Flânons

Kyoto · Japan · To stay

Ace Hotel Kyoto

Location & practical

The Telephone Office Has a Turntable

  • A 1926 telephone office, now a hotel.
  • Samiro Yunoki’s art above the beds.
  • Turntables in the historic rooms.
  • €206–654 / night
  • 213 rooms
  • Karasuma Oike, Nakagyo Ward

There’s a fish above the bed at Ace Hotel Kyoto. It’s a white one on a blue hanging by Samiro Yunoki, with two birds overhead. In another room he’s done a pagoda in black and yellow against a splendid red. Between the artwork and the striped Pendleton blankets, the bedrooms have rather more colour than you might expect from the street.

The brick building is Tetsuro Yoshida’s former Kyoto Central Telephone Office, built in 1926. Kengo Kuma and Associates added a wing with deep eaves and rows of slats that tip out over the windows. You can watch their shadows move from the long, cushioned bench in a Standard King. In the old building, some rooms have tall arched windows. Commune Design gives those rooms a domestic scale. A low bench and a tall paper lantern are enough to make a corner feel like somewhere you’d sit. In the Historic King, you can put a record on and sit somewhere other than the bed while it plays. A small thing, until you’ve spent a week in hotels where the only chair is at the desk.

Downstairs, you can order an espresso at Japan’s first Stumptown and take it to the long communal table. There’s room for a laptop, a folded map and someone who’s only come in for coffee. Nishiki Market is a short walk away, though I’d give myself time for a second cup. Later, I’d go up to Mr. Maurice’s for a drink on the terrace. You can look down into the ShinPuhKan courtyard from there, and if the wood-fired pizza going past is for someone else, it’s easy enough to put that right.

  • Urban setting Karasuma Oike, Nakagyo Ward
  • Restaurant
  • Gym
  • Garden

Rooms.

The Flânons choice

Which room would we choose?

Book the Historic King for the old telephone office itself. There’s a separate sitting area where you can put on a record without spending the afternoon on the bed, and a deep Japanese soaking tub for when you get back from walking Kyoto.

All 9 room types

Standard King

Window seat · Soaking tub

King bed, cushioned window seat and separate shower. The hotel sales guide says most have turntables.

Standard Twin

Two double beds · Soaking tub

Two double beds, window seat and separate shower.

Deluxe King

King bed · Window seat

King bed and window seating. Confirm the outlook when booking.

Deluxe Twin

Two double beds

Two double beds. The FAQ lists a maximum of three adults.

Historic King

Historic wing · Turntable · Soaking tub

54 m² with a king bed, separate sitting area and deep bath.

Historic Twin

Historic wing · Two double beds · Turntable

48 m² with two double beds, sitting area and Japanese soaking tub.

Tatami Suite

Tatami · Futons · Turntable

60 m² with four futons, a bar counter and Japanese soaking tub.

Loft Suite

Suite category listed for up to three adults.

Ace Suite

Historic wing · Separate living area · Soaking tub

King suite in the former telephone office with a separate living and dining area and bar.

The Standard King has a cushioned window seat and a soaking tub. If vinyl matters, confirm turntable availability for your specific room. The Historic Twin has two double beds, while the Tatami Suite sleeps up to four on futons. If you want one of the old building’s arched windows, ask which rooms have one.

Good to know.

Location
245-2 Kurumayachō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8185, Japan
Open map & directions
Check-in & check-out
Check-in from 15:00, check-out by 12:00
Parking
The hotel has no guest parking. The front desk can direct drivers to nearby parking.
EV charging
On-site guest charging could not be verified. Ask the hotel about nearby options.
Getting around
The hotel is connected to Karasuma Oike Station on the Karasuma and Tozai subway lines. From Kyoto Station take the Karasuma Line to Karasuma Oike.
Arriving
245-2 Kurumayacho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-8185. Enter through ShinPuhKan. The front desk can hold luggage before check-in and after checkout. The lead guest must be at least 20 to book.
Pets
Dogs under 15 kg are accepted in guest rooms, with a waiver at check-in. Ask ahead about larger dogs or other pets. Ace publishes conflicting fees of ¥11,000 and ¥14,300 per pet per night, so confirm the charge before booking.
Accessibility
Contact reservations to confirm an accessible room, a step-free route from street or subway, and bathroom fittings for your needs.
Travelling with children
Children can stay. Add them to the booking search and confirm bedding and occupancy for the room. Gym access starts at 16.

Worth knowing

  • The €206–€654 budget is an indicative nightly standard-room range before taxes. Tripadvisor displayed US$231–US$732 based on average standard-room rates. Both endpoints are rounded to whole euros using the ECB rate of US$1.1193 per euro on 9 November 2026. Prices vary with dates and room type.
  • Standard check-in starts at 15:00 and checkout is at noon. Confirm any member-rate variations and contact the hotel about late arrivals. Guest rooms are smoke-free.

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