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Most people make the same mistake when booking a hotel in Kyoto. They stay wherever looks central on the map, only to realize later that there is no convenient transport, or that they are stuck in a quiet area with nothing open at night.
And Kyoto is very different from Tokyo. In Tokyo, almost every neighborhood feels like its own city. In Kyoto, there’s a clear city center, and the tourist attractions are all scattered across the city.
So in this guide we’re going to show you the best areas to stay in Kyoto, based on what you’re looking for, and share our favorite hotels split by budget: luxury, mid-range and budget. This is a review from our own trip in March, including the hotel we stayed at and what we’d do differently.
Watch the full video below, or keep scrolling for the written guide with all the hotel links.
Quick answer: If you’re only choosing one area, we recommend Gion / Downtown Kyoto. It’s the perfect balance between sightseeing during the day and restaurants, bars and atmosphere at night. For a traditional, postcard Kyoto feel, pick Higashiyama. For nature and relaxation, pick Arashiyama. For transport convenience, pick the Kyoto Station area.
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Best for: First-time visitors, food, nightlife and walkability.
This is our favorite area to stay in Kyoto overall. It’s the perfect balance between sightseeing during the day and having restaurants, bars and atmosphere at night.
It’s home to Nishiki Market, Pontocho Alley, the Shirakawa Canal and traditional Gion. One thing that surprised us about Kyoto is how quiet many areas become after dark, but this area stays lively. It has great food options, shopping and transport connections, and it’s still within walking distance of many of Kyoto’s most famous attractions.
If you’re only choosing one area, this is our recommendation.
Want to know what to do around here? Read our guide to the 10 best things to do in Kyoto.
Best for: Traditional Kyoto, temples and historic atmosphere.
This is the area where we stayed. It’s the most “postcard Kyoto” area, near Kiyomizu-dera (the famous old town spot) and many of Kyoto’s iconic streets. You’ll find traditional wooden buildings, lantern-lit streets and beautiful temples everywhere. It’s a fantastic location for sightseeing on foot, and it feels incredibly atmospheric, especially in the early morning and evening.
Here’s our honest take. Most shops and cafés close quite early, and it’s much quieter at night than Downtown Kyoto. We didn’t like that it was so quiet at night, with only a few places to go out for dinner, and it was a little too far from downtown on foot: between 20 and 30 minutes.
On the other hand, there’s a whole street there full of modern hotels, and it has a metro station nearby, which makes it a very popular area to stay in Kyoto.
Best for: Nature, relaxation and repeat visitors.
Arashiyama is famous for the Bamboo Forest, but there’s much more to see. You get beautiful riverside walks, mountain views and peaceful local streets. It feels much calmer and less urban than central Kyoto, so if you want to avoid the crowds of the city, this is a great spot. There are plenty of cafés, restaurants and scenic spots around the river area.
It’s a great choice if you prefer a slower pace and a more local feel. But if you want to visit a lot of Kyoto city, don’t stay here, as you’ll end up spending too much time on transport. It’s better suited for a second visit or travelers prioritizing relaxation.
Best for: Convenience and transport.
This is the most practical area for getting around Japan. You get direct access to the Shinkansen, Osaka, Nara and other day trips, and there are lots of hotels available across all budgets. It’s modern, functional and convenient.
The downside: it feels more commercial and industrial than other parts of Kyoto, and it lacks much of the traditional atmosphere people come to Kyoto for. It’s a solid choice if transport convenience is your number one priority.
| Area | Vibe | Best for | Our take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gion / Downtown | Lively, walkable, atmospheric | First-timers, food, nightlife | Our #1 pick |
| Higashiyama | Traditional, “postcard Kyoto” | Temples, historic streets | Beautiful, but quiet at night |
| Arashiyama | Calm, scenic, local | Nature, relaxation, repeat visitors | Too far from the main sights |
| Kyoto Station | Modern, commercial | Transport and day trips | Practical, but lacks charm |
All the hotels below are linked through our Expedia affiliate links, so you can check prices and availability for your dates. The “from” prices are starting prices per night from when we recorded our video, and they change with the season, so always double-check before you book.
✨ Best for: Incredible views, high-end amenities and 5-star service.
👉 Check prices and availability for Park Hyatt Kyoto
👉 Check prices and availability for Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto
👉 Check prices and availability for Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel
🏨 Best for: Value for money, with high quality without breaking the bank.
👉 Check prices and availability for NOHGA HOTEL KIYOMIZU KYOTO
👉 Check prices and availability for The Celestine Kyoto Gion
👉 Check prices and availability for Hotel VMG Kyoto Kamogawa
💸 Best for: Travelers who want to save money for more food and experiences.
👉 Check prices and availability for OMO5 Kyoto Sanjo
👉 Check prices and availability for hotel Amanek Kyoto Kawaramachi Gojo
👉 Check prices and availability for REF Kyoto Hachijoguchi
If you’re still undecided, here’s how we’d think about it:
The biggest lesson from our trip: don’t just book “central” on the map. Check how you’ll get around, and whether anything is open at night near your hotel.
🗺️ Make Kyoto easy. Our free Japan Planner helps you organize your hotels and daily plans, and our Ultimate Japan Travel Guide comes with our Japan Maps with the places we recommend already pinned.
We recommend Gion / Downtown Kyoto. It’s the perfect balance between sightseeing during the day and restaurants, bars and atmosphere at night, and it’s within walking distance of many of Kyoto’s most famous attractions.
Yes, if you want the traditional, “postcard Kyoto” feel and to be close to Kiyomizu-dera. It’s where we stayed. The downside is that it’s much quieter at night, most shops and cafés close early, and it’s 20 to 30 minutes on foot from downtown.
It’s great for nature and relaxation, but if you want to visit a lot of Kyoto city, don’t stay here, because you’ll spend too much time on transport. It’s better for a second visit.
Gion / Downtown Kyoto, around Pontocho Alley. Many other areas of Kyoto become very quiet after dark, but this area stays lively.
The Kyoto Station area. It has direct access to the Shinkansen, Osaka and Nara. Just note that it’s more commercial and industrial than the rest of Kyoto.
Based on the hotels in this guide, budget options start at around $60 to $85 per night, mid-range hotels at around $200 to $500 per night, and luxury hotels at around $600 to $1,200 per night. Prices change with the season, so check your dates before booking.
Hotel VMG Kyoto Kamogawa is the hotel with the best location of the ones we recommend. It’s a 7-minute walk to Pontocho Alley and right next to the river. Make sure you book the right one, as there are multiple hotels with the same name.
Two of the hotels in this guide have an onsen inside: The Celestine Kyoto Gion and hotel Amanek Kyoto Kawaramachi Gojo, which is hard to find at a budget price point in Kyoto.
Kyoto is one of the most beautiful cities in Japan, but the area you stay in will shape your whole trip. We hope this guide helps you find the perfect base, and saves you from the mistake most people make.
Planning the rest of your Kyoto trip? Read these next:
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Nas & Alba
