12 Must-Visit Kyoto Ryokan: What To Expect, How To Get There, & More

When traveling to the quaint city of Kyoto, we highly encourage you to choose a traditional Japanese hotel. In addition to beautifully furnished rooms, these Kyoto Japanese-style hotels also have exquisite garden design, public facilities, and services. There are more than 300 hotel options that are very photogenic, including Kyoto ryokans, which will definitely make tourists take photos nonstop.

Although the price of a traditional ryokan is not cheap, it’s still a must-experience when in Kyoto. Staying in a ryokan will be a fun and charming addition to your Kyoto trip! With that, let’s look at these 12 Kyoto ryokans listed below!

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If you are like me and like ancient Kyoto, then you have to experience Park Hyatt Kyoto! This ryokan is located in the heart of Kyoto. From the room window, you can see the magnificent South Tower Gate. It’s perfect for relaxing while enjoying the scenery of Kyoto's beautiful city. Moreover, it only takes a few minutes to walk from the hotel to the famous Kiyomizu Temple, allowing you to easily immerse yourself in Kyoto's traditional culture.

Park Hyatt Kyoto has a low-key and luxurious vibe. The entire hotel is decorated with a large amount of Japanese wax wood and Chinese paper, as well as exquisite Japanese garden landscaping, making people instantly feel like they have traveled through time and space and are in the ancient capital feeling.

The room as a whole is spacious and bright, and the design is simple but still with intricate details. Even the choice of appliances in the room is very particular. You can feel that the hotel has put great care into every detail.

Address: 京都市東山区高台寺, 360 Masuyacho, Kyoto 605-0826, Japan

How to get there: 5-minute walk from Kiyomizu bus stop

Book now: Park Hyatt Kyoto

If you want to experience a Kyoto ryokan that combines the history of the city with modern elegance, Sowaka is the choice for you! This luxury boutique hotel was extensively renovated from a century-old pavilion, perfectly retaining the essence of Kyoto's traditional architecture while incorporating modern design ingenuity. The hotel is divided into the main building and the new building, with a total of 23 exquisite rooms, each of which exudes a unique Japanese atmosphere.

The best thing is that when you stay at the Sowaka Hotel in Kyoto, you can enjoy delicious cuisine at the high-end restaurant Gion Loka in the hotel. Gion Loka offers authentic Japanese cuisine through their kaiseki courses packed with rice, meat, vegetables, soup, and even fresh seafood!

Address: 480 Kiyoicho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0821, Japan

How to get there: About a 14-minute walk from Hankyu Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station

Book now: Sowaka

Kyoto Genhouin is a hotel built based on the traditional Japanese Sukiya architectural style. You can easily feel that it’s well built just from the name, and also from the elegant Japanese-style courtyard to the interior of the room, with every detail full of zen and tranquility.

The rooms at Kyoto Genhouin are decorated with typical tatami mats (traditional mats) and are equipped with transparent lattice windows, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the mountains and forests outside the window without any obstruction.

The fresh morning air blends perfectly with the natural scenery outside the window, making you feel like you’re in paradise, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, enjoying complete relaxation and peace.

How to get there: 5-minute walk from Keage Station

Suiran is a Kyoto ryokan that was formerly a private mansion and was later converted into a boutique hotel with only 39 rooms. The hotel is hidden among the maple leaves and mountain forests. The building is full of Japanese charm, with red leaves that cover the view as if you have traveled back to the Edo period!

Some rooms at Suiran have their own terraces or balconies, and you can see the magnificent beauty of nature in front of you when you open the windows. The hotel's antique door, paired with pine trees and red leaves, forms a fascinating natural picture. The suites also offer a classic hotel room vibe. Whether the shoji door (traditional door) is opened or closed, you’ll feel a good and peaceful atmosphere. Through the window of the living room, the painting-like scenery outside will make you want to sit down quietly and read a book or take a nap.

How to get there: 5-minute walk from Togetsukyo Bridge

The Rinn Gion Hanatouro ryokan is only a 5-minute walk from the most famous flower street in Japan, Hanamikoji. It was once the classic location for the filming of Memoirs of a Geisha. Walking in the alley, you can feel the unique nostalgic atmosphere of Kyoto and feel as if you have stepped into the past.

They also offer rooms with spacious terraces. We recommend staying in a suite where you can overlook the beautiful scenery of the Kamo River. Especially in the early morning or at sunset, the scenery is really breathtaking. Additionally, the hotel also has open-air baths where you can completely relax and wash away the fatigue you’re feeling.

How to get there: 5-minute walk from Gion

Rinn Gion Shirakawa is a ryokan that is only 200 meters away from what is known as "the most beautiful alley in Kyoto". Feel free to admire the neatly arranged wooden machiya (traditional wooden townhouse) and weeping willows along the Kamo River. When you stroll through the streets, you’ll feel as if you’ve entered ancient Kyoto and experienced the full Japanese style.

The best thing is that some rooms in Rinn Gion Shirakawa also have terraces, so you can have an unobstructed view of the Kamo River. Whether it's the soft light in the morning or the sunset in the evening, it makes people not want to leave. Imagine sipping hot tea while admiring the beautiful scenery of the river. It is a completely luxurious and relaxing experience.

