10 Must-Try New Hotels in Kyoto: Stylish & Modern Japanese Experience

1. Sora Niwa Terrace Kyoto (Kyoto Kawaramachi)

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Just a minute’s walk from Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Railway, this hot spring resort hotel is most famous for its rooftop lounge, Sora Niwa Terrace, which sits 31 meters above ground, presenting a grand, open space.

The terrace has tables, sofas, and even natural hot spring footbaths, all with stunning panoramas stretching from the Kamo River to Kiyomizu-dera and Higashiyama. We recommend visiting during the evening to see the blue sky fade into sunset hues before becoming deep indigo.

(Image: Booking.com)

(Image: Booking.com)

There are 102 guest rooms suiting all kinds of travelers, from solo adventurers to couples and friends. The flooring is made with straw Ryukyu tatami mats, giving off authentic Kyoto vibes.

Comfort is everything, as seen in the soft Simmons beds placed in each room and more. Plus, there is a bathhouse directly sourced from the hotel’s private hot spring on the top floor, allowing you to bathe in the 1.2-meter-deep standing pool while looking over the Kyoto cityscape.

These geothermal waters are said to keep the body warm after bathing and are believed to help cure fatigue along with poor blood circulation and dry skin.

2. NOHGA HOTEL KIYOMIZU KYOTO (Kiyomizu-Gojo)

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NOHGA HOTEL KIYOMIZU KYOTO, a 7-minute walk from Kiyomizu-Gojo Station on the Keihan Main Line, operates under the concept of providing “fantastic experiences forging a deep connection with the locality.”

They host a variety of unique activities run by professionals from different fields, like mediation with the deputy chief priest of Kennin-ji Ryosoku-in Temple, along with art, food, music, and more.

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The simple and refined guest rooms are fitted with furniture and lighting utilizing traditional Kyoto crafts made by artisans, including Kiyomizu ware pottery pendant lights.

There are plenty of facilities to explore, like a rooftop bar with views overlooking the Kyoto cityscape, including Kiyomizu-dera and Kyoto Tower, plus a bakery with vegan sandwiches and a restaurant incorporating local, organic ingredients.

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The location is also second-to-none, being within walking distance of Kiyomizu-dera, Yasaka Shrine, Rokuhara Tandai, Gion, and Miyagawa-cho, which is famous for teahouses.

One American guest said, “The design was fantastic, and the facility was ultra-functional and clean. The rooftop bar was fun and comfy.”

3. THE HOTEL HIGASHIYAMA by Kyoto Tokyu Hotel (Higashiyama)

THE HOTEL HIGASHIYAMA, located in Kyoto’s Higashiyama, was designed around the concept of “staying in the east for the best of Kyoto.”

The lobby is modeled around Awata Elementary School, which once sat on the same grounds, incorporating school motifs, insignia, and layouts, bolstered by modern woven art made using Nishijin-ori weaving techniques and Awata ware pottery, a craft that can be traced back to the mid-Edo period.

Guests can completely immerse themselves in Japanese aesthetics and culture during their stay.

(Image: Booking.com)

(Image: Booking.com)

The guest rooms feature interior designs inspired by flowing water, fusing Japanese and Western styles to yield a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. The traditional teacups, teapots, and tea boxes containing Japanese tea are all handcrafted from paulownia wood.

Plus, at Tea & Bar – Sarei Produced by Gion Tsujiri, you can enjoy bottles of tea and more from the long-established Gion Tsujiri as well as partake in Uji tea workshops.

There are also activities at Kyoiroha, like lacquerware and craft-making, Kyoto confectionery and other cooking classes, and more.

THE HOTEL HIGASHIYAMA is a 4-minute walk from Higashiyama Station, and there is also a shuttle bus service from JR Kyoto Station (Hachijo Exit).

4. Moksa (Yase)

Moksa is located in Yase, which is a valley sandwiched between the Hiei mountains to the east and the Wakatan mountains to the west. It is a 30-minute drive from Kyoto Station or a 5-minute walk from Yase-Hieizanguchi Station on the Eizan Railway.

The hotel’s name, “moksa,” comes from the Sanskrit word for liberation and release, reflecting the hotel’s intention of “purifying the hearts and bodies of those fatigued by modern lifestyles to be reborn.”

