Area Overview: Why Stay Near Kyoto Station?
Kyoto Station is the top area to stay for visitors to Kyoto. Whether you are a first-timer, travel with large luggage, or plan day trips to Osaka, Nara and Uji, hotels around Kyoto Station are extremely convenient. The station has the Karasuma (Central) Exit on the north side and the Hachijo Exit on the south side. The Central Exit has excellent amenities, including Kyoto Tower, the bus terminal and the Isetan department store, while the Hachijo Exit is quieter and flat, with shopping such as Don Quijote and the AEON mall.
This article introduces selected hotels around Kyoto Station, including upscale, mid-range, budget and distinctive hotels, to suit different travelers’ needs.
| Hotel | Price range | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Granvia Kyoto | Upscale | Courtyard garden |
| Onyado Nono Kyoto Shichijo | Mid-range | Natural hot spring public bath |
| Richmond Hotel Premier Kyoto Ekimae | Mid-range | Business center |
| Hotel Vischio Kyoto | Mid-range | Public bath and sauna facilities |
| Royal Twin Hotel Kyoto Hachijoguchi | Mid-range | Refined open-air public bath |
Upscale Hotel Picks: The Top Choices for a Luxurious Stay
Where to Stay Near Kyoto Station: Hotel Granvia Kyoto
A luxury hotel connected directly inside the Kyoto Station building, with 537 rooms and restaurants including the Japanese restaurant Kyoto Kitcho, teppanyaki and Chinese cuisine, suited to business and leisure travelers.
- Access: directly connected to JR Kyoto Station’s Central Exit, about a 1-minute walk
- Highlights: fitness center and indoor pool (both extra charge), several restaurants and bars
- Best for: business travelers and those who want to save transfer time
- Access: directly connected to Kyoto Station (0-minute walk)
- Highlights: courtyard garden, fitness center, restaurants
- Best for: business travelers
Where to Stay Near Kyoto Station: RIHGA Royal Hotel Kyoto
RIHGA Royal Hotel Kyoto has 489 rooms and Japan’s only rotating observation French restaurant. It also has an indoor pool and several restaurants and bars, and is about a 10-minute drive from Meishin Expressway’s Kyoto-Minami IC, handy for drivers.
- Access: about a 7-minute walk from JR Kyoto Station’s Central Exit
- Highlights: rotating observation French restaurant, indoor pool, several restaurants and bars
- Best for: business travelers, couples
- Access: 8-minute walk from Kyoto Station
- Highlights: courtyard garden, fitness center, spa
- Best for: business travelers, couples
Where to Stay Near Kyoto Station: DoubleTree by Hilton Kyoto Station
An international chain hotel that opened on March 29, 2024, with 9 floors above ground and 266 rooms, an all-day restaurant, a coffee lounge and a fitness center open 24 hours.
- Access: about a 5-minute walk from Kyoto Station’s Hachijo Exit
- Highlights: 24-hour fitness center, all-day restaurant, coffee lounge
- Best for: business travelers, families
- Access: 5-minute walk from Kyoto Station’s Hachijo Exit
- Highlights: fitness center, outdoor pool, restaurant
- Best for: business travelers, families
Mid-Range Hotel Picks: Great-Value Choices
Where to Stay Near Kyoto Station: Onyado Nono Kyoto Shichijo
“Natural Hot Spring Hasu no Yu, Onyado Nono Kyoto Shichijo” opened in 2021 and features a Japanese-modern space with tatami flooring. The natural hot spring public bath is available all day and includes a sauna.
- Access: about a 7-minute walk from Kyoto Station’s Central Exit
- Highlights: natural hot spring public bath, sauna, buffet breakfast, yonaki soba noodles from 21:30 to 23:00
- Best for: families, couples
Where to Stay Near Kyoto Station: Richmond Hotel Premier Kyoto Ekimae
Richmond Hotel Premier Kyoto Ekimae is about a 5-minute walk from Kyoto Station’s Central Exit, with 207 rooms. The shared area has a microwave and drink service.
- Access: about a 5-minute walk from the Central Exit of Kyoto Station, and about 4 minutes from Exit C6 of the Porta underground mall
- Highlights: microwave and drink service in the shared area, free welcome service for guests only (daily until 16:30)
- Best for: business travelers, general travelers
Where to Stay Near Kyoto Station: Hotel Vischio Kyoto
A hotel that opened in May 2019 under the JR West group, with quality standards comparable to Kyoto Granvia, featuring a public bath and a gym.
- Access: about a 2-minute walk from Kyoto Station’s Hachijo Exit
- Highlights: dry sauna and cold plunge in the men’s bath, mist sauna in the women’s bath (free for guests), gym
- Best for: young travelers, couples
Where to Stay Near Kyoto Station: Royal Twin Hotel Kyoto Hachijoguchi
Royal Twin Hotel Kyoto Hachijoguchi is about a 2-minute walk from Kyoto Station’s Hachijo West Exit. Its public bath has an open-air bath, sauna, cold plunge and bedrock bath, and breakfast prepared by a dedicated chef has won awards.
