10 Best Hotels In Kyoto Japan: Where To Stay In 2023

Are you looking for the best hotels in Kyoto Japan? Perfect! We are going to show you the 10 top rated cheap, mid range and luxury hotel options available in the most popular Kyoto neighborhoods.

Instead of trawling through randomly listed hotel search engine results, use our research and data driven guide to find the best hotels in Kyoto based on location, value, previous guest ratings and our own personal experiences in the city.

Here’s how we will break down the best hotels in Kyoto Japan to help you find the perfect place to stay:

Our experience in Kyoto
Best areas to stay in Kyoto
Kyoto hotels map
10 best Kyoto hotels

Let’s find you the perfect Kyoto hotel for your trip to Japan!

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Table of Contents show

Our Experience In Kyoto

We have visited Kyoto on two separate occasions; the first was back in the fall of 2018 and the second was during our most recent trip to Japan for the cherry blossom season in April 2023.

In 2018 we were traveling on a shoestring budget throughout our 18 month honeymoon trip around the world, so we stayed in a super low budget hotel in Kyoto. In 2023 we were traveling through Japan as the last country on a 6 month trip through the Far East.

With knowledge from our first time in Kyoto, we knew roughly where we wanted to stay for our second visit and we found Hotel Forza with excellent ratings, a superb location and affordable rates considering it was prime time cherry blossom season.

Kyoto is one of our favorite places to visit in Japan and Asia. It is such a contrast from the likes of Tokyo and Osaka, with endless temples, shrines and old world districts to explore.

In general we prefer fall to spring in Japan, but we do have to admit that the cherry blossoms are spectacular in Kyoto.

Couple standing together in front of a tree with cherry blossoms in Kyoto Japan — Mark and Kristen in Kyoto during cherry blossom season

What Are The Best Places To Stay In Kyoto?

Kyoto Station, Downtown Kyoto and the Higashiyama District are the best places to stay in Kyoto, Japan.

There are other areas you could consider such as Arashiyama (bamboo forest), Nijo Castle or around Kyoto Imperial Palace but they are more isolated and you will end up using the subway more often.

With one exception, our 10 featured best hotels in Kyoto are all located within either Downtown Kyoto, Higashiyama or around Kyoto Station because they are the places you will spend most of your time in the city. You can always take a subway or taxi to reach the further out attractions around Kyoto.

Let’s take a quick look at the 3 best areas to stay in Kyoto on a first visit to the area.

Toji Temple lit up at night with reflection in water in Kyoto — Toji Temple is close to Kyoto JR Station

1. Kyoto Station

Kyoto Station is the best place to stay in Kyoto if you want the most convenient transport links.

You will be arriving into Kyoto JR Station so booking a hotel just a few minutes walk away will save having to drag your luggage around the subway as you arrive and leave the city.

Another benefit is that you can jump on trains to almost every top attraction in Kyoto directly from the JR Station, including Arashiyama and Fushimi Inari.

You will also be within walking distance of To-ji Temple, Kyoto Tower and Higashi Hongan-ji Temple.

Tourist eating kobe beef and drinking sake in Nishiki Market in Kyoto — Kristen eating beef and drinking sake in Nishiki Market in Downtown Kyoto

2. Downtown Kyoto

Downtown Kyoto is the best place to stay in Kyoto if want the most central location to top attractions.

Between Karasuma and Karamachi subway stations you will find Nishiki Market and countless narrow streets filled with excellent places to eat.

This area has easy transport links to Kyoto JR Station and it is within easy walking distance of Gion. It is also closer to Nijo Castle and Kyoto Imperial Palace.

You can take the tram from Shijo-Omiya to Arashiyama and walk to Gion-Shijo for the train to Fushimi Inari.

We stayed at Hotel Forza right on the major road running through Downtown Kyoto during our latest visit to Japan and we think the location is fantastic.

Couple standing together in the middle of a path surrounded by tall narrow bamboo trees — Mark and Kristen in a small bamboo forest near a temple in Higashiyama

3. Higashiyama

Higashiyama is the best place to stay in Kyoto if you want a traditional and authentic experience.

This is a much larger area of eastern Kyoto which is typically split into north and south Higashiyama on the east side of the Kamo River.

The Higashiyama area is where you will find Gion, the famous geisha district, as well as a very high proportion of the most visited temples in Kyoto.

We would definitely consider staying somewhere in Higashiyama next time we are in Kyoto, but we would personally ensure that the hotel was still close enough to walk into Downtown Kyoto where there are more restaurants.

Looking down the Kamo River from a bridge at dusk — The Kamo River separating Downtown Kyoto from Gion

What Are The Best Hotels In Kyoto?

