Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto

The attentive staff made us feel truly welcome. The hotel was spotless, our room was spacious, and the bed was incredibly comfortable—our best stay of the trip. We only wish we had more time to enjoy the garden pond; it’s simply beautiful. The breakfast buffet was beautifully presented, and the à la carte options were excellent—the pancake was to die for!

My husband and I stayed here for our honeymoon. From start to finish, this is one of the best luxury hotel experiences we’ve ever had (and we felt compelled to write this review because of how amazing the visit her was!). Before we got to Kyoto, the hotel concierge did a great job of assisting us in making dinner reservations when our first choice kaiseki restaurant was fully booked. They gave multiple options and were very knowledgeable about the food scene. Throughout our visit, they consistently made food and drink recommendations that were not tourist traps, foreigner-friendly, and most importantly delicious. The hotel property is also unreal—the pictures online do not do it justice. The rooms are centered around an 800 year old pond filled with koi. There is an artificial mist created over the pond each morning to quite a stunning effect. Both the gym and spa floors have unbelievable amenities. The spa floor men’s changing area has an onsen with a dry sauna while the fitness center has a steam room. We appreciated having access to both. We were also lucky enough to be at the hotel for one of the twice-weekly Maiko performances in the hotel lobby (they do these on Tuesdays and Saturdays). Where the Four Seasons Kyoto really shines though is the exceptional level of service. We had some confusion about how we could use a gift card we received as a wedding present at the beginning of our stay and the initial room we got (overlooking the pond from the top floor) was unfortunately adjoining another room with two very young and very loud babies. The manager Yuri went above and beyond in making things right for us—we were moved to a gorgeous one bedroom suite (!) on the same floor with an even better view. Yuri also personally escorted us to our room and had the staff leave little treats for us, like a bottle of champagne, hand made tea and some delicious snacks (including a pumpkin tart on Thanksgiving Day!). Throughout the stay, the staff anticipated our every need in big ways and small. Cannot overstate how blown away we were by this visit. We hope to be back very soon!

Most of the time, when we have a good experience at a hotel, we don’t feel the need to write a review — because everything simply met expectations. But sometimes, the service and overall experience exceed even our high expectations, and you feel obligated to share it. This was exactly the case with Four Seasons Kyoto. Four Seasons Kyoto will elevate your trip in a way that I doubt any other hotel in the city can match. The hotel’s facilities and activities — from feeding the koi fish, to the kimono experience, the Maiko performance, and more — allow you to enjoy many of Kyoto’s “must-do” experiences right from the comfort of the hotel itself. Speaking of comfort, as expected from Four Seasons, the rooms are spacious, beautifully designed, and incredibly relaxing. The service, however, is what truly sets this hotel apart. Every member of the staff is warm, friendly, and genuinely eager to help. You can feel that they sincerely want you to enjoy both the hotel and the city. Throughout my stay, I had several requests, and every single one was handled quickly and perfectly, making my entire experience flawless. If you’re hesitating about where to stay in Kyoto, or considering other options, take my advice: book Four Seasons Kyoto without hesitation. It will be one of the best choices you make for your trip — and it will make your visit to Kyoto truly unforgettable.

I can't say enough good things about our experience at the Four Seasons Kyoto. From our communications before our arrival to the moment we sadly had to leave, the experience was exceptional. The entire staff was caring, kind, attentive, but not “stuffy” as some five-star hotels can be. The hospitality was warm and welcoming, the accommodations and common areas were immaculate and comfortable, the food was delicious, and the garden was a delightful respite from the busy outside world. Beyond that, my husband and I were there celebrating our 30th Anniversary, and the staff made our stay extra special every day. Before we arrived, I reached out to the concierge team about getting tickets to the Gion Odori show happening on the day we arrived. I was having a bit of trouble with the translated website. They stepped in, helped me understand, and proactively shared other geisha and maiko opportunities we might be interested in. Once we ordered the show tickets, there was some confusion about whether they had been delivered, and they went to the extreme of going through the ordering process themselves to help us figure it out. Similarly, when I asked about the Takkyubin service I had read about, they explained precisely how it worked and how they could assist us. We so appreciated their help and expertise. It eased our stress so much! Once we arrived, it only got better. We were treated to a room upgrade, an anniversary treat, and humble kindness at every turn. Every day, we were amazed at how exceptional the service was. One night, we arrived late from a day trip and had just missed the maiko performance in the lobby. When Tina, one of the servers in the bar, heard that, she actually ran down the stairs to catch the maiko before she left, so we could at least get a picture. When my husband mentioned he liked the little snack trays in the bar, the staff helped him find out where he could get them. Smiles, laughter, and warm greetings abounded at every turn. We cannot rightfully express how grateful we are to the entire Four Seasons Kyoto staff. Every single member of the team, even those behind the scenes that we never saw, worked hard to ensure we had an exceptional experience. It is, hands down, the best hotel stay we have ever had. Thank you to the entire staff – you made our experience truly the trip of a lifetime!

Off the charts service from an extremely attentive staff. We stayed 11 nights and loved every one of those nights! Always loved coming back even after many amazing days in Kyoto. Spend the extra $$$$ and stay here - you won't regret it!