The property is gorgeous! The check-in + check-out process is one of the best I have experienced when staying at a hotel. The room we booked had a private onsen which was used 2-3 times a day. There is a public onsen - which was empty every time we went to use it - was very beautiful. They have an indoor + outdoor onsen which is great for use when the weather is raining (the perfect setting). The staff is great at remaking the room when you for the day and turning down the room before you get back after dinner. The fitness room is quite small and caused conflict with some hotel guests. Our routine is to workout earlier before the day gets going and was the plans for others as well which made for very awkward interactions. If you don’t use the fitness center or this isn’t as big of a worry then I wouldn’t worry about my experience. The breakfast options were perfect for us and gave us a variety since we stayed for 5 nights at the Banyan Tree. Lack of knowledge on the shuttle service caused some inconvenience multiple times and then resulted in more taxi rides… The laundry service - this is an expensive amenity they offer and DO NOT send out clothes that require certain care instructions. Quite a few of our shirts were ruined because they require low/no heat drying and were returned as crop tops (too much heat). The front desk staff seemed unbothered and not willing to offer support for this issue. We are going home 6 shirts less than when we arrived… use with caution. Otherwise the location is good with the exception of overcrowded streets that can often times cause traveling delays due to backed up intersections.
Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto
Address: 7 Seikanji Ryozan-cho, Higashiyama-ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto, Japan Higashiyama WardAvailability
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We did not stay over here but rather came for the onsen/massage. It was the MOST magical experience 🤭✨ the women who cared for us were so wonderful and kind, and it was genuinely the best massage I have ever had. We had an hour in the onsen/sauna first then the massage afterwards. The place fully welcomes people with tattoos - even complimented them which felt so cute after hiding them in other places!! It was a gorgeous experience and the service was 10/10!
Lovely hotel, ideally located. The room, though a bit small, is charming, and the front desk staff were pleasant. However, we were somewhat disappointed by the breakfast and the table service. Additionally, no alternative is offered for guests who prefer more privacy outside of the onsen. Our biggest disappointment, though, was the complete lack of any gesture for my husband’s birthday. The receptionist was well aware of it, as I had asked him to book a restaurant in town for the occasion. We were expecting a small token from the hotel — even just a card or a complimentary drink — but nothing at all was offered…
Our stay at Banyan Tree Kyoto was nothing short of exceptional. Traveling as a family, it’s rare to find a place that balances luxury with genuine warmth and attentiveness, but this property delivers on every level. We stayed in an Onsen suite, which was perfect for relaxing as a family. The daily breakfast was another highlight, offering a great mix of both Japanese and Western options, making it easy for everyone to enjoy. The resort is remarkably kid-friendly without compromising on the high-end feel. A special thank you to Kohji, who truly made our entire experience unforgettable. From the moment we arrived, he ensured that every member of our family felt comfortable, cared for, and welcomed. His attention to detail, professionalism, and genuine kindness stood out in a way that’s hard to replicate. We’ve stayed at many 5-star resorts across Asia, and Kohji is without question one of the best hospitality professionals we’ve ever encountered. He represents the Banyan Tree brand with excellence and elevates the entire guest experience. Highly recommend this property for families looking for a seamless, thoughtful, and truly world-class stay in Kyoto.
I am genuinely disappointed to write this review. While the hotel is visually pretty and in a nice location in Kyoto, it is simply not worth staying at. From the moment we arrived, the experience felt unnecessarily rigid. We were repeatedly asked to pre-schedule basic services such as breakfast times and room cleaning. Traveling as a young family with a baby, this felt intrusive rather than accommodating. At this level, operations should be handled seamlessly without requiring guests to organize around them. The staff were always polite, but the overall management and organization fall far below what you would expect from a 5-star property. Our room had several issues. The heating system was constantly fluctuating between excessive heat and cold (a nightmare throughout the night) - we are talking 18 to 26 degrees fluctuations. The water tap was leaking and was not fixed until day 4 of our 5-night stay. The male onsen was another disappointment. The changing area had a strong, unpleasant smell during the first days, which made it unusable for me thereafter. Furthermore, the onsen itself was not particularly appealing in design or atmosphere. Breakfast is limited to three fixed set menus. While acceptable, it offers very little flexibility to suit individual preferences. The hotel’s dinner restaurant was disappointing and did not reflect the quality of Japanese cuisine we experienced elsewhere during our trip, despite a good sake selection. The bar was consistently empty throughout our stay, which is not surprising given the rather uninspired cocktail menu. More concerning were the issues around reservations. On day three, I proactively asked for clarification on our remaining bookings due to earlier confusion (partly caused by email issues on our side). Unfortunately, I was given incorrect information by the hotel, which ultimately resulted in a USD 400 penalty for a reservation I would have gladly attended had I been properly informed. This issue remains unresolved and, in my view, clearly reflects a failure on the hotel’s side. We have stayed at several Banyan Tree properties around the world, but this was by far the weakest experience. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this hotel.
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