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.
My corner king room at my favorite hotel in Kyoto: The Hotel Okura Kyoto © Chris Rowthorn.
What Accommodation Do I Recommend?
If I had to recommend just one type of accommodation for a first-time visitor to Kyoto, what would it be?
For most first-time visitors to Kyoto, a hotel is the best choice. A hotel offers flexibility, comfort and service. Hotels are available in all budget ranges and styles. You can go with generic international-style hotels, or, if your budget stretches to the midrange, you can choose from an ever-expanding range of boutique hotels with great Japanese style. That said, a machiya would be a strong choice for certain types of travelers. See below for my reasoning.
My room at the Genji Kyoto, one of my favorite hotels in Kyoto © Chris Rowthorn.
Quick Comparison
Here’s a quick rundown of the strong and weak points of each type of accommodation. Scroll down for a full explanation of each type of accommodation.
|
Type:
|
Best for:
|
Watch out for:
|
|
Hotel:
|
Convenience, Western comfort, reliability.
|
Can feel generic or soulless.
|
|
Ryokan:
|
Romance, Japanese atmosphere, special occasions.
|
Expensive, rigid meal times, formal.
|
|
Machiya:
|
Space, privacy, living like a local.
|
Stairs, no front desk.
|
|
Airbnb:
|
Budget, longer stays.
|
Legal gray zones, inconsistency.
|
My corner room at the excellent Cross Hotel Kyoto © Chris Rowthorn.
Hotels
I’m not going to lie: I usually stay in hotels when I’m traveling solo or with my family in Japan. But to be fair, part of that is because I’ve already had the ryokan experience hundreds of times. The thing I love about hotels is the freedom to come and go without having to interact with anyone. But when I do want to interact with someone or I want help with something like luggage shipping (and in better places) help with restaurant reservations, I can ask the front desk staff or concierge.
Many people sensibly ask: But I’ve come all the way to Japan, so I want to stay something that feels Japanese. If that’s you, don’t worry: There are dozens of great boutique hotels that boast superb Japanese style and they’re not all expensive: there are some great midrange boutique hotels in Kyoto.
For my hotel recommendations in Kyoto, see my Kyoto Hotels page.
My room at the Tawaraya Ryokan © Chris Rowthorn.
Ryokan
Make no mistake: I love Japanese ryokan. One of my greatest memories is the night I stayed at Kyoto’s sublime Tawaraya Ryokan. What is so special about a ryokan? Well, ask yourself: How many countries have a type of accommodation that is particular to that culture? I can think of yurts in Mongolia and riads in Morocco, but not much else. A ryokan is a place to experience several fundamental aspects of Japanese culture at once: the bath, the garden, the futon and the cuisine (among others).
Breakfast in my room at the Tawaraya Ryokan © Chris Rowthorn.
But here’s what I tell consulting clients: You SHOULD try a night or two in a ryokan and then move to a hotel. Why? Because staying at a ryokan involves a degree of formality. I liken it to staying at the home of a gracious but somewhat distant relative: You don’t fully let your hair down. After your ryokan stay, move to a hotel. Oh, and one caveat: If you’re traveling with young children, don’t stay in a luxury ryokan: You’ll be too worried about them breaking something.
See my Kyoto Ryokans page for my favorite ryokan in Kyoto.
Garden Room in the Old Modern Old Kyoto Machiya.
Machiya
If you can’t decide between a hotel and a ryokan, don’t worry, there’s a great solution: a machiya, or traditional Japanese townhouse that has been converted into a sublime form of accommodation. A machiya offers you the comfort and ease of a hotel stay with the beautiful traditional Japanese style of a ryokan.
The very best machiya in Kyoto, those offered by Old Kyoto Machiya, have a super-capable concierge who can do anything a hotel concierge can, but with more personalized service. I send a lot of my consulting clients to Old Kyoto machiya and they love them.
Airbnb
Many travelers, particularly families and small groups, are used to staying in an Airbnb when on vacation and they wonder if this is a good choice for Kyoto. Let me be honest: I’m not a big fan of Airbnbs.
Why? Because many Airbnbs in Kyoto are located in neighborhoods or buildings that were never designed or approved for short-term accommodation. This has fundamentally changed the vibe and tone of many of Kyoto’s traditional neighborhoods and is one of the main reasons why many Kyotoites have soured on international tourism.
That said, if you want the convenience of a vacation rental and you’re pretty sure you’re looking at a legit place, then this might be your choice.
Foreign tourists with luggage in a traditional Kyoto neighborhood.
Where Shouldn’t You Stay In Kyoto?
This is a funny question, but it’s worth asking. Here are some bullet points for you to keep in mind:
- Luxury ryokan with small children: As noted above, you shouldn’t stay in a luxury ryokan if you’re traveling with young children; you’ll spend all your time worrying about them putting a finger through the shoji (paper doors) and spilling something on the tatami.
- Overpriced guesthouse: I love the communal aspects of guesthouses but if I can get a budget hotel with private room and en suite bathroom for the same price or less, give me the hotel every time.
- International luxury brand when a local brand is just as good: Why pay for an international luxury brand when you can get the same quality for half the price at a local brand?
- Airbnb when you could stay in a machiya: Even the best-run and legal Airbnb is not going to hold a candle to the experience of a sublime Kyoto machiya.
- A youth hostel: Look, I’ve got nothing against youth hostels and I stayed in a lot of them during my Lonely Planet days. But most youth hostels in Japan have some pretty strict rules and sometimes curfews. If you want the communal experience without the rules, try a guesthouse.
More Information
Where Are These Places Located?
- 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
- ESSENTIALS – For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Kyoto guide
- HOTELS – Check Kyoto accommodation availability on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- BULLET TRAIN – You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto, Kyoto to Osaka and Kyoto to Tokyo
- WHERE TO STAY – Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Kyoto
- PACKING LIST – See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- SIM CARDS – You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Tokyo's Narita or Haneda Airports or Kansai International Airport. You can also rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- FLIGHTS – Compare Japan flight prices and timings to find the best deals
- JAPAN RAIL PASS – If you're making frequent train journeys during your visit, you might save money with Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- TRAVEL INSURANCE – World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- WANT HELP? – Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
Kyoto District Map
Click a Kyoto District for detailed info on attractions, places to eat and accommodation
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.
