Luxury Hotel in Tokyo & Kyoto with 2 kids
Aug 8, 2018, 6:36 am
#31
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That’s the beauty of hotel dining though. You can go out on certain evenings at prearranged times, but you always have the hotel’s outlets and room service to accommodate you on a flexible basis.
Aug 8, 2018, 9:05 am
#32
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We we didn’t want to risk the trappings of a try ryokan, since they aren’t always as luxury as they pretend. Suiran was an absolute delight in that it had many of the trappings of a proper ryokan while still having all the bells and whistles of a luxury boutique hotel.
We also liked the RC Kyoto, but we vastly preferred the authenticity and location of Suiran. We can stay at a RC or FS in many cities; only in Kyoto is there anything like Suiran.
Aug 8, 2018, 10:20 am
#33
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
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It’s an entirely different form of luxury. It isn’t even necessarily that comfortable to stay in a traditional ryokan, but nevertheless it’s a valuable and enriching experience if one has the chance to do so.
I agree that places like Suiran and Hoshinoya are a good modern interpretation of Japanese hospitality. One can have the aesthetic experience of Japanese style accommodation and bathing facilities, but still have the flexibility and services of a high end hotel.
I agree that places like Suiran and Hoshinoya are a good modern interpretation of Japanese hospitality. One can have the aesthetic experience of Japanese style accommodation and bathing facilities, but still have the flexibility and services of a high end hotel.
Aug 8, 2018, 1:42 pm
#35
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Join Date: Apr 2018
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Thanks for the responses. We are going with RC Club level in Tokyo. Got it for 5 nights.
Still thinking through Kyoto. As this is our first time, we want to stay in Kyoto and not Osaka as going back and forth each day might get tiring. I pinged RC Kyoto and they informed me that the rates haven't yet been published for April first week but then proceeded to quote me insane prices. Hyatt and Suiran are the other 2 options that I will need to evaluate.
Are there any good threads on kid-friendly restaurants in Tokyo/Kyoto?
Still thinking through Kyoto. As this is our first time, we want to stay in Kyoto and not Osaka as going back and forth each day might get tiring. I pinged RC Kyoto and they informed me that the rates haven't yet been published for April first week but then proceeded to quote me insane prices. Hyatt and Suiran are the other 2 options that I will need to evaluate.
Are there any good threads on kid-friendly restaurants in Tokyo/Kyoto?
Aug 8, 2018, 3:26 pm
#36
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Still thinking through Kyoto. As this is our first time, we want to stay in Kyoto and not Osaka as going back and forth each day might get tiring. I pinged RC Kyoto and they informed me that the rates haven't yet been published for April first week but then proceeded to quote me insane prices. Hyatt and Suiran are the other 2 options that I will need to evaluate.
That being said, if you prefer a proper hotel or the RC/FS/Hyatt side of town where the most well-known tourist sites/temples are located, our friends stayed at the Hyatt Regency in May and thought it was very nice. That Hyatt Regency is alleged by many Hyatt friends to be perhaps the best Hyatt Regency in the entire portfolio, more akin to a Park Hyatt in size/service/design. So that could be a wonderful option for you.
Aug 8, 2018, 3:59 pm
#37
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My mother and I were at Tokyo Disney in mid april Monday to Thursday ( 16-20th) and found the queues to be quite manageable ( the cherry blossom period was the 2 weeks before that . One morning there was heavy rain so we went to a museum in Odaiba and then went to Disney in the evening and it was relatively quiet. The crowds began to build up on Thursday as we headed into Shinjuku for 6 nights . Also I think April 2019 is the end of the 35th anniversary of tokyo Disneyland so this might affect numbers.
Regards
TBS
PS Looks like Easter in 2019 is on the 21st April 2019 so that may affect crowds.
Last edited by The _Banking_Scot; Aug 9, 2018 at 4:12 pm
Aug 8, 2018, 4:33 pm
#38
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As ones who stayed in a massive Suite Kamogawa at the RC Kyoto but still preferred the Presidential Suite and overall experience/location at Suiran, I recommend you to take a good look at Suiran.
That being said, if you prefer a proper hotel or the RC/FS/Hyatt side of town where the most well-known tourist sites/temples are located, our friends stayed at the Hyatt Regency in May and thought it was very nice. That Hyatt Regency is alleged by many Hyatt friends to be perhaps the best Hyatt Regency in the entire portfolio, more akin to a Park Hyatt in size/service/design. So that could be a wonderful option for you.
That being said, if you prefer a proper hotel or the RC/FS/Hyatt side of town where the most well-known tourist sites/temples are located, our friends stayed at the Hyatt Regency in May and thought it was very nice. That Hyatt Regency is alleged by many Hyatt friends to be perhaps the best Hyatt Regency in the entire portfolio, more akin to a Park Hyatt in size/service/design. So that could be a wonderful option for you.
So I'd say if you want 2 adults and 2 kids at the HR Kyoto, you need a suite level above the executive suite level. Looks like the next level up is the Kyoto suite. Never seen what it looks like so can't comment if it will do.
Aug 8, 2018, 4:54 pm
#39
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
I've stayed at the HR Kyoto several times and the only type of room I've had is the second lowest level suite, the executive suite. This suite has a bedroom which will not fit two adults and two kids. It also has a dining room which is a tatami room with a dining table with a well under it. I don't think cots can be fit in that room either.