- Access: about a 2-minute walk from Kyoto Station’s Hachijo West Exit
- Highlights: open-air public bath, sauna, bedrock bath, award-winning breakfast
- Best for: families, backpackers
Royal Twin Hotel Kyoto Hachijoguchi
Royal Twin Hotel Kyoto Hachijoguchi is conveniently located near public transport stops, with a spa, sauna and a restaurant serving buffet breakfast and dinner, a good choice that balances relaxation and easy transport.
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Where to Stay Near Kyoto Station: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto Ekimae Premier
A hotel in front of Kyoto Station’s Karasuma Central Exit with 205 rooms. The rooms and lobby are designed around the image of kimono, including Nishijin-ori textiles, and it is about a 3-minute walk from Kyoto Tower.
- Access: about a 4-minute walk from Kyoto Station, and connected to the station’s underground passage
- Highlights: Nishijin-ori designed rooms, free Wi-Fi, massage service and laundry area
- Best for: business travelers, general travelers
Budget Hotel Picks: Affordable Choices
Where to Stay Near Kyoto Station: Kyoto Shin-Hankyu Hotel
Kyoto Shin-Hankyu Hotel is directly across from the Karasuma Central Exit of Kyoto Station, with 325 rooms. City bus, regular sightseeing bus and subway boarding points are all within walking distance.
- Access: about a 3-minute walk from Kyoto Station’s Karasuma Central Exit
- Highlights: in front of the station, city buses and subway within walking distance
- Best for: general travelers, travelers who value convenient transport
Where to Stay Near Kyoto Station: Hotel Hokke Club Kyoto
Hotel Hokke Club Kyoto is directly across from the Karasuma Central Exit of Kyoto Station, with 172 rooms, non-smoking throughout, and a restaurant and cafe.
- Access: about a 1-minute walk from Kyoto Station’s Karasuma Central Exit, right at Exit B13 of the Porta underground mall
- Highlights: non-smoking throughout, free Wi-Fi, coin laundry, light breakfast at extra charge
- Best for: families, couples
Where to Stay Near Kyoto Station: Sotetsu Fresa Inn Kyoto Hachijoguchi
Sotetsu Fresa Inn Kyoto Hachijoguchi is about a 3-minute walk from Kyoto Station’s Hachijo East Exit, with 138 rooms. The buffet breakfast offers Japanese and Western dishes including Kyoto pickles.
- Access: about a 3-minute walk from Kyoto Station’s Hachijo East Exit
- Highlights: non-smoking throughout, free Wi-Fi, laundry area, buffet breakfast
- Best for: backpackers, general travelers
Where to Stay Near Kyoto Station: Dormy Inn PREMIUM Kyoto Ekimae
“Natural Hot Spring Hanabotaru no Yu” Dormy Inn PREMIUM Kyoto Ekimae has a natural hot spring public bath on the 9th floor with an open-air bath and sauna, free yonaki ramen every night from 21:30 to 23:00, and a buffet breakfast at extra charge.
- Access: about a 3-minute walk from Kyoto Station’s Central Exit
- Highlights: natural hot spring public bath, open-air bath, sauna, free yonaki ramen
- Best for: families, couples
Distinctive Hotel Picks: Unique Experiences
Family Stay Pick: MIMARU KYOTO STATION
MIMARU KYOTO STATION is an apartment-style hotel with a kitchen in every room and 40 rooms in total. The spacious Japanese-modern rooms have a refrigerator, stove, microwave and a separate dining area, suited to families and groups.
- Access: about a 2-minute walk from Kyoto Station’s Hachijo Exit, and about 3 minutes from Kyoto Station on the Karasuma subway line
- Highlights: kitchen in every room, laundry facilities, separate dining area
- Best for: families, children, large groups
Distinctive Stay Pick: Via Inn Prime Kyoto Hachijoguchi
Via Inn Prime, part of the JR West group, is about a 2-minute walk from Kyoto Station’s Hachijo Exit, with 465 rooms. It is convenient for reaching areas such as Umekoji, Higashiyama and Fushimi Inari.
- Access: about a 2-minute walk from Kyoto Station’s Hachijo Exit, and also about 2 minutes from Kintetsu Kyoto Station’s Hachijo Exit
- Highlights: 465 rooms, in front of the station, convenient for Umekoji and Fushimi
Must-Eat Food Around Kyoto Station: Ramen Koji, Isetan Department Store and In-Station Snacks
Kyoto Station itself is a huge food hub, where you can eat famous restaurants from all over Japan without going anywhere. For travelers staying near Kyoto Station, arriving on a late flight or leaving early in the morning, every meal can be solved nearby without taking another train to find food.
