8 Best places to stay in Kyoto

Located in a mossy garden hidden in ancient forest near Kinkakuji Temple, the Aman mixes the minimalism and tranquility of a traditional ryokan inn with the luxury of a five-star wellness retreat.

Opened in 2019, with 24 sleek guestrooms and two villas, it’s the kind of place you stay if you want your accommodation to be an immersive, pampered experience – whether that’s strolling the garden, soaking in the mineral-rich hot-spring baths or unwinding with a shiatsu massage.

Continuing the experiential theme, guests also have access to exclusive cultural programs, including meditation sessions with Zen monks and an evening with the geisha of Kyoto’s oldest chaya (teahouse). If there’s a negative, it’s the location – great for Kinkakuji and Ryoanji temples, but a bit of a trek to other attractions.

In business since 1818, this classic ryokan, in a quiet side street close to many of Kyoto’s central attractions, ticks all the traditional boxes – tatami-mat guestrooms, sublime 12-course kaiseki-ryori dinner, kimono-clad staff, and an air of tranquillity.

It’s easy to see why it has long been a haunt of dignitaries and Hollywood A-listers – Elizabeth Taylor, Charlie Chaplin and many more make an appearance in the sixth-generation owner’s family album.

When it comes to the 28 rooms, for spaciousness and an old-Kyoto ambience, request one of the four original ground-floor rooms with private gardens. For something sleeker, opt for a room in the newer, but traditionally crafted annex.

Whichever room type, the Hiiragiya is best for travellers who want their hotel to be an integral part of the experience. A ryokan is a place to unwind and slowly absorb Japanese culture.

About a kilometre north of Kyoto Station, the Kanra is a sleek blend of traditional Japanese and minimalist Scandinavian sensibilities. Rooms are airy and spacious, with a mix of wooden, granite and tatami flooring, plus light, natural tones and wooden furnishings. To that, little touches like locally made ceramic tea sets add a carefully curated feel, while the scented baths are almost like having an in-room private onsen.

Away from the 68 rooms, a laidback café-slash-bar serves traditional desserts alongside cocktails, as well as selling local crafts, but the most unexpected feature is the hotel’s kintsugi studio – here artisans use gold and silver lacquer.

This hotel in the historic Gion district mixes the calm air and hospitality of a traditional ryokan with the simple, fresh design of a modern hotel.

Passing through the noren curtains of the Celestine’s entrance most definitely feels like entering a ryokan, as does the green tea service at check-in.

Yet instead of the traditional tatami matting and low futon, the spacious rooms and suites feature carpeting and beds, all packaged in neutral tones and with Japanese accents like traditional tea sets.

It’s a nice compromise for anyone who wants a Japanese vibe to their accommodation but doesn’t want to go for a full-on ryokan experience.

If you’ve ever had an urge to spend the night in a gallery, this ultra-hip boutique hotel several blocks south of busy Shijo-dori can scratch that itch.

A self-proclaimed ‘art hotel’, created by Tokyo-based contemporary art collective BnA, the 31 rooms here are all different – some pop-arty, others abstract, many hard to pin down with a single label.

The vibe continues beyond the rooms, with communal areas in the 10-story building functioning as a vertical gallery. Not surprisingly, the laidback bar here has become something of an artist’s hangout – a good place to plug into Kyoto’s creative scene.

And as well as immersing yourself in art by staying here, you’d be supporting the arts too – the artists receive a slice of the revenue from every stay in the rooms they created.

BnA in Kyoto is about a five-minute walk to Gion and just south of Kawaramachi, which is good for bars and restaurants. Kanra is about 7-8 mins north of Kyoto Station, which gives fairly decent train/bus access to all sorts of places, though the immediate surrounding area itself isn’t the most exciting.

A Kyoto hangout for hipsters, this centrally-located hotel was designed by internationally acclaimed architect Kengo Kuma in collaboration with LA-based Commune Design. From the ultra-fashionable lounge and bar to the record players in guestrooms, the result is most definitely aimed at creatives rather than family holidays.

As well as being near the magnificent Nishiki food market, the Ace has a good arty location, with Kyoto Art Center and the Museum of Kyoto a short walk away. Although this is a busy part of the city, the free bicycle rentals make for a chilled way to explore central Kyoto’s nooks and crannies without having to brave the crowded buses.

A contemporary, resort-like riff on the traditional ryokan, this uber-luxe retreat in a tranquil corner of the bustling Arashiyama district is one of those places you stay when you want your accommodation to be much more than a sightseeing base.

A stay here is experiential, from the short boat trip upriver from Arashiyama for check-in to cultural activities like incense appreciation and capping an evening with an artistically presented kaiseki-ryori dinner.

The spacious guestrooms are something to savour – a sleek blend of modern and traditional Japanese luxury. If there’s a drawback, it’s location. Arashiyama is great to explore for a couple of days, but then it’s a bit of a drag getting to other parts of Kyoto.

It’s best to splurge here for a night or two, then relocate.

If you’re after an old-Kyoto meets contemporary Japan vibe, geared to a hip crowd on a budget, this boutique hotel a block north of Nishiki Market in central Kyoto will hit the spot.

Outside, the Miru mimics the look of a traditional machiya townhouse. Inside, the 23 rooms incorporate touches like paper screen windows or, in some cases, patches of tatami flooring. Just be aware they are on the small side – aimed firmly at couples and solo travellers.

Along with good design on a budget, a major reason to opt for the Miru Nishiki is location – as well as the market, it’s a short walk to the lively Shijo-dori avenue, from where you could walk to the Gion geisha district or catch the bus and subway to almost everywhere worth seeing.

A bonus – there are dozens of good restaurants and bars in the neighbourhood too.