The 16 Best Hotels in Kyoto
We’ve spent hours researching blogs and glossy magazines for hotel recommendations. These are our top picks of luxury, boutique and cool hotels in Kyoto. Bon voyage!
Hannah, Travel BloggerUpdated
THE GENERAL KYOTO Takatsuji Tominokoji
Great hotel with a modern design aesthetic and very spacious rooms for Japan. Walking distance to Gion District with some very nice restaurants close by. Wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again.
Well set in the centre of Kyoto, THE GENERAL KYOTO Takatsuji Tominokoji provides air-conditioned rooms, a garden, free WiFi and a shared lounge. The property features a bar, as well as a restaurant serving European cuisine. The property is non-smoking and is located 1.1 km from Gion Shijo Station.
All units at the hotel are equipped with a flat-screen TV and a safety deposit box. Every room is equipped with a private bathroom with a bidet, a hairdryer and slippers. At THE GENERAL KYOTO Takatsuji Tominokoji rooms are equipped with bed linen and towels.
Breakfast is available daily, and includes à la carte, American and Asian options.
With staff speaking English and Japanese, around the clock guidance is available at the reception.
Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Kyoto Shigaku Kaikan Conference Hall, Sanjusangen-do Temple and TKP Garden City Kyoto. The nearest airport is Itami Airport, 45 km from THE GENERAL KYOTO Takatsuji Tominokoji.
TSUGU Kyoto Sanjo by THE SHARE HOTELS
A newly opened nice minimalist hotel with clean and spacious rooms, wonderful staff and a great cafe downstairs. Great value for money.
Ideally located in the centre of Kyoto, TSUGU Kyoto Sanjo by THE SHARE HOTELS offers air-conditioned rooms, a shared lounge, free WiFi and a restaurant. The property is set 1.1 km from Samurai Kembu Kyoto, 2.2 km from Nijo Castle and 2.6 km from Shoren-in Temple. The accommodation features a shared kitchen, and luggage storage for guests.
The private bathroom is fitted with a bidet, a hairdryer and slippers. At the hotel the rooms are equipped with bed linen and towels.
TSUGU Kyoto Sanjo by THE SHARE HOTELS offers an à la carte or continental breakfast.
Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Kyoto International Manga Museum, Gion Shijo Station and Kyoto Shigaku Kaikan Conference Hall. The nearest airport is Itami Airport, 46 km from TSUGU Kyoto Sanjo by THE SHARE HOTELS.
Hotel Resol Kyoto Kawaramachi Sanjo
Highly recommended modern Japanese boutique hotel. Worth it for the location alone. Relaxed, low key and spotless. Perfect place to stay in central Kyoto.
Attractively situated in the centre of Kyoto, Hotel Resol Kyoto Kawaramachi Sanjo features air-conditioned rooms, a shared lounge, free WiFi and a restaurant. This 3-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage space. The property is non-smoking and is situated 700 metres from Gion Shijo Station.
At the hotel, rooms come with a wardrobe. Rooms include a private bathroom with a bidet, free toiletries and a hairdryer. The rooms in Hotel Resol Kyoto Kawaramachi Sanjo are fitted with a flat-screen TV and slippers.
Guests at the accommodation can enjoy a buffet breakfast.
Popular points of interest near Hotel Resol Kyoto Kawaramachi Sanjo include Samurai Kembu Kyoto, Kyoto International Manga Museum and Shoren-in Temple. The nearest airport is Itami Airport, 47 km from the hotel.
RAKURO Kyoto by THE SHARE HOTELS
Great modern hotel in a fantastic location with excellent access to most of what Kyoto has to offer. Super friendly staff and the rooftop terrace was a great place to relax with a beer.
Ideally situated in the centre of Kyoto, RAKURO Kyoto by THE SHARE HOTELS features air-conditioned rooms, a shared lounge, free WiFi and a restaurant. This 3-star hotel offers luggage storage space. The property is non-smoking and is situated 700 metres from Kyoto International Manga Museum.
All rooms in the hotel are fitted with a flat-screen TV. The rooms have a private bathroom with a bidet, free toiletries and a hairdryer. At RAKURO Kyoto by THE SHARE HOTELS rooms include bed linen and towels.
