Marriott Bonvoy Lurker

Hi eethan, You can email the hotel concierge at [email protected] Let us know if you need further help with getting a response.


Thanks,

Robert V.
Social Media Liaison

ORD-TGU

Email response from hotel:

We have the complimentary shuttle bus service available between JR Kyoto station and our hotel.

The bus from Kyoto station departs from near Hachijo-guchi Exit (close to Shinkansen Exit) at 5, 25, 45 min every hour from 8:45 till 21:05. Kindly wait for the bus 1-2 min before the time schedule.

For more details, kindly visit our website:

http://www.miyakohotels.ne.jp/westin...ss/index.html/

eethan

msp3

Has anyone stayed in the new Japanese-style rooms lately? I've been following a Japanese credit card blogger and the room seems to out-Japanese room even Suiran in Arashiyama...

Nagasaki Joe

Not lately, but back around 1996 or 1997 I did visit the room of someone I knew who was staying in one of these same Japanese garden units at the Westin Miyako in Kyoto. I do remember entering the unit from the rock garden area, but the living and sleeping area (which was futon only with no bed) looked very much like it did in this video. Although I did not see the entire unit, obviously the bathroom (toilet and sinks) and the o-furoba (bathing room) have been upgraded since, but overall, I think it is fairly similar to what it was back then. I have also stayed at Suiran, but since it was a point stay, I only stayed in a standard room, which is a far cry from their classic Japanese rooms (which I have only seen in photos), so I cannot offer a good comparison. To me (based on photos), Suiran's classic Japanese rooms look a little classier and more modern and up-to-date than the Westin Miyako's units, but I don't believe they are stand-alone units in a private garden area (though there might be a few that are) like the Miyako's.

khabah

I stayed at the Westin in mid-August 2018 and was upgraded to a Kasui-en room. I remember the hotel renovation kicking off around then, but there weren't any signs that the works would touch Kasui-en so I'm blown away by the fact that they did re-do those rooms! When I stayed, there was definitely an element of the spaces being a bit faded but it made for an incredibly charming stay that only enhance the experience. Between the pin-drop silence, neutral colors and clean lines, it was beautiful to be in that part of the hotel. I believe the Western-style beds are new; when we were there, Heavenly futons were laid out every evening and then cleared away during the day to make space for a small two-seater table and cushions arrangement. The bathrooms were a bit worn, but had a cypress tub and shower with wooden bench in one room and washlet in the other; it seems they've upgraded the tubs and added a small sink to the washlet rooms.

While I can't comment on the newly-renovated rooms seen in this video, I highly recommend getting a room in this wing. Surreal, authentic experience. Heads up: it's a bit of a walk since you take the elevator to the third floor, walk down the halls, through the garden, up a path, three steps into Kasui-en, enter the building and then have to weave through stairways since the building crawls around the rocks its built on. The staff will offer to help you with suitcases, but worth noting.

khabah

WillTravel4Food

I have a reservation for Sakura 2021. Reviewing the reservation today, it popped up with the following notice: Please note – You must apply for discount on STAYNAVI website to get Go To Travel discount from the below rates.

I checked the STAYNAVI website and it appears to be a Japanese language only site for activities and accommodations reservations. The Bonvoy page has no other information as to what this is all about. Does anybody know what this means and if I need to do something? Seems to me like a poorly executed attempt at cross-marketing.

shonanroger

If you’re a resident in Japan and stay until end of January 2021, the Japanese government will pay 50% of your expenses for overnight accommodation up to a certain limit. 35% in cash discount and 15% in coupons for purchases at selected local stores. (The coupon thing starting on Oct. 1st.) This STAYNAVI site is where you apply for the discount after booking, before travel. By doing this you only need to pay the discounted rate at checkout.

WillTravel4Food

Thanks. I have the one at the Westin Miyako and another in Tokyo a week later. Both have the notification. The thing that confused me the most is that both reservations are award stays. It sounds like they're placing the notification in every reservation, without consideration for the type of stay.

nexusCFX

That is correct. My STARS bookings at Suiran have it as well. I suspect given that tourists generally cannot enter Japan right now, for the majority of their bookings right now the rate code is the promotional rate for domestic travelers taking advantage of the government promo, so they just threw it up as a banner.

mynameisdmoon

Finished my 4 night stay here today and I think this might be one of my favourite hotels I've stayed at. I paid around 37700 yen per night after taxes and fees and if I could lock in that rate again I'd book it without a second thought. Points rate at 60k per night I'd probably still book.

Having finished renovation in April 2021, the property is sparkling shiny and oh so beautiful with modern but tasteful finish. It did seem a little too big though. Got lost a few times on the first day here. The access to the rooftop garden and the Japanese Traditional Garden can be found in the 7th floor, along with the trail to the bird watching trail. It's a massive property. Probably more appropriate to call it a palace or castle than a hotel. Location wise it's right next to Keage station so very easy to get around. If you're a walker like us, you may find it to be kind of far from Gion but the walk isn't that bad.

I arrived a little late due to a stop I needed to make at Nagoya so I was probably one of the later guests checking in. After taking my name at the front door we were quickly escorted to the lounge in 3rd floor for our check in. Very quick and fast process. We were later taken to a nice window seat in the lounge for the Evening Cocktail service. But more on the lounge later.

