Westin Miyako Kyoto vs Courtyard Kyoto Which Marriott Hotel Is Best for You
Choosing a hotel in Kyoto can feel harder than planning the sightseeing. There are peaceful temple areas, busy shopping streets, train station hotels, ryokans, luxury properties, tiny city rooms, and every possible price point in between.
After staying at two very different Marriott hotels in Kyoto, I came away with one strong opinion: your hotel can absolutely shape your trip.
Sometimes a hotel is just a clean room where you sleep, shower, and drop your bags. Other times, the hotel becomes part of the experience. It gives you a garden, an onsen, breakfast you look forward to, and a lounge that quietly saves you money every day.
That is really the difference between the Westin Miyako Kyoto and the Courtyard Kyoto.
Both are part of the Marriott family. Both can make sense depending on how you like to travel. But they offer completely different stays. One feels like a destination hotel. The other feels like a practical, clean, city base.
If you are trying to decide between the two, this comparison should help you figure out what matters most to you: space, location, food, comfort, perks, price, or the overall feeling of the trip.
The biggest difference is the kind of trip each hotel creates
The Westin Miyako Kyoto and the Courtyard Kyoto are not really trying to be the same kind of hotel.
The Westin feels like a place where you slow down. It is larger, more spacious, more scenic, and more experience-driven. It has resort-like touches, including an onsen, a Japanese garden, walking trails, a club lounge if you have access, and a breakfast that feels like an event.
The Courtyard Kyoto feels more like a smart city stay. It is newer, clean, compact, and practical. The rooms are small, and the hotel does not have the same “wow” feeling, but it puts you closer to a more urban Kyoto experience with restaurants and shops nearby.
That makes the choice less about which hotel is “better” and more about what kind of stay you want.
Westin Miyako Kyoto
Courtyard Kyoto
Best if you want luxury, space, hotel perks, an onsen, gardens, and a stay that feels special.
Best if you want a newer, clean room, a more central-feeling location, laundry access, and a practical base for exploring.
I would not compare them as if they are equal properties with small differences. They are completely different experiences.
The Westin can be the kind of hotel that makes the trip feel elevated. The Courtyard can be the kind of hotel that makes the trip simple.
Both have value. The right choice depends on what you want to spend money on, and what you want to get back from the hotel.
Why the Westin Miyako Kyoto felt like part of the vacation
Our first stay was in October at the Westin Miyako Kyoto. From the start, it felt different.
Most travelers arriving in Kyoto will come through Kyoto Station. Since the Westin Miyako Kyoto is not right beside the station, the hotel offered a free shuttle pickup to the property. That mattered. After a travel day, not having to figure out another step with luggage made the arrival much easier.
The hotel is a bit farther out, but that distance also gives it a calmer feeling. It does not feel like you are stepping straight into a busy city block. It feels more tucked away, with space around it and a quieter setting.
For us, the Westin was also where the Marriott Bonvoy benefits really stood out. We were signed up as Marriott Bonvoy members, and through our loyalty program we had access to several benefits that changed the stay:
Access to the onsen
Access to the M Club Lounge
Free breakfast
Shuttle transportation options
Drinks and snacks during the day
Evening happy hour with food
That combination made the Westin feel like a much bigger value than the room rate alone might suggest.
Of course, benefits can depend on your Marriott Bonvoy status, the rate you book, and the hotel’s current policies. Always check the details before you count on anything. But if you do have access to these perks, they can make a huge difference in Kyoto.
The breakfast was more than just breakfast
The breakfast at the Westin Miyako Kyoto was huge.
This was not a quick coffee, toast, and fruit situation. There were stations with Japanese cooked foods, which made breakfast feel like a tasting experience. If you are curious about Japanese food but do not always know what to order at a market or restaurant, this kind of breakfast is such a nice way to try things.
You can take a little of this and a little of that. You can discover what you like without committing to a whole meal. That is especially helpful in Japan, where there are so many foods that might be new to first-time visitors.
For us, breakfast added real value. It also saved time in the morning. Instead of searching for food before sightseeing, we could eat well at the hotel and start the day ready to go.
And because breakfast in Kyoto can become an added daily cost, having it included was not just convenient. It was a real savings.
