Genji Kyoto, a Member of Design Hotels Reviews

One of the prettiest hotels I have been in in Japan. The staff were fantastic and were always helpful, even going so far as walking us out to the main street to reach our transportation. Just amazing.

Nice, Staff very helpful, environment so beautiful, Can ride their bicycle to look around city!

New and clean. Great river view and nice detailed design. Excellent service by the hotel staff.

Very quiet, the restaurant on the top floor overlooks those famous attractions, and the service is also very good.

It's OK, the design is not that good, the price is not cheap, the experience is OK

Travel is convenient, the room is comfortable, it would be perfect if there is a more favorable price

A beautiful boutique hotel, nestled in a quiet corner of Kyoto overlooking the Kamogawa river. Spacious rooms, tastefully designed in a modern Japanese style with excellent amenities. The rooftop terrace is an oasis to enjoy cocktails with fantastic views over the city. If you’re after a serene location, but only a short walk from the hustle and bustle of Kyoto you can’t do better. The staff are so helpful and friendly. One of the highlights was breakfast, certainly the best we enjoyed during our trip of the far east. Do take advantage of the hotel’s bicycles, arguably the best way to get around. We can’t wait to go back.

I guess this should be one of the best hotels in Kyoto. Residing right along the Kamogawa, great design and the rooftop bar, brings you a direct view of the Kiyomizu temple and the Kyoto Tower. It’s a member of the Design Hotels Group and a member of the Marriott Group.

The Genji Kyoto (a member of Design Hotels and the Marriot Bonvoy chain) is a beautiful boutique hotel, situated in the lovely and quiet neighborhood of Gojo-Kawaramachi. I took a taxi from Kyoto Station to the hotel (~10-minute drive). I showed the taxi driver the directions map that the hotel has on its website. The taxi dropped me off at the ‘Rokken Bridge’, about a 2-minute walk to the interior street the hotel entrance is on. I guess that it’s difficult to access the small street by taxi since I booked a taxi when leaving the hotel and the pickup point was at the same spot as where I was dropped off on arrival. A staff member helped me with my luggage when I checked out and took my bags to the taxi. The closest bus stop (Kawaramachi Shomen) is a 5-minute walk from the hotel which is useful to get to central Kyoto. Kiyomizu-Gojo train station (Keihan Main Line) is a 6-minute walk from the hotel which conveniently gets you to the Fushimi-Inari shrine and the Gion district. A 20-minute walk from the hotel shall put you in the center of Gion. The hotel is quite new (~3 years old) and has been beautifully designed and decorated, combining modern and traditional Japanese elements. The hotel staff throughout my stay were superb. All the staff I encountered were friendly and professional and spoke very good English. Other than the room itself, I did not use the other hotel amenities, nor did I have breakfast/lunch/dinner at the hotel. I was escorted to my room (River Balcony Deluxe) and was given an introductory tour/explanation of it. A welcome drink of my choice awaited me. The studio-type room design and decor, like the hotel in general, was great. Everything in the room is high quality and gives you a sense of luxury and comfort. The scenic view from my room was fantastic as the hotel is right on the banks of the Kamo River. The room’s balcony was the perfect place to watch the world go by below. The heated bathroom floor and the huge rain showerhead made for a splendid showering experience. The queen-sized bed was very comfortable and made the perfect place to fall asleep after a day of exploring. Complimentary bottled water was provided daily. The room’s safe was large enough to accommodate my 15” laptop. The Wi-fi signal was strong and stable. The TV channel selection was good and had some international channel selections as well. Initially, it was a bit confusing trying to channel surf and it was easier to pick a channel from the main TV menu screen that is shown on the TV when you turn it on. The hotel's top floor has a lovely open balcony. Breakfast and dinner are served there, as well as a bar in the evening. The views from the balcony of the surrounding area are great. As you would expect for a small luxury boutique hotel, the price is not cheap (~600 USD per night). However, given the location, quality of the hotel, and service, I felt that the price was worth it. A comparatively similar hotel experience at one o

As a frequent world traveler for business, I rarely write reviews unless something strikes a chord with me. The Genji was such a place. This was my first trip to Japan and second city visited on the trip. As a Titanium member of Marriott I decided on this property for myself and my cousins and aunt. The rooms are spacious with a nice river view and the breakfasts are very good. It’s the service that stands out here. All the staff were very friendly and customer service oriented. The location is great as it’s tucked away in a small neighborhood with some cafes and bars in the area. I highly recommend checking out this hotel if you are looking in Kyoto.

This hotel could not have been better. The location, rooms, and the rooftop garden were all fantastic. But the best part was the staff. Everyone who worked there was amazing. Especially Eri and Sergei. They were both among the best hotel staff I have seen. Also if you stay there make sure to eat breakfast and have cocktails on the roof. It is beautiful and has amazing views of the town and river below.

An amazing find! I spent three nights at the Genji and had a great time. Originally, I planned to stay at a chain hotel, but this was so much better. The hotel is a blend of Japanese and modern styles. My favorite parts were the rock garden off the lobby and rooftop. My room had a balcony overlooking the river, and tatami area with low seating. I preferred the couch and larger table as I could face outside. Of course, there was a fancy toilet with heated seat and bidet! By far, the best part of this hotel was the staff. Everyone was so friendly and provided flawless service. I loved that they would call your room 15 minutes before your assigned breakfast time. Definitely try the Japanese breakfast, but the western set was also excellent. Special thanks to the manager Ms. Mao, who suggested I visit the Golden Temple and Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. She also escorted me to the Taxi upon departure. I really liked the location, as it was a few blocks away from the bustle of Kyoto. The only downside is that the area felt deserted at night. Two train stations on the Keihan Railway (Shichijo and Kiyomizu-Gojo) are less than 10 minutes away on foot. The most unexpected feature was their laundry room with two free machines (detergent already loaded). However, a machine can take 5+ hours to wash and dry your clothes. Coming from the US, that was shockingly long. I highly recommend the Genji and would gladly return!

The Genji Kyoto is a stunning hotel. Very thoughtful design in the rooms and public areas. The roof top garden area is perfect for sipping your morning tea or your evening cocktail. They have thought of all the details. There are even bikes to borrow to explore the great neighborhood. Do not hesitate booking at this wonderful hotel. Staff are helpful and charming too. Waving us off down the street as we made an early morning departure. So beautifully Japanese.

To say that this hotel beat our stay in Tokyo’s world famous Okura shows just how good it was. Beautiful big room, well equipped, huge bath and bathroom. Lovely views from terrace. Very helpful staff. BUT! Best of all the bikes; high quality and used by us every day. What a great way to get around Kyoto. Loved it!