An Asian breakfast is available each morning at the accommodation.
RAKURO Kyoto by THE SHARE HOTELS offers a sun terrace.
Nijo Castle is 1.2 km from the hotel, while Kyoto Shigaku Kaikan Conference Hall is 1.9 km from the property. The nearest airport is Itami Airport, 47 km from RAKURO Kyoto by THE SHARE HOTELS.
Rc Hotel
A very special place with fantastic staff. You simply have to see for yourself. Rooms are big and tastefully designed and furnished. Bathrooms are top-notch. Great location just off a busy tourist route but still quietly by itself.
Providing free WiFi and a garden in a renovated 50-year old building with mountain views from the property, Rc Hotel Kyoto Yasaka offers accommodation in Kyoto, 600 metres from Kiyomizu-dera Temple. This 2-star inn has air-conditioned rooms with a private bathroom. The property is a 16-minute walk from Samurai Kembu Kyoto. Views include Hokanji Temple from the property.
At the inn, all rooms have a desk. Guest rooms will provide guests with a fridge.
Heian Shrine is 2 km from RC HOTEL KYOTO YASAKA, while Kyoto International Manga Museum is 2.3 km from the property. Osaka Itami Airport is 39 km away.
Kyoto Granbell Hotel
Fantastic modern hotel, yet with Japanese elements. Beautiful, stylish interior, very nice onsen, and perfect location with lots of small restaurants and convenient stores really close. Highly recommended.
Situated just a 2-minute walk from Gion-Shijo Subway Station, Kyoto Granbell Hotel features modern architecture with hints of traditional Japanese design. Free WiFi is available throughout the property and there is a 24-hour front desk with luggage storage at this hotel. Hotel offers a maiko show twice a week for an additional charge for guests to experience the local culture.
The rooms are air-conditioned and come with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, sofa and refrigerator. Each room includes a private bathroom fitted with a bath, hairdryer and free toiletries. Slippers are included for a comfortable stay.
The public bath, Komorebi, is available to staying guests and looks out into an inner Japanese garden. The lounge on site comes with large sofas, wooden tables and free coffee for guests. For a convenient stay for both business and leisure travellers, there is a 24-hour currency exchange machine located within Kyoto Granbell Hotel.
Guests can enjoy a Japanese and Western-style breakfast at the restaurant and bar, Takedokoro, at this hotel for an additional fee. For those that prefer, Bar Konjiki provides guests with a place to relax with a drink at the bar counter that features gold-leaf decor and traditional wooden designs.
Bicycles are available for rent for an extra charge at the property on a first-come, first-serve basis. Guests can take an 8-minute walk to Yasaka Shrine, a Shinto shrine located in the district of Gion. Kiyomizu-dera Temple is a 12-minute drive from Kyoto Granbell Hotel, while Heian Jingu Shrine is 20 minutes by bus and on foot from the property. A popular attraction for families, Kyoto Aquarium is a 30-minute bus ride away. The nearest airport is Osaka Itami Airport, 39 km or about 70-minutes away via train from Kyoto Granbell Hotel.
GOOD NATURE HOTEL KYOTO
This hotel is absolutely incredible. Not only are the fixtures, fittings and details of the highest quality and standard; but the staff are incredibly helpful and go above and beyond in every instance.
Boasting a garden, a restaurant as well as a bar, GOOD NATURE HOTEL KYOTO is situated in the centre of Kyoto, 400 metres from Gion Shijo Station. With free WiFi, this 5-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage space. The property is non-smoking and is located 1.3 km from Samurai Kembu Kyoto.
The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms with a desk, a kettle, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. At GOOD NATURE HOTEL KYOTO rooms come with a seating area.
Guests at the accommodation can enjoy a buffet breakfast.
Popular points of interest near GOOD NATURE HOTEL KYOTO include Kyoto Shigaku Kaikan Conference Hall, Kyoto International Manga Museum and Shoren-in Temple. The nearest airport is Itami Airport, 46 km from the hotel.
BnA Alter Museum
Amazing boutique hotel featuring 31 unique art rooms you can sleep in, a multi-floor art gallery showcasing the best of Japanese contemporary art, and a bar with weekly art and music events. An unforgettable experience.
