For a first trip, the best areas to stay in Kyoto are downtown around Shijo and Kawaramachi, for restaurants and easy transport, or the Kyoto Station area, for day trips and the airport train. Gion and Higashiyama are the choice for atmosphere and a traditional inn; Arashiyama suits a quiet night or two at the end of a trip.
Kyoto Station area
Kyoto Station is where the shinkansen, the Haruka airport express from Kansai Airport and the trains to Nara and Osaka all stop, and it is the main terminal for the city buses. It is the most practical base for a short stay or a trip with many day trips, and it has hotels at every level. The area itself is modern rather than charming, and the main sights are a bus or subway ride away.
Downtown: Shijo and Kawaramachi
Downtown Kyoto has the widest choice of restaurants, shops and bars, with Nishiki Market and the Pontocho dining lane close by. The subway, the Hankyu line to Osaka and the Keihan line to Fushimi Inari all run from here, and Gion is a short walk across the river. For most first-time visitors, this is the best all-round base.
Gion and Higashiyama
Gion and Higashiyama are Kyoto at its most traditional: wooden townhouses, temple lanes and the walk up to Kiyomizu-dera. Staying here lets you see the streets early in the morning and late in the evening, after the day visitors have gone. It is also the main area for ryokan. Train stations are fewer, so expect to walk or take taxis and buses.
Central Kyoto: Karasuma and Nijo
The streets around Karasuma Oike and Nijo Castle are calm and central, with good subway connections and many mid-range hotels and machiya townhouse stays. It is a good choice for longer stays and for families who want quiet evenings.
Arashiyama
Arashiyama, on the western edge of the city, is beautiful early and late in the day, around the bamboo grove and the river. It has fine ryokan but is a long way from the rest of Kyoto, so it works best for one night, not as a base for the whole trip.
Tips for choosing
- Pick a base near a train or subway line; Kyoto's buses are often crowded and slow.
- Allow for the accommodation tax, which the city adds per person per night.
- Book early for cherry blossom season and November's autumn colour, when Kyoto hotels sell out first.
Our 2-day Kyoto itinerary and Kyoto travel guide help you plan the days, and our guide on how to stay in a ryokan covers the traditional option.
FAQ
What is the best area to stay in Kyoto for first-timers? Downtown around Shijo and Kawaramachi, or near Kyoto Station. Downtown has the best restaurants and is close to Gion; the station area is best for day trips and the airport train.
Is it better to stay at Kyoto Station or in Gion? Kyoto Station is more practical, with direct trains to the airport, Nara and Osaka. Gion is more atmospheric and walkable to the temples, but has fewer train connections.
Where should you stay in Kyoto for a ryokan? Gion and Higashiyama have the most ryokan in the city, and Arashiyama has quieter ones by the river. Book well ahead for spring and autumn.
Do you need to stay in Kyoto, or can you visit from Osaka? You can visit from Osaka, about 30 minutes away by train, but staying in Kyoto lets you see the temples and old streets early and late, before and after the crowds.
Planning a Kyoto stay for yourself, your family or your clients? Write to b2b@explera.jp or message us on WhatsApp at +66 93 656 8090 with your dates and group size, and we will reply within 24 hours. Explera is a destination management company for Japan — IATA TIDS 96215733, ASTA member 900408341.
