Inside Kyoto

A Kyoto Travel Guide

Kyoto Long Stay Accommodation: Monthly House Rentals and Apartment Rentals

Have you ever thought about living for a while in Kyoto? Perhaps you want to study something like the tea ceremony. Perhaps you want to write a book. Or, perhaps you just want to try living like a real Kyotoite. Here are some good options.

Willow House living area.
Willow House living area. Courtesy of Old Kyoto.
Willow House bedroom.
Willow House bedroom. Courtesy of Old Kyoto.

Old Kyoto Willow House

Our favorite long-stay accommodation in Kyoto is Willow House, a superbly refurbished and updated Kyoto machiya (traditional townhouse) located between the Kyoto Imperial Palace Park and downtown Kyoto. The minimum stay is 30 days. The house is owned and operated by Old Kyoto. Staying at an Old Kyoto property gets you access to their incredible concierges who can help with things like booking restaurants, shipping luggage and recommending things to see and do. For more information, see our Willow House page or visit the Old Kyoto site.

Japan Experience Honganji House.
Japan Experience Honganji House.

Japan Experience Rental Houses

Japan Experience rents houses in some of Kyoto’s best residential districts. Their houses start from as low as US$71 per night in low seasons. Even in high seasons, they’re often a better deal than hotels and Airbnbs. Check out their beautiful Yasaka House right around the corner from Yasaka-jinja Shrine and Gion.

Japan Experience Yasaka House.
Japan Experience Yasaka House.

Imagine chilling out after a day of sightseeing while looking over this lovely private garden at their Gojo House.

Japan Experience Gojo House.
Japan Experience Gojo House.

International Community House

If you’re moving to Kyoto and want to find an apartment or house, a great place to look for house and apartment rentals and sublets is on the message board at the Kyoto International Community House. This is how I found my first apartment way back when and it still works today.

More Accommodation Options

Kyoto Hotel Guide

More Kyoto Ryokan Info

Best Luxury Ryokan In Kyoto

Popular Kyoto Ryokan
Yuzuya RyokanRyokan YachiyoClassic RyokanMore Info
Yuzuya RyokanYuzuya RyokanRyokanMore Info
Yuzuya RyokanHirashin RyokanModerate PriceMore Info
Yuzuya RyokanNishiyama RyokanModern and CentralMore Info

Best Mid-Price Ryokan In Kyoto

Best Budget Ryokan In Kyoto

Where Are These Places Located?

See these places on our Kyoto Google map:
  • Open the Kyoto map
  • You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
  • Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
  • Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
  • If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.

Kyoto Vacation Checklist


Kyoto District Map

Click a Kyoto District for detailed info on attractions, places to eat and accommodation


Chris Rowthorn

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.


Disclosure: InsideKyoto.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program
designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and amazon.co.uk.

World Nomads provides travel insurance for travellers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link.
We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.