Hiiragiya Ryokan

Downtown Kyoto

This elegant ryokan has long been favoured by celebrities from round the world. Facilities and services are excellent and the location is hard to beat.

Capsule Ryokan Kyoto

Kyoto Station Area

This unique new accommodation offers ryokan-style capsules (meaning tatami mats inside the capsules etc), as well as comfortable, cleverly designed private rooms.

Dormy Inn Premium Kyoto Ekimae

Kyoto Station Area

Located almost directly across the street from Kyoto Station, this clean, efficient new hotel is a great choice. Rooms are clean and well maintained and the on-site spa bath is a nice plus.

Kibune Fujiya

This is another nice ryokan with a lovely riverside location and a free shuttle-bus service from the station. The food is tasty and the rooms are cosy at this long-running spot.

Hotel Crevette

Right across from the airport (within walking distance – 10 minutes from the south terminal – if you had to), this friendly little hotel is the best deal near Itami.

Hotel Nikkō Kansai Airport

The only hotel at the airport is the excellent Hotel Nikkō Kansai Airport, connected to the main terminal building by a pedestrian bridge (you can even bring your luggage trolleys right to your room).

Hotel Matsui

Downtown Kyoto

This centrally located ryokan-style hotel has spacious Japanese-style rooms and a friendly staff, some of whom speak English. It’s getting more popular with foreign guests, who appreciate the reasonable rates.

Hiiragiya Bekkan (Annex)

Downtown Kyoto

Not far from the Hiiragiya main building, the Hiiragiya Bekkan offers the traditional ryokan experience at slightly more affordable rates. The kaiseki (Japanese haute cuisine) served here is delicious, and the gardens are lovely.

Ryokan Uemura

Southern Higashiyama

This beautiful little ryokan is at ease with foreign guests. It’s on a quaint, quiet cobblestone alley, just down the hill from some of Kyoto’s most important sights. Book well in advance, as there are only three rooms.

Budget Inn

Kyoto Station Area

This well-run guesthouse is an excellent choice in this price bracket. It has eight Japanese-style private rooms, all of which are clean and well maintained.

Ōhara Sansō

A pleasant inn, Ōhara Sansō has a soothing outdoor bath. Unfortunately, the rooms are on the small side and the walls are thin. It’s just before Jakkō-in; look for the large tanuki (racoon dog) figure out the front.

Hotel Nikko Princess Kyoto

Nikko’s entry into the Kyoto market is a welcome addition and maintains the chain’s high standards.

Yonbanchi

Northern Higashiyama

Yonbanchi is a charming B&B ideally located for sightseeing in the Ginkaku-ji and Yoshida-Yama area. One of the two guest rooms looks out over a small Japanese garden.

Matsubaya Ryokan

Kyoto Station Area

A short walk from Kyoto Station, this newly renovated ryokan has clean, well-kept rooms and a management that is used to foreign guests. Some rooms on the 1st floor look out on small gardens.

Hotel Ran Tei

Arashiyama & Sagano

The excellent Ran-tei has spacious gardens and both Japanese- and Western-style accommodation. The rooms are spacious and quiet here and there is a great view from the bathroom.

Arashiyama Benkei

Arashiyama & Sagano

This elegant ryokan has a pleasant riverside location and serves wonderful kaiseki (Japanese haute cuisine). The service is kind and friendly and the river view from the spacious rooms is great.

Three Sisters Inn Main Building

Northern Higashiyama

Perfectly situated for exploration of eastern Kyoto, this long-time favourite of foreign travellers is a good choice for those who want to try a ryokan without any language difficulties.

Crossroads Inn

Kyoto Station Area

Crossroads Inn is a charming little guesthouse with clean, well-maintained rooms and a friendly owner. The entire inn is nonsmoking.

Three Sisters Inn Annex

Northern Higashiyama

An annexe of the Three Sisters Inn, this ryokan is well run, comfortable and used to foreigners. It has a pleasant breakfast nook that overlooks a wonderful Japanese garden. The bamboo-lined walkway is another highlight.

Aoi Sō Inn

Central Kyoto

This is a tightly packed warren of rooms built around a small garden. It's cheap and decent value for the price.

Ryosō Chadani

Not far from the Ōhara bus stop, Ryosō Chadani is part of the Welcome Inn Group of hotels. The atmosphere is homey and the service is friendly. Free bicycle rental is available. Look for the large stones out the front.

Kinmata

Kinmata commenced operations early in the 19th century and this is reflected in the original decor, interior gardens and hinoki (cypress) bathtub.

Tamahan

Tamahan ryokan was designed as a 'hidden ryokan' and it succeeds marvellously - once inside, you'll feel hidden away from the world. There's a great Japanese-style garden with lovely flowers and the ryokan has fine rooms.

Ryokan Karatachi

Ryokan Karatachi is a cute, cosy ryokan which has a following with loyal travellers, despite its southern Kyoto location.

Hiroya Ryokan

This is a pleasant ryokan famous for its food. In winter it serves either a kaiseki or botan-nabe (wild boar cooked in an iron pot) dinner, while in summer the fare is kawa-doko-ryōri (rivertop dining).

Casa De Natsu

Central Kyoto

Up in the north of town, this cosy little Japanese-style guesthouse is a good spot for those who want to escape the hubbub of Downtown. There are two rooms, each decorated in the traditional style, and a fine little garden.

Minshuku Arashiyama

This little minshuku is great for its convenient location and pleasant rooms. It’s full of homey atmosphere with home-cooked meals (rooms per person including breakfast and dinner cost ¥7350). Suitable for long stays.

Hotel Unizo

Downtown Kyoto

They don’t get more convenient than this business hotel: it’s smack in the middle of Kyoto’s nightlife, shopping and dining district – you can walk to hundreds of restaurants and shops within five minutes.