Best Hotels in Kyoto, Japan: Budget to Luxury Options (2024)

FAQs

What part of Kyoto is best to stay in? ›

Venture to Kyoto's western edge to experience laid-back Arashiyama, a quaint neighbourhood surrounded by mountains and trees. Some of the best places to stay in Kyoto are in this area — perfect for admiring the spring blossoms and the changing colours of the autumn leaves.

Ryokan offer comfortable facilities for relaxing while you enjoy delicious Kyoto cuisine and Japanese-style baths. Staying in a ryokan is a uniquely Japanese experience that is less expensive than you might think. For those looking to immerse themselves in a uniquely Japanese atmosphere, ryokan make an ideal choice.

One tourism expert says Kyoto is an ancient capital so there isn't much land available for building big hotels. He says that due to the significant depreciation of the Japanese currency, the rising prices are reasonable.

With a medium stay of 4-5 days in Kyoto, you'll have the opportunity to delve deeper into the city's rich history and culture. This extended duration allows you to venture beyond the most famous attractions and explore some of Kyoto's lesser-known gems.

Kyoto is generally a safe city, and most areas are safe to visit at night. However, as with any large city, it's always a good idea to be aware of your surroundings and to take precautions to ensure your safety.

On this front, the main differences are the approaches to hospitality. In a hotel, most guest service is handled at the front desk, with guests given the option to dine at the on-site restaurant if there is one. However, at many ryokans, dinner services are often hosted in the guests' rooms.

Osaka is much cheaper for accommodation compared to Kyoto, it's less touristy and the nightlife is much better. However, if you're after a more traditional atmosphere and money isn't as big of a roadblock, Kyoto may be a better choice for you.

First of all, budget travelers who are tight on money should likely avoid ryokan. After all, it's far from the cheapest option available. While some ryokan have reasonably priced stay-only rates, meals won't be included. In these cases, it very well may be for naught as you won't really get the full ryokan experience.

Kyoto has a huge variety of accommodation in every budget range. Overall, you can expect rooms to be about 30% to 50% cheaper in Kyoto than in Tokyo. Just beware that prices go up during the peak seasons (March to May and November) and rooms can be hard to get at these times (book well in advance!).

Is Kyoto more affordable than Tokyo? ›

Since Tokyo is the capital city, it is only natural that the average cost of living and wage is higher. Therefore, Tokyo is roughly 30% more expensive than Kyoto in terms of accommodation, transport, meals, and so on.

Kyoto has a reputation as an expensive city to visit, but it's much more affordable than you might realize. In addition to high-end kaiseki restaurants and luxury ryokan hotels, Kyoto has plenty of options for accommodations, dining and exploring that won't break the bank – you just need to know where to look.

Kamigyo Ward

Kamigyo Ward stands out as the most expensive and luxurious area in Kyoto, with property prices soaring as high as 66 million yen per square meter, reflecting a high demand for its luxurious and strategically located properties.

The average daily cost (per person) in Osaka is $88, while the average daily cost in Kyoto is $96. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment.

Japan is one of the most expensive countries to visit in the world, and both cities are equally as expensive as one another. However, since Osaka is much bigger, there are many more affordable places to eat and stay in this city.

Kyoto is one of the most walkable cities in Japan. In fact, you may walk around most parts of Kyoto without hiccups as many sidewalks are well-paved with visible signposts.

Higashiyama

The Higashiyama district of Kyoto is famous for its many beautiful and historic temples all located within easy walking distance of each other. The most famous is Kiyomizu-dera Temple which you can walk to in around 20 minutes from Yasaka Shrine in Gion.

Downtown Kyoto is a roughly square area bounded on the east by the Kamo-gawa River, on the west by Karasuma-dori, on the north by Oike-dori, and on the south by Shijo-dori.

For centuries, Miyama has provided a peaceful mountain retreat from the nearby city of Kyoto. The Miyama region is well known within Japan for its traditional village atmosphere, with many small hamlets nestled between steep forested mountains.