The term best can be interpreted in several ways and it has a different meaning for everyone.

Does best simply mean the highest rated? The highest quality? What about price and location?

In this guide we strive for inclusivity when we show you our version of the best hotels. Our list is based on the highest guest ratings and our own experiences but crucially we include every budget category so that every type of traveler can find the best hotel available.

Are you curious about the best hotels in Kyoto based purely on ratings?

Here are the top 3 hotels in Kyoto according to thousands of reviews from several popular online sources (with at least 100 authentic guest reviews – correct as of August 2023 but subject to frequent changes):

Booking

Hotels (Expedia)

Google

Tripadvisor

Ratings are good to use as a guide but they are subjective and will fluctuate over time. Look for hotels with high scores and a high number of ratings. That is the sign of a quality hotel.

One thing to note is that hotels with the best ratings often translate to hotels with the highest nightly cost. And that is why we do not simply list hotels with the highest ratings in our guides.

View overlooking Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto at sunset with trees in the foreground — Kiyomizu-dera Temple at sunset

Are Hotels In Kyoto Expensive?

No, hotels in Kyoto are similarly priced to other Japanese cities like Osaka and Hiroshima with very reasonable nightly rates. You will find hotels are more expensive in the likes of Tokyo and Hakone when compared to Kyoto.

There are various hotel types in Kyoto, including western style hotel chains and traditional Japanese ryokans. You can also find plenty of apartment style accommodations if you are traveling with your family.

One thing to strongly consider is seasonality in Japan. Hotel prices in Kyoto are the highest during cherry blossom season and again during the fall season when the leaves change.

Expect to pay around US $100 per night at the cheapest quality hotels in Kyoto on weekdays outside of cherry blossom and fall foliage seasons.

On the other end of the spectrum you can quite easily spend US $800 per night if you want to stay in a luxury hotel in Kyoto.

Tourist walking the Philosopher's Path in Kyoto during cherry blossoms — Kristen walking along the Philosopher’s Path during cherry blossom season

Hotel Tax In Kyoto, Japan

Bear in mind when booking your hotel in Kyoto that you will pay 10% hotel tax on top of your base rate.

So let’s say the basic nightly room cost at a cheap Kyoto hotel is US $100.00 for one night, your actual total cost is going to be $110.00.

When booking your hotel using Booking.com look under the price for includes taxes and fees. This means the price you see is final and will not be subject to further add ons.
Conversely, if you see text reading something like +$10 for taxes and fees, that means you will pay the hotel room cost + the additional 10% tax.

Certain Kyoto hotels may also add on a property service tax which will also show in the included taxes section.

These are just things to be aware of so you avoid any nasty surprises when you come to pay.

Kyoto Hotels Map

Let’s take a quick look at an interactive Google Map showing the locations of our 10 best Kyoto hotels featured in this guide.

Map key:

Green stars – Cheap hotels in Kyoto
Red stars – Mid range budget hotels in Kyoto
Blue stars – Luxury hotels in Kyoto

Click or touch the map to activate.

Zoom in and out, move around the Kyoto area to see exactly where each lodging option is located.

Look for the area outlines showing Kyoto Station, Downtown Kyoto and Higashiyama.

Orange doors in the grounds of Kyoto Imperial Palace — Bright orange doors in the grounds of the Kyoto Imperial Palace

10 Best Hotels In Kyoto

OK, let’s take a look at each of the best Kyoto hotels.

We have hand picked the top 10 Kyoto hotels by compiling and comparing previous guest ratings, location, value for money and our own experiences in the area.

Featured hotels are listed in order of average nightly cost within three price range categories; cheap, mid range and luxury.

We selected three future dates in different seasons and collated prices in order to list with a degree of accuracy.

You will find 4 x cheap hotels, 4 x mid range hotels and 2 x luxury hotels. Each represents a top rated hotel within its price category.

Let’s kick things off with the best cheap hotels in Kyoto Japan!

1. Hotel Forza Kyoto

Guest ratings:

Booking.com – 9.0 / 10
Google – 4.4 / 5

Inside a guest bedroom at a hotel with bed and window letting light in at the bottom — Our room at Forza Hotel in Kyoto

Price: Cheap $
Amenities: Free WiFi, breakfast available, laundry
Location: Downtown Kyoto
Subway: Karasuma Station

Hotel Forza is one of the best cheap hotels in Kyoto thanks to a superb location, excellent guest ratings and the most affordable rates of any high quality Kyoto hotel. We stayed at Hotel Forza for 2 nights in 2023 and had a fantastic experience.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities, value for money and location the highest at Hotel Forza Kyoto. It takes a clean sweep across the board which is rare for one of the cheapest hotel options in any popular city. Don’t miss the free coffee and hot chocolate!

