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Kyoto Grand Hotel & Gardens
Category: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Hotels
120 South Los Angeles StreetLos Angeles, CA 90012
Neighborhoods: Downtown, Little Tokyo
(213) 629-1200
Announcement
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- Hours:
Mon-Sun 12 am - 12 am
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Paid
148 reviews for Kyoto Grand Hotel & Gardens
Review Highlights
"with a beautiful Japanese garden inside."
(in 45 reviews)
"It was perfect for an outdoor wedding."
(in 23 reviews)
"...show was incredible and the rooftop garden was spectacular."
(in 15 reviews)
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148 reviews in English
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Review from Rich A.
Los Angeles, CA
1/16/2012
Definitely a fan. I stayed at the Kyoto Grand in the beginning of December 2011 for 2 nights because I had a project due and I needed internet. I initially was about to stay at some cheap motel somewhere else (wrote a review about that one too). There was a power outage at my house for 3 days from the wind storms. So I was up against a dead line. Wifi was fast! In a way I felt at home. I even had a guest (uh...hmmmn) one night and she was impressed the room.
Helpful tip: Ask for a DELUXE ROOM. Its worth the extra $35. The rooms are newly remodeled with a flat screen TV. Much better rooms than in 2009 when I stayed there last. Back then I chose a standard room which was a small room with a tube TV. Pick a room near the corner, they are bigger rooms it seems.
Another tip: Ask for a higher floor for the view.
I did not experience the lack-luster customer service that others here have mentioned. If you like Little Tokyo, this place is for you, the location is very convenient.
Cons: Parking fees for registered guests (??? WTF) and outside sirens can be an issue for light sleeper especially if your room faces Los Angeles St. & 2nd.
I came back again later in December because I love Little Tokyo. Next time, going to try a suite! -
Review from Chris C.
Bell, CA
1/6/2012
Don't know about all the bad reviews,
But I have Frequently stayed here last year and every single time the staff was superb.
Rooms are nice and clean, as well as the suites (Very awesome! especially the tub!)
Never had any trouble here. or anything to complain about.
I highly recommend staying here if you are planning on coming to Downtown Los Angeles, It is Close to Everything! -
Review from Runa T.
San Jose, CA
1/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
This hotel was THE WORSE HOTEL I'VE EVER STAYED AT-----! I went to LA with my mom for literally a 24 hour trip. Left San Jose at 6am, got to LA 8am, had a wedding to attend at 3pm, and had a flight back to SJ at 6am the following day.
So to start off.. FINE the inside of the hotel was pretty nice. Very soothing. I guess that'll be the one and only star since I cant zero star this.
First of all I had called the day prior to let them know we have a really early flight and wanted to ensure that we can check in early. I was advised that they can't do anything at the time but I can ask the front desk when I get there. FINE. I arrive and the front desk receptionist says it will be able 30-45minutes and that she will call me as soon as it is available. 2 HOURS LATER I come back after roaming around Little Tokyo with my mom and having breakfast and you can TELL by the look on the same lady's face that she had forgotten all about us! So she frantically began calling the Housekeeping Office to find out if a room is available. After waiting about ANOTHER 40 MINUTES we were finally able to check into our room.
The room was freezing. We kept having to turn the temp up but the thing is completely user-UNfriendly.
THEN we needed to go to a frickin wedding and the shower water would NOT heat up! My mom had run the water for honestly at least 15 full minutes. She ended up filling the tub and dipping a hand towel with soap and sponging off her body in cold water! And hoping that giving it another hour or so it would fix itself... I tried to take a shower.. AND iiiiiiiiiiii ENDED UP HAVING TO SPONGE MYSELF ALSO LIKE I WAS IN A GOD DAMN HOSPITAL!!
UGH honestly?! NO HOT WATER in a hotel?! And we were too tired and rushed to deal with front desk to change rooms or have them come up to check the problem etc so here I am venting it all out on YELP. Thank you for listening. DON'T STAY HERE! -
Review from Andrew B.
12/20/2011 3 Check-ins Here
You walk in and the lobby is very picturesque. Almost like Vegas but not as... gaudy. Very classy.
That's about it...
Head up to the rooms and yes, I get it, we got the most basic room. But SERIOUSLY, they're ridiculously small, the bathrooms are straight out of Motel 6, and they have 19 inch TUBE TVs. I mean, come on, I think I was at a Holiday Inn with better amenities.
Still, they have good deals and it's very close to Little Tokyo where there are good eats abound.
