Richmond Hotel Premier Kyoto Shijo

The hotel is conveniently situated roughly halfway between Shijo Station on the Subway line (Hankyu Karasuma Station) and Hankyu Omiya Station (Randen Shijo-Omiya Station), with both locations accessible within a 10-minute walk.

On the ground floor, you will find a supermarket, which adds exceptional convenience to your stay. The hotel entrance is located right next to the store.

Taking the elevator up to the third floor reveals an expansive lobby area with impressively high ceilings, creating an exceptionally bright and airy atmosphere.

I was guided to this space, where I was able to complete the check-in process comfortably while seated.

Upon arrival, a welcome drink service was offered, with a choice between green tea and Japanese sake.

The seamless and attentive check-in experience was truly reminiscent of a luxury hotel.

Amenities are conveniently available in the lobby, allowing guests to freely select and bring whatever they need to their rooms.

I stayed in a guest room on the 8th floor, the top floor of the hotel. Here is a view of the room from the entrance.

And here is the view looking back from the window side.

This record player is an exclusive feature of the Premier Twin room. A selection of vinyl records is provided, allowing guests to relax and enjoy the warm sound of music during their stay.

An open-concept closet offering generous storage capacity.

A complimentary coffee and green tea setup, uniquely featured in the Premier Twin room. Guests can enjoy freshly brewed coffee by grinding the provided beans with a manual coffee mill.

The bathroom was remarkably comfortable, featuring a spacious dedicated washing area.

The selection of amenities also included bath salts and facial sheet masks for guest use.

A spacious lounge area overlooking a peaceful inner courtyard.

Starting at 3:00 PM, a selection of pastries was served, featuring mango cake and muffins on the day of my visit.

During Social Hour, the lineup expands to include alcoholic beverages, such as beer, wine, and local Japanese sake.

An array of light bites was also provided, including crackers, cheeses, and traditional Japanese pickles.

A complimentary platter featuring a trio of bite-sized appetizers was also served.

Taking full advantage of this perk, I decided to visit the Kyoto Station location as well.

Pictured on the right is the lounge space on the first floor. While it felt a bit cozier than the one at Shijo, it boasts a truly lovely inner garden. Upon arrival, I simply informed the staff that I was staying at the Kyoto Shijo location to gain entry.

At this location’s Afternoon Service, there was even a dedicated station where guests could brew their own fresh matcha green tea.

The selection was rich with traditional Japanese sweets, featuring treats like warabi mochi and matcha soft-serve ice cream.

I also felt that this location offered a wider variety of alcoholic beverages during Social Hour.

Canned beer was available here, whereas the Shijo location served draft beer in glasses.

The savory snacks featured a selection of traditional Japanese items, including salted squid gut (ika no shiokara) and local pickles.

Returning to Kyoto Shijo from Kyoto Station, I was greeted by a stunning evening sky, which reflected beautifully against the window exterior designed to resemble a fold-out glass screen.

Breakfast is served in the very same lounge space. At the Japanese breakfast station, you can select various small side dishes (kobachi) and arrange them inside a traditional lattice-patterned wooden tray (“Kyo-goshi sukashi-bako”). Even without much effort, it naturally comes together into a beautifully curated presentation.

There is also a dedicated grilled fish station, offering freshly prepared local selections.

Green tea noodles.

There was also a hot station featuring roast pork, grilled sausages, and roasted seasonal vegetables.

Plating everything in these individual small bowls (kobachi) makes the meal look remarkably elegant and picturesque.

Another highlight was the hashed beef—a savory, rich demi-glace beef stew that was incredibly flavorful.