The M Club Lounge saved us money
The M Club Lounge was one of the biggest reasons the Westin felt worth it.
The lounge had access to water, soda, drinks, and snacks throughout the day. When you are traveling, those small things add up. A bottle of water here, a coffee there, a snack between sights, it can become part of the daily budget without you really noticing.
Then in the evening, the lounge offered a happy hour for several hours with drinks and hors d’oeuvres. For us, the evening food selection was enough to count as dinner.
That is a big deal.
Kyoto has wonderful restaurants, and of course part of traveling is eating out. But not every night needs to be a full restaurant dinner. Some nights, especially after a long day of walking, it is so nice to come back to the hotel, have something easy, and not make another decision.
If the lounge covers dinner even once or twice, that changes the math of the stay.
This is why I would be careful about comparing hotel prices only by the nightly rate. A cheaper room may not be cheaper if you are buying breakfast, drinks, snacks, and dinner every day. A more expensive hotel may feel more reasonable if it includes things you would have paid for anyway.
The onsen made the stay feel magical
The onsen at the Westin Miyako Kyoto was the part I wish I could have photographed, though of course that is not something you can usually take photos of.
It was a magical experience to have right inside the hotel.
After long days of walking around Kyoto, visiting temples, taking trains, and exploring, having access to an onsen felt like such a gift. It made the hotel feel like more than a place to sleep. It became part of how we recovered each day.
Japan is known for onsen culture, and staying somewhere with easy access removes a lot of the hesitation. You do not have to plan a separate visit or figure out where to go. You can simply go downstairs, enjoy the experience, and return to your room relaxed.
For me, this is one of the strongest reasons to choose the Westin if the budget works.
The garden and walking trail added another layer
The Westin also has a Japanese garden and a walking trail behind the hotel.
This may sound like a small detail, but it matters. Kyoto can be busy, especially around the most popular sights. Having a peaceful garden or trail connected to your hotel gives you another way to enjoy the city without crowds or planning.
It also makes mornings and evenings nicer. You can take a slow walk, enjoy the grounds, and feel like you are still experiencing Kyoto even if you are not out sightseeing.
That is what I mean when I say the Westin felt like part of the vacation. The hotel itself gave us things to do, see, and enjoy.
Why the Courtyard Kyoto worked as a practical city stay
The Courtyard Kyoto was a completely different experience.
It is newer, clean, and located closer to the train station area than the Westin, though I would still say it is too far to walk comfortably with luggage. It feels more connected to the downtown side of things, with lots of restaurants and shops around.
If your plan is to be out most of the day, eat out, have drinks out, and use the room mainly for sleep, the Courtyard makes a lot of sense.
It did not feel luxurious in the same way the Westin did. It did not offer the same feeling of space or destination-hotel comfort. But it was clean, fresh, and easy.
That counts for a lot when you are traveling.
The rooms were small, but clean and new
The biggest thing to know about the Courtyard Kyoto is that the rooms are small.
And I do mean small.
It is worth saying twice because room size can really affect how you feel during a trip. If you travel with large suitcases, like to unpack fully, or enjoy spending time in your room, the size may bother you.
The rooms also did not really have views, at least from what we experienced and observed. If you are hoping to look out over Kyoto from your room, this is probably not the hotel to choose.
But the rooms were clean and new. That matters. A small room can still work well when it feels fresh, simple, and well maintained.
For travelers who only need the basics, the Courtyard may be enough. If your priority is a comfortable bed, a clean bathroom, and a reliable place to return to at night, this hotel checks those boxes.
Breakfast was smaller, but still good
At the Courtyard, we had breakfast included in the rate.
The breakfast was much smaller than the Westin’s breakfast, but it was still good. They had made-to-order eggs and bacon, and you could have more if you wanted. There was also a small buffet.
This is where expectations matter.
If you go in expecting a large luxury breakfast with many stations and lots of Japanese foods to sample, you may be disappointed. If you expect a simple, satisfying breakfast before heading out, it does the job.
I would describe it as practical, not memorable.
That is not a bad thing. Some mornings, all you need is eggs, bacon, coffee, and something quick from the buffet before starting the day.
The laundry setup was a real benefit
One of the best practical features at the Courtyard Kyoto was the washer and dryer combo on the second floor.
