A change of plans saw us staying in Kyoto for an extra 2 nights (for a total of 4 nights). Since I couldn’t find a suitable Airbnb for our extended stay, I ended up booking 2 rooms at the Hyatt Regency Kyoto on cash + points. The hotel is located just a quick walk away from one of the highlights of Kyoto: the Higashyama Historical District.
Hyatt Regency Kyoto
644-2 Sanjusangendo-mawari,
Kyoto Prefecture 605-0941, Japan
Hyatt Category 5: 20,000 points/night or 10,000 pts + $125
The lobby of the hotel is designed in zen style with minimalist finishes and understated elegance, which usually is a feature of Park Hyatt properties rather than Hyatt Regency hotels. We were helped without bags as soon as
The hotel reception was located to the left of the entrance to the lobby and check in was a cinch with our key cards being issued in a matter of minutes. We weren’t Hyatt Diamond or Globalist status members so there were no upgrades or free breakfasts on this stay. Points and cash made the most sense for booking this hotel room given that room rates were over $600/night.
Hyatt Standard Rooms:
Our rooms were located on the 3rd floor and featured no views. The rooms looked fresh, modern, and featured the same kind of minimalist design as Park Hyatt rooms. The accommodations had two twin beds arranged next to each other while my parents had a single king bed in the same space. There was a decently large LCD TV on an entertainment stand with a desk extension. Wifi was free and fast throughout my stay.
The rooms featured large bathrooms with both walk in showers and large soaking tubs. Toiletries were Pharmacopia branded, which are a step above the KenetMD products I was used to finding at US Hyatt Regency properties.
I didn’t get a chance to try out the hotel restaurant or explore more of the hotel during our stay because I was out for the entirety of the days we stayed at the hotel.
Food & Drinks in Kyoto
Since free breakfast wasn’t offered at the hotel, we usually went out for an early lunch and afternoon tea to places near the hotel. Japan can be a tough place to find vegetarian food so we ended up at yet another Indian restaurant called “Mughal” Food was excellent and I saw many locals going there during lunch because of the lunch set meals at the restaurant. For approximately $15 (without tea) you get a full meal with appetizers included, which is a great value when visiting Japan.
Dinner service is a bit more expensive and presentation was definitely one of the high points of that service. 
One of the afternoons we stopped by World Coffee for some tea and ice cream sundaes. It was very interesting to note that service at this Starbucks like Japanese cafe, started off with hot towel service and ice cold water. I mean it is literally brought out the second you sit down. I ordered a caramel green tea ice cream sundae which was quite heavenly.
Bottom Line:
There is little separating the design and feel of the Hyatt Regency Kyoto from Park Hyatt properties. Not only does the hotel possess all the amenities of that brand, but it also has an excellent location within the heart of the city and close to the old town. Service throughout our stay was very good, though I don’t have any experience of what it is like at the restaurants in the hotel. Never were we allowed to carry our own bags to or from our rooms. We were always helped and come to think of it felt a little odd carrying nothing down the hallway at checkout. Award prices at this property are quite reasonable for Kyoto and I wouldn’t hesitate to spend another few nights here.
After this stay I’m completely confused as to what a Park Hyatt really means other than the assurance that you are going to spend an exorbitant amount of money.
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The Hyatt Regency Kyoto