Oh yeah, parking is $24 a night, does not come with the room.
Still, sad to see it will become just another Double Tree and no longer the Kyoto Grand.Listed in: All Things Japanese!
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Review from Pie C.
12/22/2011
We stayed here for our second honeymoon! this place is so asian. I love it so much! IT was like a secret sanctuary in the middle of a busy world. It's located in the business area of LA where all the stores closes at 6pm. Good thing we stay in this nice hotel, it has a botanical japanese style garden on the very top of the building.
THe hotel is close to the science and art museum and also the disney orchestra.
Price:$$$
Food:$$$
service: is 3 star
ambiance: 4 star
Overall recommend this place to everyone that's staying at down town LA.Listed in: Getaway!
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Review from Christina Y.
Santa Monica, CA
11/10/2011 2 Check-ins Here
When it comes to hotels, I happen to think that service is the most important part of the experience and in terms of service, the Kyoto Grand is top notch. Everyone from valet to front desk to housekeeping is friendly, efficient and knowledgeable. I forgot a shoe there after my stay and housekeeping was able to track it down and keep it for me for almost a week afterward when I could return to pick it up.
Oh, and they also have a beautiful roof garden that not a lot of people know about - perfect for warm days downtown.
Those are the reasons why I give this hotel four stars, but I have to admit there are some very big points of improvement also. The rooms are a bit depressing and could probably use a renovation or two, particularly in the bathrooms. The sad tiny little iron in the closet made me laugh as we got ready for a friend's wedding there, and the room decor overall just felt very corporate and not stylish.
The lobby is done up a little more nicely, but the vibe in the place is a bit sad as well - the cafe is really budget and filled with miserable-looking business people and perhaps one or two people who wandered off the street as well. It's a huge space and I feel like it has a lot of potential but they need a makeover.
But I can't deny great service, and it's the hardest thing to achieve for a hotel of that size so for that reason I say it's a-ok!Listed in: Hotels!
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Review from Alaa E.
Los Angeles, CA
11/21/2011
I wish I could give this place -100000 stars!! WORST HOTEL EVER!!
Worst experience with a hotel in my life, VERY rude and unprofessional check in staff, his name was Rudy. Did not want to give me my complementary room and tried to give me a room that was under my fathers name. Finally gave it to me after waiting for 30 minutes. Then yelled at my mother and told her I had checked into THREE rooms, and would not give her her room either!
So after all this, we finally get to our rooms and NONE of the key cards are working, we have to wait thirty minutes for the engineer to show up and even he couldn't fix it!!
We also requested rooms on the same floor, but clearly that did not get communicated because we were all scattered and it was very annoying to deal with on my wedding weekend.
Cleaning lady kept bugging me to come clean my room WHILE I WAS GETTING READY FOR MY WEDDING!!! Who does that????
We also had our brunch at the hotel restaurant, we not worth the $20, the food was sub par, at best.
So to top it all off, the hotel STOLE money from me and my guests, made unauthorized and ILLEGAL charges to all of our credit cards, for parking (when some guests didn't even have cars) wi-fi, and $700 extra charges to my card alone!! WORST HOTEL EVER!!!!!!
Also, the put a $100 "hold" on your card when you check out, and they don't even tell you!! It was refunded, but still if you don't sign for it, they shouldn't charge it!
WORST HOTEL EXPERIENCE OF MY ENTIRE LIFE!! AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!!!!!!!! -
Review from Shana F.
Anaheim, CA
Updated - 12/5/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Finally stayed here for a mini vacay with the hubby this weekend and was not impressed.
But first off - let's go over the Pros:
-Great location, in the heart of Little Tokyo, walking distance to lots of shops and restaurants
-Nice, updated lobby (we were prematurely impressed until we got to the sleeping rooms)
Yep, that's about all the pros I can think of. Now Cons:
-$24 for self parking in the hotel structure whereas the public lot across the street was $5 (However, you do have in and out privileges for 24 hours)
-The standard rooms are tiny and old, probably only comfortable for one or two people max to stay in
-Bathroom has pink tiles and outdated decor from the 70s
-Walls were paper thin
-In room TVs were probably purchased in the 80s - old CRT style TVs. What decent hotel doesn't have flat screen TVs nowadays?
-Hallway carpet and in room carpet desperately needed cleaning - I was scared to take off my shoes for fear of getting some fungal disease on my feet
So glad we chose another Japanese hotel for our recent wedding instead of this one. Whew!
