ACE HOTEL KYOTO, Kyoto

Ace Hotel Kyoto - A modernist landmark hotel with art deco design, three restaurants, and a historic telephone exchange building

Located in a 1926 modernist landmark by architect Tetsuro Yoshida, this 5-star Kyoto hotel merges a historic telephone exchange building with contemporary design. The property features three distinct restaurants serving American, Italian, and Mexican cuisine, alongside a rooftop bar and a private karaoke room. Every room at Ace Hotel includes air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a safety deposit box, and a private bathroom with free toiletries. The hotel's central feature is its cavernous music-filled lobby, decorated with George Nakashima rugs and featuring an exhibition space. A fitness center and 24-hour front desk are available to guests. Just 5 minutes' walk from Karasumaoike Station and 10 minutes from Karasuma Station, the hotel connects guests to major transit routes.

Pros

Located in a landmark 1926 building with Art Deco elements including star-shaped windows and decorative floor tiles

Houses an achingly hip collection of 20 boutiques and restaurants plus a basement cinema

Features original artwork by Samiro Yunoki throughout the rooms

The lobby serves as an exhibition space with long wooden tables and George Nakashima rugs

Cons

31 mile distance from Itami Airport

Some guest rooms do not include TEAC turntables or Gibson guitars