When we booked Japan, we were most excited for Kyoto. There was just something about this ancient city which drew us in and we were eager to explore. We did some research and stumbled across the Marufukuro Hotel, a luxury retreat in the heart of the city. It oozed charm and history (stay tuned for this – it is arguably the coolest part of our trip) and we booked it almost immediately. Here is our review of the Marufukuro Hotel. If you’re staying in Kyoto, make sure you read on. It will be worth it.
Marufukuro Hotel Review | Staying in Kyoto
The History of the Marufukuro
The Marufukuro wasn’t always a hotel. In fact, this used to be the Headquarters of a world-famous company. Namely, Nintendo.
The house belonged to Fusajiro Yamauchi, the original founder of Nintendo. He founded the company in 1889 as a playing card company. In fact, the word ‘Nintendo’ loosely translates to something that suggests that the Gods will decide ones fate. Marufukuro was the original name of the card store owned by Yamauchi and the hotel is named after this.
As the company expanded they began adding new lines to their products, and more space was needed. The adjacent houses to the original became the headquarters (established in 1930) and a factory, along with a beautiful home for the Yamauchi family.
To say that we were excited to stay in such a hotel with all the history was an understatement. We had both grown up with Nintendo being a key part of our lives. We thought that was going to be the highlight, and then we stepped foot into the hotel…
Location
Before we get into the hotel, let’s chat about the area. Kyoto has some really touristy areas: in fact, sometimes these places get too crowded to easily move. We did a lot of research on the best areas and saw that Marukukuro was in a quieter part. It is found in the downtown area, making it an ideal spot for exploring iconic sites but tucked away enough to escape the crowds. At dusk, the surrounding area was more local than touristy. It was quiet, peaceful and more traditional. The hotel is also right by the river too, which is perfect for an evening stroll.
During our stay, we found that all the main locations were in walking distance. In fact, we were able to walk up to Pontocho Alley easily, before making our way all the way to Gion and the nearby shrines. It was also just a 10 minute taxi from the station, which made our lives a lot easier.
In short, I genuinely thought that the location was perfect. An ideal spot for exploring, but also to retreat to after walking nearly 20,000 steps!
The Hotel
Before we get started, the Marufukuro is a luxury, high-end hotel. The food, drink, decorations and furnishings are all top-end and rooms and the prices reflect this.
However, what you won’t realise until staying here is that everything food and drink-wise is included. The main building has fridges filled with drinks that you are encouraged to help yourself to, there is a bar where you can make yourself unlimited cocktails, and each room has a generous mini-fridge. The hotel is designed to be enjoyed and a retreat; in fact, you won’t want to leave it.
The hotel comprises of four main buildings. Each of them have their own rooms, with the exception of the fourth which is currently being converted into a tempura restaurant. Every building has its own history, and the hotel have mirrored this with a unique vibe. The first – the headquarters – feels like 1930s Japan, whereas the second – the Yamauchi House – is very homely and warm.
I’ve broken down the key areas of the hotel below for more information.
The Lobby Area
Marufukuro has 4 main buildings. The first is the lobby, which is home to the main seating area, where you eat breakfast, the Nintendo Library and also some rooms. When you enter you’ll instantly recognise the Edo Period decor. This first building was the original Headquarters of Nintendo. The lobby was a seating room and the staff office was, well, the office!
Much of the furniture, decorations and artefacts are from the original house. You’ll see older leather sofas, directly from Yamauchi’s house, along with the original playing cards and similar games. Past the office is a small seating area which leads to the restaurant.
Rooms
We stayed in the original house of Yamauchi in Room 206, which is a Superior King room. This was one of the more basic packages, but it is easily the largest room which we stayed in whilst in Japan.
The bed was gigantic and had high-end furnishings and bedding on top. There was a lovely little seating area, a packed mini-bar, and a colossal bathroom, complete with a full-depth bath. The finishing touches just added to the luxurious feeling. There were small branded Marufukuro items to enjoy, including some incredibly beautiful postcards. Of course, you also have luxurious amenities to go with it.
My favourite part about the room though wasn’t the luxury, but was the homely feel. The building was apparently designed by the daughter of Yamauchi, and she clearly had an eye for detail. In fact Jeff, our very helpful guide, showed us key design features of the building, including the use of green. In fact, the interior was allegedly based upon a ship; something you can really see once you know it.
The Library and Bar Area
Above the Lobby is a bar area and the famous library, which houses an incredibly impressive Nintendo collection. Dotted around were early drafts and pictures of familiar characters such as Mario, early consoles, abstract ideas (like reimagining a Switch after being buried for hundreds of years), and art pieces. The walls also featured books relating to games and Nintendo, making it an ideal spot to sit back and relax.
Down the corridor was the bar. This housed a generous stock of alcohol from all over the world. What was mad to me was that all of this was available to guests, and that you could help yourself. It was incredibly generous and a first for me.
Service
In Japan there is an unwritten rule about the strive for perfection. The staff at Marufukuro clearly knew this as they couldn’t have been better even if they tried. We were first greeted by Jeff, who would also become our tour guide of the hotel (he gave up 45 minutes of his time to show us around). There wasn’t a request too difficult and they would always help us when we asked.
This level of service continued in all that we did, be that walking into the lobby after exploring or having breakfast. Aside from our amazing tour from Jeff, the other highlight actually came when we sadly had to leave. A lady at reception took us outside to the taxi and gave us the loveliest send-off I think I’ve experienced at a hotel. I felt that I had befriended the staff at this hotel. From experience, that only happens at the best ones and, despite travelling across the world, I’ve only felt that a few times.
Dining & Local Convenience
Sadly, the restaurant at the Marufukuro was being renovated whilst we were there (a big reason to come back!). However, we could still have breakfast.
Guests can opt for either the Western or Japanese breakfast and you can then pick as many options from it as you like. We both sadly were recovering from the flu during this time and opted for the Western breakfast. Between us we had sausage and eggs, avocado on toast and two granola bars. All of these warm options were incredibly delicious. In fact, I exclaimed that the avocado on toast was probably the best I’ve ever had; a statement which I stand by still.
Along with the hot options, you had a variety of cold options too. These are actually available throughout the day and include meats and cheeses. The hotel adds in bread and pastries too for breakfast.
Breakfast at the Marufukuro Hotel is another highlight. Guests can choose between a Japanese set menu or a Western breakfast, where you can pick as many plates as you like from the list.
Final Thoughts | Marufukuro Hotel Review
Staying at the Marufukuro wasn’t just a highlight in Japan, it was actually one of my favourite hotels ever. If it just had all the luxury amenities and the excellent food / service, it would still be an excellent hotel. However, once you add in the rich history, unique character and the unwavering generosity, it becomes so much more than just a hotel. The Marufukuro is an experience, one that everyone should try at least once in their lives.
If you are visiting Japan soon, why not read my 2 Weeks in Japan | The Ultimate Guide for First-Time Visitors. I’ll go through everything you need to know for your ultimate trip.
馃搷 Marufukuro Hotel
370-1 Kamigyo-ku Teramachi, Kyoto, Japan
馃殕 Nearest Stations: Karasuma Oike Station (5 min walk), Kyoto Station (15 min by subway)
馃寪 www.marufukurohotel.com