If you travel light, this is a big plus.
Japan is a place where you may do a lot of walking, and depending on the season, you may go through clothes faster than expected. Having laundry available at the hotel means you can pack less and refresh your clothes during the trip.
This is especially helpful if Kyoto is part of a longer Japan itinerary. If you are visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, or other cities on one trip, laundry access can make the packing much easier.
Luxury hotels do not always make laundry simple or affordable. A self-service option can be more valuable than it sounds.
The free coffee machine was a nice touch
The lobby had a free coffee machine, and it even had matcha tea.
I loved that little detail.
It gave the hotel a friendly, useful touch. If you wanted a quick coffee before heading out or a warm drink when you got back, you did not have to go searching. It was right there.
Again, this is the kind of thing that fits the Courtyard. It is not trying to give you an elaborate resort experience. It is giving you useful basics that make the stay easier.
Eating out near the Courtyard was easy
Because the Courtyard is in a more downtown-feeling area, we ate out and had drinks out.
That worked well for this stay. There were restaurants and shops nearby, and we found Japan’s prices, in our opinion, not as expensive as many people might expect. Of course, this depends on where you go and what you order, but casual meals and drinks can be reasonable compared with many major U.S. cities.
This is another reason the Courtyard can make sense. If you are not relying on a lounge or big hotel breakfast, you can still enjoy Kyoto without feeling like every meal is a splurge.
The tradeoff is simple. You get less from the hotel itself, but you may have more reason to go out and explore the area around it.
The location choice depends on how you move around Kyoto
Location in Kyoto can be tricky because there is no single perfect spot for everyone.
Kyoto Station is a major arrival point and a useful transport hub. Many visitors arrive there by train, especially if coming from Tokyo, Osaka, or another city. Staying close to the station can make arrival and departure easier.
But Kyoto’s major sights are spread out. Depending on your plans, you may use trains, buses, taxis, hotel shuttles, or a mix of everything.
The Westin Miyako Kyoto is farther from Kyoto Station, but the hotel offered a free shuttle pickup when we stayed. It also had shuttle service to a local train station, which helped make the distance less of an issue.
That means the Westin’s location did not feel inconvenient in the way it might look on a map. The shuttle options helped a lot.
The Courtyard Kyoto is closer to the train station area and more in the downtown mix, but I still would not describe it as an easy walk from Kyoto Station with luggage. It worked better as a city base once we were settled.
Here is the simplest way to think about it:
Westin Miyako Kyoto | Courtyard Kyoto | |
Arrival from Kyoto Station | Easier if using the hotel shuttle | Closer, but still not ideal to walk with luggage |
Feeling of the area | Quieter and more resort-like | More urban and convenient |
Nearby food and drinks | More hotel-centered if using lounge and breakfast | Easier to go out to restaurants and shops |
Getting around | Shuttle helps connect you | More downtown-focused base |
Best for | Slower, more comfortable stay | Simple exploring and eating out |
If you want your hotel to feel peaceful at the end of the day, the Westin has the advantage.
If you want to step out and find restaurants, shops, and drinks more easily, the Courtyard may fit better.
The real cost is not only the room rate
Cost will probably be a major part of the decision. It usually is.
But with these two hotels, the real cost is not only the nightly room rate. You have to compare what is included and what you will actually use.
At the Westin, our benefits made a big difference. Breakfast, lounge access, drinks, snacks, happy hour food, and onsen access all added value. If we had paid separately for breakfast, snacks, drinks, and some dinners, the total cost of the trip would have been higher.
At the Courtyard, we only had breakfast included in the rate. We ate out and had drinks out. That was fine because nearby options were convenient and, in our opinion, Japan did not feel overly expensive for the way we ate.
Still, the spending pattern was different.
At the Westin, more of the experience was folded into the hotel.
At the Courtyard, more of the experience happened outside the hotel.
Neither is wrong. They just lead to different budgets.
When the Westin can be the better value
The Westin may be the better value if you will use the perks.
That means:
You will eat the hotel breakfast
You will stop by the lounge for drinks or snacks
You will use happy hour as a light dinner
You will use the onsen
You will enjoy the garden and walking trail
You care about having a more spacious, elevated setting
If those things matter to you, the Westin can feel worth paying more for.
