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Photo Tomooki Kengaku
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.
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Bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[0.8 miles]
Kyoto’s historic Gion quarter is the place to see Japan’s mysterious and enigmatic geisha. Dressed in colourful kimonos, complimented by elaborate hairstyles and oshiroi make-up, they’ve been entertaining Japan’s wealthy and well-connected for centuries.
Best for ages: 10+ | Free
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[3.7 miles]
One of Japan’s most sacred shrines, Fushimi Inari’s thousands of torii gateways also make it one of the country’s most Instagrammable sights.
Best for ages: 6+ | £2
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[5.6 miles]
The stunning, gilded temple of Kinkakuji, casting its golden reflection onto an islet-studded pond, is the iconic Kyoto image. A UNESCO World Heritage site.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[9 miles]
The towering stalks and soft light of Arashiyama’s much-photographed bamboo grove make this iconic Kyoto sight an almost otherworldly experience.
Best for ages: 4+ | £3
Other worthwhile experiences in this destination if you have the time or the interest, closest first
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[0.5 miles]
Established in 1202, this temple at the southern end of Hanami-koji has traditional Zen gardens and incredible ceiling murals of dragons (added in 2002). It claims to be the oldest temple in Kyoto.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[0.6 miles]
Stretching along five shop-lined blocks, Kyoto’s oldest food market immerses visitors in Kyoto’s culinary heritage. Over 100 stalls and restaurants offer all and anything food related.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[1 miles]
The shrine that protects the Gion geisha district is one of Kyoto’s most distinctive sights. Entered through a roofed gateway painted a vivid vermillion, its grounds include a striking dance stage—used for performances during festivals—that’s adorned with several hundred lanterns lit each evening.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[7.8 miles]
A Buddhist Zen temple and UNESCO World Heritage Site best known for its unusual, atmospheric moss garden that circles a symbolically-shaped golden pond. Just getting in is an experience – you’re given a written sutra to copy it out onto another piece of paper to ensure you are pure enough to enter!
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Destination guides including or relevant to this place to stay
Kansai, Japan
Ancient temples and shrines, sublime cuisine, manicured gardens, colourful geishas and living history in spades – Kyoto is traditional Japan at its best.
