Our Favorite Hotels in Kyoto
Recommended for the highest category is the “
• 5-star: The Mitsui
• 4-Top rated: A hotel
• 3-
- Bitter Bar is an experimental cocktail bar with a 1920s atmosphere.
• Downtown: The Tower
• For couples: MUNI Kyoto
• ⚅ Family-friendly hotel: Ishicho
• Best ryokan: Tori
• Best cheap lodging: This accommodation
• Lodging near Kyoto Station, Japan includes the Muso inn, accessible here: Muso
1. The Mitsui
Hotel phone: +81 75 468 3100
The Mitsui is a luxury hotel in central Kyoto with a contemporary Japanese atmosphere. A 300-year-old gate welcomes guests to the entrance, while warm cherry wood is used throughout interior areas. Adjacent to Nijo Castle, some rooms offer views of the city and the Onsen Suites provide direct access to a private outdoor hot spring. Several excellent restaurants, a bar, and the Thermal Spring Spa are hotel amenities.
2. Tori
Hotel phone: +81 75 205 3492
Tori is our top Ryokan. It’s a traditional Japanese inn with an excellent location in Central Kyoto and superb hospitality. Experience Japanese living with tatami mat floors, futon beds, tea ceremonies, and prepared Asian breakfasts. Rooms are private, some with garden views, but bathrooms are shared.
3. Gallery Nozawa Inn
Hotel phone: +81 75 353 7990
Gallery Nozawa Inn was another highly rated Ryokan with just two spacious rooms available. The inn provided an opportunity to stay in a traditional Japanese house with tatami mats, futon beds, and breakfast prepared by the owners. Each room had a private toilet, but showers and bathrooms were shared. It was located in Shimogyō-ku (around Kyoto Station) and close to bus stops connecting to the train station.
4. Muso
Hotel phone: +81 75 354 0250
Muse is the best hotel near Kyoto Station. It’s a modern hotel with traditional touches like tatami mats and Japanese paper doors. There are many bed options ranging from Kings to futons, and some rooms have a jacuzzi.
5. Sano
Hotel phone: +81 75 561 0206
Sano Ryokan in Gion provides traditionally styled Japanese rooms fitted with futon mattresses, tatami mat flooring, and private bathrooms furnished with yukata robes. It occupies a four-story building, with rooms on the upper levels affording city views. A complimentary washer and dryer is available for guest use. Unlike other ryokans, meals are not included, but the renowned Nishiki Food Market is only a 20-minute walk away.
6. Ishibekoji Muan
Hotel phone: +81 75 741 8815
This traditional Japanese inn in Higashiyama offers tatami mat floors, bedding laid out on the floor, a private bathroom, and a fireplace in each room. It also provides a daily Asian breakfast, has a bar and hot tub area, and is within walking distance from Gion Shijo Station.
7. My K House
Hotel phone: +81 75 343 8333
My K House is our premier boutique hotel in Kyoto. It features charming rooms with Japanese elements like paper doors and tatami floors yet also modern conveniences including spacious beds, an in-room hot tub with yukata bathrobes, a kitchenette, a washing machine, and a balcony. The Suite with Mountain Perspective additionally has a dining area and, as the name indicates, panoramic views from the balcony. There’s a lobby lounge bar, and it`s near Pontocho Alley, Nishiki Food Market, and within walking distance to Kiyomizu Gojo and Gion Shijo Stations.
8. Sowaka
Hotel phone: +81 75 541 5323
Eleven guest spaces follow the Sukiya architectural style including some with a private garden and others with mountain scenery. It’s decorated with lots of charm and details like tatami mats and paper screens. There’s a lobby lounge, a rooftop balcony, and La BOMBANCE Gion restaurant that is overseen by the Michelin-starred La Bombance restaurant in Tokyo. It’s near Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Heian Shrine.
9. Roku
Hotel phone: +81 75 320 0111
Roku is a contemporary resort with an outside natural hot-spring swimming pool, free private parking, a fitness center, garden, room service, and The Roku Spa. There are various room choices, some with direct pool access, hot tubs, and open-air baths. There are several restaurants, a bar, and afternoon tea. It’s also walkable to Kinkaku-ji Temple.
10. Luck You
Hotel phone: +81 75 366 3211
This traditional Japanese-style lodging is modeled after old Kyoto homes with lattice panes and arched fences. A protective deity statue tops the roof. Guest rooms offer tatami mat floors, private baths, hot tubs, and futons. An Asian breakfast is included. It sits at the crossing of Horikawa and Gojo Streets near restaurants, bars, and train and bus stations.
11. Ace
Hotel phone: +81 75 229 9000
Ace Hotel is considered one of our finest 4-star boutique hotels, occupying an historic 1926 brick building. It provides a creative blend of vivid rooms, turntables, and bright paper lanterns. Art is such an emphasis that it even has an Artist Residency program converting one hotel room into an artist`s studio each month. Guest rooms exhibit uniqueness, some with metropolitan views, and the hotel offers complimentary bike rental, a fitness center, garden and terrace, and room service. The property is home to several dining options, like an Italian eatery and rooftop bar, afternoon tea, and the initial international Stumptown coffee shop. It is ideally located in central Kyoto near the International Manga Museum, Kyoto Shigaku Kaikan Conference Hall, and Gion Shijo Station.
12. Garrya Nijo Castle
Hotel phone: +81 75 366 5806
There are 25 guest rooms with large windows, modern amenities, and some with a balcony and garden views. There’s a French restaurant and room service. The hotel is near the Kyoto International Manga Museum and Nijo Castle.
13. BnA Alter Museum
Hotel phone: +81 75 748 1278
BnA Alter Museum is a boutique hotel with 31 contemporary art rooms individually crafted by different artists. There’s a hotel bar with music, a cafe with monthly art exhibits, and a museum shop brimming with limited-edition books and artwork. A novel aspect of staying here is that a portion of the earnings goes back to the artist who conceptualized the room. Therefore, each time you reserve a room, the artist receives compensation too. It’s also walkable to Gion Shijo Station.
14. Nagi
Hotel phone: +81 75 863 1515
Head up to the Kazbegi region and find a nice guest house or home stay so that you can start to experience mountain life in Georgia. Hike up to the Trinity Church early one morning to beat the large crowds.
