Best Hotels In Kyoto aman garden

The 10 Best Hotels In Kyoto Blend Old & New

Known for its verdant natural beauty, abundance of ancient temples and shrines, traditional tea rooms, and traditional Japanese wooden townhouses (known as ‘machiya’), Kyoto has long been a gathering place for those seeking to bask in the healing power of nature, experience a traditional tea ceremony, or simply escape the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. The best hotels in Kyoto speak to something of a duality within the city. Joining the traditional eras-old ryokans and machiya townhouses are a crop of contemporary luxury hotels that speak to the city’s thriving modern art and culture scene, one that sits in harmony with its century-old crafts. But while they may differ in appearance, new and old alike are united in their shared commitment to hospitality, displaying the principles of omotenashi through thoughtful attention to details and intuitive staff.

Regardless of whether you skew traditional or contemporary, the best hotels in Kyoto have something for everyone. From lavish contemporary boltholes to contemplative ryokans, these are the best places to stay.

1. Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto

Opening a contemporary, design-led hotel in an ancient city that’s inextricably linked to its heritage is no mean feat. Even more so when it sits on the site on which the powerful Mitsui family held a residence for almost three centuries. The land has been back in the hands of the Mitsui corporation since 2015, with the Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto opening its doors in 2020. Sitting across from the 17th-century Nijo Castle, the sleek André Fu-designed hotel with its rectilinear lines and glass-and-steel material palette stands in stark juxtaposition.

However, the past is not forsaken, with the original 300-year-old wooden gate welcoming visitors into the space, while delicate touches like a long corridor with blonde wood arches that act as a contemporary interpretation of torii gates and a garden by landscape designer Shunsaku Miyagi that acts as a modern recreation of the garden of the Mitsui residence serving to anchor the hotel to the ancient city.

Each of the 160 rooms and suites within Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto acts as a contemporary reimagining of a traditional Japanese tearoom, with soothing tones and low furniture taking centre stage. Select suites have private onsen access, while the spa facilities include a sleek communal onsen, gym, and a treatment menu based on ancient Japanese principles. A quartet of food and drink venues cater to various tastes, such as the French-Japanese restaurant Toki and casual Italian joint Forni.

Price: from $1800AUD/night
Address: Aburano-Koji St. Nijo-Sagaru, Nakagyo-Ku, 284 Nijoaburanokojicho, Kyoto, Japan

2. Arashiyama House Mama

This traditional hotel in Kyoto feels like something of a secret. Spanning just 10 rooms, it’s an unobtrusive property located in Arashiyama, a district known for its breathtaking unspoiled nature, with the Katsura river at its heart and abundant bamboo groves and forested mountain ranges around it. Influenced by the nature around it, Arashiyama House Mama takes an understated approach to decor, with guest rooms seeing pieces by local artisans seamlessly merge with pared-back Scandinavian furniture (Danish furniture maker Carl Hansen & Son features prominently). Each room plays host to a stone soaking tub, with glass-walled bathrooms overlooking verdant private walled gardens to make for an undeniably relaxing experience. Unexpectedly, the heart of the hotel is its Italian pizzeria. Serving up Japanese flour-based pizza dough cooked in a clay oven, toppings are interesting and innovative, with the likes of mackerel, capers, shiso pesto, red onion, and lemon coming together to create an umami explosion.

Price: from $400AUD/night
Address: 1-5 Arashiyama Nishiichikawacho, Nishikyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan

3. Maana Homes Kiyomizu

For aficionados of wabi-sabi design, Maana Homes Kiyomizu is the natural choice. Set in a quiet lane near the 16th-century Toyokuni Shrine, Maana Homes Kiyomizu spans three suites located within a network of renovated machiya townhouses. Sleeping two to four people, the suites meld traditional and contemporary design, with sand-toned walls, clay bathtubs, unfinished wood, and Japanese washi forming a soothing material palette. The renovated townhouses also house Kissa Kishin, a cafe serving up coffee, matcha, and pastries; and POJ Studio, a boutique selling artisanal home goods (think handmade pottery, incense, and washi paper lanterns) which appear throughout the suites.

Price: from $600AUD/night
Address: 427-18, Myohoin Maekawacho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, Japan

4. The Shinmonzen

A fresh take on a traditional ryokan inn, The Shinmonzen is nestled on a quiet lane in Kyoto’s Gion district, surrounded by artists’ studios and antique shops. With the Gion district notable for its numerous ryokans, The Shinmonzen blends into its surroundings; the structure, designed by renowned Japanese architect Tado Ando, employs a wooden facade that replicates a machiya. Each of the nine spacious guest suites overlook the Shirakawa River and reinterpret Japanese design philosophies for the modern traveller; flooded with natural light, each suite is defined by comfort, elegance, and simplicity, expressed through cypress soaking tubs, soft tatami floors, boucle furniture, hand-woven carpets, native wooden details, and bespoke artwork. The hotel restaurant sees chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten blend French, American, and Asian influences using predominantly locally sourced ingredients.

Price: from $2000AUD/night
Address: Shinmonzen-dori, 235 Nishinocho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, Japan

5. Aman Kyoto

Despite being a relatively new addition to the ancient city, Aman Kyoto feels right at home. Designed by longtime collaborator, Australian architect Kerry Hill, Aman Kyoto is ensconced within 80 acres of dense woodland, with moss-covered, maple tree-lined pathways and vast ponds providing visitors with the sense of total seclusion. The vast property plays host to just 28 rooms and suites, spread across six pavilions that feature latticed walls and pitched roofs that echo those of traditional machiya houses.

