The best hotels in Kyoto are full for a vacation or comfortable for an overnight stay. Good stops for any purpose in the city
When you arrive in Japan's cultural center you want to cover as many locations and activities as possible. To that end, we've selected the best Kyoto hotels to help you explore the sights, offer capsule vacations for the whole family, or accommodate you closer to the train station. Gastronomic scenes nearby will present an opportunity to try the legendary kaiseki (several dishes made from seasonal produce) and expand your flavor range. Shopaholics can stroll through the brands and colorful stores reflecting the historical significance of the city. Book the best hotel for a stopover in Kyoto from our list to solve several important organization issues in one fell swoop.
1. Mogana Hotel - Futuristic Meditation
A modern, stylized reinterpretation of Japanese culture in step with the times. It's even strange that it's located in a rather traditional city. Don't be fooled by its outer simplicity, which plays along with the surrounding styles. Its interior transports you to another galaxy or modern space hotel movies. A clearly divided color palette with predominantly white bordered by black or vice versa is accompanied by abstract ceiling designs and built-in shelves. Its luxury is accentuated by bonsai trees and a bar where a 24x gold panel is arranged on the ceiling.
Minimalism and aesthetic beauty unite all rooms at Hotel Mogana. Large beds, separate areas for relaxation, black granite bathrooms and extra balconies on some locations. A deep cultural heritage is conveyed by various ekibans and Japanese tea sets. Morgana White and Morgana Black rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows and gardenia green walls. Room service offers short menus to explore the Japanese gastronomic scene, with breakfast dishes based on seasonal produce sourced from Awaji Island.
The meditation room brings a special light and atmosphere that is created through traditional Japanese attire and slippers. The room is used both for solitude. and for meetings where you can learn the secrets of body and mind health. Hotel Morgana is one of the best places to stay in Kyoto to experience modern Japanese culture with a strong foundation of historical heritage and knowledge.
2. The Shinmonzen Hotel is ideal for exploring attractions
Access to attractions such as Pontocho Alley, Nishiki Market, Hanamikoji-dori and Ninenzaka architecture are not the only attractive feature of the hotel. With impeccable service and well-filled rooms, you can choose this excellent stopover in Kyoto for more practical purposes as well.
The cozy deluxe rooms are harmonious and tranquil for your good rest within the walls. All suites are equipped with marble bathrooms, high quality beauty kits and a complimentary minibar. Choose your balcony with a panorama of the Shirakawa River and you'll have a luxurious place for morning or evening meditation. Enhance your comfort by choosing a hinoki cypress bathtub or a large white-sheeted bed in the middle of a wooded paradise.
At the luxurious Kyoto Boutique Hotel, you'll experience the work of one of the world's leading contemporary architects, Tadao Ando, and his team of artists. The quiet streets in the midst of which the hotel is located will give your mind a break from the modern hustle and bustle.
The gastronomic scene at the hotel is represented by Chef Jean-Georges. Here, local produce and seasonal ingredients are folded into a broad, informative menu thanks to the talent of the culinary thinker and his team.
Hotel Shinmonzen offers to put together your best Kyota experience by creating a list of organized activities and a bicycle touring map for you.
3. Four Seasons Kyoto hotel - luxury stays and kid-friendly amenities
The Four Seasons chain likes to arrange luxury stays all over the world, choosing very scenic and colorful places. The hotel in Kyoto serves for a very comfortable stay with added features. The estate is located next to a garden that is more than 800 years old. Its paths will be a great place for landscape educational walks for the whole family. Unique plants, herons, carp and turtles, amazing ancient statues and a pagoda, will keep you busy for half a day of complete relaxation and enjoyment of nature's treasures. You can always cozy up in the lounge by the pond if your desire to walk is still awake.
The hotel preserves and carries Japanese culture throughout its locations. For example, washi paper lamps and traditional luxurious marble bathrooms define the modern trends of Japanese culture. Rooms have the option of self-catering apartments, an area for easy relaxation and additions such as cribs and bottle sterilizers.
The children's room is equipped with plenty of educational toys and supervision that can be personalized for an additional fee. The large indoor pool is a fun place to relax for both children and adults. And the entertaining fish in the pond sometimes keep children's attention for a long time and entertain them better than animators.
Two gastronomic scenes allow you to get variety in both food and ambience. The beer lounge has an al fresco terrace, and the Sushi Wakon restaurant provides a tasty introduction to the fresh catch. The Four Seasons Kyoto Hotel features a spa area where masters of their craft preserve the Japanese heritage of rejuvenating and revitalizing the body and mind.
4. Roku Kyoto Resort - a holistic hot springs retreat
Located on the outskirts of Kyoto at the foot of the Takagamine Mountains, the hotel offers tranquility and harmony surrounded by nature. The resort can be visited all year round, enjoying the opportunity for wellness in luxurious surroundings. The thermal pools, spa and fitness center work in tandem for your holistic recovery. Plus, the bathrooms in the stylized rooms are designed for more than just household needs. Hot spring water flows directly into your personal water vessel, where onsen masters administer their unique therapies.
The vibrant colors of the 114 rooms are an extension of the forested area, which is visible through a full wall of glass windows. The local color is preserved in details that you will want to look at and feel by touch. The interiors of the rooms are exquisite and their stylization harkens back to the works of Japanese artist Koetsu Honami, whose creations date back to the 16th century. Choose a pool terrace room or rooms on the premier floor to enjoy added comfort in the form of bed preparation, soapy butler service, signature cocktail service, discounted spa services and a fitness kit.
The resort features several restaurants, with Chef's Table and All-Day Dining open for dinner only. Visiting Tenjin for lunch can be done through three different lounges.
Theluxurious Roku Kyoto Resort is part of the Hilton Collection and offers premium service and amenities.
