a continental-style offering with a salad, bread basket, fresh fruits, tea, and coffee. The salad was refreshing, while the bread was on the sweet side. Overall, it was pleasant but a bit too light for our taste and did not quite provide the kind of nourishment we look for to start a day of sightseeing. We generally prefer a hot and more substantial breakfast in the morning when traveling.

Guests also have the option to upgrade to a full Japanese breakfast or Western breakfast for 4,000 yen per person. If you choose this option, you need to inform the staff the day before and specify the time you would like to have breakfast.

We tried the light breakfast once out of curiosity. For the remaining two mornings, we upgraded to the Japanese breakfast, which was served in the hotel’s small and cozy Japanese restaurant overlooking a tranquil zen garden.

The Japanese breakfast set followed the familiar style at more upscale hotels in Japan. It included steamed rice, miso soup, grilled fish, tamagoyaki, a simmered dish, and an assortment of small accompaniments such as pickles, small sardines, and seaweed sheets. Everything was nicely presented and well prepared, and we enjoyed the meal overall.

Given the additional cost, I personally expected a little more in terms of variety or standout elements. My guess is that the smaller size of the property makes it more challenging to offer a more elaborate breakfast. The plus point is the Japanese breakfast on the two mornings we had included slightly different items each day. The variations were enough to keep the meal from feeling repetitive.

Service and Amenities