>> Book Hotel: Hotel Forza Kyoto

2. The Blossom Kyoto

Guest ratings:

Booking.com – 9.2 / 10
Google – 4.5 / 5

Entrance to a hotel in Kyoto at night with dim lights outside — Photo courtesy of The Blossom Kyoto

Price: Cheap $
Amenities: Free WiFi, fitness center, breakfast available, laundry, on site restaurant and bar, onsen
Location: Gojo (between JR Station and Downtown)
Subway: Gojo Station

The Blossom Kyoto is a top quality Kyoto hotel with incredibly affordable prices. It has excellent amenities including a communal onsen and fitness center, extremely positive comments and reviews from previous guests and a handy location just one subway stop from Kyoto JR Station.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and value for money the highest at The Blossom Kyoto. If you want a modern, clean and comfortable hotel with cheap nightly rates, you will do well to find better than The Blossom.

>> Book Hotel: The Blossom Kyoto

3. Onyado Nono Kyoto

Guest ratings:

Booking.com – 9.0 / 10
Google – 4.6 / 5

Entrance to Onyado Nono Kyoto hotel with onsen lit up at night — Photo courtesy of Onyado Nono Kyoto

Price: Cheap $
Amenities: Free WiFi, sauna, hot spring bath, spa, laundry, on site restaurant, breakfast available
Location: Kyoto Station
Subway: Kyoto Station

Onyado Nono Kyoto is an immensely popular traditional ryokan onsen hotel in Kyoto. We stayed at this same hotel brand in nearby Nara and it was amazing. You can enjoy the various hot spring baths any time before eating free ramen and ice cream each evening.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness and facilities the highest at Onyado Nono Kyoto. This authentic Japanese onsen hotel is typically very busy but it is located close to Kyoto JR Station and it has excellent reviews. Definitely one to consider on the lower end of budget.

>> Book Hotel: Onyado Nono Kyoto

4. Nohga Hotel Kiyomizu Kyoto

Guest ratings:

Booking.com – 9.1 / 10
Google – 4.6 / 5

Inside a plush guest room at a Kyoto hotel with beds and seating areas — Photo courtesy of Nohga Hotel Kiyomizu Kyoto

Price: Cheap $
Amenities: Free WiFi, fitness center, laundry, on site restaurant and bar, breakfast available, rooftop terrace
Location: Higashiyama
Subway: Kiyumizo-Gojo Station

Nohga Hotel Kiyomizu is a top rated budget hotel in Kyoto with excellent facilities and a unique location in the south end of Higashiyama. Kennin-ji, Kodai-ji and Kiyomizu-dera are all within easy walking distance of this popular hotel.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness and facilities the highest at Nohga Hotel Kiyomizu Kyoto. This well appointed 4 star hotel has a wonderful rooftop terrace and bar which is definitely a unique standout feature. One to consider if you want to stay near Gion on a low budget.

>> Book Hotel: Nohga Hotel Kiyomizu Kyoto

5. Cross Hotel Kyoto

Guest ratings:

Booking.com – 9.1 / 10
Google – 4.6 / 5

Inside a guest bedroom with beds, tables and chairs — Photo courtesy of Cross Hotel Kyoto

Price: Mid Range $$
Amenities: Free WiFi, on site restaurant and bar, breakfast available, laundry
Location: Downtown Kyoto
Subway: Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station

Cross Hotel Kyoto is a very highly regarded mid range budget hotel in Kyoto with excellent ratings and a great location close to the shops and restaurants in downtown. Rooms are clean, comfortable and larger than average for the area.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities, value for money and location the highest at Cross Hotel Kyoto. It takes a clean sweep of high scores across the board and is definitely one to take a closer look at if you are traveling to Kyoto on a middle of the park budget.

>> Book Hotel: Cross Hotel Kyoto

6. Kyoto Takasegawa Bettei

Guest ratings:

Booking.com – 9.3 / 10
Google – 4.7 / 5

Cypress wood bath tub at a hotel in Kyoto — Photo courtesy of Kyoto Takasegawa Bettei

Price: Mid Range $$
Amenities: Free WiFi, breakfast available, laundry
Location: Kyoto Station
Subway: Kiyumizo-Gojo Station

Kyoto Takasegawa Bettei is one of the top rated ryokan hotels in Kyoto. You will stay in an authentic Japanese style room with tatami flooring and even a private cypress wood bath tub, but it still has a modern feel with western influence.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and value for money the highest at Kyoto Takasegawa Bettei. This ryokan is located in a very quiet area between Kyoto JR Station and downtown, so stay here if you want a peaceful escape from the crowds.

