Overview
Ten guest rooms occupy a converted apartment building south of the Katsura River. The GrandWest Arashiyama is five minutes from Hankyu Arashiyama Station and nine minutes from Togetsu-kyo Bridge, with considerably more space than a typical Kyoto city stay.
Every room is non-smoking and accommodates four or five guests. The hotel's small scale, generous layouts, and residential origins are especially helpful when a family or group wants to stay together in Kyoto-Arashiyama rather than split across compact rooms.
Rooms
The four room types measure either 52 or 63 square metres. The Family Room combines two single beds with a tatami area for up to three futons, while the Superior Family Suite has three single beds and one double. Both accommodate five guests.
The two 63-square-metre options sleep four on two double beds. The Junior Suite adds a mini kitchen, while the Dining Suite has a fuller kitchen and separate dining space. Every category includes an en-suite bath, separate toilet, and full-size powder room, reducing the morning bottleneck when several people share.
Bamboo flooring and seasonal artwork on sliding doors bring local character without turning the rooms into traditional ryokan accommodation. Bed and futon arrangements differ substantially, so compare the exact layout before booking.
Facilities
A complimentary coffee bar operates around the clock in the lobby. The rooftop terrace has outdoor seating and views toward the surrounding hills, while coin laundry comes in handy on longer trips.
Rental bicycles are available for exploring beyond the bridge, including children's models and child seats. The hotel also stores luggage and can arrange paid luggage delivery within Kyoto or to Kyoto Station, sparing guests from carrying bags through a full sightseeing day. Children's loan items and celebration arrangements may be limited or require advance requests.
Location and transport
Hankyu Arashiyama Station is about five minutes away on foot. Trains run to Katsura, where passengers change for Kyoto-Kawaramachi, Karasuma, or Osaka-Umeda. From Kyoto Station, the Hankyu route requires a subway connection at Shijo followed by another change at Katsura.
The hotel is on the south side of the river. Togetsu-kyo Bridge and the monkey park entrance are about nine minutes away, while Tenryu-ji and the bamboo grove are farther across the bridge. This position favors Hankyu arrivals and south-bank walks rather than the shortest route from JR Saga-Arashiyama.
Airport access
From Kansai International Airport, the Haruka limited express or an airport bus reaches Kyoto Station without a transfer. From Osaka Itami Airport, limousine buses take about 50 minutes to Kyoto Station. Both journeys still require the local trip to Arashiyama by rail or taxi.
These are transfer-based public transport routes, not hotel-door services. If you're carrying several large bags, the hotel's luggage delivery may be easier than negotiating multiple rail changes from Kyoto Station.
Why stay here
Four or five people can share one unusually large room, and the kitchen categories provide extra flexibility for longer stays or meals with young children. The five-minute walk from the Hankyu station also keeps arrival manageable. The tradeoff is distance from central Kyoto, since trips focused on Kyoto Station or the eastern districts require more changes and travel time.
Arashiyama's bridge and bamboo forest draw heavy daytime crowds, but staying overnight gives you more freedom to walk before or after the busiest hours. Beyond the familiar sights, Okusaga has temples, preserved scenery, and long-established teahouses to explore.
Good to know
Check-in runs from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, checkout is by 11:00 AM, and the front desk is staffed from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM. The converted building doesn't have an elevator. If stairs are a concern, contact the hotel before choosing a room.
The GrandWest Arashiyama is closest to the Hankyu station, not JR Saga-Arashiyama or the Randen stop. Those stations approach the district from different directions and shouldn't be treated as interchangeable.
5-minute walk