Kyoto Where to Stay: Best Neighborhoods & Hotel Tips

What you need to know before searching for hotels in Kyoto

Unfortunately, staying in Kyoto is quite expensive, especially if you want to stay in the popular Gion neighborhood. This is true for all major Japanese cities — for example, hotels in Tokyo and accommodation in Osaka are the same way. This is especially true if your travel dates fall in spring during cherry blossom season or in the fall. The off-season is a bit more affordable.

Always check whether the hotel or room is non-smoking or smoking. In Japan, it’s completely normal for designated rooms to allow smoking.

Before you start searching for hotels for your trip to Kyoto, you should also think about whether you want a typical hotel room or a traditional Japanese ryokan. We’ll cover that at the end of this article.

The best neighborhoods to stay in Kyoto on a map

There are three neighborhoods in Kyoto that we recommend for your stay. Depending on how you envision your time in Kyoto, one district may suit you better than another.

We’ve also included a map so you can see exactly where each neighborhood is located.

• Gion: Ideal if this is your first time in Kyoto and you want to experience the world-famous, quintessential Kyoto. Our hotel pick: Rinn Kiyomizu Gion
• Station District: Perfect if you want to spend less and don’t have a lot of time in the city. Our hotel pick: Sakura Terrace The Gallery
• Downtown: Ideal if you enjoy staying in a lively, modern neighborhood or if you’ve already visited Kyoto before. Our hotel pick: Tsugu Kyoto Sanjo

Where to stay in Gion?

A hotel in Gion is the best choice if it’s your first time in Kyoto. This is where you’ll discover old Japan.

When people think of Kyoto, they usually think of Gion. This is the traditional neighborhood with its many geishas — the one that has made Kyoto world-famous. It’s the perfect district if you’re visiting for the first time and want to experience geisha culture up close.

You’ll often see geishas out on the streets. Out of respect, please don’t approach them or take photos of them.

Other highlights in Gion include the Yasaka Shrine and the Kennin-ji Temple. You’ll also find plenty of restaurants and bars (known in Japanese as izakaya) throughout the neighborhood. During the day, the charming alleyways are fairly quiet. In the evening, they’re romantically lit and full of life.

Our tip: We find the Higashiyama district right next to Gion just as charming. If you can’t find a place to stay in Gion, it’s a great alternative.
Advantages of staying in Gion

• Huge selection of hotels and restaurants
• Beautiful surroundings
• Many of the most important sights right on your doorstep

Disadvantages of staying in Gion

• Accommodation is in high demand and prices reflect that
• Long travel time to some highlights like the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

Our hotel recommendations for Gion

The Rinn Kiyomizu Gion is very centrally located in Gion and the rooms are fantastic — modern, with indirect lighting that makes them feel wonderfully cozy.

Where to stay in Kyoto's Station District?

A hotel in Kyoto’s Station District is the best choice if you want to keep costs down and plan on taking a lot of day trips.

The area around Kyoto Station is a great base for reaching all of Kyoto’s major attractions and nearby highlights. This also applies to all lodging north of the station and along either side of the main shopping street, Karasuma Dori.

In most cities, we wouldn’t recommend the station district. But in Kyoto, everything is clean and modern. And the best part: hotels here are more affordable than in other Kyoto neighborhoods.

Many temple complexes in this area are even free to visit — Higashi-Honganji, for example.

Advantages of staying in the Station District

• Large and affordable selection of hostels and capsule hotels
• Close to the train station and right in the city center
• Great starting point for day trips by rail across Japan, e.g. to Nara, Himeji, or Osaka

Disadvantages of staying in the Station District

• The neighborhood isn’t particularly special
• Fairly long distance to Gion and some key sights

Our hotel recommendations for the Station District

If you’re looking for a centrally located place to stay with plenty of comfort, we recommend the Sakura Terrace The Gallery. It’s just a few minutes’ walk from Kyoto Station — and we love the rooftop terrace and the public bath with pool and sauna.

Where to stay Downtown?

Staying in Downtown Kyoto is perfect if you want to be in a modern, commercial environment and are spending more time in Kyoto.

Downtown is the Kawaramachi neighborhood. The vibe here is very urban and modern. There are plenty of restaurants, bars, and lots of shopping opportunities. We especially love the Nishiki Market with its delicious street food.

Downtown is also home to attractions like Nijo Castle and the Imperial Palace. Gion and many other must-sees are within easy reach too.

Advantages of staying Downtown

• Super strategic location close to Gion and the Station District
• You can walk to most tourist highlights
• Lots of nightlife options and covered market streets — great when it rains

Disadvantages of staying Downtown

• Not very peaceful
• The most important sights are located in Kyoto’s neighboring districts

Our hotel recommendations for Downtown

If you’re looking for a cool hotel, we recommend the Tsugu Kyoto Sanjo. We stayed there ourselves and loved it! The communal lounge makes it easy to connect with other travelers, and there are some wonderful cafés right in the surrounding area.

As an alternative, we can also highly recommend the Hotel Resol Kyoto Kawaramachi Sanjo. It’s super close to Gion but still offers great value for money.

The Japanese way to stay overnight: Ryokan

For many travelers, staying in a ryokan is a must when looking for accommodation in Japan, and it’s a perfect fit in traditional Kyoto. That said, ryokans often fill up fast — so book well in advance.

Ryokans are Japanese inns where the staff is exceptionally hospitable. The price usually includes a delicious breakfast and dinner.

Traditionally, you sleep on futons on a tatami floor. If you prefer a fluffy bed, this might feel a little uncomfortable. The futons are put away during the day, giving you a lot of space — more than you’d typically get in a Japanese hotel room.

The exceptional service does come at a price, of course. But for the full Japan experience, it’s absolutely worth it, and the value for money is totally reasonable.

We recommend these three ryokans: