3 convenient hotels for an amazing cherry blossom holiday in Kyoto

Monday Apart Premium Kyoto Station is the ideal choice if you are travelling with a larger group or planning a long-term stay. The rooms here are spacious like an apartment and all feature kitchen spaces, dining areas and laundry facilities. Additionally, the hotel boasts a relaxing private sauna which can be reserved upon check-in (free for 60 minutes).

For a fun stay, consider booking the themed Okoshiyasu room, the colourful walls of which feature comic-style images of famous Japanese statues and portraits. Some of these quirky elements include ukiyo-e woodblock prints, images of the torii gates of Fushimi Inari and silhouettes of Kyoto's geisha. This special room fits up to six guests and comes with an original eco bag and hand towel for staying guests.

Situated just a few blocks from Kyoto Station, the hotel is also central enough to serve as a base for train rides to other major attractions and cherry blossom sites, including Kamigamo Shrine and Mt Hiei.

Hotel Monday Kyoto Marutamachi is a great starting point for first-time visitors to Kyoto, as it’s within walking distance of the majestic Nijo Castle, Kyoto Gyoen National Garden and the grounds of Kyoto Imperial Palace – all sights that boast magnificent cherry blossoms.

While many accommodations in Japan can run on the small side, Hotel Monday offers spacious rooms ranging from standard twins to family-sized rooms that can fit up to five people. There are also automatic services to help you check in and out with ease.

Additionally, the hotel offers an enticing breakfast buffet featuring a mouthwatering array of Japanese and Western dishes. On the breakfast spread you'll find tasty dishes made with fresh, seasonal ingredients, such as grilled fish, charcoal-grilled chicken skewers, Kyoto-style stew, tamagoyaki omelette, chirashi sushi (sushi rice topped with a variety of ingredients), miso soup, udon, soba, and much more. This should fuel you up nicely for the day of exploration ahead.

Note that the breakfast menu varies depending on the hotel location. 

Another great option for your Kyoto stay is Hotel Monday Kyoto Karasuma Nijo. Similar to Hotel Monday Kyoto Marutamachi, the hotel is situated within walking distance of Nijo Castle, Kyoto Gyoen National Garden and the Imperial Palace. Marutamachi Station is only a few minutes away, meaning you can hop on a train to connect with the rest of the city. Also conveniently accessible are other popular cherry blossom destinations including Toji and Ryoanji temples. Toji Temple is especially worth visiting in the evening, as it boasts a spectacular sakura light-up. 

There is a range of rooms to suit your needs whether you’re travelling solo or in a group, as well as automatic check-in and check-out services. For added convenience, an AI translation device is available at the front desk to help you navigate the city.

Similar to Hotel Monday Kyoto Marutamachi, the hotel also offers a breakfast buffet to get you off to a good start each morning. 

A bonus of staying at Hotel Monday Kyoto Marutamachi is the free shuttle bus service to Kinkakuji Temple, available to staying guests. The bus runs seven times a day between 8.30am and 3.30pm and can be reserved online. A returning shuttle bus to the hotel is also available and can also be reserved here.

Hotel Monday Kyoto Karasuma Nijo, on the other hand, is just a block away from Hotel Monday Kyoto Marutamachi. So if you want to catch the free shuttle bus, just walk over to the Marutamachi hotel and you'll be taken directly to Kinkakuji Temple. 

Additionally, Kinkakuji Temple is within walking distance of Ryoan-ji Temple, another one of Kyoto's stunning Unesco World Heritage Sites. Be sure to stop by both on your visit.

If you’re also visiting Tokyo, you’ll be glad to know that there are 20 Hotel Monday properties in Japan's capital city, giving you plenty of options for your stay. Hoping to check out the cherry blossoms in Ueno Park? There are five properties nearby. Additionally, there are four accommodations near Asakusa, giving you easy access to the sakura lining the Sumida River.

For foodies visiting Tokyo, Hotel Monday also offers a gourmet tour of Ueno, where you'll be taken to four popular restaurants in the neighbourhood that are beloved by locals. During the tour, you'll get to enjoy a wide assortment of Japanese flavours including ramen, yakitori and sashimi as well as well as sake and classic Japanese izakaya beverages like highball and Hoppy beer. The four-hour gourmet experience cost ¥16,000 per person and you can book it online.

For more information on Hotel Monday in Tokyo and Kyoto, visit here.