Best Kyoto Hotels

Kyoto feels like old Japan – temples, shrines, wooden streets, but with good Wi-Fi and convenience stores everywhere. Must-sees: Fushimi Inari's red gates, the golden Kinkaku-ji temple, and Gion (spot a geisha or someone dressed as one). Food rocks: try matcha sweets, cheap tasty ramen, or fancy kaiseki meals if you wanna splurge.

Best Districts to Stay in Kyoto

Kyoto Station and Surrounding Areas
Ideal for visitors who want easy access to wider Kyoto by rail

• Hotel Keihan Kyoto Ekiminami: Price from $49. 5-minute drive to Kyoto Tower. Multilingual staff, coworking space, varied breakfast, free ironing service, etc.
• Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo: Price from $54. Café and bar, cozy rooms, massage room, taxi booking service, Chinese & Japanese cuisine, etc.

Kawaramachi
Best for enjoying Kyoto’s traditional atmosphere

• GOOD NATURE HOTEL KYOTO: Price from $174. Living plant wall, bike parking. Cleanness, delicious buffet breakfast, free gym & luggage storage, thoughtful service, etc.
• Mitsui Garden Hotel: Price from $101. A complex of a temple & hotel. English & Japanese supported, taxi booking service, unique Japanese-style breakfast, etc.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Perfect for seasonal cherry blossom & cultural experience

• Waka Kyoto Kawaramachi Hotel: Price from $36. With refrigerators, free luggage storage, English-speaking staff, vending machines, wi-fi, etc.
• Hotel the Celestine Kyoto Gion: Price from $184. With a public bath, bar, free shuttle services, Japanese cuisine, garden, lobby bar, etc.

Credit: from Su San Lee, Unsplash | Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto

Getting to & around Kyoto

No airport in Kyoto. Fly into ​Kansai (KIX) or ​Osaka Itami (ITM) – both about 1-1.5 hours out. Kansai gets most international flights; Itami is smaller and closer (good for local flights). Take the Haruka Express train to Kyoto Station for speed, or grab a cheaper highway bus.

Late arrival? A few ​airport hotels near Kansai (KIX) run shuttles, but it’s worth pushing to the Kyoto Station area.

See more hotels near Kansai Airport to pick the best one!

Downtown Kyoto is walkable if you stay near Kawaramachi or Gion – temples, markets, and alleys are close. Buses are super useful (get a day pass!), as subways don't cover much. Bikes work too, if you don't mind busy streets.

Find More to Match Your Travel Style

Cost-Effective Hostel
Enjoy a lively place for youth and adventures, with library & cleanness → Piece Hostel Kyoto (Price from $17)

Tranquil Villa
Independent townhouse, with a garden in classic style → Tanimachikun Hoshiya Asagiri (Price from $235)

Instagrammable Hotel
Stylish & modern hotel, close to nearby malls → GOOD NATURE HOTEL KYOTO (Price from $174)

Credit: from Kristin Wilson, Unsplash | Sunset with cherry blossom in Kyoto

Tips for Booking Hotels in Kyoto

• Confirm room size & bed type if travelling with families or groups, as some of the Japanese rooms can be compact.
• Choose hotels near metro stations to easily get to the city’s attractions.
• Book well in advance, especially during peak seasons like cherry blossom (Mar-May).
• Use Trip.com's new users' coupon for up to 8%!