So I'd say if you want 2 adults and 2 kids at the HR Kyoto, you need a suite level above the executive suite level. Looks like the next level up is the Kyoto suite. Never seen what it looks like so can't comment if it will do.
So I'd say if you want 2 adults and 2 kids at the HR Kyoto, you need a suite level above the executive suite level. Looks like the next level up is the Kyoto suite. Never seen what it looks like so can't comment if it will do.
I would still say that R-C and Suiran are definitely worth a premium, but not an insane premium in my view. Everything is relative of course, and if this is a special trip it could make sense to go for the best.
Aug 8, 2018, 5:13 pm
#40
Join Date: Oct 2010
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For Kyoto, I’d highly recommend Suiran—our favorite of all the luxury hotels at which we stayed while in Japan in May (including the Prince Gallery Tokyo, the Ritz Carlton Kyoto, and the StR Osaka). It’s a perfect blend of Western luxury boutique hotel with Japanese ryokan. You can book ryokan style rooms or Western style rooms, in fact, and they have two onsen on-site that are truly lovely. But the dining is more Western, despite there being a Japanese style tea house. It’s also right on the river on the Arashiyama side of the city, making it feel more remote and village-y despite being only a 25-30 min drive across town to the RC/FS side of Kyoto. The temples and shrines on the Suiran side are also far less touristy (except for the bamboo forest and monkey park which are both within a 10 min walk from Suiran).
We we didn’t want to risk the trappings of a try ryokan, since they aren’t always as luxury as they pretend. Suiran was an absolute delight in that it had many of the trappings of a proper ryokan while still having all the bells and whistles of a luxury boutique hotel.
We also liked the RC Kyoto, but we vastly preferred the authenticity and location of Suiran. We can stay at a RC or FS in many cities; only in Kyoto is there anything like Suiran.
well look into Suiran if we enjoy our first trip to Japan
Aug 8, 2018, 5:27 pm
#41
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You still will enjoy the FS. We checked it out and had a light snack and tea there. It's a beautiful hotel, too, if perhaps a bit more corporate and less authentically Japanese in the public spaces. It has a more feminine color palette in the rooms/suites we saw, and the garden and pond are lovely. The location is less desirable than the RC (or for us, the Suiran), but it isn't that far between the FS and RC (maybe 10 min taxi ride).
Last edited by bhrubin; Aug 8, 2018 at 5:34 pm
Aug 8, 2018, 9:15 pm
#42
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: UA--no longer 2P as of 3/2012 and don't even care. Never thought I'd say that.
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Hi,
My mother and I were at Tokyo Disney in mid april Monday to Thursday ( 16-20th) and found the queues to be quite manageable ( the cherry blossom period was the 2 weeks before that . One morning there was heavy rain so we went to a museum in Odaiba and then went to Disney in the evening and it was relatively quiet. The crowds began to build up on Thursday as we headed into Shinjuku for 6 nights . Also I think April 2019 is the end of the 35th anniversary of tokyo Disneyland so this might affect numbers.
Regards
TBS
My mother and I were at Tokyo Disney in mid april Monday to Thursday ( 16-20th) and found the queues to be quite manageable ( the cherry blossom period was the 2 weeks before that . One morning there was heavy rain so we went to a museum in Odaiba and then went to Disney in the evening and it was relatively quiet. The crowds began to build up on Thursday as we headed into Shinjuku for 6 nights . Also I think April 2019 is the end of the 35th anniversary of tokyo Disneyland so this might affect numbers.
Regards
TBS
Last edited by janehoya; Aug 8, 2018 at 9:26 pm
Aug 8, 2018, 9:22 pm
#43
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: UA--no longer 2P as of 3/2012 and don't even care. Never thought I'd say that.
Posts: 781
We will be at the Andaz Tokyo and Hyatt Regency Kyoto, though are also looking into one night at Suiran, based on the glowing reviews from some posters.
Thank you.
Last edited by janehoya; Aug 8, 2018 at 9:27 pm
Aug 8, 2018, 9:28 pm
#44
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Remember that it's just a 25-30 min drive from the Hyatt to the Suiran.
Aug 8, 2018, 9:33 pm
#45
Join Date: Jul 2009
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As much as we loved Suiran, I wouldn't recommend moving from the Hyatt to the Suiran for just 1 night--not worth it at all IMO. To really get the best value of Suiran, I'd think you'd need to stay there at least 2 nights, perhaps 3. (We stayed 5 nights, and we rarely stay anywhere that long...and could have stayed 7 nights and not have been bored!) Especially if you plan to use one of the 2 onsen (assuming you don't book one of the suites that has an "in-room" onsen. And most especially if you really want to explore the many more remote and smaller, much less touristed temples, shrines, and gardens on that side of town. (I highly recommend the Moss Temple--get the advance permission!)
Remember that it's just a 25-30 min drive from the Hyatt to the Suiran.
Remember that it's just a 25-30 min drive from the Hyatt to the Suiran.
My son and I aren't adventurous when it comes to food. My husband isn't adventurous when it comes to lodging, and that's why we aren't staying at any ryokans, but we would like to get more of a feel for Japan than what it currently on our scheduled. We were planning on doing part of the Nakasendo trail till I informed him that none of the accommodations have en suite baths. Now we are choosing amongst Hakone, Hikone and Kanazawa as a detour when traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto. Thanks again!