Finding the best place to stay in Kyoto is not always easy as many of the tourist attractions are located far from each other, so in this case we believe it is more important to choose an area that is well connected to the rest of the city and is also lively and has a good gastronomic offer, not to focus on being in one of the tourist attractions.
Based on our two visits to the city, the second of which was two months living in an apartment in Gion, during which we published this guide to Kyoto, here is a selection of places to stay in Kyoto and the best neighborhoods. Let’s get started!
Neighborhoods where to stay in Kyoto
The first thing to do before deciding on the best places to sleep in Kyoto is to know how the city is laid out and organized to make it easier to identify the area that best fits your needs and your travel style.
Kyoto is divided into 11 districts or ku in Japanese, which form the city and are under the orders of a single mayor and city council:
- Fushimi-ku (伏見区): here you will find Fushimi Inari-taisha, Fushimi-Momoyama Castle and Gokōgu Shrine.
- Higashiyama-ku (東山区): the most famous places in this district are the Kiyomizudera temple, the Ginkakuji temple and the Philosophy Road, among many others. For us it is the best district to stay in Kyoto and the one we will focus on.
- Kamigyo-ku (上京区): known as the central area of Kyoto here is the Imperial Palace and Nishijin, one of the city’s traditional neighborhoods.
- Kita-ku (北区): here are located Daitoku-ji, Kamigamo Shrine, one of Japan’s oldest shrines, and the impressive Kinkaku-ji, one of Japan’s most famous temples.
- Minami-ku (南区): known for being a working-class neighborhood, here are To-ji, Rashomon Gate which was the ancient southern entrance to the city and Rokusonnō Shrine.
- Nakagyo-ku (中京区): this is the site of the Aoi Matsuri, Gion Matsuri and Jidai Matsuri, three of Kyoto’s most famous festivals, and is also the location of Nijo Castle, the Kyoto International Manga Museum, Nishiki Market and the Kyoto Museum.
- Nishikyo-ku (西京区): located in the western part of the city, south of downtown, this district is famous for housing the Katsura Imperial Villa, Saiho-ji and Matsunoo-Taisha, a Shinto shrine.
- Sakyo-ku (左京区): in the northeast corner of the city lies this district famous for being the site of Ginkaku-ji, Nanzen-ji, Kamo Shrine, Heian Shrine and Hōnen-in.
- Shimogyo-ku (下京区): known for being one of the most commercial districts of the city, here you will find the Kyoto Tower and Kyoto Station, making this area one of the best places to sleep in Kyoto, being close to the station to move quickly and comfortably around the city and its surroundings.
- Ukyo-ku (右京区): this district is famous for being the place where many of the places to visit in Kyoto such as Arashiyama, Ninna-ji, Ryōan-ji, Tenryū-ji and the Sagano neighborhood are concentrated.
- Yamashina-ku (山科区): in the southeastern part of the city, this district is known for being the location of Emperor Tenji’s tomb, the oldest imperial tomb in Kyoto and Sakanoue’s tomb.
1. Gion in the Higashiyama district, the best place to stay in Kyoto
Without hesitation, Gion is for us the best area to sleep in Kyoto. Besides being one of the most central areas, Gion has good public transport connections with the rest of the city and a very good offer of accommodation and restaurants.
In addition we can not forget that this is the geisha district, where you can go back in time as you enter its maze of streets in which traditional houses stand out.
Keep in mind that this area is one of the most expensive in the city and there are not many accommodation options, so if you are traveling in high season or your budget is tight, we advise you to look at options in the surroundings as Higashiyama is a relatively large area and famous for being the location of many of the main attractions of the city, so you will always be close to somewhere interesting.
The price of accommodation in Gion is usually around 100 euros per night although you can find both more affordable and more expensive options depending on the time of year and the area you are looking for.
2. Kyoto Station in the Shimogyo district, another of the best places to sleep in Kyoto
Besides being one of the commercial districts of the city, Kyoto station is located here, making this area one of the best places to stay in Kyoto, especially if you want to move around the city and its surroundings in an easy and fast way.
In addition this area is quite close (relatively) to Gion, so you will be a short walk from the most traditional and our favorite area of the city and has a hotel offer more affordable than the previous one and a good selection of restaurants where to eat in Kyoto.
The price of accommodation around Kyoto Station is usually 80 euros per night although you can find hotels of different prices depending on the area you are looking for.
3. The Nakagyo district, the most central area of the city
Known for being the most central district of Kyoto, this area is also famous for being the place where the Aoi Matsuri, Gion Matsuri and Jidai Matsuri are held, three of the most famous festivals in Kyoto, besides being the district where you can see the Nijo Castle, the Kyoto International Manga Museum, the Nishiki Market and the Kyoto Museum, which are some of the places you can not miss in the city.
Despite this and although it is the place chosen to stay in Kyoto by many travelers, for us this would be the third option behind Gion and Kyoto Station.
The price of accommodation in Nakagyo is usually 60 euros per night.
4. The Kamigyo district, one of the traditional areas of the city
Known for being the place where the Imperial Palace is located and Nishijin, one of the traditional neighborhoods of the city, the Kamigyo district is another option where to stay in Kyoto.
Although this district is further away from the main attractions of the city and is quieter compared to the previous ones, if your budget is tight, this can be a good option to sleep in Kyoto as the accommodations are quite cheaper.
The price of accommodation in Kamigyo is usually 50 euros per night.
5. The Ukyo district, another option to look for a hotel
Famous for being the place where many of the places to visit in Kyoto such as Arashiyama, Ninna-ji, Ryōan-ji, Tenryū-ji and the Sagano district are concentrated, the Ukyo district is another place to stay in Kyoto although honestly we would not choose it because of its remoteness from the rest of the city.
However, if you want to stay in a traditional area and be close to Arashiyama, this may be the most recommended option to stay in Kyoto.
The price of accommodation in Ukyo is usually 70 euros per night.
Tips for finding cheap accommodation in Kyoto
Although we hope that the choice of the hotel where to stay in Kyoto has been much easier with the recommendations that we have left you before areas, we want to expand this information with some tips for staying in Kyoto.
- Contrary to what it may seem, accommodation in Kyoto is not excessively expensive, even in the most recommended districts and neighborhoods, so we advise you to check the available options before deciding on one.
- Keep in mind that most accommodations have small rooms and this is very common, so it is better to get used to it and not look for large spaces.
- If you are traveling in high season, especially during the cherry blossom season, it is very important to book well in advance, as prices soar and places sell out quickly.
- Remember that to avoid paying commissions and to always have the current exchange rate we recommend you to use the Revolut card and the N26 card, which are the ones we use, are free of charge and will save you a lot of money.
