Kyoto Brighton Hotel

We were in Kyoto in October 2025 as a family of four, with kids aged 4 and 9. The rooms at the Brighton hotel were roomy and well equipped, and the service was good. It's a lovely hotel, though not very central, and the nearest station is a 10-15 minute walk away. A free shuttle takes you nearer the city center. Just check the timing carefully: it left early on us, and since it was the last shuttle, we had to get a cab back. We should've synced our watches with the driver before making dinner plans :)

The soaking tubs in the rooms were wonderful, and we liked the peaceful neighborhood while still being able to get around easily. Our room was clean, comfortable, and classy. The staff were first rate, always friendly and ready to help. I loved staying here and plan to return. It's a gem.

Even without a gym or pool, this hotel earns its five stars through the care put into the service and the whole experience. The staff were fantastic, thoughtful, and professional. The rooms were huge, tastefully done, and had more supplies, all at a higher standard, than any hotel I've stayed in so far on this Japan trip. The atmosphere is peaceful and luxurious, and the value is incredible. I've stayed in hundreds of hotels around the world, and I might agree with another reviewer who called this the best they've ever stayed at. It beat every expectation I had. I hope I get to come back.

We paid a lot for our October stay, and were very disappointed. We arrived at 4pm, an hour after check-in started, but our room still wasn't ready. The hotel is about a 15-minute walk from the nearest station. Its free shuttle to the closest Kyoto metro station runs every 10 minutes, but stops at 9pm, so you'll need another way back if you're out later. Things were mostly fine until the last of our three nights, when we found a dirty sock beside the bed that wasn't ours. It made us wonder if the room had been rushed through cleaning and some spots missed after the previous guest left. I called reception right away. The manager couldn't speak much English and came up to see the problem. He picked up the sock and apologized, but the whole thing left us shocked and upset. There were a few nice touches, like pillow spray and a matcha whisking set, but this was an expensive stay for a place rated five stars. We paid more per night than we had at a much nicer, cleaner five-star hotel in Tokyo. There was no pool or gym either. For us, it felt like a two- or three-star stay at best. I wouldn't recommend it.