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The hotel interior features natural materials made by the Kyoto gallery “tonoto,” with a warm, calm ambiance dotted by adorable statues of guardian deities. Adding to this is a wide assortment of artwork from a series of different mediums, including pottery, sculpting, woodwork, and more.

There are four room types: the River Suite with views of the Takano River; the Garden Suite looking out at Mt. Hiei; the Relax Suite; and the Standard, which is ideal for solo travelers.

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There is also the Kikyorai tea counter serving medicinal tea, Taiwanese tea, and more by a moss garden, and the restaurant MALA, which offers woodfire-cooked dishes. The hotel’s pride and joy is their breakfast, which has a selection of Japanese, Western, and “Healthy.”

The Healthy breakfast consists of okayu rice porridge topped with tofu skin and yuzu jam made to be gentle on tired stomachs. And don’t miss out on unwinding in the three styles of private, reservable saunas named JOAN.

Moksa is also just 5 minutes on foot from the cable car leading to the summit of Mt. Hiei and the famous Enryakuji Temple, while Ruriko-in Temple is just a 3-minute walk away.

5. Kyo no Ondokoro Nishijin-Villa (Imadegawa)

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Kyo no Ondokoro Nishijin-Villa was designed by Akira Minagawa of the fashion brand “minä perhonen,” with architect Yoshifumi Nakamura.

It is a 19-minute walk from Imadegawa Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway and a minute from the Imadegawa Jofukuji bus stop. It is also 16 minutes on foot from Kitano Tenmangu Shrine.

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Kyo no Ondokoro Nishijin-Villa is located in Nishijin, a little further out from the Kyoto city center, in a renovated traditional Kyoto-style “machiya” townhouse built around 95 years ago by Nishijin-ori textile merchants to serve customers.

The 1st floor has a kitchen with a wine cellar and a dining room utilizing the airy, open design of the original building, enticing guests to enjoy cooking with local ingredients.

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(Image: Booking.com)

Throughout the villa are artworks selected by Akira Minagawa, along with a bathtub made from Aomori hiba cypress with courtyard views, a bright, light-filled shower room, and a cafe space and library with around 60 books selected by curator Yoshitaka Haba, offering plenty to do. The guest rooms have an exquisite arched ceiling and headboard with mina perhonen fabric, plus plenty of other flourishes.

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A guest from Hong Kong said, “The interior was incredible!”

6. Gallery hotel [KAGUYA] (Shijo)

Gallery hotel [KAGUYA], a 7-minute walk from Shijo Station on the Karasuma Subway Line, is a designer gallery-style hotel crafted in the image of Heian period Japan. To recreate the flashiness of the Heian dynasty culture, the hotel is filled with artworks made of gold leaf and powder, while many walls are covered with lustrous paint.

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(Image: Booking.com)

The rooms are named “flowers,” “birds,” “wind,” and “moon,” representing the beauty of nature, and each has its own unique theme. For example, the Flower Room features accents of purple and gleaming white to represent cherry blossoms.

The Moon Viewing Bathroom has a bathtub made to look like bamboo with moon sculptures inspired by Princess Kaguya, and more, enveloping the entire hotel in a calming Japanese ambiance.

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An American guest said, “The room was comfortable and stylish, with lots of attention to detail and plenty of amenities. You can reach most places in the city on foot or by bus.”

7. hotel tou nishinotoin kyoto by withceed (Gojo)

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“hotel tou nishinotoin kyoto by withceed” sits on Nishinotoin-dori Street, a 10-minute walk from JR Kyoto Station, between the World Heritage Site of Nishi Hongan-ji Temple and the Important Cultural Property of Higashi Hongan-ji Temple.

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It is themed around “depth,” both in culture and in space, realized through the talents of a multitude of creators through flourishes like latticework and paper sliding doors to let in light and a garden based around a single stone.

The connecting “cafe & bar oku” serves up renowned Kyoto teas from the long-established specialty store Ippodo Chaho, while Hachidaime Gihey provides Japanese-style breakfasts, allowing you to relish the ancient tastes of Kyoto.

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There are 10 types of guest rooms accommodating 2-5 people, including the Moderate Twin, Superior Twin, and Tou Premium King With Terrace. In the entrance lobby is a circular table made of countless layers of washi paper shaved to give off a polished look. There is also a garden themed around “the space beyond the cave.”

