Your Kyoto Travel Guide

New And Updated On Inside Kyoto 2026

• NEW Should You Stay In A Ryokan, Hotel, Machiya, Or Airbnb In Kyoto? – Choosing the right type of accommodation in Kyoto — hotel, ryokan, machiya or Airbnb — can quietly make or break your trip. Here’s our simple, practical guide, based on helping thousands of our consulting clients, friends, and family choose where to stay in Kyoto. Read More
• NEW Flying From Vancouver (YVR) To Tokyo (HND/NRT) – I frequently fly from Vancouver International (YVR) and Tokyo (Haneda or Narita), both for work and personal travel. This is a great route — relatively short for a trans-Pacific flight — but small choices can make it significantly more comfortable on both ends and in the air. Read on for airport hacks, the best flights/seats, and airport hotel recommendations. Read More
• NEW 10 Worst Mistakes To Avoid On Your First Trip To Japan – Japan is an easy country to travel in — but every year I see smart, well-prepared travelers quietly making small, avoidable mistakes that cost them time, money, and energy. At Chris Rowthorn Tours I help hundreds of people plan trips to Japan each year, so I see these same issues over and over again in the real world. Here are the 10 most common ones, with a few bonus mistakes tacked on for good measure. Read More
• NEW Hilton Kyoto – In the very heart of Downtown Kyoto, the Hilton Kyoto is a full-featured mid-range/luxury hotel with a super stylish lobby and comfortable rooms, along with a restaurant, rooftop bar spa and fitness center. Read More
• NEW Glanz Kei Kyoto Station – The Glanz Kei Kyoto Station is the best budget/mid-range hotel for families. I don’t know how they manage to offer so many features so close to the station at these prices but they do, and that’s all that matters. If you’re traveling with kids and don’t want to break the bank, book this place now! Read More
• NEW Insomnia Kyoto Oike – Good rooms for less than US$100 per night in downtown Kyoto?! I have no idea how they do it, but Insomnia Kyoto Oike does it and that’s the important thing. Just steps from the most important subway stop in the city, Insomnia is a fantastic find for budget travelers and we highly recommend it. Read More
• NEW Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Sanjo Premier – Right in the heart of Downtown Kyoto on Sanjo Street, which is one of the best shopping streets in the city, the Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Sanjo Premier is a strong choice in the middle budget range. Read More
• NEW Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto – Sitting atop the Southern Higashiyama sightseeing district at the foot of the mountains, the Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto is a beautiful hotel with excellent Japanese style in the common areas and rooms. Read More
• NEW Six Senses Kyoto – Six Senses Kyoto is a stylish new hotel in the Southern Higashiyama sightseeing district, close to the Kyoto National Museum and Sanjusangendo Temple. It’s a wellness-centered hotel with lovely Japanese style and a good spa. Read More
• NEW DoubleTree by Hilton Kyoto Station – A very short walk from the south side of Kyoto Station, the DoubleTree by Hilton Kyoto Station is a decent hotel with rates that sometimes dip down into the budget range in quiet seasons. It’s a good choice for those collecting Hilton Honors points and anyone who wants easy access to Kyoto Station. Read More
• NEW Dusit Thani Kyoto – The Dusit Thani Kyoto is the first branch of this famous Thai hotel chain to open in Kyoto. Like its sister hotels back in Thailand, this Dusit Thai is an elegant, stylish and welcoming hotel. It’s clearly a luxury hotel but cheaper than most international brands in this budget class. Read More
• NEW Asai Kyoto Shijo – If you’re on a tight budget but don’t want to stay in guesthouse or hostel, then take a good look at the Asai Kyoto Shijo: with rates that frequently drop below US$100 per night and a location within walking distance of downtown and close to two important subway stations, the Asai is a very strong competitor in the budget bracket. Read More
• NEW Yugen Kyoto Shijo – If you want a break from Western-style hotels and perhaps want your own en suite “onsen” (okay, it may not be an onsen in the strictest sense, but it sure looks and feels good), then give the Yugen Kyoto Shijo a close look. It’s a good value and very close to downtown. Read More
• NEW Garner Hotel Kyoto Shijo Karasuma – I really like the Garner Hotel Kyoto Shijo Karasuma: It’s an efficient, clean, well-run and convenient hotel right on a subway line and close to downtown. With rates that sometimes drop close to US$100 per room, it’s a fantastic choice for budget travelers. Read More
• NEW Holiday Inn Kyoto Gojo – I’m a big fan of the Holiday Inn Kyoto Gojo and I’m going to recommend it to my budget clients. It gets nearly everything right: the rooms and spacious for the price, the staff it helpful, the common areas are attractive, the breakfast is good and it’s right near the crucial Gojo-Karasuma intersection for easy access to the subway. Read More
• UPDATED Best Kyoto Hotels for Families 2026 – We know what it’s like to travel with children, so we’ve put together a list of the most family-friendly hotels in the Kyoto. We’ve personally inspected or stayed in all of these hotels. Read More
• UPDATED Best Budget Hotels In Kyoto 2026 – If you’ve got about US$100 to spend per night, you can get some surprisingly nice rooms in Kyoto. Here are the best, well-located and clean budget hotels in the city, all personally inspected. Plus a few modern capsule hotels and hostels! Read More
• UPDATED Kyoto Vacation Rentals – Many people, especially families, prefer the comfort, space and flexibility of an Airbnb or other type of vacation rental when traveling. Because these accommodations are located all over the city (often far from the center), it’s essential to choose one in a convenient neighborhood. Here, we rate the best neighborhoods and plot them on a handy map. Read More

Kyoto District Map

• Arashiyama
• Central Kyoto
• Northwest Kyoto
• Nishijin
• Northern Higashiyama
• Southern Higashiyama
• Downtown Kyoto
• Kyoto Station Area
• South East Kyoto

About InsideKyoto.com and Chris Rowthorn

• Chris Rowthorn is the co-founder of InsideKyoto.com and has an unparalleled travel knowledge of Kyoto spanning three decades. Chris has written or commissioned and edited every page on the Inside Kyoto website.
• A former author of Lonely Planet Kyoto and Lonely Planet Japan guidebooks, Chris is also the director of the Kyoto walking tour company Chris Rowthorn Tours, and Japan Travel Consulting, where you can get bespoke travel advice for your Japan trip.
• InsideKyoto.com has been cited by the New York Times and The Times of London, among many other publications and websites.