On another note, I read somewhere that this hotel will be changing to a Doubletree soon. Not sure if they will keep any of the Japanese style theme and decor.Listed in: Wedding Planning
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/26/2011
I have never stayed here as a hotel guest so this is purely in regards to their wedding venue - the… Read more »
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Review from Frank H.
Newark, CA
1/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Old,old,old,everything is old...
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Review from Linda W.
Anchorage, AK
12/25/2011
the only reason we stay at Kyoto was to have a garden to sit in. we came all they way from alaska and it was under construction. there was not much more to do for christmas eve. no special dinner. LUCKY us we found the Lazy OX resturant near by.
I we would have had more fun in santa monica by the beach. oh regrets! we stayed here. -
Review from Sy U.
Beverly Hills, CA
1/25/2012
The best thing about this place is the lobby. Rooms and service were average. Great location if you're planning to be at LA Live.
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Review from Diane A.
Tustin, CA
8/19/2011
Walking into the hotel lobby can be quite deceiving. It's general aesthetics are actually pretty impressive / swanky.
The location is convenient for exploring the local shoppes and japanese village, which are all in walking distance.
However, the hotel room itself had no relation to the hotel's name whatsoever. Aside from the sliding window shutters, nothing else connected itself to the japanese-named hotel. The decoration / furniture of the guest room is mediocre. In fact, I've seen rooms at Holiday Inns and even Best Westerns surpass the quality of Kyoto - which is a damn shame considering how much they're charging per night.
Let's get to the nitty gritty. The bathroom is sooooo outdated. The tiles are seriously reminiscent to something from the 70s or 80s. The AC temp controls are ridiculously useless - I understand in energy saving efforts, they may shut off AC usage while the room is unoccupied, therefore, having the room be stuffy upon first arrival from check-in, HOWEVER, I literally (and numerously reset the thermostat and) set the temp all the way down to 55degz since the room had absolutely no circulation and I really believe the AC vents just did not work.
Then, at 7am the next morning, they literally had workers on the floor above us making such loud disruptive noises as if they were redo'ing the room above - which was just completely unacceptable. Finally, around noon check out time, they stopped.
If it had just been me sleeping 3-4 hours, I would have woken up in better condition vs. having your sleep repeatedly disrupted and then forcing yourself to fall back asleep and then awoken again by the construction above, falling asleep again, and so on....
So I check out and left the hotel feeling like a zombie craving for some damn cool, fresh air. I will not stay here again, nor will I suggest this hotel to any friends of mine. -
Review from Steve S.
8/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great location for me when traveling for work to downtown LA. Room was nice, location is perfect, just a bit of a hangup in checking in. Only one agent there to check in people and a line 4 people deep. Other sales and hotel employees mulling around the front desk and nobody calls for help. Numerous people walk up to the only agent and get the bathroom key, I thought that was odd. After about 15 minutes of waiting, finally another agent shows up and takes care of the line quickly. I will stay here again because of the location to Little Tokyo and the location of my LA office, but front desk customer service could be improved.
That's my story -
Review from Sherry A.
Los Angeles, CA
11/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
kinda old. not vintage old, but old old.
pretty garden though ..
i had the chance to come here for a convention for japanese food and sake. This hotel is able to hold lots and lots of people at once. bathrooms were clean but .. it was still old old. -
Review from Van L.
7/3/2011
Stayed overnite for the NKOTBSB concert. They offered free shuttle to the Staples Center; BIG plus.
The staff here is not very friendly. The hotel is okay.
We had a queen deluxe on the 16th floor facing the garden. First thing we noticed was that the bathroom door handle was made for a giant. I had to reach up to open it. And there's a non working phone beside the toilet - WTH??? The toilet is super loud when you flush and the shower water pressure sucked.
My sister found a pube on the top of her comforter. Super uber gross. -
Review from Jonathan M.
Oceanside, CA
7/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Its an old hotel and outside it looks cool, but the rooms are dated and the garden is hyped up more than its actually worth. For the money I would have chosen to stay somewhere with a nice pool and deck so I can swim and sun it up with a cocktail in hand. They charge a crap load for parking even if you are a hotel guest and the wi-fi isnt free. The cable tv reception isnt that great either.
I've definitely stayed at better, and I have experienced worse so it get a meh from me. -
Review from Katherine L.
Los Angeles, CA
10/9/2011
Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am very nice and easygoing. With that in mind, I will warn you of this:
PROS
- great location in downtown L.A.
- building looks beautiful from outside
- nice lounge area in the lobby
CONS
I have never had as bad an hotel experience as I did here at Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens. Here for my best friend's wedding, the hotel was chosen due to its location (very close proximity to the wedding venue) and its famed garden.
