Our Favorite Hotels in Kyoto
• 5-star: The Mitsui
• 4-star: Ace
• 3-star: MIMARU Shinmachi Sanjo
• Boutique: My K House
• For couples: MUNI Kyoto
• For families: Ishicho
• Best ryokan: Tori
• Best cheap hotel: Kyo-Anthu Inn
• Near Kyoto Station: Muso
1. The Mitsui
Hotel phone: +81 75 468 3100
The Mitsui is a 5-star modern hotel with a traditional Japanese feel in Central Kyoto. The 300-year-old Kajiimiya Gate greets guests at the entrance to the hotel, and warm cherry wood is used throughout the interior. It’s Located next to Nijo Castle, with some rooms offering views of the city, and the Onsen Suites with direct access to a private outdoor onsen. The hotel has several excellent restaurants, a bar, and the Thermal Spring Spa.
2. Tori
Hotel phone: +81 75 205 3492
Tori is our best Ryokan. It’s a traditional Japanese inn with a great location in Central Kyoto and excellent hospitality. Experience the Japanese lifestyle with tatami mat floors, futon beds, a tea ceremony, and a prepared Asian breakfast. Rooms are private, some with garden views, but the bathrooms are shared.
3. Gallery Nozawa Inn
Hotel phone: +81 75 353 7990
Gallery Nozawa Inn is another top Ryokan with just two spacious rooms available. The inn provides a chance to stay in a traditional Japanese house with tatami mats, futon beds, and breakfast prepared by the owners. Each room has a private toilet, but showers and bathrooms are shared. It’s located in Shimogyō-ku (around Kyoto Station) and close to the bus stops 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 accents 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 traditional Japanese-style rooms with futons, tatami mats, and private bathrooms with yukata robes. It’s in a 4-story building, and rooms on the top have city views. There’s a free washer and dryer available. Unlike other Ryokans, meals are not provided, but it’s only a 20-minute walk to the Nishiki Food Market.
6. Ishibekoji Muan
Hotel phone: +81 75 741 8815
This Ryokan in Higashiyama features a traditional Japanese design with tatami floors, futon beds, a private bathroom, and a fireplace in each room. It also offers a daily Asian breakfast, has a bar and a hot tub, and is within walking distance from Gion Shijo Station.
7. My K House
Hotel phone: +81 75 343 8333
My K House is our best Boutique hotel in Kyoto. It features beautiful rooms with Japanese touches like paper doors and tatami floors but with modern amenities like big beds, an in-room hot tub with yukata robes, a kitchenette, a washing machine, and a balcony. The Suite with Mountain View also has a dining room and, as the name states, mountain views from the balcony. There’s a lobby bar, and it’s close to Pontocho Alley, Nishiki Food Market, and walkable to Kiyomizu Gojo and Gion Shijo Stations.
8. Sowaka
Hotel phone: +81 75 541 5323
Eleven guestrooms follow the Sukiya architectural style including some with a private garden and others with mountain views. It’s decorated with lots of charm and details like tatami mats and paper screens. There’s a lobby bar, a rooftop balcony, and La BOMBANCE Gion restaurant that is overseen by the Michelin-starred La Bombance restaurant in Tokyo. It’s close to Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Heian Shrine.
9. Roku
Hotel phone: +81 75 320 0111
Roku is a modern resort with an outdoor natural hot-spring swimming pool, free private parking, a fitness center, garden, room service, and The Roku Spa. There are many room options, 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 Ryokan is designed after an old-fashioned Kyoto townhouse with lattice windows and arched fences and a Shoki statue on the roof to protect it. The rooms have futons, tatami floors, private bathrooms, and hot tubs. Asian breakfast is included. It’s located at the intersection of Horikawa-dori and Gojo-dori Streets and close to restaurants, pubs, and the bus and train stations.
11. Ace
Hotel phone: +81 75 229 9000
Ace Hotel is our best 4-star boutique hotel and lives in an old 1926 brick building. It’s a creative mashup of colorful rooms, turntables, and bright paper lanterns. It is so focused on art that it even has an Artist and Residency program that turns one hotel room into an artist’s studio for a month. The rooms are unique, some with city views, and the hotel offers free bike rental, a fitness center, a garden and terrace, and room service. The building has many places to eat, including an Italian restaurant and rooftop bar, afternoon tea, and the first international Stumptown coffee shop. It’s in the heart of 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 close to 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 created by different artists. There’s a hotel bar with music, a cafe with monthly art exhibits, and a museum shop filled with limited-edition books and artwork. A unique thing about staying here is that a portion of the revenue goes back to the artist who designed the room. So, each time you book a room, the artist gets paid, too. It’s also walkable to Gion Shijo Station.
14. Nagi
Hotel phone: +81 75 863 1515
This hotel has modern amenities, super king-sized beds, and three-room styles (some with city views.) It’s walkable to Arashiama Bamboo Grove and close to public transportation.
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