5. Hotel Sovaka is a popular convenient stopover in Kyoto
Its location near Yasaka Shrine and the popular Ninenzaka Street have made this expensive Kyoto stop over quite popular. Sovaka Boutique Hotel is a revamp of the gastronomic scene, where west and east have almost equal importance. The hotel's lobby and inner garden have become separate lounge areas where convenience and beauty are woven together.
Just over 20 of the hotel's rooms are individually styled, you can find refuge in authentic Japanese style, or you can stay in the trends of the west if that's more comfortable. Traditional elements are preserved throughout the hotel, so you can enjoy the rich culture without barriers. The historic part of the hotel will immerse you deep into the traditional interiors and materials. The enlightening experience will begin with tokonoma niches, hinoki cypress baths and shoji screens.
Climbing up to the rooftop balcony, accessible to all, you can enjoy the picturesque city surroundings and the view from above on the patio.
The exclusive four-seat bar is designed to provide a new experience and an intimate tasting of the many types of sake. La Bombance Gion's gastronomic area is open by advance table reservation. Once inside this practically black square, you will be surprised at how pleasant its atmosphere is. This space is designed to enhance the colors on your plate with a seasonal dish and give you the ultimate taste experience. It works. One of the best hotels in Kyoto, the Sovaka would make a great solution for a luxurious stopover.
6. Park Hyatt Kyoto is a gastronomically rich stopover
Perched on top of a hill, the hotel has a great scenic panorama in its windows. Notably, you can check in using a digital service. If you're concerned about the remoteness of the city center, the hotel's bike rental and city shuttle service should smooth out the corners. Popular tourist locations will be close at hand, but step inside the grounds of a cool Kyoto hotel and you'll be swallowed up by a world of harmony and tranquil serenity.
The landscaped garden design preserves the traditions of Japan and is equipped with relaxation locations for your meditations amidst nature. The interiors are simple and rich. Clear straight lines and walls are made of Japanese ash wood (tamo), the space is decorated with creations by contemporary artists and small elegant ekebans.
The 70 or so rooms and suites are very modern and stylized. Each boasts a deep soaking tub and marble finishes. Tamo wood is used for elegant decor items and the outdoor terraces of some rooms open directly into the garden, filling the rooms with oxygen and a light woody smell.
The gastronomic scene is represented by 5 restaurants, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the world of Japanese cuisine and culinary traditions. Kyoyamato Restaurant stands out from the crowd with its stellar kaiski. For the best evening cocktail, visit the Kohaku Bar.
The Park Hyatt Kyoto Restaurant is a luxurious stopover with additional rejuvenation options at the spa and fitness center.
7. Hotel Sinse-an is a private home for a confidential exclusive stay
The fact that the hotel has only 4 suites is not at all a sign of something small, not in this case. The small number of rooms has made it possible to make private spaces with walls far apart for your freedom and comfort. The location on a fairly quiet street allows you to get away from the mundane hustle and bustle and be filled with silence. Hotel Sinse-an is quite an exclusive place and you can't get here just by calling, rather you have to be recommended. You can use two travel agencies Okuni or Bear Luxe and hopefully your goal will be achieved.
The lucky ones who get inside are exposed to the charm of Japanese gardens and design spaces. The rooms are unique, each one carrying its own meaning, thought and atmosphere. Sustainability and cultural heritage are two principles that have been applied to each location. The furniture is quite straightforward, but in the overall decoration they have become luxury items. Shoji screens, tokonoma niches and seasonal flowers adorn the locations, adding softness and, even, tenderness. The bathrooms are a separate large space designed to offer relaxation without narrow boundaries.
The exclusivity of the gastronomic scenes is as significant as the pass. As a guest, you can enjoy Chef Toshiro Ogata's masterpieces and visit Hanare, the beautiful architecture highlighted by architectural dishes on wooden planks. Shinse-anelite retreat in Kyoto that will be your unique and unforgettable experience.
8. Aman Kyoto Hotel is a luxury resort ahead of its time
Japan's hot springs are a luxurious opportunity to experience the healing power of nature for yourself. The Aman Resort in Kyoto occupies nearly 80 acres of landscaped grounds and is scattered with both indoor and outdoor onsen pools. The mineral spring waters will help you get an active start to your productive day or relax you before bed. A variety of spa treatments will put together an entire rejuvenation program that will be individually tailored to your needs and preferences.
The large area for a luxury Kyoto vacation doesn't suggest a multitude of rooms, Aman Kyoto has only 26. This helps to avoid crowds and get top-notch service. Room interiors are minimalistic, as you are in a heritage city. Hinoki cypress wood okuro bathtubs serve as a reminder of the traditions of a deep culture. Large windows let nature and plenty of fresh air into your spaces.
Once you're satiated with beauty, oxygen and properly hungry, head to the hotel's restaurant, The Living Pavilion, where Shinichiro Takagi will reveal the kaiseki menu, which is updated with the changing seasons. The Aman Kyoto Hotel is a great stop, with many organized activities aimed at harmonizing and learning about oneself.
9. Hoshinoya Kyoto Hotel is a riverside stopover
Japanese architecture and the river have always been seen as one, harmonious and inseparable. Hoshinoya Kyoto will be the kind of idealistic stopover that many imagine when fantasizing about a fantastic trip to Japan. The hotel's contemporary rekan style features unique details that are on par with the traditional interior elements of Japanese culture. Underfloor heating certainly echoes modernity, but such inclusions simply add comfort and luxury to your stay.
A rock garden and boat rides on the river add to the experience, while the lounge library introduces you to the elite of Japanese beverages and the nuances of tasting them. The Hoshinoya Kyoto Hotel is a good stop if you are interested in Japanese culture.