- My best friend had advised all her bridal party and wedding guests to stay here for her weekend wedding. There was a lot of construction being done to the hotel, and self parking was not available. No one bothered to contact her to warn her of the situation.
- I was told upon check- in that there were no more rooms available on the 21st floor despite the fact that much communication was made on the importance of saving rooms on this floor for our bridal party members and the fact that I'd booked the room 1.5 months prior.
- After specifically requesting a room with 2 double beds, we were reassigned to another floor with a room with only 1 king bed.
-After going to the front desk, yet again, to tell them about the issue... somehow a room with 2 beds "magically" became available on the 21st floor, when it was already 11 pm and only 5 minutes prior, I was told the floor was completely booked.
-We were walking to our room when we saw plastic covering the carpet outside our room. It appeared the construction was being done to the room next door. Upon entry we were hit hard by the most god-awful stench I have ever smelled in my life. The smell was confirmed to be completely unbearable by several of my friends who came by to visit. I was seriously tempted to check under the bed to see if there was a dead body. It was too late into the evening to switch rooms again and due to our wedding party commitments, I couldn't request a room change until the next night, after the wedding. When I did, the front desk associate had a bad attitude. I explained the situation and the disgusting, nauseating, permeating smell in the room. He was short with me and said "it looks like you've already switched rooms." I was so angry by this point and wanted to scream at him and management: if they didn't keep messing up my reservation and put me in such a bad situation, I would NOT even need to be wasting my time in complaining to them and switching rooms over and over again, but I kept calm and insisted that I needed to be switched again. I was finally switched to yet another room. By this point, I could care less about the dirty carpet and soap scum laden bathroom. I was just thankful to breath nontoxic air.
In short, I will tell you this: I have NEVER had such a bad hotel experience, not even at a low-end Motel 6 with cockroaches scurrying around (true story). I would NEVER stay at the Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens again, nor would I recommend it to anyone, not even my worst enemy. You could not pay me to stay at this establishment again; it was beyond horrible. -
Review from Jumi P.
Los Angeles, CA
7/19/2011
I have no idea why this hotel is at THREE stars. It was because of this rating that I opted to stay at the Miyako. WHAT A MISTAAAAAAAAAAAAAKE. I stayed at the Miyako for a night, then I quickly relocated to the Kyoto Grand. WHAT A DIFFERENCE A FEW BLOCKS MAKES!!!!!!!!!!!! I felt like I went from a motel to an actual hotel. It is not remotely like a Ritz Carlton, but it is in a league of its own. It is unique, cute, quaint, & comfortable. I felt like it was up & coming. :-)
The day we arrived, there was a wedding. It was beautiful. The women were wearing some traditional Korean dresses: it was heart-warming. They were taking photos in the HUGE lobby. It is a rather ORNATE hotel. It reminds me of a SUPER JAPANESE-THEMED Omni Hotel--but packed in a tighter space. :-)
The service was EXCELLENT. I LOVED the price point (I was there on business & http://hotels.com HOOKED IT UUUUP), I LOVED the location (how much better can you get than right up the street from the Edison, surrounded by a melange of great Japanese restaurants?), the gym had EVERY piece of equipment I could have fathomed, towels, & water (HELLO?! AWESOMENESS!), & PENGUIN THAT I AM, the air conditioning made me one happy camper. There is nothing like a digital contraption that let's you take it WAAAAAAAY DOWN LOWWWWW to make a polar bear like me smile a while, I tell ya. :-D YEEEEAH. I was so freezing to the point that my appendages felt like they were going to crack off -- it was PERFECTION.
Allow me to reiterate the pros:
1. UNBEATABLE value for the experience!
2. Great guest service.
3. Beautiful garden & pleasant decor, throughout.
4. Comfortable bed.
5. BIG desk inside the room for my work.
6. Air conditioning system that allowed me to voluntarily & happily stay ICE COLD, that weekend.
7. Stupendous gym facility with towels & water for the guests.
8. Good room service.
9. In the heart of Little Tokyo -- great location.
My only laments were as follows:
1. The sheets are part polyester -- I prefer 100% cotton, or I have trouble sleeping. Polyester sheets make me crazy...er...crazier.
