BnA Alter Museum

We LOVED our stay at BnA Alter Museum and would happily stay again. I originally booked our stay here because my niece, who’s creative and works in style and artistic production, was traveling with us and I knew would appreciate the unique art rooms, created each by a different artist. We first were in a quirky, whimsical room with Murphy-style pull down beds. It was such fun. We extended our stay an extra day and were moved to a beautiful, calming room by a sculptural artist with gentle warm lighting, minimalist wooden pieces and 5 yen coins flowing along portions of the walls, floor and ceiling, with opportunity to add your own. This hotel provides a unique and modern experience while still offering distictive Japanese features (robes and low beds, dense mattresses, bathrooms you want to transport home with you, etc). The hotel was comfortable and quiet, the location was fantastic… a very close walk to beautiful, narrow traditional lanes along the river and Gion with its picturesque Kyoto charm, vibrant, modern shopping thoroughfares and massive covered market “maze” offering a mix of old world and new, food lanes, thrift shops, every kind of thing you can imagine, and frequented by locals and visitors alike (a place to spend a day and get happily lost, especially if the weather is challenging). Just beyond all these things, across the river and easily reached by foot are the famous temples and gardens of Kyoto. Hospitality is huge in Japan, but I can’t say enough about the staff at BnA Alter Museum… warm and approachable while still offering impeccable hospitality. In particular, my elderly mother joined us our third night there. The only room available (the beautiful 5-yen coin room) had very low beds. The staff made sure to put a good, stable chair in the room for her as requested specifically to aid her getting in and out of bed and offered to do more.

The staff was so helpful and friendly, and the concept of the rooms was beautiful and interesting. Really good breakfast, too! The staff spoke fluent English and the bartenders were great. I loved this place and will absolutely stay again. I extended my stay here when the Shinkansen got shut down for the day and took the opportunity to try a different room, and I hope I can come back to see more!

We stayed at this hotel for four nights and enjoyed its unique atmosphere. It is a special hotel that incorporates art into the rooms, adding a creative and interesting touch to the stay. The staff was very courteous, always available, and made every effort to assist with any request. However, the main drawback is the lack of functionality – while the rooms, including the suite, are pleasant and well-maintained, they lack basic facilities for a comfortable stay, which slightly reduces the overall experience. This hotel is recommended for those who appreciate design and art, but less so for those seeking functional comfort.

The location was great—just a 10-minute walk from Gion, so it was quieter but still close to the action. The coffee shop at the hotel was amazing, and their oat latte was a rare find in the area. The room was really unique and a cool experience, plus the bathroom was spacious and super comfortable.

This hotel is very unique! We stayed in two different rooms & enjoyed our stay. The second room was the “dragon” and we absolutely loved the theme. The room had 12 different light settings and really made the room come alive. By far, one of the coolest places we’ve ever stayed. The room & bathroom were both large & very spacious. Beds were very comfortable. We appreciated the mini fridge in the room. Staff was attentive & friendly, they provided umbrellas for us, and even held our bags after check out. Would definitely recommend this place