Rooms, suites, and pavilions are designed as an homage to traditional ryokan inns, with minimalist design and floor-to-ceiling glass walls letting the abundant nature outside do the talking. All stays include access to hot spring onsens, breakfast, Japanese-style afternoon tea, evening aperitifs, and a guided tour of the hotel’s secret garden.

Price: from $3800AUD/night
Address: 1 Okitayama Washiminecho, Kita-ku, Kyoto, Japan

6. Six Senses Kyoto

‘Serene urban’ might sound like an oxymoron, but Six Senses Kyoto manages to make it work. Located in the bustling district of Higashiyama, known for its collection of shrines, temples, cultural landmarks, and cherry blossom trees, Six Senses Kyoto carves out an oasis of calm. Taking an artistic approach to its design, aesthetics are inspired by the literary masterpiece Tale of Genji as well as various ancient folklore. The Six Senses Spa boasts a robust treatment menu, as well as a Watsu (aquatic bodywork) pool, alchemy bar, herbal tea lounge, and a yoga and meditation studio.

Rooms and suites overlook either Toyokuni Shrine or a verdant inner courtyard, with spaces promoting relaxation through clean lines, neutral tones, and biophilic design cues.

Price: from $2000AUD/night
Address: 431 Myohoin Maekawacho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, Japan

7. Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto

Sitting comfortably on the foreshore of the Katsura river, Suiran is located within Arashiyama, the district famed for its beautiful nature. The public parts of the hotel are constructed around manicured Japanese gardens and are housed within traditional buildings, while guest rooms and suites are located within contemporary low-rise buildings. Quiet, thoughtful service (omotenashi epitomised) and breathtaking nature are the primary drawcards at Suiran; most travellers seeking respite here are in search of serenity and calm, something the hotel offers in spades.

As for restaurants, fine dining outpost Kyo Suiran offers multi-course tasting menus with a French twist, while the more relaxed Café Hassui serves a healthy Japanese afternoon tea complemented by views of the Katsura river.

Price: from $1350AUD/night
Address: 12 Susukinobaba-cho, Saga-Tenryuji, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan

8. Ace Hotel Kyoto

A welcome departure from the expected, Ace Hotel Kyoto embraces modernity without shunning tradition. Sitting in stark juxtaposition to the discreet design cues of the ancient city, the newcomer takes an unabashedly bold approach. East meets west in every space, courtesy of interiors by Californian outpost Commune and architecture by renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, the latter of whom renovated the century-old Kyoto Central Telephone Office building and added a new-build with an industrial material palette of copper sulfide plating, cedarwood, glass, and concrete next door. The industrial space is enlivened by contemporary artwork and bold furniture, which sits alongside bespoke creations from over 50 Japanese artisans — think dyed prints from folk artist Samuro Yunoki and textiles by Shobu Gakuen, an artist community in southern Japan. Guestrooms feature mid-century furniture and Ace Hotel’s signature offering of vibrant sofas surrounding Tivoli radios, turntables, and vintage records. Many rooms are outfitted with an elevated space housing tatami mat flooring and traditional chabudai dining tables, with all bathrooms boasting Japanese soaking tubs. On the gustatory side, there’s Popiko, an eclectic bar and taco lounge; Mr Maurice’s, an Italian joint serving quintessential comfort food; and Kosa, serving fresh Californian Kyoto cuisine.

Price: from $275AUD/night
Address: 245-2 Kurumayacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan

9. Hoshinoya Kyoto

Another hotel nestled in the nature-laden district of Arashiyama, Hoshinoya Kyoto is located on the banks of the Katsura river and offers a luxury ryokan experience. Sitting within a 17th-century mansion respectfully given a contemporary renovation by Japanese architect Rie Azuma, suites span a network of traditional Japanese buildings flanked by gardens, stone pathways, and forestry which provides the ideal balance between manicured and untamed nature. Each of the 25 pavilions is crafted with tranquillity in mind; secluded, they’re expertly positioned along the steep riverbank to capture views of the beauty outside. Inside, woven ceilings, ikebana arrangements, shoji screens, and wooden bathtubs showcase the nation’s flair for finding beauty in the quotidian. The restaurant, helmed by chef Toshiharu Takahashi, offers a contemporary take on kaiseki cuisine, utilising seasonal local ingredients to create artistic, flavour-filled morsels that harmonise with each other.

Price: from $3300AUD/night
Address: 60 Arashiyama Nakaoshitacho, Nishikyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan

10. Roku Kyoto

Discreetly tucked away in the Takagamine mountainside and overlooking the Tenjin river, Roku Kyoto is ideally placed for those wishing to enjoy the serenity of a remote location while being close enough to explore the numerous shrines, temples, gardens, and cultural offerings within the city. Each of the 112 rooms and suites is designed to pay homage to the residence of 16th-century Japanese artist Koetsu Honami. Simple in their nature, private spaces feature minimal interiors rendered in natural materials and complemented by urushi lacquerware, woven bamboo, and karakami woodblock prints.

Price: from $1600AUD/night
Address: 44-1 Kinugasa Kagamiishicho, Kita Ward, Kyoto, Japan


Words by Theo Rosen