Hotel Okura Kyoto Okazaki Bettei

“Exquisite!”

The Hotel Okura Kyoto Okazaki Bettei is an exquisite hotel in every aspect. With only 60 guest rooms and an “off the beaten path” location in the quiet Sakyo Ward, adjacent to the Okazaki Betsuin Temple grounds, this is a tranquil retreat of pure beauty and luxury with exceptional service. We lov… more

The Hotel Okura Kyoto Okazaki Bettei is an exquisite hotel in every aspect. With only 60 guest rooms and an “off the beaten path” location in the quiet Sakyo Ward, adjacent to the Okazaki Betsuin Temple grounds, this is a tranquil retreat of pure beauty and luxury with exceptional service. We loved our time here so much I find myself emotional while writing this review. Our king “Bettei Suite” on the 4th floor was a stunning, serine and comfortable space. It was spacious, sparkling clean and had floor to ceiling windows overlooking the temple and gardens. It had a refined and luxurious vibe. The contemporary Japanese design aesthetic was just gorgeous within our suite and throughout the entire property. Our bed was HUGE and dreamy. I asked for softer pillows and a flat iron and they arrived within minutes of my request. Our bedding was fresh and crisp and the monogrammed bath towels were plentiful and of the highest quality. Housekeeping was excellent and discreet and we enjoyed the complimentary items provided in the mini bar that were replenished daily. We had great WiFi, water pressure and room temperature control. Loved the heart shaped hand soaps as well as the thoughtful little gifts they left to commemorate my birthday. The lighting throughout the suite was thoughtful and moody. The automated black-out drapes were rock star quality providing a complete darkened space for peaceful and restful sleeps. Views over the temple(s) were EPIC day and night. Especially during sunset and sunrise. We enjoyed our daily breakfast in their beautiful restaurant overlooking the gardens. The offerings were ample and beautifully presented. It was such a lovely way to start each of our days. We also enjoyed the evening happy hour with a lovely selection of complimentary wine. We loved the quiet location; it was perfect for us. We arrived in Kyoto by Shinkensen from Tokyo. It was approximately 20 min/$18usd to taxi from the train station to the hotel. We used taxi’s exclusively during our time in Kyoto, however there is a very useful bus stop just out the front door. There is a supermarket across the street to purchase all sorts of snacks, fresh fruits and adult beverages – pretty much anything you may need. A laundromat is an easy 3 min walk. Don’t miss the Okazaki Shrine, aka The Rabbit Shrine right next door; it’s the sweetest. So many bunnies! Our time at The Okura Kyoto Okazaki Bettei was so memorable. Thank you to the entire staff who cared for us with such warmth and grace. We just loved it!

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“Serene luxury”

When I leave here on Wednesday I will have spent a total of eight nights in Kyoto - one at a crummy place right next to the busiest train line in the world, one at a nice but soulless business hotel, two at the tourist hotel for my group (with a 24 hour wedding chapel), and finally four at a luxury… more

When I leave here on Wednesday I will have spent a total of eight nights in Kyoto - one at a crummy place right next to the busiest train line in the world, one at a nice but soulless business hotel, two at the tourist hotel for my group (with a 24 hour wedding chapel), and finally four at a luxury boutique that is new but was built in a very traditional style. It’s out of city center near the temples.  Very zen serene.

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“Zen calm in luxurious contemporary setting”

We looked forward to returning to Okura Bettie daily because it felt like a relaxing retreat after crowded sightseeing in Kyoto. Incredibly spacious, immaculately kept and so quiet. Lovely breakfast in upscale bento box style, formal tableware, petit but reasonable portions and lovely presentation… more

We looked forward to returning to Okura Bettie daily because it felt like a relaxing retreat after crowded sightseeing in Kyoto. Incredibly spacious, immaculately kept and so quiet. Lovely breakfast in upscale bento box style, formal tableware, petit but reasonable portions and lovely presentation. Beautiful grounds behind the hotel open to guests. Convenient 24 grocer across from street that made getting fruits/snacks easy for teens. May not be best place for young kids but our young teens loved the comfort and spaciousness.

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“Mixed feelings”

Lot to like about this hotel, lovely spacious rooms, attentive and polite staff, nice setting however does mean you’re 40 mins walk to Kyoto centre. However some things that I think could be improved. 1. The cost for breakfast and drinks in the lobby are far too high. Drinks were 3-4X what we’v… more

Lot to like about this hotel, lovely spacious rooms, attentive and polite staff, nice setting however does mean you’re 40 mins walk to Kyoto centre. However some things that I think could be improved. 1. The cost for breakfast and drinks in the lobby are far too high. Drinks were 3-4X what we’ve paid elsewhere and that meant the bar was always empty and lacking any atmosphere. It is a ground floor bar / lobby area so cant justify premium rooftop prices for example Breakfast £30 pp for a very simple set menu, no buffet, only hot item was eggs. This felt like profiteering and left a poor taste with me. 2. Often there was no bell staff to help with taxis meaning you had to go back to reception to request them to order. As you’re on the outskirts of Kyoto flagging them yourself wasn’t easy.

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