The Westin Miyako

One Japan's best-known hotels, the Miyako opened in 1890 and boasts a guest list that reads like a who's who of visitors to Japan: Douglas Fairbanks, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, Anwar el-Sadat, and Ted Kennedy. Even today, half of the guests staying here are foreigners. Still, you'd be hard-pressed to find evidence of that history today. Rather, this is one of Kyoto's most smartly appointed hotels, on par with the best of Tokyo's hotels. Its setting is as good as it gets: The hotel sprawls over more than 6.4 hectares (16 acres) of hilltop at the northeastern end of the city, close to some of Kyoto's most famous temples (and a subway station). There's a Japanese garden, and families appreciate the indoor and outdoor pools and a small playroom equipped with billiards, video games, and an activity corner just for toddlers.

Western-style rooms, which come with Westin's trademark Heavenly Beds and one-touch express service for everything from room service to messages, come in a variety of styles and prices, with the least expensive occupying the oldest wing and the best on the fifth floor with large terraces overlooking the valley. For those who wish to experience the pleasures of a traditional tatami room but with all the nearby conveniences of a first-rate hotel, the Japanese-style Kasui-en annex is a good bet for ryokan first-timers; built in 1959, it offers 20 modern, elegant rooms with views of the Japanese garden and cypress baths.

Facilities:
6 restaurants; bar; 2 lounges; babysitting; concierge; executive-level rooms; gym (free for hotel guests); 20m (66-ft.) indoor pool and shallow outdoor pool (fee: ¥500 for either); room service; sauna; smoke-free rooms; sun decks (avail

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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