Grandwest Arashiyama
THE GRANDWEST ARASHIYAMA
Wonderfully located in the Arashiyama area of Kyoto, this sweet aparthotel restored & renovated in 2017 is perfect for those who want to be walking distance to the famed Arashiyama Bamboo Forest (~25mins) and the picturesque Togetsukyo Bridge (~12mins).
Other sights nearby in walking distance is Tenryu-ji (~16mins), Horin-ji (~10mins) and one of my personal favourites Matsunooo Taisha Shrine (~14mins) which is away from the crazy crowds of Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and just provides such a quiet respite. I love it enough I may have to write a separate blog post about it soon!
10 rooms are available with four different rooms designs, some of the rooms offer full kitchens or kitchenettes but all a great option for those who prefer a more homey feel to their stay.
The hotel is a 5-minute walk from Hankyu Arashiyama Station.
DINING SUITE WITH KITCHEN
Their biggest room available at 63sqm, it sleeps up to 4 guests and is wonderfully spacious with a light filled living area, comfy seating and modern bathroom. Like their other rooms, the GrandWest has incorporated traditional touches like the picturesque fusuma sliding doors to give a bit of separation from living to bedroom, colourful tilework and Japanese minimal aesthetics throughout.
A nicely sized kitchen is great for those who want to make their own meals, or perhaps just need a break from eating out constantly. They also offer guests free room service (11am - 10pm) for all orders from their sister restaurant Kyocafe chacha (which is located downstairs)
The Lobby/Check in Area
I do appreciate a well designed, comfortable lobby, and am particularly a fan for the subtle design touches and when they have pretty indoor REAL house plants - I’m all for it.
I particularly liked that the lights in the front lobby are designed in the form of the traditional bamboo tea whisk (chasen) seen in traditional Japanese tea-making, resulting in gentle light filtering through creating a calming atmosphere
The front lobby is open 24 hours for guests to make themselves freshly ground coffee or espresso (if only I drank coffee, I’m such a herbal/green tea person! Hot cocoa, caffè lattes, matcha lattes, and black/green teas are also available. Iced tea and ice water infused with lemon is also provided during the summer months to help one stay hydrated in that intense Japanese summer heat (which I love! I’m probably one of those rare individuals that enjoy visiting Kyoto in summer - more on that later!)
THE ROOFTOP TERRACE
It really pleases me that more and more, one can see Japanese homes, boutique & hotel accommodations making use of their outdoor spaces (in a way, one has to thank the pandemic for that, because that shifted the cultural mindset to the realisation that one can use these spacious outdoor areas for pleasure and life - rather than thinking “one should not disturb the public, as it’s a common area” there’s still rules in certain Tokyo apartments that have balconies, that one cannot hang their laundry out to dry on there as it’s “rude’ to other tenants & is techincally considered “public space” even though its your balcony… story for another time)
The rooftop terrace (open to hotel guests only) has a pretty lovely panoramic view of the surrounding mountains of Arashiyama. Apparently you can even see two of the burning characters from the Daimonji Festival from their rooftop when the event is held every year.
It’s a nice comfortable space to enjoy a couple of drinks (bring your own), with outdoor furniture to relax in, a cute tent with squishy cushions to enjoy, and at night it lights up with glittering twinkle lights as one can take in the night view of Arashiyama.
KYOCHA CHACHA
Downstairs one can find their sister cafe, Kyocha Chacha which is perfect to have a moment to relax after all the walking you will undoubtedly do in Arashiyama area, with a drink, tea, coffee, perhaps a light lunch or sweet treat. Again, I greatly appreciated their simple, modern Japanese interiors with warm wooden touches and house plants.
If you’re a guest you can also enjoy breakfast there (if included in your booking) which is a cute mix of western savoury and western sweets (see below). I particularly enjoyed the home made soup.
WEB: GRANDWEST ARASHIYAMA | INSTAGRAM: @THE_GRANDWEST_ARASHIYAMA
