The Westin Miyako Kyoto Review: Elegant Hotel in Higashiyama with Renovated Rooms

Located at the base of the Higashiyama mountains, The Westin Miyako Kyoto recently completed a full-scale renovation. Its location and refreshed facilities were the main reasons we chose it for our fall trip to Kyoto in 2024. We couldn’t be happier with our decision! Below is a detailed review of our stay and recommendations on who will enjoy this hotel the most.

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Location

The Westin Miyako Hotel sits in eastern Higashiyama, right next to Keage Station, placing it within easy walking distance of great attractions like Nanzen-ji, Konchi-in, the Lake Biwako Canal Museum, Keage Incline, and Heian Shrine. For our trip, this was especially convenient as we spent most of our time enjoying the fall foliage around eastern Higashiyama and took a quick side trip to Ishiyamadera in Otsu, Shiga. In spring, its location would be equally appealing as it is close to prime cherry blossom spots: you can stroll to Keage Incline or take a short taxi ride to the Philosopher’s Path.

Overall, though we appreciated the location of the hotel, first-time visitors may not find it ideal for their trip. Let me explain why. First-timers usually want to check off the most famous sites in Kyoto, such as Gion, Kiyomizu-dera, and Fushimi Inari. Some may consider the Westin Miyako a bit far from those places.

Because this was our third visit with a specific purpose to see fall colors and we had already seen the popular attractions, staying in eastern Higashiyama was perfect. However, for a first visit, especially if you want to be in the heart of Gion, I would recommend the Celestine Gion Kyoto, where we had a fantastic stay on our first trip to Kyoto.

We arrived a little before 2 p.m. and were promptly greeted by the door staff, who directed us to the check-in area in the grand lobby of the hotel. The lobby exudes a spacious, contemporary elegance with touches of Japanese design. While the exterior of the hotel doesn’t leave much of an impression, it looks much nicer and more polished inside.

The check-in process was quick and efficient. The staff member who assisted us provided a property map and we realized the hotel turned out to be much larger than we expected. He took the time to point out the breakfast room, public bath, and on-site gardens. We were pleased to learn we could head straight to our room an hour before the official check-in time. As Marriott Gold members, we asked about a late checkout and were offered 1 p.m., which felt generous enough given it was a peak season.

After the check-in procedures at the front desk, another staff insisted on handling our luggage while escorting us to our room. She showed us in-room amenities and also gave us extra water bottles. Well, I have to say this is probably one of the best check-in experiences we have seen at Marriott properties, besides the Shisui Nara. Everything already felt very polished from the start of our stay.

We stayed in a deluxe twin room for three nights, one of which was redeemed with points. Though we didn’t receive an upgrade, our room overlooked one of the hotel’s on-site gardens, giving us a lovely view of the autumn foliage right from our window.

The room has been beautifully renovated with a soft palette of beige, cream and warm wood tones. The carpet introduces subtle blue and purple accents that complement the furniture. At about 38 square meters (409 square feet), the room felt very spacious by Japanese standards.

Hotels in Japan tend to prefer firmer mattresses, and we were very glad that the mattresses at the Westin Miyako Hotel were soft and cloud-like, aligning with typical international high-end hotels.

The seating area features a small round table, a yellow lounge chair and a circular ottoman in a rich, blue velvet that adds a pop of color. While this arrangement looked stylish, we did miss having a larger table and a comfy sofa that could seat more than one person. Another feature we would have appreciated is a separate desk, which would have provided extra space for personal items or a laptop.

Overall, we were pleased with the size, refined interior design, and cleanliness of the room. Soundproofing seemed good as it was always quiet when we were in our room. The only minor drawback was the limited seating space to relax, but otherwise, we found our stay very comfortable.

For breakfast, guests can choose either a Japanese set meal or a breakfast buffet. On one morning when we had an early reservation to visit Enko-ji, we opted for the Japanese set meal, and we chose the buffet for the other days.

The dining area for those who chose the Japanese breakfast set is separate from the buffet room. The set included grilled fish, hot tofu, miso soup, a choice of rice or congee along with various small sides such as mentaiko, pickled plum, small sardines and green veggies. Despite not being a buffet, the assortment was filling and allowed us to sample a good range of flavors.

The main breakfast room is bright and spacious with huge windows showcasing Higashiyama scenery. Several made-to-order stations offered onigiri, noodle soups, and eggs, while other sections featured Japanese sides, cold cuts, salads, and breads. Although it wasn’t extraordinary, the buffet had a decent variety of options and used good-quality ingredients. I think it provided a satisfying start to the day.

We were pleasantly surprised by the hotel’s extensive size and variety of amenities. Located at the base of the mountains, it features a rooftop garden with panoramic city views and a trail called the Wild Bird Sanctuary and Trail. Although we didn’t see any birds on our short hike, the setting itself was still quite refreshing.

My husband took advantage of the public onsen every night, which uses natural hot spring water pumped directly from the hotel grounds. He said the onsen was very popular with hotel guests. Guests can use three different baths: an indoor bath, an outdoor bath and jacuzzi. There are also swimming pools, fitness center, spas and a Family Mart in the basement to grab some quick snacks when needed.

The hotel has several on-site restaurants but we did not try any of them. A service a lot of guests probably find useful is the complimentary shuttle bus to Kyoto Station. The hotel also maintains a concierge counter at the station where guests can store their luggage, making it convenient for them to do extra sightseeing in Kyoto.

The beautiful setting, extensive facilities and polished service of the Westin Miyako Hotel sometimes made us feel like being in a resort. Despite being a large-scale property with over 200 rooms, it manages to offer a cozy, calm, and private atmosphere — perfect for travelers seeking a refined stay in eastern Higashiyama.

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I wholeheartedly recommend this hotel if you enjoy staying in this area of Kyoto, particularly if you have already visited the main tourist spots or prefer a more peaceful location close to nature. The property exceeds its class in many ways and is likely where we will stay on future trips to Kyoto.

In case you want to stay in Gion, I suggest checking out the Celestine Hotel Gion Kyoto. If you like to be near Kyoto Station, I also love the Thousand Kyoto Hotel.

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