Kyoto Hotels

Browsing Kyoto Accommodation

Travellers will find Kyoto accommodation stately and comfortable, which are sure to make your stay extra tranquil and peaceful. The city is in fact, surrounded by natural forests and a scenic beauty that simply calls for a quiet stroll through its historic streets.

“Yokoso (welcome to) Kyoto!” The word Kyoto is an anagram of ‘Tokyo’ and rightly so, since it was the capital of Japan from 794 until 1869. In many ways, it still remains the ‘heart and soul of Japan’ and is considered as one of the most popular tourist spots in the nation. With more than 1500 temples, some of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites, beautiful Japanese Gardens and headquarters of world famous companies like Nintendo, Omron and Murata Machinery; it is no wonder Kyoto receives more than 50 million tourists each year!

The best things in Kyoto await travellers who choose to walk. So we recommend you try walking through small parts of the city in order to savour its atmosphere and life. During the right season, you can enjoy the famed cherry blossoms, which can be found in many parts of Kyoto. A walk along the Philosopher’s Path is a great way to soak in the natural beauty while taking a slow stroll.

You must definitely visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace which was once the home to noble families in court. Today, it has been torn down and converted into a huge park having more than 9000 trees, making it an ideal spot for relaxation and recreation. Three of the must visit UNESCO heritage spots include Toji and Nishi Honganji Temples and the Nijo Castle. The latter is famous for its Kano school sliding door paintings while Nishi Honganji houses Japan’s oldest Noh Theatre stage.

Whether you choose to stay in downtown Kyoto, Central Kyoto, near Kyoto station or in Southern Higashiyama; you’ll find the excellent service and comfort associated with Japan’s hotels.

In fact: accommodations in the city range from inexpensive yet comfortable guesthouses to luxurious five star international hotels. Many travellers prefer experiencing the Ryokans (inns) known for their Japanese hospitality and culture. These generally include all three meals, so they tend to be a bit expensive. Alternatively, you can opt for hotels having basic amenities like free Wi-Fi, swimming pools, well-stocked kitchens and easy access to bars, restaurants and major tourist hot-spots. Business travellers can choose from a wide range of inexpensive but adequate rooms having all the features that provide value for money. For families or small groups, we recommend B&Bs, guesthouses or vacation rentals but bear in mind that you might have to share common areas with other families/guests or self cater your meals.

Where you stay in Kyoto depends vastly on the purpose of your visit. Still we would be partial to hotels in downtown Kyoto district for two reasons: you would be within walking distance to Northern and Southern Higashiyama which happen to be two of Kyoto’s top tourist spots and also be conveniently located near top restaurants, bars, shops and subways lines.

If Kyoto is not the only city on your Japan travel itinerary; we recommend staying near Kyoto Station. This region has plenty of hotels and you’d be very close to the station to travel to other cities. On the downside, staying here means increased travel time to major Kyoto attractions.

There are many flight options to get into Osaka’s Kansai International Airport. Between Kansai Int’l airport and Kyoto, you have the option of choosing between trains, limo buses and taxis, though trains are the fastest. The Itami Airport also services Osaka and is the domestic airport of the city. You will likely fly in here when travelling to Kyoto from other Japanese cities. From Itami airport, take Limousine bus No 15 into Kyoto. From Tokyo, you can arrive at the JR Kyoto station by Shinkansen bullet train.

Kyoto is serviced internally by two subway lines, Karasuma and Tozai and 5 private train companies also operate in the city.