Kyoto is one of Japan's most popular tourist cities, full of traditional Japanese culture and history. Kyoto was Japan's capital for longer than any other city.
Kyoto has accommodation options to choose from just like other cities, from budget options such as hostels, dormitories, and guesthouses to well-known hotel brands both local and international, such as Toyoko Inn or Novotel. What makes this city special is its ryokan, traditional Japanese-style inns, which give you the chance to sleep on a Japanese futon on tatami mat flooring. Because the city is so popular, accommodation, especially in popular areas like Gion, fills up very quickly. During peak travel seasons such as cherry blossom season or autumn leaves season, you may need to book several months in advance.
22 Kyoto Hotels in Popular Areas: Comfortable Stays with Easy Access
For most travelers, Kyoto is divided into the old town, where many tourist attractions are clustered together, and the newer part of the city, where the main rail transport systems arrive. Some parts of Kyoto can be reached by subway, while many other parts require a bus. See all the ways to get around Kyoto here
The area around Kyoto Station is part of the newer city. It may not have many tourist attractions, but it's very convenient for travel, whether to nearby cities like Nara or Osaka, or to other cities like Tokyo. Several Shinkansen (bullet train) lines run through this station, and there are many modern, affordable hotels to choose from. The area near Kyoto Station suits travelers who want convenient transport and don't plan to spend much time sightseeing in central Kyoto, or who are only staying for a day or two.
Central Kyoto is around Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line and Gion-Shijo Station on the Keihan Line. Although this area isn't close to the main Shinkansen line, it's the hub for everything in Kyoto, including bus connections to various attractions around the city as well as trains to Osaka. It's also the city's biggest shopping area, packed with shops and restaurants, which makes it one of the most popular areas for travelers to stay in Kyoto.
Now that we know the popular areas in Kyoto, let's take a look at 22 Kyoto hotels in popular areas: comfortable stays with easy access .
1. The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo
Kyoto accommodation with a great location and easy access — recommended is The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo, a luxurious hotel, stylish, new, clean, with excellent service, located right on Sanjo-dori and easy to find. There are also many shops and restaurants around the hotel, near the Loft and Kawaramachi department stores and Nishiki Market. You can also walk to the Gion area in just 10 minutes. The hotel has a full range of services and facilities, including breakfast service and a dining room, a snack bar, vending machines, a bar, and luggage storage. Rooms come in several types, from Superior rooms to Junior Suites.
2. Hotel Resol Trinity Kyoto
Another Kyoto accommodation with a good location and a reasonable price is Hotel Resol Trinity Kyoto. It's a Japanese-style hotel with a ryokan feel — rooms are floored with tatami mats and come with Japanese-style slippers to change into, and the doors and windows inside the room are Japanese-style sliding ones. The hotel also has an excellent location, near Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae metro station, opposite the Gokomachi-dori shopping street, and just a few minutes' walk from Kawaramachi and Gion. The hotel offers a range of services and facilities, including separate onsen baths for men and women, breakfast with a variety of menus and cuisines such as European, Japanese, and local food, massage service, a spa, a sauna, and fully equipped rooms. Rooms are available as twin/double rooms, Standard Double rooms, deluxe rooms, and rooms in Japanese and Western styles.
3. HOTEL FORZA KYOTO SHIJO KAWARAMACHI
Kyoto accommodation in the lively Kawaramachi area: HOTEL FORZA KYOTO SHIJO KAWARAMACHI is a large hotel in the heart of the business district, modern, clean, and convenient with facilities including a 24-hour front desk, free Wi-Fi in every room, luggage storage, contactless check-in/check-out, a safe, Wi-Fi in public areas, family rooms, and vending machines. It's also close to plenty of shops and restaurants, near the train station, the Kamo River, department stores, and Nishiki Market. Rooms come in several types, from Forza Double/Twin rooms to family rooms for three people.
