What to expect: Hotel Granvia Kyoto is a favorite of visitors and business travelers alike for its proximity to Kyoto Station. The exterior design blends nicely with the station’s modern glass structure, and the glossy tiles and lighted columns of the lobby area set a sophisticated theme that is carried by the 1,000 museum-quality works of art located throughout the hotel. Selected to maintain a theme of modernity and tradition, many of the works were done by local artists.

Amenity highlights: In addition to providing easy access to Kyoto’s largest shopping mall, Hotel Granvia Kyoto offers its own 13 restaurants and bars, 12 conference/function rooms, and an adults-only health club that features a 20-meter, three-lane pool. There, guests also have access to a fitness center, jet bath, and infrared sauna. A unique outdoor courtyard area offers a quiet spot for relaxation or reflection amid the city’s busy center.

Insider tip: Adjacent Kyoto Station is also home to Kyoto Theater, where a variety of Broadway musicals, such as Cats, Beauty and the Beast, and Phantom of the Opera, have been hosted. It also features original musicals from the Shiki Theater Company, which owns the building.

What to expect: Located in Higashiyama, the Hyatt Regency Kyoto attracts guests wishing to stay in close proximity to the neighbourhood’s temples while also enjoying a respite from the crowds to be found staying in the city centre. The hotel’s design, both in the lobby, restaurants, and guestrooms, strikes a balance between modern elements and traditional accents such as kimono fabric, pottery, and brass fixtures.

Amenity highlights: At the Hyatt Regency Kyoto’s Touzan Bar guests can sample an extensive selection of Japanese sake, including varieties locally produced in Kyoto’s Fushimi district, renowned for their smooth and mellow characteristics. Three restaurants also serve Japanese, Italian, and Continental cuisine. The on-site Riraku Spa and Fitness day spa offers health and beauty treatments featuring organic products from Chidoriya, a supplier to geisha and traditional dancers.

Insider tip: At Maiko Hana no Seki guests can see traditional dance performances and be served tea and confectionaries by geisha-in-training. This is an ideal way to experience this aspect of Japanese society while sidestepping large-scale demonstrations that lack the personal touch which is at the core of geisha culture. Performances are held on weekend afternoons; directions available at the concierge desk.

What to expect: A circular driveway leads off a quiet side street to this atrium-style hotel, which welcomes both business travelers and vacationers to a sky-lit lobby area. Named for the popular tourist city of Brighton, England, the Kyoto Brighton creates its own relaxing, gardenlike atmosphere with fresh plants overhanging the atrium walls from the stories above, and a small, river-like fountain flowing past a café-style restaurant that overlooks a sunken lobby lounge. Here, guests can people-watch while sipping beverages and nibbling a snack or two.

Amenity highlights: Branching off from the main lobby area are several restaurants, a bar with special glasses for loyal guests, a small computer room with complimentary high-speed Internet access, and multiple event/conference rooms. A dry Zen garden can be found on the second floor. Set above it all is the 15-meter (15-foot) rooftop pool, which is surrounded by chaise lounges and sun umbrellas. Bicycles can be rented at the front desk for active guests who want to explore the city in a unique way.