How to get there: About a 3-minute walk from Gion-Shijo Station

Candeo Hotels Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku is a star-rated Kyoto ryokan renovated from a century-old machiya. It retains the characteristics of the city’s traditional architecture, such as the classic Ichimonji tile roof and exquisite tsubo garden (small garden). You have the opportunity to experience first-hand the daily life in Kyoto a hundred years ago. This is an in-depth cultural experience that ordinary hotels cannot provide.

The location of the Candeo Hotels Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku is superb. You can walk 600 meters to the famous century-old shopping street, Nishiki Market. This is a paradise for shopping and food, allowing you to easily experience the most authentic cityscape of Kyoto. What’s special about this ryokan is that it used the century-old Banka House (vacation house) to renovate it. The simple and nostalgic atmosphere is perfectly combined with modern facilities. Not only that, it also won the gold medal in the 2022 MUSE Design Awards. It is definitely worth staying here!

How to get there: 3-minute walk from Karasuma Oike Station

Nazuna Kyoto Nijo-jo is very close to the UNESCO World Heritage site Nijo Castle. The location is very convenient. Whether you want to explore Kyoto's monuments at a leisurely pace or easily head into the city, it's the perfect place to stay.

The most special thing about Nazuna Kyoto Nijo-jo is that it perfectly combines tradition and modernity. It was originally a long-abandoned lumber shop and warehouse. After careful renovation, it was reborn into a modern and luxurious hotel, while retaining the unique charm of the old Kyo-Machiya house. Through these traditional Japanese buildings, you can truly experience the wonderful accommodation atmosphere of the old era, as if you have traveled back in time.

Nazuna Kyoto Nijo-jon has only five rooms, allowing every guest to enjoy a private and peaceful environment and enjoy a full range of Japanese hospitality.

How to get there: 4-minute walk from Marutamachi Station on the Karasuma Line of the subway

Hotel Kanra Kyoto is a Japanese-style hotel that incorporates the traditional Kyoto townhouse style into modern design. Each room adopts a nice Machiya style, full of Japanese aesthetics. When you walk into the room, you feel like you are in the ancient streets of Kyoto, but at the same time, you can enjoy modern convenience and comfort.

The most special thing is that all rooms at Hotel Kanra Kyoto are equipped with cypress bathtubs, which is the essence of Japanese traditional bath culture! While soaking in hot water and smelling the faint woody fragrance, you can wash away all the stress that you’re feeling and completely relax your body, mind, and soul. This unique experience will definitely be unforgettable for you.

How to get there: 15-minute drive from Kyoto Station

Mimaru Suites Kyoto Shijo hotels have always been famous for their spacious accommodation space, equipped with kitchens and living rooms, and a comfortable home-like accommodation experience. Mimaru Suites has upgraded the experience, providing two-bedroom, three-bedroom, and other Japanese-style suites. Even if you’re traveling as a group or two families together, you’ll still have enough private space.

There are a total of 37 suites in the hotel, with light-colored wooden furniture and bamboo sliding doors as the main design themes, just like living in a traditional Japanese home. The room area ranges from 50 to 98 square meters, giving it a full sense of space.

How to get there: 3-minute walk from Shijo Station on the Karasuma Line of the subway

Only an 8-minute walk from Park Hotel Kyoto, Nijo Castle is where the great general Tokugawa Ieyasu lived in the Edo period. Near the hotel are also the Nishiki Market and the historical flower street known as Kyoto’s Kitchen. In Pontocho, the hotel's exterior is inspired by the wooden slats of traditional machiya, which complements the furnished indoors. The guest rooms are modern in design, with neutral tones and light-colored wood, plus natural light from the windows. Simple and comfortable.

How to get there: The nearest subway station is Karasuma Oike Station, which is a 5-minute ride from Kyoto Station.

The Kyoto ryokan, hotel tou nishinotoin kyoto, near Kyoto Station opened in April 2021. It has a Japanese garden and hot spring bath. The overall space design of the hotel was managed by the Suppose Design Office headed by famous Japanese architects Makoto Tanijiri and Ai Yoshida, while the garden was handled by Zenjiro Hashimoto, a master of Japanese garden creation. The theme of the hotel is light and shadow, and the two cleverly cooperate with each other, as seen in the interiors of the hotel and the rooms as well. The hotel has a total of 10 types of guest rooms. All rooms are equipped with Simmons bed sets to ensure the quality of sleep for guests.

The hotel has a large bath that’s like a Uro. Uro means “cave” in Japanese, so the bathhouse is mainly dark gray, making you feel like you are in a cave with soft light and silence, where you can relax in a beautiful environment. There is a library on the first floor of the hotel, displaying a series of books related to Kyoto. There is also the Cafe & bar oku, where guests can taste matcha milk brewed with tea produced by the long-established Kyoto brand Ippodo, as well as matcha milk produced by the brewery, Kyoto Brewing Co. Craft beers and other delicious food and drinks full of Kyoto’s authentic flavors can also be bought from the cafe.

How to get there: The hotel is a 10-minute walk from JR Kyoto Station and an 8-minute walk from Gojo Station.

If you’re coming from Tokyo and want to get to Kyoto to experience the ryokans, this guide on taking the Tokyo to Kyoto bullet train might help!

For those who want more onsen and ryokan options, we have this list of the best onsen hotels and ryokans in Tokyo!

Additionally, we have this list of the best onsen hotels and ryokans in Osaka as well! Happy and safe travels!