Ideally set in Kyoto, BnA Alter Museum offers 4-star accommodation close to Gion Shijo Station and Kyoto Shigaku Kaikan Conference Hall. With a bar, the 4-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a private bathroom. The accommodation features nightclub and a 24-hour front desk.
All rooms in the hotel are fitted with a kettle. Every room comes with a safety deposit box and some rooms also boast river views. At BnA Alter Museum the rooms come with bed linen and towels.
Italian and vegetarian breakfast options are available each morning at the accommodation.
Popular points of interest near BnA Alter Museum include Samurai Kembu Kyoto, Sanjusangen-do Temple and Kiyomizu-dera Temple. The nearest airport is Itami Airport, 45 km from the hotel.
The Screen
Modern and trendy boutique hotel offering surprisingly lavish and impressive decor and amenities. The hotel has a lovely roof terrace with a great view of the river and surrounding area of Kyoto.
Boasting luxurious guest rooms with each unique design, The Screen is a boutique hotel located just a 3-minute walk to Kyoto Imperial Palace. Jingu Marutabashi Train Station is a 7-minute walk away. Free WiFi is provided in the rooms.
While staying at the hotel, guests can receive rejuvenating massages at an additional charge. Concierge services are available at the 24-hour front desk. Bicycle rentals are also provided.
Fitted with sophisticated décor and unique furnishings, each room comes with facilities like a 42-inch flat-screen TV, an iPod dock and BOSE speakers. A coffee machine and a fridge are also included.
The hotel is a 5-minute walk to Kamo River, and JR Kyoto Station can be reached within a 10-minute walk.
Bron Ronnery restaurant offers creative fusion dishes featuring local ingredients. Lounge Sunsun serves café dishes and drinks. Sorayuka Shoki offers dinner meals at the open-air terrace from May to October.
22 PIECES
Modern luxury accommodation at a reasonable price in a fantastic location, a few minutes walk from Kyoto main station. Very spacious and clean rooms and the staff were very friendly and hospitable.
22 PIECES offers rooms with free WiFi in Kyoto, in a prime location 1.8 km from Tofuku-ji Temple and 2.9 km from Kiyomizu-dera Temple. This 3-star hotel offers luggage storage space. Kyoto International Manga Museum is 3.2 km away and Samurai Kembu Kyoto is 3.5 km from the hotel.
At the hotel, all rooms are fitted with a private bathroom and free toiletries, and the studio with terrace rooms include a garden and the studio with living area rooms include a balcony. The units will provide guests with a wardrobe and a kettle.
Nijo Castle is 3.6 km from 22 PIECES. Osaka Itami Airport is 36 km away.
Hotel Kanra
The designers did a magnificent job in recreating a Japanese style, yet modern and sophisticated property. Each room even has a tiny zen garden, very small but cleverly designed at the room’s entrance off of the corridor.
Just a 12-minute walk from Kyoto Station, hotel kanra kyoto is an entirely non-smoking hotel, offering spacious rooms and a mix of traditional Japanese, modern and Western decor. All guest rooms feature free WiFi access and Japanese tatami (woven-straw) flooring.
Rooms feature a Japanese-style seating area and traditional Kyoto Kiyomizu-yaki ceramics. There is a wash basin, and the en suite bathroom comes with a wooden bathtub and free toiletries.
The 24-hour front desk provides concierge services and free luggage storage. There is a drinks vending machine on site and bicycles can be rented for an additional fee.
The hotel offers Teppanyaki and Italian cuisine, and a cafe featuring local seasonal ingredients. Japanese-style and Western set menus are offered for breakfast.
Nishiki Market is 14-minutes away via train and walk, while the Gion area, Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Nijo Temple are all within a 15-minute drive. Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine is 7-minutes from Kyoto Station via train and walk. The nearest airport is Osaka Itami Airport, a 50-minute drive away from the property.
Ace Hotel Kyoto
Taking over the city’s former Kyoto Central Telephone Company, built in the 1920s, this brand new hotel is perfect for design travellers seeking elevated, yet unfussy accommodations.