2. The television was from the last century.
3. Uncomfortable pillows. They needed to be re-squishified/folded/stalked/smooshed/squnched in JUUUST such a way in a 60% angle, applying a torque of......etc. in order to feel like they were not actually *hindering* the sleep process. :-)
Other than those minor details, I DUG IT. I felt like I was supporting a small business rather than pouring my money into a BIG CONGLOMERATE. I AM SO STAYING THERE AGAIN IN THE NEAR FUTURE! :-) It was low key, nice but not over the top, it did not try TOO hard, it was just right for a drama-free stay, IMO. It is not a place I would go to wisk anyone away for an extravagant spa treatment weekend, but it is somewhere I am happy to stay for business purposes. Overall, it was pleasant. If it is between the Miyako & the Kyoto, I recommend the Kyoto, THROUGH & THROUGH. Hands down. BUT if you are a polyester-a-phobe bring your own sheets set, if you can. HAHAHAHAAA! What? I will, too.Listed in: HOTELS
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Review from Ana V.
Glendale, CA
1/3/2012
My husband and I had our wedding reception here in the summer of 2011. The way we arranged it was dinner in the garden and dancing in the thousand crane room. This worked out so well. Many of our guest loved being outside during sunset and it felt very spacious. All the staff was very helpful from the valet to the servers and of course Dave. One of the requirements is a day of coordinator which is so helpful. We used stacy porras group. They were great. The food was good, people liked the crispy chicken alot. The house wine was less then average but for free unlimited wine with dinner we cant complain. I felt we were very well taken care of. The whole experience was magical and local had a big part in it.
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Review from Barb B.
10/2/2011
Lovely stay at the Kyoto Grand. The room was quiet, the views were fabulous and the amenities great. The room looked just as it did from their website. We got a Facebook deal. Very clean, no smelly smells, nice TV and comfortable bed. The water pressure in the shower was a bit weak and the tub a little small but I still give it 5 stars for a quiet room at night for a good night's sleep. I would definitely come back here to stay. The location was great, walking distance to the Geffen, MOCA and JANM as well as plenty of places to eat nearby. Free wifi at Starbucks downstairs. Lots of cops around since it is just a half block from LAPD HQ so I felt relatively safe. One morning, the Starbucks looked like an episode of Police Story. Parking next door under Weller Place is cheaper than the hotel valet. We paid $26. for two nights in the garage next door. Everyone at the hotel was very friendly and accommodating. When the in house wifi (paid) didn't work very well, they refunded my money. I like the quietness of the room at night....not near major freeways...we were on the 17th floor...we were well rested. It looks like they are remodeling some areas so construction during the day.
We will be back next time we are in LA. -
Review from Tim B.
VA
8/11/2011
If you must stay downtown, this isn't a bad option. It's very nice with it's unique Japanese theme, and the beds are really comfortable. I was comped the breakfast buffet which has some unique japanese fare. It's a decent option for business travelers with business in the nearby Courts and Federal buildings. It's an affordable option compared to some of the classy downtown hotels.
There is a nice bar in the lobby, and a smaller one up on the third floor in the japanese garden. It's downtown, in Little Tokyo, so there are lots of food options there. It gets a bit seedy downtown after dark. We we approached a number of times right outside the hotel at night by vagrants. Skid row isn't far away. Just be careful and you'll be fine walking about.
Parking is expensive at $22 a day. It's $65 cab ride from LAX. -
Review from Michelle V.
Las Vegas, NV
11/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was here for a wedding reception. The lobby bar is very comfy, perhaps too comfy. Don't expect them to make you a blended drink though; they can't. Which is fine by me, as I like vodka on the rocks. Great ambience. I can't speak on the rooms.
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Review from adrian robert h.
Beverly Hills, CA
6/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'd rate 40%
An affordable option that's seen better days.
Stayed here for a few days with my gf during Jun '11.
We are locals, but had to stay outside of our house for a couple of days.
Rooms are pretty cheap, and we ended up paying around $100 / night.
Staff is generally helpful.
Their in-house restaurant, Azaela is fairly decent.
The location is conveniently within walking distance to the Little Tokyo area, with plenty of good places to eat.
Place is fairly clean.
Rooms are reasonably sized
Unfortunately, the hotel hasn't seem to kept up that well since the New Otani moved out.
Lot of the furnishings seems a tad old and mis-matched.
Privacy is not that great. The walls between rooms & outside are really thin.
You can hear the elevator whine all night.
Parking is pretty expensive @ $24 / night for guests.
Hotel has a pretty depressing personality.
Not the worst hotel, and hard to complain too much considering the price.
Still, it's probably one of the least memorable hotels I've stayed at.
