Absolutely loved this hotel! So many amenities, including men and women’s baths and free drinks on the rooftop while you soak your feet. Definitely staying here again next time we visit Kyoto. Fantastic location in Gion—walking distance to metro and a lot of the restaraunts & cafes we wanted to try, staff is so kind and English-friendly, and free coffee + tea + popsicles at the 9th floor reception every day. We booked a superior double room (204 ft) with a queen bed—plenty of space for our two checked bags, one rolly carry-on, and two backpacks. A good number of outlets and the bathroom had sufficient counter space and good water pressure. Easy to leave bags before check-in and after checkout with 1F desk. Laundry in building was convenient to use and much appreciated.

My only complaint is that you can smell the smoking room while walking past to do laundry next door. Smoking room needs better ventilation.

Review for Sora Niwa Terrace Kyoto We chose to stay at Sora Niwa Terrace Kyoto after seeing Navito’s recommendation on TikTok, especially because he mentioned it’s Muslim-friendly. We were thrilled with our choice! The hotel is beautifully designed, blending traditional Kyoto aesthetics with a modern touch. It’s also in a fantastic neighborhood, with lots of restaurants, shops, and easy access to two train stations—super convenient for exploring Kyoto. Our experience with the staff was exceptional. We had a late check-in close to midnight due to travel delays in Tokyo on 2/11, but the front desk staff welcomed us warmly, making our arrival feel easy and comfortable (we didn’t catch his name, but he was wonderful!). A special shoutout to Yifan, who helped us with the luggage delivery service, which made our travels even more seamless. Overall, Sora Niwa Terrace Kyoto is a great option for travelers, especially those looking for a Muslim-friendly hotel with beautiful aesthetics and a great location. Highly recommend!

Nothing. However I would like to share that you may need to check on or do a service for your dryer that is closest to the window in the laundry room - it took us more than 4 rounds to have our clothes completely dry.

Nicely designed, conveniently located, just across the river from Gion and down the street from Nishiki Market. Room was spotlessly clean and in the style of a traditional Japanese room with tatami and screens across the windows. Room is small, but fits a lot of amenities. Nightshirts and slippers are provided for in the room, while yukata and sandals are provided to wear around the hotel. The free drink every evening on the roof terrace is a lovely treat, and the view is spectacular. Staff were incredibly helpful, and they are able to send your luggage onto your next hotel with next day delivery.

It's a shame the onsen had a covered-tattoo rule. For the number of foreign guests it must limit who can use it. We were unable to use the onsen as we have tattoos that cannot be covered. Obviously this didn't impact the stay at the hotel itself, which was immaculate, but would have been nice if we could have used it.

We didn't expect our experience at the hotel to be this good. The room is beautiful with tea and coffee facilities, smart TV, and many sockets for us tourists with many appliances to charge. Hotel facilities included for no extra charge are: onsen, coffee/tea machines, snacks, and rooftop drinks. The location is so close to Gion and the shopping area. Plenty of restaurants, souvenir shops, snack shops to choose from in the area. This hotel is perfect for couples and people traveling in pairs.

More options for the breakfast bento would be nice. We stayed here for 4 nights so we got the exact same food for 4 days in a row. I enjoyed it but my partner grew tired of the food after 2 days. If possible 2 options such as western and Japanese style breakfast.

We loved staying at this hotel -although the rooms were tiny, they were very cosy. The public onsens were wonderful, the free tea/coffee and ice lollies in the lounge a bonus, the roof terrace really nice to enjoy with your daily free drink and your feet in the foot spa! The location worked for us, close to stations and bus stops, close to the big market, and not far to walk over the bridge to the old town. Coin laundry in the basement.

We stayed 5 nights, and after a while, the rooms really are very tiny - can't be helped, I guess, but would be nice to have a bit more space to move around and put your things! Breakfast is a bento box, so we didn't order that.

The hotel looked new and everything was stylish and well-designed, with a Japanese touch. Room was cleaned every day, including restock of 4x500ml of mineral water (which was great not having to buy and carry bottles of water to the room every night). Shower was great. Staff were friendly and willing to help, even if with some we had a language barrier. Nice rooftop. Location is perfect- close to train/bus stations, right across Gion and next to big shopping centers.