4. Ibis Styles Kyoto Station
Kyoto accommodation near the main JR station: with a great location and good rates, we recommend Ibis Styles Kyoto Station. It's a beautiful, modern hotel right across from Kyoto Station. If you're coming from Kansai Airport, you can take the airport bus and get off at the bus stop next to the hotel. It's not far from famous attractions such as Sanjusangendo Temple and Fushimi Inari Taisha. Rooms are clean and fully equipped. Other facilities include free breakfast, luggage storage, and housekeeping service. Rooms range from Economy Rooms to Standard Queen Rooms.
5. Seikoro Ryokan
If you want to stay in a ryokan, a traditional Japanese-style inn, in Kyoto, Japan's old capital, try Seikoro Ryokan, about 250 meters from Kiyomizu-Gojo Station. The property is built of wood in the Taisho style, giving it a sense of long history. It's not far from popular attractions such as Sanjusangendo Temple and Kiyomizu-dera Temple. The interior is tastefully decorated, and rooms come in several types, fully equipped with facilities “including a flat-screen TV with cable channels, an en-suite bathroom with toiletries and a bathtub, a heater, a safe, an elevator, free Wi-Fi, luggage storage, and a public bath with a wooden tub offering spa-style facilities” In addition, breakfast is available in both Western and authentic Kyoto-style Japanese options, with the menu changing by season, so there's something special no matter when you stay.
6. Hotel Hokke Club Kyoto
Kyoto accommodation near the train station, another one worth checking out is Hotel Hokke Club Kyoto, a standard hotel in a great location with excellent service, located right across from JR Kyoto Station. You can go through the underground passage from the station straight to the front of the hotel. There's also a bus terminal right opposite, making travel very convenient. It's near shopping areas, a Starbucks, and Kyoto Tower. The hotel offers full services and facilities, including luggage storage, a dining room with breakfast service, plus facilities such as a computer, a printer, a water dispenser, a washing machine, a dryer, and ice. Rooms range from Semi-Double Rooms to Triple Rooms for 5 People.
7. Rakuten STAY Kyoto Station
Kyoto accommodation with high standards from Rakuten — try Rakuten STAY Kyoto Station, a minimalist-style hotel, elegant, clean, and comfortable in the Kyoto area. It's just a 5-10 minute walk from Kyoto Station. There's a 7-Eleven nearby, and it's not far from famous attractions such as Fushimi Inari Taisha and Sanjusangendo Temple, and the old town of Gion. If you want to take a stroll along the Kamo River, it's only 470 meters away. The hotel offers various amenities — rooms come with towels, toiletries, and a hair dryer provided. There's also free Wi-Fi, internet service, and housekeeping. Rooms are available in 3 types: Standard Twin Room, Standard Twin Room A, and Standard Twin Room B.
8. Miyako City Kintetsu Kyoto Station
A Kyoto hotel with a great, spacious location — we recommend Miyako City Kintetsu Kyoto Station, a beautifully decorated, modern hotel with standard quality, located inside the Kyoto Station building for very convenient travel. There are shops, restaurants, and shopping areas all around. It offers full services and facilities, including a dining room with breakfast service, housekeeping, a 24-hour front desk, vending machines, and a shared kitchen. Rooms range from Standard Double/Twin rooms to Wide Twin rooms with an extra bed.
9. Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Station
Kyoto accommodation with a great location and elegant style — we recommend Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Station, a 4-star hotel decorated with a Japanese theme, elegant, clean, safe, and relaxing. It has a convenient location in the Kyoto area, just a 3-minute walk from Kyoto Station, and you can also walk to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. The hotel offers amenities such as an onsen, a dining room, daily housekeeping, and free buffet breakfast. Rooms are available as Moderate rooms, Double/Twin rooms, and rooms for 3 people.
10. Natural Hot Spring Dormy Inn Premium Kyoto Ekimae
Natural Hot Spring Dormy Inn Premium Kyoto Ekimae is a simple, modern-style hotel with a dark color scheme, spotlessly clean, with comfortable rooms. It's also located near Kyoto Station, with a Lawson convenience store right below the hotel. It's also close to shops and department stores such as Yodobashi Camera, AEON, and Daiso. The hotel offers plenty of amenities, including breakfast service, both indoor and outdoor onsen baths, a spa, free late-night ramen, and free internet. Rooms are available as twin rooms and double rooms.