It is especially strong for travelers who want the hotel itself to be part of the memory. If you like returning to a beautiful property, relaxing in a lounge, soaking in an onsen, and enjoying a slower pace, the Westin delivers that feeling.
When the Courtyard can be the better value
The Courtyard may be the better value if you are mostly out exploring.
That means:
You do not care much about the room view
You are fine with a small room
You want a clean and new-feeling hotel
You plan to eat most meals out
You like being near restaurants and shops
You value self-service laundry
You want a simpler Marriott option in Kyoto
If the hotel room is just a base, the Courtyard can be the smarter choice.
This is especially true if you travel light and do not spend much time in the room. The laundry access, free lobby coffee, and included breakfast can make it easy and practical.
Who should choose each Marriott hotel in Kyoto
The best choice becomes clearer when you match each hotel to a travel style.
Choose the Westin Miyako Kyoto if you want the hotel to feel special
The Westin is the one I would choose for a more elevated stay.
It is for the traveler who wants to come back at the end of the day and still feel like the vacation is continuing. The onsen, garden, lounge, breakfast, and overall setting all add to that feeling.
It is also a strong choice if you are a Marriott Bonvoy member with benefits that unlock more value. Lounge access and breakfast can change the whole stay.
The Westin is a better fit if you care about:
A luxury atmosphere
A more spacious property
A memorable hotel experience
Onsen access
A beautiful garden setting
Large breakfast options
Lounge access and evening food
Quiet surroundings after sightseeing
If you are celebrating something or want Kyoto to feel extra special, I would lean Westin.
Choose the Courtyard Kyoto if you want clean, simple, and convenient
The Courtyard is the one I would choose for a more practical stay.
It is clean, new, and easy. The rooms are small, but if you do not care about spending time in the room, that may not matter much. The breakfast is smaller, but good enough. The laundry is very useful. The lobby coffee machine is a nice bonus.
The Courtyard is a better fit if you care about:
A newer hotel feel
A simpler room
Being closer to restaurants and shops
Eating and drinking out
Self-service laundry
A lower-key stay
Basic comfort without extra frills
If you are the type of traveler who leaves early and comes back late, the Courtyard may be all you need.
Choose based on what you will actually use
This is the key point.
Do not pay for hotel features you will not use. But also do not ignore hotel features that could save you money or make your trip better.
If you will never use the lounge, skip the onsen, and spend every night out, the Westin may not be worth the extra cost.
If you get frustrated by small rooms, want a view, and like ending the night with easy hotel food and drinks, the Courtyard may feel too basic.
That is why this comparison is not one-size-fits-all. Westin Miyako Kyoto vs Courtyard Kyoto Which Marriott Hotel Is Best for You really comes down to whether you want an experience hotel or a practical city hotel.
My honest verdict after staying at both
I liked both hotels, but for completely different reasons.
The Westin Miyako Kyoto was the more memorable stay. It felt luxurious, peaceful, and special. The breakfast was huge, the lounge was useful, the happy hour worked as dinner for us, and the onsen was one of those travel moments that stays with you.
The Courtyard Kyoto was clean, new, and practical. It did not have the same charm or space, and the rooms were very small, but it worked well as a simple base. The laundry was a great feature, the breakfast was fine, and the free coffee and matcha machine in the lobby was a nice touch.
If I were choosing for a special trip, anniversary, first time in Kyoto, or a stay where I wanted the hotel to feel like part of the destination, I would choose the Westin Miyako Kyoto.
If I were choosing for a shorter stay, a tighter budget, or a trip where I planned to be out all day and eat around the city, I would choose the Courtyard Kyoto.
To put it simply:
Pick the Westin
Pick the Courtyard
If you want luxury, a calmer setting, an onsen, big breakfast, lounge perks, and a hotel that feels like an experience.
If you want clean and new, a more practical location, laundry, simple breakfast, and a room mainly for sleeping.
The hotel really can make or break the feel of your stay. In Kyoto, where the days can be full of walking, temples, trains, and food, the place you come back to matters.
For us, the Westin felt like the hotel you remember. The Courtyard felt like the hotel that did its job.
Both can be the right choice. Just be honest about the kind of traveler you are, and what kind of Kyoto trip you want to have.
Comments