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The Kyoto and Osaka area was the main focus of my trip to Japan rather than Tokyo. Kyoto is one of the most culturally significant to Japan. It dates back to 794 when it was chosen as a new seat for the Japanese Imperial Court. There are a few Hyatts to choose from in Kyoto. Hyatt Regency Kyoto doesn’t get as much attention as the luxurious Park Hyatt Kyoto. While the hotel gets busy during peak travel, it’s still fantastic. 

Hyatt Regency Kyoto: 1 King with a Balcony Deluxe

Hyatt Regency Kyoto Location

The Hyatt Regency Kyoto isn’t exactly located in the middle of the action. It’s on the east side of town as you head into the hills. The Kyoto National Museum is right across the street. Kyoto Station is about a ten minute taxi ride. If you come in on the shinkansen, this is the station you’ll arrive at. Luckily, the hotel provides a complimentary taxi between 9AM and 8PM. 

There isn’t a ton of public transportation around the hotel, but it is easy to get a taxi. Just tell the staff and they will wave down a taxi for you. 

Hyatt Regency Kyoto Booking

Cash rates can vary widely depending on the time of year. During my stay, cash nights were high. Around $600 for my one-night stay while points were 23,000. I decided to use my World of Hyatt points. A solid 2.6 cents per point for this redemption. I always try to redeem my Hyatt points for at least 2 cents per point. 

Hyatt Regency Kyoto Check-In

I walked from a nearby subway stop up a hill for about five minutes. Then I arrived at the unassuming exterior of the hotel. The exterior dates back to 1980 and doesn’t reflect the modern vibrancy you’ll find inside. The lobby is huge and beautiful with beige intricate patterns everywhere you look. The main focal point was the spiral staircase leading from the lobby to one of the dining outlets. 

As I walked inside I was greeted and taken to the check-in desk. The front desk attendant thanked me for my Globalist status, amenities were explained and I was given a cute little post card outlining everything. I was also provided a voucher for a free drink at one of the hotel dining outlets. Those that drink won’t have any issues using the voucher, but they wouldn’t substitute a coffee for me. Rather disappointing as I’ve never had any issues before.

After about five minutes, a porter was called over and I was escorted up to my room.

The Room – 1 King with a Balcony Deluxe

During check-in, I was informed that I was upgraded to the 1 King with a Balcony Deluxe room from the standard 1 King booked on points. This is the highest category you can expect at the Hyatt Regency Kyoto. The hotel does not participate in the suite upgrade program due to the limited number of suites. That also means if you have suite upgrade awards you can’t use them here. 

I walked off the elevator down the unassuming hallway down to room 1506 on the top floor of the hotel. My first thought when I walked in the room was how massive it was. There were several different areas with a sofa, desk and bed. 

The L shaped sofa was located in the middle of the room. Perfect angle to view the television. 

A desk was on the far side of the room near the balcony. There were two different chairs. I thought this was a bit odd as it wasn’t big enough for two people to work at. On the desk, I found a nice welcome amenity of sweets and a note. I always appreciate when hotels provide something small. 

The bed was in front of beautiful Japanese mural panels of different colors. Both sides of the bed had a side table with power outlets and a lamp. Like I found at the Hyatt Regency Yokohama, the bed was extremely firm. During turndown service, PJs were laid on the bed. 

The minibar was along the inside wall next to the entrance. It was pretty stocked. You had your typical coffee and tea along with a coffeemaker and kettle. Two complimentary bottles of water were also out on top. Inside the mini bar fridge were some more drinks like OJ, coke, wine, beer and cooled chocolates. There were some nuts and hard alcohol like Absolut Vodka and Jack Daniels. 

The bathroom was in the back part of the room. I thought it had some odd angles and the inclusion of stairs was strange. The wardrobe and bidet was to the right when you first walked inside the bathroom. There were two sections to the wardrobe offering tons of space to hang your clothes. 

If you turn left and walk up two steps, you enter the main portion of the bathroom. Here you’ll find the sinks, tub and shower. Be careful with the steps! I tripped down a few times as the angles were a bit odd. There was a good amount of counter space if you needed it. 

The tub and shower were in an open space. I did find that it took a bit for the water to get hot, but the water pressure was excellent. 

The windows were actually large sliding doors that lead to the balcony. The view was pretty nice for a city hotel. My balcony overlooked the courtyard garden. There was no provided furniture on the balcony even though there was plenty of space to accommodate some. That was rather disappointing. 

Hyatt Regency Kyoto Dining

The hotel doesn’t have a lounge so Globalists get their free breakfast in the hotel restaurant, Cafe 33. Breakfast is a buffet and there are a few made-to-order items on the menu. The buffet footprint is small, but extensive. 

Hot items were available like potatoes and mushrooms, french toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausage. In addition to the hot items were several cold cuts and sliced cheeses. There are several types of fruits including oranges, apples, grapefruit, pineapple and melons. You can also grab little jars of oatmeal and yogurt. Different types of greens were available to make yourself a breakfast salad along with a ton of different bread options. 

On the drink side, there was a good amount of juices like orange, grapefruit, apple, tomato, and carrot. 

Hyatt Regency Kyoto Bottom Line

Even though I didn’t love the location, I enjoyed my stay. The breakfast buffet was really solid which helped start my day of exploring. Even better, the room was large, giving me space to relax. Large rooms aren’t typical of Japanese hotels. If you can’t find availability at the Park Hyatt Kyoto and don’t want to stay at the Hyatt Place Kyoto, this is a great alternative.

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