Pick your base in Kyoto by the way you plan to travel. Stay near Kyoto Station if you take day trips by train. Stay in Gion or Higashiyama if you want temples and old streets on foot. Stay in Kawaramachi if you want shops, food and late evenings. Stay in Arashiyama only if you want quiet mornings and you do not mind a longer ride back at night.
Ask three questions first
Before you compare hotels, answer these questions:
- Will you leave Kyoto on a day trip, for example to Nara or Uji?
- Do you want to walk to temples, or take buses?
- Do you want to be out late, or go to bed early?
Your answers point to one or two areas. You do not need to compare all five.
Kyoto Station
The station is the main rail hub. Shinkansen trains and local lines meet here, so it is the easiest base for day trips. It has large shops, restaurants and a big hotel tower. It also has the main bus stops.
The downside is that the area is modern and less atmospheric than the old streets. Walk a few streets in the wrong direction and you find office blocks. For a first trip, this base suits families and anyone with heavy bags.
Check first: Check the train and bus routes from the station on the operator's website before you book. Check the Kyoto City Bus route map for stops near your hotel.
Gion and Higashiyama
This is the classic choice. You walk to temples, old lanes and shrines. The evenings are quiet and the streets look like the postcards. Many visitors stay here for their first trip.
The trade-off is hills and steps. Some hotels are on narrow lanes, and taxis cannot always reach the door. Check the access before you book. Ask the hotel how to reach it from the station, with luggage, on the day you arrive.
Check first: Ask the hotel about access with luggage. Check the local bus stop and the last bus on the Kyoto City Bus site before a late night out.
Kawaramachi
Kawaramachi is around the main shopping streets and the river. It has department stores, arcades, small food shops and bars. Pontocho, a narrow lane beside the Kamo River, is a short walk away. It is good for food and nightlife.
It is also close to the subway and to many bus routes. You can reach the temples in the east and the station in the south without much trouble.
Check first: Use Tabelog to find food near Pontocho and Nishiki Market. Do not rely on a list of named places from an older article, because many shops change.
Arashiyama
Arashiyama is in the west. It has the bamboo grove, a river, and temple gardens. Early mornings are calm, but midday brings many tour groups. The area is pleasant in the evening, but there are fewer places open late.
You need a train or bus to reach the centre. This is a good choice for a stay of two nights or more, and a poor choice if you want late dinners in the centre.
Check first: Check the train timetable for the last service home on the operator's site. Check the opening times of the temple gardens and the bamboo grove before you plan your morning.
A simple choice
- Day trips and families: stay near Kyoto Station.
- First visit and temples: stay in Gion or Higashiyama.
- Food and shopping: stay in Kawaramachi.
- Quiet mornings and a slower pace: stay in Arashiyama.
Moving around the city
Kyoto is spread out. Buses are the main way to move between the areas, and they can be slow in traffic. The subway is fast on its main lines, but it does not reach every district. Walking between areas is possible for fit visitors, but check the distance on a map before you carry heavy bags.
Plan each day from one base. You will save time if you do not change hotels mid-trip unless you need to.
Booking tips
Book early for the peak autumn season and for spring. Look at the map before you choose a hotel. A cheap room far from the station may cost you more time each day. Read recent reviews that mention access and noise.
Do not choose a base only because it looks nice on a photo. Choose the base that fits your daily route.
What to do next
Use the planner to test your route, or read the area pages to see the places in each district.
- Plan your trip with the planner
- Kyoto city page
- Kyoto Station area page
- Gion and Higashiyama area page
- Arashiyama area page
See also: Kawaramachi and Nishiki guide.