Room was super small, with big suitcases it can be difficult to manoeuvre (there is a dedicated spot for one suitcase). Need to pay just for sitting at the rooftop.

The staff is amazing and the location is very convenient. The location is walking distance to Nishiki market, Gion, subway station, river, restaurants and shopping. We loved this Japanese onsen hotel, but please note if you're going to stay here that it will require an openness to the Japanese culture. The rooms are small compared to ones in the US but very well designed (luggage is stored under the bed, so big luggage may not fit). Only two people will fit per room and rooms are not big enough for people traveling with kids. You need to take off your shoes before entering your room (there is an area to leave your shoes and change to slippers). The hotel provides yukatas (robes) to wear in the property and everyone wears them. The onsen is used completely undressed and there is a shower area where you wash off first. There are two onsens (male and female switch from one day to the next) and one has an incredible views of Gion and the river. The rooftop deck with a foot bath also has amazing views. The lobby has hot drinks and also fruit popsicles that were a refreshing treat after the onsen. The hotel was new and it was incredibly clean. The breakfast is beautifully presented in boxes, but it is all Japanese cuisine (our boxes contained fish, rice, sea snail, root vegetables, etc.). There were laundry facilities in the basement (which we used). We loved our stay and my adult daughters said staying at this hotel was one of their favorite memories of Japan.

We loved it, but please read my comments to make sure this is the hotel for you.

Beautiful, centrally located hotel with amazing amenities. We paid an arm and a leg for a teeny tiny room here during peak cherry blossom season, but it felt worth it. The location was great, just over the bridge to Gion and an easy walk almost everywhere, including train stations (although not the main Kyoto station.) We lucked out with a room that had a window with a partial river view, though many rooms have a view of a brick wall a few feet away. The rooftop was a great plus: hot spring foot bath, bar, fire pits and couches. We were provided one free drink (beer wine or simple cocktails) per person per night during happy hour. The shared onsen was beautiful. They switch male/female spas daily, so you can experience both, but one definitely has a better view/vibe than the other. Try going right when they reopen after the midday switch/clean for a private or near private onsen experience. Staff were super friendly, and the lobby had coffee and tea + popsicles and ice cream sandwiches 24/7.

Rooms are super small, but we knew this going into it. Other members of our party upgraded to a suite with private onsen and the rooms were WAY more spacious, plus had unlimited drinks at the rooftop bar during happy hour.

This hotel is so clean and beautiful. The best part is the terrace view of the city. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to access the onsen because of my tattoos but it looked really nice. You can soak your feet in warm water on the terrace after a long day of walking! They provide robes and sandals you can wear around the property which is cool. Lots of room amenities/toiletries. Comfy bed. Awesome location, close walk to Nishiki Market/fun downtown area and Gion. Close to train stations. Great coffee maker/matcha maker machine. Would absolutely come back

My stay at Sora Niwa Terrace Kyoto was a delightful experience that truly captured the essence of this historic city. The hotel's location is undoubtedly one of its strongest assets. Nestled in the heart of Kyoto, it offers easy access to the city center and is surrounded by fantastic dining options, including a superb wagyu restaurant just downstairs. For those looking to explore Kyoto's nightlife, there are several bars within walking distance. One of the highlights of my stay was the hotel's rooftop bar, exclusively for guests. The panoramic views are breathtaking, offering a stunning vista of Kiyomizu-dera Temple. The unique foot bath experience at the bar adds an extra layer of relaxation – sipping on a cocktail while soaking your feet is an indulgence not to be missed. The breakfast bento boxes served at the hotel deserve special mention. They're thoughtfully prepared and offer a wonderful taste of Japanese cuisine, especially appreciated by international visitors like myself. It's a perfect way to start your day of exploration in Kyoto. Another standout feature is the hotel's own hot spring. The combination of traditional Japanese aesthetics with modern amenities in the bathing area creates a serene and rejuvenating atmosphere.

The room, while on the smaller side, is well-designed, blending Japanese-style decor with contemporary furnishings. Although small and compact, the excellent location and top-notch services more than make up for the room size, and it didn't detract from my overall experience.