Ace Hotel Kyoto features free bikes, fitness centre, a garden and terrace in Kyoto. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, room service and a 24-hour front desk, along with free WiFi throughout the property. The accommodation provides an ATM, a concierge service and currency exchange for guests.
At the hotel every room comes with air conditioning, a seating area, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a safety deposit box and a private bathroom with a bidet, free toiletries and a hairdryer. At Ace Hotel Kyoto the rooms are fitted with bed linen and towels.
The daily breakfast offers à la carte, continental or American options.
Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Kyoto International Manga Museum, Kyoto Shigaku Kaikan Conference Hall and Gion Shijo Station. The nearest airport is Itami Airport, 46 km from Ace Hotel Kyoto.
BenTen Residences
Beautiful Japanese style villa perfectly located in a quiet residential area with lots of restaurants in walking distance, yet only minutes to the major Higashiyama sights.
BenTen Residences offer a Japanese machiya accommodation in the heart of Higashiyama, Kyoto. Yasaka Shrine is 7 minutes on foot, while Kiyomizu Temple is a 14-minute stroll. BenTen Residences was featured as 1 of the Top 10 vacation homes in 2017 by Dwell. Free WiFi access is provided throughout the entire property.
Coming with heated flooring, the accommodation features a Western bedroom and two Japanese-style rooms with tatami (woven-straw) flooring and futon bedding. There are also a living area and kitchenette. Guests will also find a bath with a view of little garden and 2 toilets.
For an additional fee, the concierge service is available to create bespoke itineraries and assist guests with arranging cultural experiences, restaurant reservations and airport shuttle. Car and bicycle rental can also be arranged.
Gion District is a 7-minute walk from BenTen Residences, while Heian Shrine is an 8-minute drive away. JR Kyoto Station is 20 minutes by car. The nearest airport is Osaka Itami Airport, 38.6 km from BenTen Residences and Kansai International Airport is 80 km.
The Thousand Kyoto
Phenomenal hotel with stylish rooms in a natural and minimalist design. Conveniently located right next to JR Kyoto Station. If you are coming by train, you can easily walk with your luggage straight to the reception from your bullet-train.
The Thousand Kyoto features air-conditioned rooms with satellite flat-screen TV in the Shimogyo Ward district of Kyoto. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, a 24-hour front desk and room service, along with free WiFi. Private parking is available on site.
TKP Garden City Kyoto is 200 metres from The Thousand Kyoto, while Sanjusangen-do Temple is 1.2 km from the property. The nearest airport is Itami Airport, 46 km from the accommodation.
Luxury hotel SOWAKA
A spectacular boutique hotel I’d truly recommend to people who’re looking to experience the real Kyoto. Perfect location and stylish rooms. The main building is a beautifully renovated old restaurant built over 100 years ago(!)
Open from November 2018, located near Gion district and featuring a Japanese garden, SOWAKA offers rooms in Kyoto. The renovated main building features traditional Kyoto-style decoration for guests to enjoy. Free WiFi is provided throughout the building.
At the hotel, all air conditioned rooms come with an electric kettle, minibar, fridge and wardrobe. Rooms are fitted with a private bathroom with extras including a hairdryer, bathrobe and nightwear.
Staff at the 24-hour front desk can help with information about the area.
Kiyomizu-dera Temple is 1 km away and Heian Shrine is 1.6 km from the hotel. Itami Airport is 39 km from the property.
Nazuna Kyoto Gosho
Small and intimate Ryokan perfectly located in downtown Kyoto but in a calm and peaceful residential neighbourhood. Fantastic staff, extraordinary breakfast, really nice rooms, superb private onsen in the garden.
Featuring free WiFi, Nazuna Kyoto Gosho is set in Kyoto. The property is around 650 m from Kyoto International Manga Museum, 1.2 km from Nijo Castle and 1.3 km from Kyoto Imperial Palace. The ryokan provides a shared lounge.
At the ryokan, every room includes a desk, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom. The shared bathroom is equipped with a hot tub and free toiletries. All units are fitted with a seating area.
When guests need guidance on where to visit, the reception will be happy to provide advice.
Heian Shrine is 2.5 km from Nazuna Kyoto Gosho. The nearest airport is Itami Airport, 49 km from the accommodation.