Would have preferred a Marriott Courtyard, Holiday Inn Express, or similarly priced chain for the money. -
Review from M B.
Manhattan, NY
4/3/2011
If I could give no stars, I would. I stayed at the Kyoto Grand for one night. The TV was broken. No big deal -- I basically just checked in, passed out, checked out. Now they have charged me $1300!!!! for THEIR BROKEN TV.
I have never taken the time to write a review before, but this is too incredible to not share. DO NOT STAY at this hotel. THEY ARE THIEVES!!!!! -
Review from Natali M.
Redlands, CA
8/27/2011
Stayed here last week and quite liked it! Not my absolute favorite hotel downtown... but very nice. Loved the view overlooking the Japanese Garden from our room. Parking fees suck, but that's anywhere downtown. I would stay again. Maybe try one of the restaurants or bars next time. Decent value for what we got.
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Review from Eric E.
5/10/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I am giving them three stars due to some special service that I received. You may not experience this.
Kyoto Grand has stopped accepting third-party credit card authorizations. This means that if you travel on business, your company cannot pay directly without mailing a check in 14+ days in advance. They accepted mine, after an intervention by our conference coordinator, but the policy is here to stay.
The rooms are fine-ish, but nothing special. No mini-bar and the safe doesn't work. The staff are fairly friendly.I like the location in Little Tokyo. -
Review from Raymond G.
San Francisco, CA
3/31/2011 2 photos
The friends and I decided to stay here since it was the closest hotel to Little Tokyo and Dodger's Stadium in Downtown LA. We booked online for about $135/night through http://hotels.com - overall it was the cheapest hotel downtown that is decent than the others in the area.
Location:
The drive from LAX takes some time and of course, dependent on traffic. The hotel is easily accessible from the 101. The area and location is pretty cool. Down the block you have Little Tokyo with all the nifty shops, restaurants, and markets within walking distance. The hotel is also surrounded by courthouses, the police department, and city hall.
However, if you venture a few blocks near 5th street....it's kinda like a skid row...kinda scary. Just avoid that area if you can.
If you're headed to Dodgers Stadium from Kyoto Grand....avoid 101 and the traffic. Drive down Broadway into Chinatown and make a left onto Bishop Rd. It's a local road that will take you shortcut you to the stadium.
Check-in:
We booked through http://hotels.com and they couldn't find our reservation so the agent had to manually enter in it. Kinda odd, but we arrived around noon and they had a room available already. Cool! The lobby area is pretty spacious and comfortable complete with Japanese decor. This hotel also caters to Japanese tourists. So, if you walk in after flights from Tokyo come in, it can get crowded. Other than that, staff are attentive and always say hello and are ready to help.
The Room:
We got a room on the 14th floor. Mind you despite what you see in the pictures, not all rooms are have been renovated - including the room we got. It seems like they are slowly doing it floor-by-floor. We got a room with two queens and got a roll away bed. There was enough space for the three of us. Our room even got a walk in closet. The bathroom on the other hand, needs a remodel. The lights are halogen and get kinda warm and toasty. The drain on the shower can play tricks on you. You take a shower and think...what the heck....is this thing draining?? It is...don't worry, but it just takes a while for it to drain. Overall, if you get a renovated room, great. If not, you'll see have a comfortable stay. Internet is NOT free...it's 9.99/day. Also, since the hotel is next to a police station...you may hear random police sirens throughout the day.
Parking:
There's an on-site parking lot on the lower levels for $24/day with in-and-out privileges. You just have to provide your name and room number everytime you leave the lot. There's a cheaper parking lot outside the hotel, without in-and-out privileges. So, if you're roaming around town with pitstops along the way at hotel....on-site parking might be a better option.
In Closing:
This is great hotel is you're looking for place that's close to Downtown, Little Tokyo, Dodger Stadium, and Union Station for about $140/night. The rooms are comfy, although not modern and parking can get kinda steep. But, then again, it's LA...you gotta drive everywhere and gotta park ur car somewhere. I'll stay here again if my travels bring me to downtown LA or the Giants are in town! -
Review from Kari F.
Los Angeles, CA
6/5/2011
I would normally give this place 3 stars, but I got such a good rate that I had to add a star AND I was given a free upgrade :). Go on their facebook, become a fan, and get a cheap rate.
The rooms are normal. Our shower was clogged, so that was gross. Our view was the side of a huge building. Parking was expensive as heck (30 bucks for 24 hrs).