11. APA Villa Hotel Kyoto-Ekimae
APA Villa Hotel Kyoto-Ekimae is a business hotel of a comfortable size, located in a great spot in the Kyoto area, with easy access thanks to its proximity to JR Kyoto Station. It's surrounded by shops, close to shopping areas, and important attractions such as Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Nijo Castle, and Toji Temple. The hotel also has fully equipped rooms, with all bathroom amenities from Shiseido. Other services include breakfast with both European and Japanese options, massage service, free internet, and a coffee shop. Rooms are available as Double rooms and Single rooms.
12. Richmond Hotel Premier Kyoto Ekimae
Richmond Hotel Premier Kyoto Ekimae is a new hotel, clean, with beautiful, stylish decor and plenty of amenities, including self-service check-in/check-out machines, complimentary snacks, free wine, and late-night food. Rooms are spacious, clean, with soft beds ideal for resting. The location is also excellent, about a 10-minute walk from the JR station, with shops, restaurants, FamilyMart, Lawson, and 7-Eleven nearby. Rooms come in several types, from Standard rooms to larger family rooms like the Premier Twin Room (4 adults).
13. Hotel Keihan Kyoto Ekiminami
Hotel Keihan Kyoto Ekiminami is a modern-design hotel, beautiful and spotlessly clean, located right across from Kyoto Station for easy access. It's near AEON department store, 7-Eleven, and plenty of shops and restaurants, and you can also walk from the hotel to Toji Temple. The hotel's amenities include free breakfast, coffee and soft drinks, self-service check-in machines, and free water and ice dispensers. Rooms come in several types, such as Standard Double/Twin rooms, Moderate Double rooms, and Standard rooms for 3 people.
14. Sotetsu Fresa Inn Kyoto-Hachijoguchi
Sotetsu Fresa Inn Kyoto-Hachijoguchi is a simple, minimalist hotel, comfortable, with a great location behind the Avanti shopping center, near Kyoto's train station and convenience stores. There's a Lawson right below the hotel. Services and amenities include 24-hour check-in, free skincare sachets and face masks, breakfast service, an ice dispenser, and vending machines. Rooms are available as Double/Twin rooms, Comfort Double Rooms, and Connecting Rooms.
15. APA Hotel Kyoto-Gion Excellent
Kyoto accommodation in the Kawaramachi area from a leading Japanese hotel brand — we recommend APA Hotel Kyoto-Gion Excellent, a business-style hotel with the standard of the APA hotel chain, located in a well-known area of Kyoto, surrounded by shops, restaurants, and shopping areas, at an affordable price with easy access, not far from bus stops and the train station. It's also close to famous attractions such as Yasaka Shrine, Hanamikoji Street, and Maruyama Park. The hotel offers basic services and facilities, including a dining room, breakfast service, a bar, internet service, and a 24-hour front desk. Rooms are available in 3 types: Double rooms, Twin rooms, and Single rooms.
16. Hotel M’s Est Shijo Karasuma
Kyoto accommodation in the Kawaramachi area with great rates — we recommend Hotel M’s Est Shijo Karasuma, a hotel in a great, convenient location, close to shops, convenience stores, and shopping areas such as Daimaru department store and Nishiki Market, with easy access by subway, right next to Tokyu Hands. The hotel itself is clean and relaxing, with rooms that make good use of space, along with amenities and facilities including a bathtub, a hair dryer, an electric kettle, a fridge, and a TV. There's also breakfast service, housekeeping, and a 24-hour front desk. Rooms are available in 3 types: Semi Double Room - Non-Smoking, Economy Double Room, and Superior Twin Room - Non-Smoking.
17. Hotel Gran Ms Kyoto
Another Kyoto accommodation in the Kawaramachi area, part of the M Hotels group, a well-known hotel chain in Kyoto, is Hotel Gran Ms Kyoto, another well-located option in the Kawaramachi area, near the subway and close to shopping spots like Nishiki Market and the pedestrian shopping street. There's a 7-Eleven at the entrance of the hotel's street, and you can also walk to the Keihan Line to reach the Gion area. Rooms are clean, with soft, comfortable beds, and full amenities such as hot water, a fridge, a TV, and toiletries. There's also housekeeping, a dining room, and breakfast service. Rooms range from Twin Rooms to Deluxe Japanese Style Rooms.
