The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto has the best location of any hotel in town: It’s right on the Kamo-gawa River and just steps from downtown. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, many with sweeping views of the river and the Higashiyama Mountains. It’s a superb choice and gets top honors on this list.
The Hyatt Regency Kyoto offers excellent, spacious rooms, great on-site restaurants, attentive service and a relatively convenient location. It’s a reliable choice for a relaxing stay in Kyoto. And, it costs a fraction of what the Ritz and the Four Seasons cost.
The Four Seasons is a hidden sanctuary in Southern Higashiyama. It boasts a stunning building and grounds and some fantastic rooms. It’s the most expensive hotel on this list.
The Kyoto Hotel Okura is a fine hotel with extremely reasonable rates and an unbeatable downtown location – it’s directly connected to the Kyotoshiyakusho-mae subway station in the middle of downtown. It’s highly recommended.
Kyoto has some of the best luxury hotels in the country, with both Japanese and international brands to choose from. Here are our top picks for Kyoto luxury hotels, all personally inspected. Find more of our favorite luxury hotels in Kyoto for 2026.
For all the essentials, see my First Time In Kyoto guide
For ideas on how to structure your trip, see my list of Kyoto Itineraries
Here’s a comprehensive list of Things To Do In Kyoto for inspiration and to book ahead where necessary
Do you want help planning your Japan trip? My team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
See my one page guide on Where To Stay In Kyoto for the best neighborhoods and my top hotel picks in every price range
Consider staying in a Kyoto ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn. It’s a quintessential Japanese experience. My comprehensive Kyoto ryokan guide explains what to expect from a stay
There have been some superb new hotels opening in Kyoto in recent years – see Kyoto’s Best New Hotels for an overview
You can buy a Japan eSim SIM card or an unlimited data pocket wifi router online before you arrive in Japan for collection on arrival
View my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
See if the Japan Rail Pass can save you money during your trip
Why it’s essential to have travel insurance for Japan
Travellers to Japan no longer need to supply proof of Covid vaccination or a negative test. We have all the latest news on visiting Japan
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