We stayed in a King Deluxe on the 18th floor. The room was normal size and had a pretty big tv. The boyfriend was disappointed though because the tv was not HD. We got room service and ordered a caesar salad and edamame. Both were normal standards, and just what we needed at the time.
The overall decor is nice and interesting to look at. It's a fun theme. The gardens were beautiful, but nothing I would want to hang out in. It was pleasant and I know I got the most bang I could out of my buck here. -
Review from Angelie D.
Arcadia, CA
1/20/2011
We were very fortunate to have book two rooms last minute for New Year's Eve. I did not have any expectations at all since it was last minute and we were only going to use the place to sleep in.
I am very LUCKY that I did get one of the rooms that have renovated. Compared to all the other rooms this was a definite upgrade! AND it was only their standard room! The renovated beds were a lot bigger and the pillows and sheets were nice and fluffy! I'm glad they are trying to go more contemporary, because that is what most hotels are going for these days.
I am hoping they will continue to renovate all the other rooms so more guests get to enjoy their stay there like me.
I didn't use a lot of their amenities other than the ICE MACHINE for our dranks!! There is self parking or valet which is about $20 a day. Or you can park in the street. You have plenty of options that is convenient for you.
Their lobby has a bar in the middle for drinks, but the main attraction is where the garden is at. You get to one of the floors and the rooftop is our very own Japanese garden with a waterfall and a view overlooking downtown LA. Very pretty site, if you get a chance to go there. Photo OP!!!
My very first visit was a nice dinner at their restaurant early this year. I had an amazing time and the food was very good. I'm glad this time around, I enjoyed myself just as much.Listed in: I Heart LA
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Review from Dani S.
Rowland Heights, CA
11/27/2010
Attended a wedding in the Japanese Garden, beautiful and romantic. Really wanted to give them 5-stars BUT:
- lobby staff is very mean, I asked for directions and they talked to me like I was a homeless person on the street
- bar in the garden - awful! only carried 1 type of red wine, very few selection of liquor and no mixers. wtf? They also charged $7 for a half a glass of $3/bottle walmart brand zinfandel.
- At the reception, service was terrible, I asked for hot tea and got cold tea instead, and it took 20min to get it!
- Parking: $2/15min, $30 max/day BUT it's cash only! who the f* carries $30 in cash after being ripped off at the bar all night!!
Very nice hotel, but it's like having shit smeared on a beautiful painting. -
Review from Leslie P.
3/29/2011
This hotel is a great deal. My friend booked a room for $117 for a Saturday night.
Nicely decorated lobby and public areas. The rooms are pretty standard, no complaints there. Our room overlooked the garden/patio, which was nice. There was a wedding the day that we were there, so we couldn't explore it. There's a few restaurants in the hotel, one of which is Azalea (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). The only bad parts about this hotel is that parking is $24 per vehicle in their underground garage. Also, there are at least 4 different elevators that take you to different places. It can get very confusing, so make sure you know where you're going.
Good price, nice hotel! -
Review from Bryan W.
7/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Strolling through the lobby of the Kyoto Grand Hotel and it felt a little worn. It's worth checking this place out in Littly Tokyo to check out Pangea Garden.
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Review from Liza T.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 4/28/2011
Stayed at this hotel again for a weekend. My experience this time was pretty good.
The front desk girl was so nice to upgrade us to a better room. Very easy, fast, warm and friendly check-in.
The room was bigger than the one that I stayed before. It was clean adn neat. Although the furniture and TV were kinda old, it was still a decent room for a short stay. The bathroom was big enough for two girls were doing the make up at the same time. The only thing that I don't like is they don't have a full-length mirror in the room or bathroom.
Room service was pretty fast too. I called the front desk to ask for extra set of towels. It took less than10 minutes to do that. Then about half hour later, the front desk called and wanted to confirm that I get the towels. Very attentive service.
Another thing I like this hotel is the location. The hotel is easily accessible to freeway 101 and only a block away from Little Tokyo. Very convenience.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/14/2009
My friend and I stayed at this hotel for three nights during Labor Day weekend. Although my room… Read more »
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Review from Tina S.
3/24/2011
I came here for a wedding, on a rainy day.
This location is nice, considering they have a beautiful outdoor Japanese garden that can be used for wedding ceremonies. However, the day I went for a wedding, it was raining and we had the ceremony indoors.
The indoor ceremony was decorated in a simple fashion. It was super unfortunate that we couldn't have the ceremony in the garden, because it was 100 times more beautiful and perfect for a ceremony. Oh well, at least rain on your wedding day means good luck. =P
Anyway, I'm assuming that the hotel provided wedding planners or event managers for the wedding. They did an OKAY job, which could have been done better. The little details matter, and some things were just not thought through.