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An English guest said, “It was one of the most stylish hotels I’ve ever stayed at. The staff were very kind, and the rooms were extremely comfortable. The bath was also amazing, and very relaxing.”

8. MIMARU SUITES Kyoto Shijo (Shijo)

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MIMARU SUITES Kyoto Shijo is an apartment hotel with suite rooms of two bedrooms or more, just a 3-minute walk from Shijo Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Line.

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It presents the unique concept of a “knick-knacks store you can stay in,” blending both hotel and store facilities together.

Within this is a collection of essential everyday items sourced by Kyoto specialists, including from the 100-year-old handicraft select shop Kawataki Kyoto, and Kura Daily Store, who deal in utensils, folkcrafts, and other lifestyle goods.

Guests can freely select from the lineup of utensils and kitchenware and use them in the attached kitchen and dining rooms.

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(Image: Booking.com)

Nearby is the Nishiki Market, alongside supermarkets and more, allowing you to easily find one-of-a-kind Kyoto ingredients and cook up a feast with whatever kitchenware you like. These rooms are separated between the living, dining, and bedrooms, permitting comfortable stays with ample space.

In addition to the two and three-bedroom types, there is a “Premium” room with a capacity of 6 guests boasting equipment and antique furniture from Kawataki Kyoto.

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The hotel is also in an excellent location, just a 15-minute bus ride to Nijo Castle and Gion. An Australian guest said, “The spacious rooms were great for my family. The kitchen was well-equipped and the staff always greeted us with a smile.”

Plus, you can also get free masks from the front desk, as well as borrow disinfectant spray and an ozone sterilizer. Staff have had thorough hygiene training to ensure stringent COVID-19 countermeasures.

9. The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu (Gion-Shijo)

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The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu is a unique accommodation that preserves and utilizes the former Kyoto City Kiyomizu Elementary School building, which was constructed in the early Showa period.

It is a roughly 10-minute taxi ride from Kyoto Station and sits upon the hills of Higashiyama, presenting panoramas of the Kyoto cityscape from many of the top-floor guest rooms and the rooftop bar.

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Plus, the iconic Yasaka Pagoda can also be viewed up close from the hotel entrance, club lounge, and even from several guest rooms, and witnessing it illuminated after dark is sure to enchant.

All rooms on the first four floors are renovated from former classrooms, leaving the antique windows and beams intact. The restaurant likewise utilizes the former auditorium, with bookshelves and such reminding guests of the school atmosphere.

(Image: Booking.com)

(Image: Booking.com)

(Image: Booking.com)

The restaurant hosts both American-style and Japanese breakfasts and a buffet of small daily dishes.

Freshly ground and brewed coffee, famous Kyoto and Kiyomizu confections, and even local sake can be enjoyed for free at the guest lounge!

A Saudi Arabian guest said, “Everything was incredible – from reception to the scenery, location, breakfast, and especially the guest lounge.” The hotel is also a convenient 8-minute walk from the World Heritage Site of Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

10. THE JUNEI HOTEL Kyoto (Shichijo)

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“Stay in space enveloped by bamboo and moonlight.” This is the concept of THE JUNEI HOTEL Kyoto, a 10-minute taxi ride from Kyoto Station or a 10-minute walk from Kiyomizu-Gojo. It is characterized by its designer interior using traditional bamboo craftsmanship, flaunting the beauty contained within bamboo.

Guest rooms and more are adorned with artworks made with “Yume-koro” dye, which is said to shine like the sun under the light, along with a hinoki cypress bathtub, traditional bamboo accessories, and more. The Bamboo Suite features a “Relaxation Room” with a 2-meter-wide hinoki cypress bath!

(Image: Booking.com)

(Image: Booking.com)

Complementing the Bamboo Suite are three other types of rooms; the Deluxe King, Hollywood King, and Hollywood Twin. The headboard of the beds is made with the traditional “Kyo-karakami” sliding screen paper, weaving together a gentle texture together with painstaking details like bamboo art embellishments and more.

A guest from Singapore said, “The rooms had a traditional inn-like feel, the bed was huge, and the bathtub and shower were fresh and modern. Everything I needed and more was arranged.”

For your next trip to Kyoto, we recommend staying at one of the city’s newer hotels! Along with great bases for sightseeing, they are oases of relaxation worth spending your time enjoying and exploring!

*This article is current as of August 2022. Please check the official websites, etc. for the latest information.