Overview
Generous rooms and bathrooms with separate bathtubs and shower areas distinguish Hotel Nikko Princess Kyoto from many central city options. Even single rooms measure 24 square metres. The hotel is in Kyoto Shijo-Karasuma, about three minutes from Shijo Station via Exit 5 and close to Nishiki Market.
Karasuma Station is roughly five minutes away, adding the Hankyu Kyoto Line to the hotel's transport options. With 216 non-smoking rooms and six restaurants and bars, room choice and dining matter here as much as the central address.
Rooms
Singles measure 24 square metres and doubles 32 square metres. Twin rooms provide 36 to 38 square metres, while triples range from 42 to 49 square metres. Suites begin at 54 square metres and reach 112 square metres in the Princess Suite.
These aren't compact unit bathrooms. Every room has a separate bathtub and shower area, a welcome feature after a long day on foot. Suites and executive-floor rooms were renovated by March 2025, and selected upper-floor categories look toward Kyoto's eastern mountains. Some higher-occupancy arrangements use a sofa bed, so check the exact bed setup before booking.
Facilities
The fifth-floor wellness studio provides space for a workout. The hotel also draws natural groundwater from the same underground water system as Kyoto Imperial Palace and Shimogamo Shrine, using it throughout the building for bathing, drinking, and cooking.
Dining
Breakfast runs from 7:00 to 10:00, with two distinct choices. Sagano serves a Japanese breakfast centered on seasonal ingredients, while Amber Court offers a Western buffet and continues with breakfast courses and a la carte service until 11:00.
For later meals, the restaurants divide between Japanese cooking, Chinese dishes, and teppanyaki. Amber Court covers cafe meals, and Darley is the evening bar. Room service is available during set hours. Closing days vary by venue, so check the schedule if you have a particular meal in mind.
Location and transport
Shijo Station is two stops north of Kyoto Station on the Karasuma Line, and the subway ride takes about four minutes. One stop farther north, Karasuma Oike Station provides an interchange with the east-west Tozai Line.
Karasuma Station is a separate but nearby stop on the Hankyu Kyoto Line. Trains serve Kyoto Kawaramachi Station at the eastern end of downtown and continue west toward Osaka. Together, the subway and Hankyu routes support days divided between central Kyoto, east-side sightseeing, and trips to Osaka.
Airport access
From Kansai International Airport, the Haruka limited express reaches Kyoto Station in about 75 minutes. Limousine buses from Osaka International Airport take about 50 minutes to Kyoto Station's Hachijo side. From there, continue by subway to Shijo or take a taxi.
There is no hotel-door airport shuttle. The subway adds a two-stop ride and the three-minute walk from Shijo Station, while a taxi avoids that final transfer.
Why stay here
Larger room layouts and six dining venues make settling in for several nights more comfortable, while Shijo keeps the subway and downtown shopping close. The tradeoff is an outdoor street walk from both nearby stations and a local transfer for airport or Shinkansen journeys.
Shijo-Karasuma is Kyoto's central business district, with commercial streets becoming livelier toward Shijo-Kawaramachi. Nishiki Market is nearby, and continuing east brings Pontocho, the Kamo River, and Gion into the same downtown day. The immediate setting feels urban rather than old-town.
Good to know
The hotel isn't connected to Shijo or Karasuma stations, and both approaches involve an outdoor walk. Check-in begins at 3:00 pm, and check-out is by 11:00 am.
Indoor parking is available without reservations and is assigned in order of arrival. If the garage is full, drivers must use an unaffiliated nearby car park at their own expense.
3-minute walk