The food for the reception was pretty good, but the assortment was strange. The food was served buffet style. There were Asian foods, American foods, and Breakfast foods (during lunch reception). My favorites were the sushi, beef, fresh fruits, and the desserts.
Reception service was good too, quick and easy, plates were taken away and champagne glasses were kept filled. Food was replenished fairly quickly. -
Review from Stacy T.
Elmhurst, NY
11/15/2010
The reception staff was wonderful. They were very nice and willing to help. I talked to them for a few minutes about why I was here - I had an interview in the morning and an overnight flight afterwards. He let me have a late check-out at 3 pm, even though the check-out is at noon. That helped me out a lot.
The room itself was neat, but not very new. The room sheets looked a little dingy, and the carpet was worn. However, it sufficed. The bathroom was very clean and big. Try to get a double queen or a king-sized bed, the room will end up bigger that way.
The hotel has a shuttle that will drive you to anywhere you want within a 3 mile radius, it does go to the USC Health Science Campus. It is very convenient, especially when taxi prices are ridiculous. However, they only have 1 car for the entire hotel, so you will have to wait for service. I, personally, did not wait long - I only had to wait 15 minutes for the pick-up and the return trip.
Overall, a very nice hotel. -
Review from Jillian A.
North Hollywood, CA
10/3/2011
Extremely disappointed.
Last night, there was construction in the lobby which dust so thick, it looked like fog.
House keeping was extremely rude. They walked into our room in the afternoon while I was getting ready and then were working outside our room at 7:30 in the morning, allowing doors to bag loudly next door.
The gardens are lovely, but everything else leaves a lot to be desired. For the price you pay, find something else. It will be a much more quiet and pleasant experience. -
Review from Mr K.
West Hills, CA
Nicest hotel in Little Tokyo, but there are better places in the downtown financial district. The lobby and common areas are nicely remodeled, but the rooms are lacking a bit. The upstairs gardens are beautiful, but I'm bummed that they took out the teppan restaurant and the sushi bar a long time ago.
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Review from inky l.
Las Vegas, NV
12/13/2010 1 Check-in Here
We choose to stay here, based on photos and info on the website that described newly renovated rooms. The lobby was renovated.
Our rooms were NOT renovated, and at least 8 years old looking. The bathroom was very old. The corridors to the rooms looked really old, teal and pink.
Location is good but do not expect what you see on the website. Very deceptive! Businesses must learn to meet or exceed the customer expectations, not to disappoint. -
Review from Tiana D.
Westlake Village, CA
3/29/2011 2 photos
I recently provided flowers for a wedding there. The wedding took place on a Sunday morning, the same Sunday as the LA Marathon. And the same Sunday that it poured rain all day. I was not able to get to the hotel the morning of the wedding because of all the street closures. I ended up going the night before.
As soon as I pulled in to the hotel, the valet attendants helped me unload all the flowers: centerpieces, personal flowers, buckets, ladders, everything. They placed it all on luggage carts and made three trips with me down to the gardens. The Japanese gardens were beautiful. It's such a unique, serene setting to get married in. The bride and groom are actually separated from the guests by a mini stream. It's awesome!
Once the ceremony arch was filled with flowers and the centerpieces were set up ... another hotel employee tells me how beautiful everything looked and told me that it was supposed to pour rain that night. Luckily the arch is not anchored in to the ground. He graciously helped me move it under an overhang. I obviously couldn't move an entire arch down a flight of stairs myself.
The last thing I had to worry about was the personal flowers. I went to the front desk and the manager on duty says.. hi... you're the florist. She knew exactly who I was and what I was leaving. She had everything placed in the restaurant refrigerator for me.
The catering manager, Dave, was on top of everything. He had even given me his personal phone number and told me to call if I needed anything while I was there. I feel like this hotel and their stuff went over and beyond to accommodate this bride on her very special day. 5 stars for you Kyoto!
Tiana
The Exotic Green Garden -
Review from Jenny J.
Washington, DC
12/18/2010
Yikes, who gave this place good reviews?! The only thing nice about this place is the reception area. The rooms are small and dingy! The area deserves a double Yikes!
I had to check for bedbugs, just because I wasn't sure what I might find...it looked that bad. The bathroom was dingy looking. The wallpaper was peeling off the wall and the plugs looked dangerous.
Who would pay that much to stay here, I was shocked...never again!