18. Kyoto Central Inn
Kyoto accommodation with a great location, another one we'd recommend is Kyoto Central Inn, a hotel located in the heart of the Kawaramachi area, right by the subway station, near the Nishiki Market shopping district and not far from the famous Gion area. The hotel has a simple design, focused on comfort and cleanliness, with full services and amenities including a coffee shop, vending machines, and a bar. Rooms come with a hair dryer, a fridge, a flat-screen TV, towels, and bath amenities all provided. Rooms come in several types, from small 16 sqm rooms such as Double/Twin rooms to larger rooms like the Suite, which is 25 sqm.
19. Hotel Grand Bach Kyoto Select
Kyoto accommodation focused on luxury and comfort, with a sharp location — we recommend Hotel Grand Bach Kyoto Select, a large hotel, elegant and modern-looking. It also has a great location with easy access, right in the heart of the business district, convenient for both shopping and getting to various attractions, reachable by both bus and train. It's also close to Nishiki Market and Daimaru department store. The property is clean and safe, with services and amenities including a 24-hour front desk, breakfast service, an onsen, and separate hot bath facilities for men and women. Rooms are available in 3 types: Twin/Double rooms, Deluxe Twin rooms, and Corner Deluxe Twin Room.
20. Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Kawaramachi Jokyoji
Kyoto accommodation with truly gorgeous style — try Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Kawaramachi Jokyoji, a hotel that blends a contemporary Japanese atmosphere, beautifully designed and relaxing, with an excellent location and full service. It's near shopping areas with easy access, making it another appealing option when visiting Kyoto, thanks to its proximity to famous attractions such as the Nishiki Market Shopping District, Gion, and Yasaka Shrine. The hotel's amenities include a shared bathing area, daily housekeeping, luggage storage, and automatic check-in/check-out machines. Rooms come in several types, such as Moderate Double Room - Non-Smoking, Queen Room for 2 People, and Japanese Style Room for 2 People - Non-Smoking.
21. Kyoto Garden Ryokan Yachiyo
A well-known Kyoto ryokan-style accommodation is Kyoto Garden Ryokan Yachiyo, located on the way to Nanzenji Temple and about 550 meters from Keage Subway Station. It's also not far from several other attractions, such as Kyoto Zoo, Shoren-in Temple, Heian Shrine, and the Philosopher's Path, one of the most beautiful cherry blossom spots in Kyoto. The property is surrounded by a beautiful garden with seasonal beauty, in a quiet, peaceful atmosphere. The interior has an elegant design that still retains its Japanese character. Rooms are simply decorated but with a style that balances traditional Japanese and modern design, with some offering garden views and some with private bathrooms, along with other amenities “such as a flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi throughout the property, luggage storage, free bicycle rental, and a lounge with a computer offering free internet access” There's also a dining room with garden views, serving both authentic Kyoto-style Japanese food and vegetarian set courses.
Price
Prices vary by season and room type.
Access
- About a 7-minute walk from Keage Subway Station
- About a 10-minute walk from Higashiyama Subway Station
22. Yadoya Hiraiwa
An affordable ryokan accommodation in Kyoto that we'd recommend is Yadoya Hiraiwa , a budget-friendly ryokan located near Kiyomizu-Gojo Station (Keihan Line), about 650 meters away. It's also not far from Kiyomizu-dera Temple, one of Kyoto's most famous attractions, as well as a venue for traditional Japanese performing arts, Samurai Kembu Kyoto. The property isn't very large, but it's full of the atmosphere of a Japanese home, with friendly service and plenty of other amenities “such as a shared bathroom, free toiletries, free Wi-Fi throughout the property, luggage storage, a flat-screen TV, a clothes drying rack, free tea, linens, and slippers for use in the room.
Price
Prices vary by season and room type.
Access
- About a 5-minute walk from Kiyomizu-Gojo Station (Keihan Line)
- About a 12-minute walk from Kyoto Station (Karasuma Line)
- About a 10-minute walk from Shijo Station (Karasuma Line)