Last updated on August 23rd, 2025
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Planning your first Kyoto itinerary and not sure where to start? This guide on where to stay in Kyoto for first-time visitors breaks down the best areas to help you pick the perfect base for your trip.
Kyoto, one of the best places to visit in Japan for first-timers, is such an iconic destination that starting to plan your trip can feel a bit overwhelming.
Tokyo has all the futuristic big city vibes, Osaka is a paradise for foodies, but Kyoto is where the movie-like Japanese traditional charm and culture truly shine.
However, with its countless Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, palaces, and beautiful gardens, all spread out throughout the city, it can be hard to know where to stay in Kyoto for first-time visitors.
After living in Osaka for three months and exploring Kyoto on day and weekend trips, I’ve learned how essential a well-located base is, especially for shorter stays.
So to help you make the most of your precious time here, this guide to where to stay in Kyoto for first-time visitors will explain some of the best areas to stay in the city, the closest attractions, plus hotel recommendations for every budget.
So, without further ado, let’s get to it!
✨ Essential reads for first-time travelers to Japan:
Where to Stay in Kyoto for First-Time Visitors: Top Areas and Hotels
One thing that truly took me by surprise when starting to plan our first Kyoto day trip from Osaka was just how spread out Kyoto truly is.
What you end up seeing online—especially on social media—the famous Kyoto pagoda, the temples, and picturesque Gion streets, will have you thinking that Kyoto is one adorable small village.
And that could not be further from the truth—Kyoto is BIG. At least area-wise, it’s around four times bigger than Osaka.
And most of the Kyoto top things to see are on completely opposite sides of the city.
So, to make the best of your trip, you’ll want to have an understanding of the city, the distances, and choose your Kyoto base wisely, especially for a first-time visitor.
Quick Overview: Best areas to stay in Kyoto for first-time travellers
| Area | Best For | Highlights | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gion | Traditional charm | Geishas, temples, old streets | Tourist-heavy, pricey |
| Kyoto Station | Easy arrival from Tokyo | Bullet train hub, hotel variety | Lacks old Kyoto vibe |
| Downtown (Kawaramachi) | Food, shopping, and central | Nishiki Market, nightlife | Busy and loud |
| Arashiyama | Nature & a peaceful vibe | Bamboo Grove, river, temples | Far from city center |
Gion: Best area to stay in Kyoto for traditional charm
One of the best areas to stay in Kyoto is the Gion district, famous for its traditional atmosphere, charming streets, and the promise of crossing paths with a Geisha on one of those evenings out in the neighborhood.
Gion is the perfect place for first-time travellers to Kyoto looking to soak in the picture-perfect Kyoto vibes.
- Pros: My favorite highlight of this popular area is the availability of charming ryokans, giving you a more authentic experience of Japan’s traditional side. Plus, they are so cute!
This small neighborhood is also very central, and has easy access to the well-connected Gion-Shijo Station, making it a good starting point for your days exploring Kyoto and beyond.
- Cons: Due to the incredibly picturesque charm of Gion and its popularity, you’ll find it impossible to escape the crowds here.
And since it’s a stunning and central area in one of Japan’s most iconic destinations, accommodation will be a bit more expensive on this side of town.
Where to stay in Gion, Kyoto:
- Budget: Hotel In Kyoto Sasarindou – Clean and simple rooms in an incredible location, right in the heart of the popular Gion, for a great price.
- Mid-range: Rinn Kitagomon – Beautiful, spacious, minimalist rooms with a mix of traditional Japanese and Western styles, featuring tatami floors and comfy beds.
- Luxury: 祇園の宿 杏花 Hotel – Super spacious bedrooms with beautiful tatami floors, and a luxurious Japanese-style bathtub, just a few steps away from Gion Shijo Station.
Things to do in Gion, Kyoto:
- Get lost in its picturesque streets
- Visit the historic Yasaka Shrine
- Wander Hanamikoji-dori Street, lined with traditional restaurants and tea houses
- Walk to the iconic Yasaka Pagoda (that Kyoto pagoda)
- Make your way to the unmissable Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Downtown/Kawaramachi: Best area to stay in Kyoto for foodies and overall convenience
If looking for where to stay in Kyoto for first-time visitors, then one of the top two contenders, together with Gion, is the central Kawaramachi area in downtown Kyoto.
Kawaramachi is somewhere I spent a lot of time in when visiting Kyoto, as this is where you will find the famous Nishiki Market, as well as some of the best Kyoto coffee shops, incredible craft shops, and unique boutiques.
- Pros: There are lots of things to do in Kawaramachi—from shopping to coffee shop hopping and eating your way through the market, so you immediately have lots to do here without having to commute.
The nearby Kyoto-Karawamachi Station is very well connected, so you can easily move around the city to visit all of Kyoto’s attractions, as well as take a day trip to its fun neighbor, Osaka. - Cons: If you end up staying on one of the main streets here, you might find the area to be busy and loud; however, you can avoid this by staying slightly further away from the main avenues.
Where to stay in Downtown, Kyoto:
- Budget: Hotel Rings Kyoto – Cozy, spacious rooms in a great location, just a few blocks away from the Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station, and for great prices.
- Mid-range: Cross Hotel Kyoto – Stylish, modern hotel offering sleek rooms with warm wooden decor, giving them a clean but cozy aesthetic. A few steps away from the Kamo River and the famous Pontocho Alley.
- Luxury: Nol Kyoto Sanjo – The best of both worlds; a modern ryokan-style hotel, with sleek rooms featuring a bath and elegant minimalist decor. For added luxury, go for the Superior Twin Room.