>> Book Hotel: Kyoto Takasegawa Bettei

7. Hotel Muso Kyoto

Guest ratings:

Booking.com – 9.6 / 10
Google – 4.9 / 5

Table with two champagne glasses and a sofa with bed just visible in background — Photo courtesy of Hotel Muso

Price: Mid Range $$
Amenities: Free WiFi, breakfast included in price
Location: Downtown Kyoto
Subway: Kiyomizu-Gojo Station

Hotel Muso is a very highly rated Kyoto hotel with unique accommodations in a quiet location on the south side of Downtown. The rooms are a perfect blend of traditional Japanese mixed with modern western facilities and the reviews for this place are outstanding.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and value for money the highest at Hotel Muso Kyoto. Comfort, cleanliness and staff are near perfect scores, and after looking through guest comments we can see that the owners are called out as being especially friendly.

>> Book Hotel: Hotel Muso Kyoto

8. Gion Elite Terrace Kyoto

Guest ratings:

Booking.com – 9.4 / 10
Google – 4.9 / 5

Inside a guest bedroom with two large beds and wooden floor leading to window — Photo courtesy of Gion Elite Terrace

Price: Mid Range $$
Amenities: Free WiFi, breakfast available, laundry, terrace, spa, sauna
Location: Higashiyama
Subway: Gion-Shijo Station

Gion Elite Terrace is one of the top rated hotels in Kyoto located in the famous Gion district. You can easily walk to all of the most famous temples in the southern part of Higashiyama from this popular hotel. It is much quieter here than in Downtown Kyoto.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities, value for money and location the highest at Gion Elite Terrace Kyoto. It takes a clean sweep with high scores across the board and should definitely be on your shortlist if you want to stay in Gion.

>> Book Hotel: Gion Elite Terrace Kyoto

9. The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu

Guest ratings:

Booking.com – 9.3 / 10
Google – 4.5 / 5

Entrance to a luxury hotel in Kyoto with lots of steps leading to lit up building at night — Photo courtesy of The Hotel Seiryu

Price: Luxury $$$
Amenities: Free WiFi, fitness center, garden, terrace, on site restaurant and bar, laundry, breakfast available, rooftop bar
Location: Higashiyama
Subway: Kiyomizu-Gojo Station

The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu is the best luxury hotel in Kyoto if you want to stay in Higashiyama. There is no doubt this is a popular and extremely luxurious hotel with an outstanding location near the most popular temples, but the price jump is significant.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and location the highest at The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu. The rooftop bar has exceptional city views and gets busy for sunset so be sure to reserve ahead. We would definitely stay here, but we would have to be prepared for the higher costs.

>> Book Hotel: The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu

10. Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto

Guest ratings:

Booking.com – 9.7 / 10
Google – 4.6 / 5

Entrance to a 5 star hotel in Kyoto with letters lit up against the night sky — Photo courtesy of Hotel The Mitsui

Price: Luxury $$$
Amenities: Free WiFi, fitness center, onsen, on site restaurant and bar, garden, terrace, breakfast available
Location: Nijo Castle
Subway: Nijojo-mae Station

Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto is a prestigious 5 star hotel in Kyoto. It is located next to Nijo Castle which means you would need to take subways to reach the popular temples and downtown areas, but this luxurious hotel looks incredible.

Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and location the highest at Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto. Guest comments are exclusively positive and we think this would be the best place to stay in Kyoto if money was no object.

>> Book Hotel: Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto

View over vegetation, trees and traditional Japanese style buildings in Kyoto at dusk — Sunset view over the northern section of Higashiyama

More Top Rated Kyoto Hotels

Kyoto has so many highly rated hotels, which makes our job of showing you the best hotel very challenging!

There are a dozen or so other hotels that made our shortlist before we narrowed down to just the 10 featured hotels in this guide.

Here are the remaining Kyoto hotels that didn’t quite make our featured list but are still definitely worth checking out (with neighborhood):

The Gate Hotel (Downtown Kyoto)
Good Nature Hotel (Downtown Kyoto)
Hotel Vischio (Kyoto Station)
Glanz Kei (Kyoto Station)
Muni Kyoto (Arashiyama)

Best Hotels In Kyoto FAQ’s

Let’s take a quick look at some of the most frequently asked questions about where to stay in Kyoto Japan.

What is the best cheap hotel in Kyoto?

There are several excellent cheap hotels with very high guest reviews in Kyoto, but we think Hotel Forza offers the best blend of location, quality and affordability.

What is the best luxury hotel in Kyoto?

The Hotel Seiryu Kiyomizu is the best luxury hotel in the Higashiyama area where you will find the most popular temples, but the prestigious 5 star Hotel The Mitsui is the overall best luxury hotel in Kyoto.