I usually choose my hotel besed on location and price with conveniece and easy access for shight-seeing. but this hotel is not convenient location nor best price for me. there is some temples or museums around it and just a bus stop is in front of it. especially my room doesn't have any view from our window. it is quite boring during relaxing in the room. BUT it is comfortable and charming! and staff are very helpful. I didn't care about location and view at that time during my stay. cafe and restaurant has delicious cake/dishes. If you know how to ride the bus, can be convinient more. I didn't want to use taxi since Kyoto has traffic jam all the time and taxi costs much more than any other transportation.

I confess, when our taxi pulled up to the Hyatt Regency I wondered why my partner had made such a song and dance about staying here for our time in Kyoto. It's not much to look at from the outside (unless of course you have a penchant for bamboo and red brinck) but inside it is stunning.

Everything about the Hyatt is decadent- from the room, the bed, the staff and the ceiling. I was particularly taken with the ceiling in the reception/ breakfast area- a 1950's-come-contemporary illuminated latticed landscape.

Our room didn't have a fantastic view, but I found the room interior so relaxing I wasn't concerned. The beds are meltingly-soft and it was nice to finally sleep on a pillow that did not have beans in it. The TV had plenty of channels as well as some English channels and the internet connection was reliable, albeit a bit expensive.

The bathroom / wet room, however, was made it stand out from other hotels we stayed at in Japan. I loved being able to go crazy with the shower hose and then slide into a deep bath. It's all sealed off from the vanity area and the toilet is also separate. I have attached a photo but it doesn't quite capture the room.

Breakfast was reasonable, although I was only really keen on the baguette and the assortment of tiny jams given to us on the table. There were hot options at the buffet, including the usual anemic sausage and dessicated bacon, but the was plenty of selection with fruits and cereals so I'm sure no-one would find themselves hungry.
It's also worth asking for a seat next to the window so you can enjoy the view of the beautiful zen garden below.

Staff are very helpful and polite and always willing to assist with recommending restaurants in Kyoto and can also arrange bookings. It's only a 5 minute walk to the nearest station and there are plenty of taxis available for about 950 yen to the Gion district.

Can't wait to stay here again!

We stayed at the Kyoto Hyatt for several nights in mid-May 2009. We had an upgraded room overlooking the small garden. The staff at the hotel were great and most helpful and friendly. English is widely spoken at a sophisticated level and 3 of the front end staff are non-Japanese which can help with more difficult issues. The staff would even say "Welcome back" when we'd return from a day's activities. The room was extremely clean (except for the carpet which could have used a shampooing) and very spacious. It was fairly well located, although you require the use of a taxi to go back and forth to the Kyoto JR Station. It is about 2 blocks from the subway so you can easily get to other parts of the city once you figure out the system. All in all, the best hotel that we stayed in during our weeks in Japan and one of the top 10 that we have stayed in throughout the world.

We were very happy with out stay, we didn't use any of the treatments or ate at the restos. But the service is great, rooms are very clean. Very close to public transports.