Being a new hotel to the Bonvoy group, it probably deserves its own thread.

We spent the last 3 nights there recently minted Platinum Elites. It was a busy 4-day weekend and they said there were no suites available. They have perhaps 25 suites, so I was a bit surprised we struck out. We did get an upgrade to a room on the 7th floor with a view of the International Conference Center. Able to check in around noon, 4pm late checkout. Offered gift of 1,000 points or some other choices such as chocolates, we took the points. Nice fitness room had just reopened and takes up 3 hotel rooms and has a view of the trees. No pool or large hot spring bath though. Five minute walk to subway/bus depot. Beautiful park to walk through, in which we saw about a half dozen deer in the hour we were there. Not tame ones like in Nara though. Being walkers/hikers, we ended up going up Mt Hiei in 3hrs. Accessable by cable car too.

The Prince is ideal if heading up to the northern edge of the city. The train wasn't running due to a landslide last summer, but buses to Kurama and Kifune are running from the nearby station.

Lounge is basically all-day, with different offerings. Lots of assorted cakes on little plates. One frustration was Saturday night, as we went down at 5:05pm and were told there was a 24 person waiting list (lounge holds 50). Called down at 6pm and still 14 people ahead of us. Finally got seated at 6:30.

Alcohol from 5pm-9pm, though beer is all day, as are soft drinks, coffee etc. Club soda only during the cocktail time, but tonic water all day (which I found strange). They had real champagne, which is a step up from all the other lounges I have been to, but a limited bar and a slow bartender who seemed overwhelmed at times. Champagne ran out and they shifted to Cava, but it was back the next day.

Breakfast was good. Many small dishes which we had to get from the corner area, but also some bento boxes of nicely arranged food. A lot of servers, but also a lot of people in the lounge, so it often took longer than it should. You can opt for the Japanese breakfast instead.

Plenty of free parking just outside the entrance if you drive. I wouldn't recommend it though, as Kyoto traffic is a pain and it takes at least 45 minutes to get across town.

Attached timetable of lounge: Breakfast/Tea time/Afternoon tea time/Cocktail time/Nightcap time
Also a layout of rooms, 4 double size and one triple size on each floor

View from 766

Lounge time table

Guest room layout