Is this the best Hyatt Place in the world? Inside the fantastic Hyatt Place Kyoto
- The Hyatt Place Kyoto opened in 2021 and was an exceptional place to stay in Kyoto — and is perhaps one of the best Hyatt Place hotels in the world.
- Prices are low and the furnishing, service and design come in above what you'd expect for the price.
- Room occupancy limits are higher than at many other nearby hotels and you are just steps from the subway station.
"Is this the best Hyatt Place in the world?" was a question I pondered multiple times during a short but memorable stay at the Hyatt Place Kyoto — a 239-room hotel in a modern section of Kyoto.
After considering the location, furnishings, service, food and amenities you want and need the most for the location (hello, washing machines), I decided it's unquestionably the nicest Hyatt Place I've ever experienced.
Before anyone says, "If you think that's good, you should try the Park Hyatt Kyoto a few streets away," — I did. It was absolutely phenomenal. Even so, I'd argue that if budget is at all an issue during your trip planning, you should still spend at least a night at the Hyatt Place Kyoto as part of a longer trip to the area. Here's why.
Related: The best card for getting started with earning points (and it can be used for Hyatt)
Great location
The Hyatt Place Kyoto is just steps from the exit of the Marutamachi Station. This is just a few stops from Kyoto Station, where you will arrive if you take the Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto.
No hotel in Kyoto is near everything, as it is a pretty spread-out city. However, this hotel is just south of the Kyoto National Garden, within walking distance to destinations such as Nijo Castle as well as shopping areas, restaurants and plenty of 7-Eleven stores for snacks and more.
Of course, you are steps from the Marutamachi Station when it's time to explore a bit further. To get to the Gion district, bamboo forest and some other areas, you will need a different form of transportation. I found cabs and Uber to be pretty affordable when you want a break from navigating public transportation. For example, it was about $14 for an Uber from the Hyatt Place Kyoto to the Gion district.
Pro tip: If you are traveling with kids (or adults) that just need to see some familiar food, there's a McDonald's about two blocks from Hyatt Place Kyoto.
Low price
There are many reasons that Hyatt Place Kyoto is a great lodging choice in this stunning Japanese city, but the price has to be at the top of the list.
If paying with World of Hyatt points as I did, it's just 6,500-9,500 points per night, depending on the date. That's an outstanding value. For context, the Hyatt Regency Kyoto charges 17,000-23,000 points per night, and the Park Hyatt Kyoto charges 35,000-45,000 points per night.
Should you want to pay with cash, it's common for rooms at Hyatt Place Kyoto to cost between $100 and $200 per night. So whether with cash or points, this is an outstanding choice if your budget requires a few more affordable nights to balance things out.
Related: Best ways to earn Hyatt points
Remember that when booking Hyatt Place Kyoto, you'll want to use one of the credit cards that earn the most points for Hyatt stays, as well as one that possibly offers automatic World of Hyatt elite status for value-added benefits. These include:
- World of Hyatt Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn 4 points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels and resorts; automatic Discoverist status; and five elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
- World of Hyatt Business Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn 4 points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels and resorts; automatic Discoverist status; and five tier-qualifying nights for every $10,000 spent each calendar year.
Nice design
While you may not target a Hyatt Place for its design aesthetic, it is a nice feature to look forward to. This property punches above its weight class when it comes to a calm, modern, welcoming vibe; it gives the illusion you are in a hotel that costs much more per night than it actually does.
You'll notice wood paneling, soft lighting and a largely natural and muted color scheme — something you may be more used to seeing in higher-end hotels than budget-friendly ones.
Rooms for families
Occupancy limits are generally strict and low in hotels in Japan. For example, standard rooms at the Hyatt Regency Kyoto hold just two people — including kids.
However, at the Hyatt Place Kyoto, you can book a room for up to a family of four at the standard points rate via the Hyatt search engine.
I will note that the room description indicates a maximum occupancy of three, which frankly is the most that would comfortably fit unless the fourth were a really young child or baby. I'd contact the hotel if you are in that situation to confirm the current policy, as Japan is very serious about its occupancy limits.
In either case, you'll need to put in an advance request for the extra bed for a child 12 or under to go along with the two single beds. My two kids and I did this, and we each had a bed to ourselves, which worked out great.
Also of note is that the bathroom is compact but well-designed for families; it has a bathtub and easy-to-operate shower and toilet, which wasn't true at some of the hotels we stayed at in Japan. Rooms start at about 25 square meters (269 square feet), so it's not a large room. It is a smart use of space, though.
Excellent breakfast
This was unquestionably the best Hyatt Place breakfast I've ever had.
It was an extensive buffet of salmon, fruit, miso, salad, juice, sauteed mushrooms, made-to-order eggs, sausage, hash browns, pastries, juice and much more, providing both Western and Japanese options.
Not only did we enjoy the selection of food, but we also appreciated the service and the ease. We could simply pop into the lobby and fill a plate from 6:30-10:30 a.m. before heading off to explore.
While this breakfast was excellent, this is some bad news: Unlike most Hyatt Place locations, this one does not offer free breakfast unless you have Globalist status as we do. This changed in the summer of 2023. Now there is an approximately $17 per person charge if you don't have Globalist status and want the breakfast buffet, so plan accordingly.
That's obviously not nearly as good a price as free. However, I'd say while you are acclimating to the time zone or area and just want something easy, it's a pretty solid choice — especially given the quality of the buffet compared to what you might expect from a Hyatt Place.
Related: How to get free hotel breakfast
Those clutch washing machines
I will bet that Kyoto wasn't the first stop on your trip. So if, like us, you've already accumulated a fair amount of dirty clothes before making it to Kyoto, this may be the most welcome sight of your stay.
We don't check bags — even when going around the world — which meant we had to have a wash day during our trip. This was the right place to do that.
You will need 100-yen coins to operate the machines, but the front desk was happy to provide change when I asked. While I didn't have any problem accessing free machines, I've heard they can be quite popular at times. Don't be shy about going ahead and starting your loads if you see them free while you're there. Just know it'll most likely take a few hours from start to finish. You'll find the laundry room on the ground level next to the gym.
Pro tip: The Away Bigger Carry-On is our go-to bag to fill to the brim and avoid checking a bag.
Free Nespresso, wine machine and more
In the lobby, you'll find a Nespresso machine that's free to use as well as some baskets of toiletries and other essentials that were out and available for you to help yourself.
If you are looking for a place to relax with a drink close to your room, there is a small bar in Hyatt Place. It's complete with a wine machine where a glass of wine is poured for 1,000 yen (about $7) via a coin you buy at the front desk.
In addition to basic beverages, the bar had some other ready-to-heat-and-eat sorts of options, such as cups of noodles and the like. I wouldn't plan for an extensive meal here aside from breakfast, but if you find yourself in a pinch, there are a few choices.
The Hyatt Place Kyoto also has a compact but clean and well-appointed gym (think cardio and weight machines, as well as free weights, yoga balls and more) in case you need to get a workout in.
Checking out
If what you need during your time in Kyoto is a calm, clean, relaxing and affordable hotel that is steps from the subway station and has a solid on-site breakfast and other useful amenities (like those washing machines), then it's hard to argue with the Hyatt Place Kyoto.
Not only is it a great choice, but I'd say it's the nicest Hyatt Place I've ever stayed at — and probably among the nicest in the world.
We used this hotel for the first part of our stay in Kyoto before moving over to the Park Hyatt. This gave our budget a bit of a break and allowed us to cover a lot of ground seeing Kyoto's sights while staying there. In turn, this gave us more time to slow down and enjoy the Park Hyatt itself as well as the historic area immediately around it.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
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- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.