Richmond Hotel Kyoto Shijo Review 2026: Unbeatable Location
Discover the Richmond Hotel Kyoto Shijo, a centrally located gem offering incredible access to Kyoto's top attractions and shopping. Perfect for your 2026 Kyoto adventure!
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Discover the Richmond Hotel Kyoto Shijo, a centrally located gem offering incredible access to Kyoto's top attractions and shopping. Perfect for your 2026 Kyoto adventure!
Richmond Hotel Kyoto Shijo
Highly Recommended Kyoto Hotel with an Unbeatable Location
By_2jay
📍 Richmond Hotel Premier Kyoto Shijo
50 Kasabokocho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8494, Japan
Check-in 14:00
Check-out 11:00
Free Lounge Hours: 13:00 ~ 21:00
Sweets Hour (Desserts): 15:00 ~ 17:00
Social Hour (Alcohol): 17:00 ~ 21:00
I've always visited Kyoto on quick day trips as part of an Osaka-Kyoto itinerary,
but this was my first time spending a full 3 days and 2 nights just in Kyoto!
So, I spent a lot of time thinking about where to stay. haha
Kyoto's attractions are quite spread out,
which means mapping out your travel route is super important.
That's why I did even more research than usual!
Here were my top candidates for Kyoto accommodation.
I think I looked into almost every decent hotel in Kyoto!
If you're currently choosing a Kyoto hotel, you can refer to the table above.
Ultimately, we went with Richmond Hotel Premier Kyoto Shijo!
* The location is absolutely amazing! (Subway stations and bus stops are all within walking distance)
* The Randen Tram station, which takes you directly to Arashiyama, is also within walking distance.
* Just walk straight and you can hit almost all major shopping spots (Don Quijote, Pokemon Center, Daimaru Department Store, Daiso, etc.)
* A straight 20–30 minute walk will take you right to the Kamogawa River.
* There's a Fresco supermarket on the 1st floor, open until midnight for late-night grocery runs.
* Very reasonable price point.
* Comfortable and decent room size.
We chose Richmond Kyoto Shijo because of all these awesome pros.
The only downside we could think of was the lack of a large public bath.
But they provide bath salts in every room, so we were able to relax in our private tub and soak away our fatigue! haha
The hotel is located right on a main street, so it's super easy to find.
We took an Uber from Kyoto Station.
You can expect the fare to be between ~$12 and ~$13.
The lobby is located on the 3rd floor.
This is what the Richmond Hotel lobby looks like.
The lobby is incredibly spacious, and the beautiful garden landscaping is top-notch.
It's the perfect spot to just zone out and gaze at the greenery and water features.
If you take a seat, a staff member will come over to check you in personally.
I heard you could choose between tea and sake for the welcome drink,
but they brought us tea right away. haha
The accommodation tax is 200 yen per person per night,
so it came to a total of 800 yen for 2 people for 2 nights.
You can pay by either card or cash.
The lounge where breakfast is served.
Right in front of the elevator, there's an amenity bar where you can freely grab what you need.
While shampoo, conditioner, and body wash are provided in the room,
shower washcloths are not, so make sure to grab one before heading up!
We were assigned a room on the 8th floor, which is the very top floor!
Right next to the elevator on each floor, there is a water dispenser.
Richmond Hotel doesn't provide complimentary bottled water in the rooms,
so we bought a large bottle of water on our first day and just kept refilling it there!
Our room was the “Moderate Twin Room.”
Even with two suitcases fully opened, we had absolutely no trouble moving around.
The separate sofa and table area was perfect for enjoying late-night snacks,
and the shower and toilet were completely separated.
Plus, the sink was located outside the bathroom,
making it so much more convenient to get ready!
Fresh pajamas were neatly laid out on each bed.
We brought our own, so we didn't end up wearing them,
but they’re perfect if you want to travel light!
And here’s another major plus for Richmond Hotel Kyoto Shijo!
They have 220V outlets!!!
Don't worry if you forgot your travel adapters.
There are two 220V outlets available,
which made charging our devices incredibly convenient!
While the room view wasn't a wide-open panorama, it was still quite nice.
The natural light was great, and although the windows don't open,
each room is equipped with an air purifier, which we kept running the whole time.
In the elevator, you'll find a list of monthly activities you can participate in.
If you have some free time, joining in would make a wonderful memory!
We actually saw quite a few families with children
enjoying these hands-on programs.
Guests can enjoy "Sweets Hour" with desserts and snacks,
as well as "Social Hour" featuring unlimited drinks!
Since both are free for hotel guests,
make sure to experience them if you have some downtime in your itinerary.
(I tried both, and I’ll share a detailed review in my next post!)
Another amazing thing about Richmond Hotel Shijo
is their delicious breakfast!
They offer a wide variety of dishes, and it's the perfect way to experience a traditional Japanese-style breakfast.
You can customize your tray with whatever catches your eye.
Everything was clean, fresh, and absolutely delicious!
We didn't book breakfast with our room, but instead paid for a one-day breakfast add-on at the front desk.
The breakfast cost is 3,850 JPY per person (both cash and card accepted).
I highly recommend trying the breakfast at least once during your stay!
We had to plan this trip a bit last minute due to our schedule,
booking our flights and hotel just three weeks before departure.
Because of that, our rates might be a bit different from those who book far in advance.
However, we did some meticulous price-matching under the same conditions
and managed to book at the absolute lowest price.
The difference between the highest and lowest prices was up to ~$64!
I did some heavy research and found the best deal,
so I've linked the site where I found the cheapest rates below.
Make sure to check it out so you can grab the lowest rates for your stay! :)
✨ "Richmond Hotel Premier Kyoto Shijo" Best Price Booking Link ✨
Sweet Hour, where you can enjoy desserts, operates from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Social Hour, which offers unlimited alcoholic beverages, is available from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
If you take an Uber from Kyoto Station to the hotel, the fare will be between ~$12 and ~$13. For your reference, the hotel lobby for check-in is located on the 3rd floor of the building.
Bottled water is not provided in the rooms; guests must use the water dispenser located next to the elevators on each floor. There are two 220V outlets in each room, allowing you to conveniently use electronic devices without a travel adapter.
Breakfast costs 3,850 JPY per person and can be paid for with cash or card at the lobby. Even if your reservation does not include breakfast, you can add it on-site for the specific dates you wish to dine.
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