Arashiyama
4 miles from downtown
Shoots, leaves and eats. This hillside district is all about the greenery on its fringes. Hop on the Sagano Scenic Railway and chug through the valley, then cleanse your soul with a serene stroll round the bamboo forest. Once refreshed, sample juicy tofu at Yudofu Sagano or go for shock value at Hirokawa, purveyors of the finest eel dishes in town.
Places to stay from $27 a night
As Japan's former capital, Kyoto thrived for centuries as the country’s epicenter of culture, religion, and economy. Buddhist temples, palaces, beautiful gardens, and time-honored traditions like the geisha of the Gion district all help to preserve this era's impact.
There are 17 locations that make up the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto" spread throughout Kyoto. The gold leaf-covered Kinkakuji temple (the Golden Pavilion)—which according to legend was burned down by a monk who thought it was "too beautiful"—is a popular place to start. Another great launch pad is the Kiyomizu-dera, famous for its wishing wells, wooden veranda, and beautiful views of cherry and maple trees.
During spring and fall, the trees blossom into canopies of pink and red, while all of Arashiyama's towering bamboo remains bright green year-round. This colorful canvas extends to another popular landmark – the Fushimi Inari Shrine, featuring 10,000 orange "torii" gates that form a tunnel through the surrounding forest.
Kyoto is a hotspot for Japan's world-famous cuisine. Nishiki Market is packed with Michelin star restaurants, sushi spots, and "izakaya" bars, where you can have everything from Kitsune Udon noodles to "kaiseki" – Japan’s take on haute cuisine.
Tonight
From $24 per night
This weekend
From $48 per night
Next weekend
From $47 per night
Most popular time to visit | March-May |
Cheapest time to visit | December-February |
Local currency | ¥1,000 = $9.16 |
Language | Japanese |
Average weekend price | $76 per night |
Average weekday price | $71 per night |
Average stay | 1 night |
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
2 miles from downtown
Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
2.6 miles from downtown
Nishiki Market
0.9 miles from downtown
Nijo Castle
1 miles from downtown
Kinkaku-ji Temple
3 miles from downtown
Kyoto Tower
1 miles from downtown
During COVID, Kyoto has been a dream.
March 22, 2021
During COVID, Kyoto has been a dream. For years I've avoided the usual tourist traps, particularly around Higashiyama, thanks to the horrible crowds, but I could really fully appreciate the beauty of those sites during the pandemic. It's probably the only good thing that has come of it. Enjoy it while you can. We probably won't see this sort of miracle again (if we're lucky) any time soon. I'm glad I had occasion to visit frequently during this clusterF.
Efficient check-in, spacious room,
April 25, 2018
Efficient check-in, spacious room, very nice location. Tokyo tower experience shouldn’t be missed. Great place to stay. Very close to Kyoto station, including all the bus stations. Hotel staff are friendly and speaks good english.
Kyoto itself had a lot to offer and it was a great place to...
February 5, 2017
Kyoto itself had a lot to offer and it was a great place to have as a base for traveling to other cities (get that JR pass and take the bullet train to many destinations). We stayed at Hotel Gimmond. An older hotel but the staff was wonderful. It was a short subway ride to Kyoto station. Reasonable price. There were 6 of us so we needed two rooms. 812 & 816. 816 had more room and was at the end of the hall. Bathroom was subpar. It's old and has some wear and what looks like mold, but doesn't wipe off. It's embedded or painted over. Not great, but not a deal breaker. The rest of the place was well maintained but dated. Beds were comfy. Pillows had a buckwheat side and were surprisingly relaxing and comfortable. We noticed a smokey smell and told the staff. It was taken care of promptly. To keep out noise and light, there was a sliding panel that closed off the window area. Eat where the locals eat. Transportation is efficient.
Lots of cultural sites.
October 23, 2016
Lots of cultural sites. Nice entertainment sites too. Hotels on the expensive side (especially for a Saturday night), still they are usually booked. Subway is not that extensive, the bus routes are and a day pass is only 500 yen. It is worth it. If you have a JR pass, you may want to book a hotel close to the station, it is a very good location. On the other hand, if you do have a JR pass, it may be cheaper if you stay in another close-by town/city and visit Kyoto by train for free. Walk and explore the areas by the river. Nice cafes and restaurants.
The hotel was exactly as promised.
October 7, 2016
The hotel was exactly as promised. The staff was excellent, the room was clean but being so close to the Kyoto station made a world of difference. You can pretty much get anywhere on their train system but it can be a little overwhelming trying to figure out. I must say that the room was tiny. It was fine for sleeping but too cramped for just relaxing. But I re-iterate it was exactly as promised and you can expect no more. Had I to do it over I would have paid more for a larger room. The Japanese people could not have been more friendly, helpful and gracious. Don’t expect to find American style sushi in Japan. Sashimi seems to be the rule. Although after a few days you can only see so many Buddhist / Taoist temples, and there will be a LOT of walking! For some unknown reason they seemed to like building their places of worship up a mountain.
Love Kyoto, Have visited Japan 10 times and always include...
September 15, 2016
Love Kyoto, Have visited Japan 10 times and always include time in Kyoto. We found this gem of a place to stay and will most certainly return. We were a group of 8 aged 60-70s in 4 rooms. We were all very happy with the facilities. We booked a goodwill guide to help us get around on one day. The other days we got ourselves around ok. Always include a trip to Nara. This time we also visited the bamboo forest area and went on the romantic train. Don't miss the golden pavilion it's a must see in Kyoto. There are so many temples, shrines its hard to decide which to incude. Also go up on the rooftop of the JR station. There is a great moving electronic light display beside the escalators. We went up all the levels of escalators to the roof top.
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