Yugen Kyoto Shijo - Inside Kyoto

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.

A serene hotel room featuring two twin beds with white linens, warm recessed lighting behind a wooden headboard, light clay-toned walls, and traditional shoji paper window screens.

Standard twin room at Yugen Kyoto Shijo.

Yugen Kyoto Shijo At A Glance

Great for: those in search of a private “onsen,” couples, honeymooners
Strong points: Japanese style, reasonable rates, great location
Sample rates: US$250 to US$700

A dark, moody communal bath area with stone-textured walls, a large pool of still water reflecting warm ceiling lights, and a view into a bright wooden sauna through a glass window.

Daiyokujo (onsen-style bath) at Yugen Kyoto Shijo.

“Yugen” is a Japanese word for mysterious beauty but it also hints at something to do with hot water, as in onsen (hot spring), and it’s a suitable name for this Japanese-style hotel that features great Japanese-style rooms, great communal onsen-style baths and a room with an en suite onsen-style bath and a sauna, which is perfect for those who are bashful about bathing nude in public onsen or sento in Japan.

A spacious luxury suite featuring traditional tatami mat flooring, a low solid wood table with purple cushions, built-in grey sofas, and a separate bedroom visible through a sliding door.

Signature spa suite with sauna and bath at the Yugen Kyoto Shijo.

The rooms are spacious and beautiful here and look like those in a ryokan with Western beds. The common areas continue the Japanese theme and the baths are great. There’s even a fitness center, which is rare in hotels of this size and price. Rates hover at the border between mid-range and luxury, but are very reasonable for the price. Best of all, Yugen Kyoto Shijo is a very short walk south of downtown in a quiet and very interesting neighborhood. We’ve heard one or two quibbles about the service and breakfast but we suspect that this will be ironed out soon.

Destination

Check-in date

Check-out date

Name in English:
yugen kyoto shijo

Name in Japanese:
ユウゲンキョウトシジョウ

English address:
218 Kagiya-cho, Fuyacho-dori-Takatsuji-sagaru, Shimogyo-ku

Japanese address:
下京区麩屋町通高辻下ル鍵屋町218

Price range: mid-range to luxury

Internet: wifi access

Non-smoking rooms: Yes

Nearest Transport:
6-minute walk from exit 11 of Kyoto-kawaramachi Station, Hankyu line or 9-minute walk from exit 5 of Shijo Station, Karasuma subway line.

Telephone: 746-3798

:: Check availability and pricing for Yugen Kyoto Shijo on Booking.com or Agoda.com.

Near To Here:
Yugen Kyoto Shijo is located in Central Kyoto. See our complete list of things to do in Central Kyoto, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.

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