Things to do in Downtown, Kyoto:
- Go coffee shop hopping, my favorite ones include: Blue Bottle, Ogawa Coffee, and Master-piece
- Eat your way through Nishiki Market
- Wander the historic Pontocho Alley
- Browse the unique shops around Shinkogoku Shopping Street (we got a beautiful Japanese knife here)
- Take a day trip from the Kyoto-Karawamachi Station and spend 24 hours in Osaka
Kyoto Station: Best area to stay in Kyoto for easy travel to Tokyo
If you are someone travelling with a lot of luggage, or maybe family, and are coming from Tokyo, or will make your way back there at one point, then you might find staying around Kyoto Station to be convenient for you.
However, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this, as the main Kyoto Station is slightly south of the city, and away from all the action.
If traveling to Kyoto’s attractions is your concern, other metro lines in the city can also get you there.
- Pros: Staying around Kyoto Station will make the journey from and to Tokyo much smoother, as you only need to hop on the train, instead of having to drag luggage around public transportation.
- Cons: There is not much around Kyoto Station, you have none of that traditional vibe here, and the main Kyoto attractions are further away from here.
While in Osaka for three months and constantly day tripping to Kyoto, I don’t think we ever had to go through the Kyoto Station, as other metro lines would drop us off in the heart of the city, at the Kyoto-Karawamachi Station.
Where to stay near Kyoto Station:
- Budget: Fujiya Ryokan – Affordable Japanese-style rooms in a highly-rated ryokan, featuring a friendly house cat. (Bathrooms are shared)
- Mid-range: Richmond Hotel Premier Kyoto Ekimae – Modern, minimalist, yet cozy hotel rooms with an inner courtyard view of the beautiful zen garden.
- Luxury: HIDEOUT – Elegant and spacious studios, featuring a living room, a kitchen, and a bathtub in each room.
Things to do near Kyoto Station:
- Visit the underrated To-ji Temple
- Wander the serene Shoseien Garden
- Walk along Kyoto’s iconic Kamo River
Arashiyama: Best area to stay in Kyoto for nature lovers
While I would not necessarily recommend staying all the way out in Arashiyama for first-time visitors to Kyoto, I think it’s valid to mention it for travelers who are more interested in peace and quiet, and a more natural side of Japan.
Kyoto is an iconic city, full of charm, but also full of people, so I fully understand if you would rather opt out of that.
- Pros: By staying in Arashiyama, you can easily be the first at the attractions in the area—like the iconic Bamboo Forest—and therefore avoid the crowds, without having to wake up at 5 am in downtown Kyoto to commute all the way out here.
And since most people stay in the city and commute to Arashiyama for the attractions, you will have the area all to yourself in those quiet mornings before the crowds arrive, as well as in the late afternoon when attractions close, giving you a more authentic experience.
- Cons: If staying in Arashiyama, you will be quite far away from everything else Kyoto has to offer, from the city center itself, and even further from all the main spots on the east side of the Kumo River.
So, in order to check out all the main Kyoto attractions, you will always have to commute longer back and forth.
Where to stay in Arashiyama, Kyoto:
- Budget: Guest House Atagoya – Snug, traditional Japanese-style rooms with tatami mats and futon beds, bathrooms are shared. Affordable prices, a short walk away from the Bamboo Forest.
- Mid-range: Homm Stay Nagi Arashiyama Kyoto By Banyan Group – Spacious, and beautifully designed rooms mixing Japanese and Western touches, a short walk away from the iconic Arashiyama Bamboo Forest.
- Luxury: Rangetsu – Modern Japanese-style rooms with tatami mats, futon beds, and private bathroom with a Japanese-style bath tub overlooking the hills and the nearby Katsura River.
Things to do in Arashiyama, Kyoto:
- Get the famous Arashiyama Bamboo Forest all to yourself
- Fuel up at the scenic % Arabica coffee shop by the Katsura River
- Visit the beautiful Tenryu-ji Temple
- Wander the traditional Saga Toriimoto street
Where NOT to stay in Kyoto (if you’re a first-time visitor)
As mentioned, Kyoto is a much bigger city than first-time travelers might expect, so choosing a well-connected base is crucial.
For this reason, I would recommend staying somewhere central, between Gion, Kawaramachi, and north of Kyoto Station.
While it might be tempting to stay somewhere way more affordable on the outskirts of the city, this will only mean you will spend more time commuting.
And if you only have limited time in Kyoto, I would prioritize a good location to make the most of your precious time in this beautiful city.
Final thoughts on where to stay in Kyoto for first-time visitors
Even while being the most strategic person when choosing where to stay in Kyoto as a first-time visitor, you will still end up commuting while trying to visit all the main attractions—that’s just a fact.
However, choosing the best possible accommodation could make those commute times shorter, making your trip more efficient, or even put some attractions within walking distance from your base.
If you want to be in the heart of all the action, close to Nishiki Market, and within walking distance to shops, coffee shops, and restaurants—keeping in mind this could mean a louder area to sleep in—then Kawaramachi is the right area for you.
Would rather be somewhere quieter, away from the crowds, and deeper in nature? Then, Arashiyama is the best area to stay in Kyoto for you.
If you want to wake up to charming streets lined with traditional houses in the heart of Kyoto, then the Gion district is the place for you—but it will come at a higher price and with bigger crowds.
In the big scheme of things, as long as you are somewhere close to a train or metro station, you can always make your way to wherever you want to go in the city.
However, these areas also have lots to offer in their immediate surroundings, so you have plenty to do as you step outside of your accommodation.
I hope this guide on where to stay in Kyoto for first-time visitors helps you make the best choice for your upcoming trip to this iconic Japanese destination.
Which area do you think is the winner for you? Let us know in the comments.