Hatoya Zuihokaku is an upscale Japanese-style five-storey hot spring hotel, conveniently located about 5 minutes on foot from Kyoto Station’s Karasuma Central Exit or West Exit. It is also about 7 minutes on foot from the subway station’s Central Exit, about 5 minutes from Kintetsu Kyoto Station via the north-south passage, and about 1 minute from the Shimogyo Ward Office bus stop.
Hatoya Zuihokaku
at Kyoto Station
This is a modern, comfortable hotel, but don’t let that modern exterior fool you, because the interior style is pure traditional elegance. Throughout, the building is tastefully decorated with art by distinguished local artists. These include paintings of traditional Japanese motifs and other artworks in traditional washi paper. On your arrival you will immediately notice a beautiful washi paper tapestry over the reception counter by the artist Eriko Horiki. Sites and attractions close by the hotel include Kyoto Tower, Higashi Honganji Temple and Umekoji Koen Park.
The Hatoya Zuihokaku exterior
The Rooms
Hatoya Zuihokaku has 102 guest rooms in 13 room types, with a strong focus on Japanese-Western rooms. Options include special rooms with natural hot spring baths, Japanese-Western rooms, Japanese rooms, superior twin rooms, corner twin rooms, corner double rooms, universal twin rooms, economy twin rooms and the Hato-pyon room. All rooms come with a private toilet and bath.
Japanese-style room at Hatoya Zuihokaku
Every room is also supplied with a refrigerator, a hairdryer, an electric kettle, an LCD TV, towels and a pouch for the baths, toiletries, yukata and tanzen robes, a humidifying air purifier, a tea set, bedside switches and USB connectors. Amenities include POLA shampoo, conditioner and body soap, a toothbrush, shower cap, hair ties, hairbrush, shaver, cotton, cotton swabs and soap. High-speed internet can be accessed in all rooms by LAN or by Wi-Fi.
Standard room at Hatoya Zuihokaku
You can reserve various plans for your stay that include breakfast, breakfast and dinner, or no meals at all if you prefer to eat out. The hotel serves Japanese meals, and while staff try to accommodate allergies and vegetarian requests where possible, you should consult with the hotel in advance to see if they can prepare a menu suitable for you.
The Hatoya Zuihokaku reception desk
Hotel Facilities
Hotel facilities include BAIKAL Cafe, ANNE HALL BAR, Japanese dining, a hot spring spa, a self-service laundry room, a souvenir shop, banquet and multi-purpose rooms, luggage storage and delivery service. The laundry room is on the 8th floor, with two washing machines at 300 yen including automatic detergent, and dryers at 100 yen for 30 minutes. Let’s take a closer look at some of those facilities.
The Hot Spring Spa
On the eighth floor of the hotel are shared hot spring baths which are separated by gender. This is a special feature of this hotel. Water for the baths is pumped up from a natural spring 910 meters beneath the hotel. The hotel describes the water as a bicarbonate and chloride spring, with circulation filtration, added water and heating, and promotes it for warming and skin-care effects. The baths are decorated with graceful wall paintings by local artist Hideki Kimura. The baths are open from 15:00 to 24:00 and from 6:30 to 9:30. Guests should bring towels from their rooms, and guests with tattoos are asked not to use the baths.
The Hot Spring Spa
The Hotel Restaurant
The hotel’s dining is centered on Kyoto-style Japanese meals. Breakfast is available for 3,300 yen including tax and should be reserved by the previous day. Dinner is available for 12,100 yen including tax and should be reserved 4 days in advance. The dinner menu uses seasonal ingredients from Kyoto and the surrounding region, and the hot spring water is also used in some preparations. Seating and meal availability can vary by plan, so it is best to check meal arrangements when you book.
The Hotel Bar
ANNE HALL BAR is the hotel’s whisky-focused bar, with about 700 malt whiskies. It is a good spot to unwind after a day’s explorations, and is open from noon until 2:00 am. BAIKAL Cafe is another option for coffee, sweets and light meals, with cafe hours from 8:00 to 16:00, lunch from 11:00 to 16:00, and bar service from 16:00 to 22:00.
Services for Wheelchair Users
The hotel has two universal rooms which are suitable for wheelchair users, with wide entrances, interior handrails and sliding doors for the bathrooms. Public areas include accessible restrooms on the 1st and 2nd floors. A limited number of wheelchairs are available for guests to use, but should be requested in advance of your stay.
Events
Banquet halls and multi-purpose rooms are also available for parties, business meetings and presentations, or karaoke get-togethers.
All guest rooms are non-smoking, but there are designated smoking areas in the 1st floor lobby and on the 2nd floor banquet floor. Guests arriving by car can use two affiliated Times parking lots on a first-come, first-served basis. The hotel parking arrangement costs 2,500 yen from 15:00 to 10:00; spaces cannot be reserved, and the arrangement does not include in-and-out privileges.
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 26-Jun-2026.