I was upgraded to the Luxury King suite (garden view) as a Titanium Elite and boy it was a pleasure staying here. Large living room and bed room with more space than I'd need. Large washroom with dual sinks, nice auto bidet, and a large tub + shower combo. I asked for an upgrade to the Traditional Japanese suites if possible but apparently they don't do these for complimentary upgrades. Boo. But this was a sweet consolation prize. As I was staying here during my anniversary I was given a bottle of sake and some truffles as a welcome gift. Also - something I only noticed during check out - Suite guests are given a decently sized amenity bundle of Sothy's hair and skin product! I thought it was one of those things where you get charged a hefty amount if taken like The Edition does but nope, free for Suite Guests!

As a titanium elite (and as a guest in a club lounge floor), I had access to the lounge with a simple tap of the room key. It wasn't very busy most of the time. We went rather often during our stay and could only recall one instance where the lounge felt near full. The food offered wasn't much to write home about but I did enjoy it. Guests had access to the lounge till 10 PM daily (opening hour varies depending on the day), and while tea/coffee/soft drink and some minor snacks were available at all times of the day, the key times you want to go there are for the Afternoon Tea between 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM and Evening Cocktail between 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM. The former had more (and better) sweets and desserts to go with your... bagged tea. Yes nothing impressive on the tea end, though the jasmine tea they had was pretty good. The Evening Cocktail had more savoury finger foods and a wide variety of drinks from red/white wine, champagne, sake (yuzu and yogurt sake were my go-to), beer cans, and some liquor along with a cocktail list. And of course a fridge full of various soft drinks. I definitely spent a lot of time in the lounge in between touring around.

The in-property onsen was such a treat and I miss it dearly. It was large with an open air bath also included. I was just at Kozantei Ubuya before coming to Kyoto and I'd say the onsen here was better than that one. This place was huge and sleek. The property provides you with a set of traditional style clothing to wear to the spa (along with the usual PJs), with a separate shaft of elevator to take you to the spa located on the 6th floor. It's a perfect way to end the day. I've never see this place get overly populated at all.

The service here was top notch. Couldn't think of a single thing to complain about. Everyone from the front door attendants, lounge staff, breakfast restaurant staff, the spa staff, top notch. Felt like a king staying here.

The weakest (and even then, not by much unless you mostly enjoy western foods) part of this property was the breakfast. It is served in the restaurant in the second floor daily, and in the lounge on select days, and Sundays/Holiday. The staff advised me the selection in lounge is severely limited and it is mostly for a quick grub so I went to the restaurant every day. The breakfast did get busy though, go early if you can. The restaurant is a very large venue with a view facing north towards the mountain and the Heian Kyo. It's a beautiful view to enjoy your breakfast with. You're offered either a wide buffet selection or a Japanese set meal. I'm not sure how they check but apparently if you choose the set meal you're not given access to the buffet even for dessert. Given this I picked the buffet all four times. While the buffet selection was large, I felt the food was somewhat weak, mostly in the protein department. It had the usual salad, smoked salmon/meats, egg (hard boil in buffet, egg station for others), bacon, ham, sausage but they weren't anything special. In the Asian food department it had various Chinese/Japanese veggies, rice, curry (very weak, no mixins, just pure curry), and daily selection of steam fished that was usually disappointing. The buffet also had a nice selection of ice cream with a lovely matcha ice cream. The fruit selection was somewhat weak but pineapples and honeydew were good. And off to the side was an extensive pastry selection that seems to be made in house.

The saving grace of breakfast was the rice ball + udon bar. Oh boy the Udon bar. My suggestion is to grab a bowl of udon every day, ask for all toppings (ask for extra meat!), and most importantly for the shichimi spice. Lovely way to start the day. Very important thing to note: try to avoid getting served by the apprentice. They always tend to screw something up. The main chefs (old men) do it well. Per the rice balls, Miso Green Onion and Beef are the ones to grab.

I'm now in Osaka at the Marriott Miyako Hotel typing this out and I miss the Westin very much. This Marriott property js okay but very subpar to what I experienced at the Westin. It may not be as glamorous as the RC or as luxurious as the Mitsui or Suiran, but at half the points price and probably cash too, The Westin hits way above its tier bracket and I have no qualms in recommending this property over the others (unless you're drowning in points then yeah you do you).

ElevatorEnthusiast

Great to hear - glad I picked the Westin for my night in Kyoto this January!

beachfan

Great review!

have you stayed at the Hyatt Regency Kyoto? I’m going back and forth deciding between the two )am titanium and globalist) - will be there during Sakura

mynameisdmoon

I have not but it does look nice, especially the cash price tag in spring.

ElevatorEnthusiast

I might be a bit drunk from the free-flow Bailey's in the club lounge (I'm a lightweight despite not being very light), but if anyone was hesitating on booking the Westin Miyako for a Kyoto trip, BOOK IT NOW! What a great property - so pretty, and the renovations must be fantastic as these rooms - wow!

Please look forward to my trip report and photos - I know I'm behind - apologies!