Where to Stay in Kyoto

Stay in central Kyoto, west of Gion — around Kawaramachi and Gion-Shijō. The city rewards a central base far more than Tokyo does: its buses are slow and crowded, and its best hours are early morning at the temples and evening in the old streets. One warning before the areas below: Kyoto’s accommodation market is the tightest in Japan, and in cherry blossom season rates run three to five times normal and the reasonable options disappear months ahead.

One warning before the areas: Kyoto's accommodation market is the tightest in Japan. In cherry blossom season rates run three to five times the normal price, and the reasonable options disappear months ahead. If your dates are fixed and they fall in early April or late November, book before you read any further.

Should you stay in central Kyoto?

The area around Kawaramachi (Hankyu line) and Gion-Shijō (Keihan line) is where to stay if you only stay in one place. You are walking distance from Gion, Pontochō and the Kamo river, surrounded by restaurants at every price, and on two railway lines plus the subway.

The evenings are what justify it. Gion after dark, the lantern-lit lanes and the riverside restaurants are Kyoto at its best, and they are a great deal more appealing when getting back means a ten-minute walk rather than a bus.

Is Kyoto Station a good place to stay?

The station is superb for leaving: Nara, Osaka, Himeji, Kanazawa and the Shinkansen are all straightforward from here, and hotel supply is large.

The problem is that there is very little around it. The district is functional rather than pleasant, and every evening involves a trip back into the city and out again. Choose it if you are taking day trips most days; avoid it if Kyoto itself is the point of the trip.

Should you stay in Arashiyama?

Out west, quiet, green, with the bamboo grove and Tenryū-ji on your doorstep and some genuinely lovely riverside inns — several with real hot-spring baths. Mornings here before the coaches arrive are one of the best things in Kyoto. It is also the right part of the city for a night in a ryokan.

But it is a commit. Central Kyoto is a half-hour away, so this works as a second base or a one-night indulgence rather than a week-long home.

Where is quieter and cheaper in Kyoto?

North of the centre is residential, calm and better value, with the subway a short walk away. Less atmospheric in the evening, but a sensible compromise when the central hotels have priced themselves out of reach.

Practical notes for Kyoto

• Check the reception hours. Smaller guesthouses and budget places in Kyoto often close their front desk in the evening. If you are arriving from Kansai Airport on a late flight, confirm someone will be there — this catches people out more here than anywhere else in Japan.
• Book much earlier than you think. Two to three months is the national rule of thumb; for Kyoto in spring or autumn, six is not excessive.
• Consider a taxi from the station. With luggage, the fare across town is modest and much easier than a crowded bus.
• Bicycles work well here. Kyoto is flat and compact, and rental is cheap — often the fastest way between temples.

Compare Kyoto hotel prices for your dates. Choosing the right base, and judging the hotels once you are looking at them, is covered in our guide to where to stay in Japan.

Not decided what to do yet? Browse things to do in Kyoto. And before you pack, check the Kyoto weather forecast — hour by hour for tomorrow, and a week ahead.