Kyoto Ramen Koji: Popular Ramen Shops from Across Japan
“Kyoto Ramen Koji” on the 10th floor of the station building brings together several popular ramen shops from Kyushu, Tokyo, Hokkaido and elsewhere, so you can try different regional broths and noodles in one place. It is open 11:00 to 22:00 (last order 21:30), with free entry. It gets crowded at mealtimes, so avoid the midday and evening peaks.
Isetan Food Floors and Underground Mall Snacks
JR Kyoto Isetan is on the west side of the station building, with sales floors from the 2nd basement floor to the 11th floor. The basement floors gather counters for sweets, prepared foods, bento boxes and souvenirs, ideal for taking back to your hotel or buying a bento before boarding the Shinkansen. The restaurant floor on the 11th floor is open 11:00 to 22:00, and you can look out over the station area while you dine.
Budget Chains and Izakaya Around the Hachijo Exit
Compared with the business atmosphere of the Central (Karasuma) Exit, the Hachijo Exit area is more relaxed, with plenty of budget chain set-meal restaurants, yakiniku and izakaya, ideal for guests staying near the Hachijo Exit (such as Sotetsu Fresa Inn, Via Inn Prime and MIMARU) to stroll and find dinner in the evening.
Kyoto Station Area Sights and Transport at a Glance
The biggest advantage of staying near Kyoto Station, besides convenient transport, is that the station itself and its walkable surroundings have several worthwhile places to stop, so even a half-day gap can be filled with a good itinerary.
Kyoto Tower: The Best Night View Landmark in Kyoto
Kyoto Tower is directly across from the station’s Central Exit, only a few minutes on foot. The observation deck overlooks the whole Kyoto basin, and when lit up at night it is one of the landmarks for photos around the station. The observation deck is open 10:00 to 21:00 (last entry 20:30), adults ¥900, high school students ¥700, elementary and junior high students ¥600, with no reservation needed, a good stop just before or after hotel check-in.
Station Grand Staircase and Skyway: Free Night View Photo Spots
The Grand Staircase in the Kyoto Station building has 171 steps with a height difference of about 35 meters and is open 6:00 to 23:00. Some steps have embedded LED lights whose patterns change with the season. The Skyway connecting the east and west sides is about 185 meters long and open 10:00 to 22:00. Both are free to walk through, and make an easy stroll after dinner without any extra transport.
Central Exit Bus Terminal: Connecting Kyoto’s Main Sights
Outside the station’s Central (Karasuma) Exit is the largest bus terminal in Kyoto city. Many city bus routes depart from here, going directly to major sightseeing areas such as Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkaku-ji, Gion and Arashiyama. For travelers staying near Kyoto Station, whether planning day trips or multi-day tours by area, the station works as a hub that radiates out in every direction, saving you the trouble of moving luggage between hotels every day.
Day Trips to Osaka, Nara and Uji
Kyoto Station is where JR, Kintetsu and the subway meet. The JR Special Rapid to Osaka takes about 30 minutes, the Kintetsu Kyoto Line limited express to Nara takes about 35 minutes (about 45 minutes by JR Nara Line rapid), and Uji can also be reached by the JR Nara Line. This is why many travelers use Kyoto Station as their base for day trips around Kansai, and in the evening you can walk straight back to the hotel.
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Hotel Selection Tips and Pitfalls to Avoid
When to Book: When Is the Best Time?
In general, booking early gets you a better price. For a popular destination like Kyoto, we recommend booking at least a month ahead, and confirming your room even earlier during cherry blossom season, autumn leaf season and long holidays, when there are also more room types to choose from. If your itinerary is already set, you can book your Kyoto Station hotel first and plan everything else afterward.
Choosing Your Kyoto Station Hotel: Karasuma Central Exit vs. Hachijo Exit
On the Karasuma Central Exit side are Hotel Granvia Kyoto (directly connected), Hotel Hokke Club Kyoto (about 1 minute), Kyoto Shin-Hankyu Hotel (about 3 minutes) and Richmond Hotel Premier (about 5 minutes), closer to Kyoto Tower and the city bus terminal. On the Hachijo Exit side, Hotel Vischio, Royal Twin, Via Inn Prime and MIMARU are about 2 minutes away and Sotetsu Fresa Inn about 3 minutes, closer to the Shinkansen and Kintetsu boarding points.
Booking Deals: Member Discounts and App-Only Offers
Many booking platforms and hotel official websites offer member discounts or app-only offers, which can save you more on accommodation, and some plans add benefits such as breakfast or late check-out. Before booking, compare the platform and official-site prices, and check the cancellation policy, whether breakfast is included, and whether the price already includes tax and service charges.
Kyoto Accommodation Tax: ¥200 to ¥10,000 per Person per Night from March 2026
Kyoto City revised its accommodation tax from March 1, 2026, charged per person per night according to the room rate: ¥200 for under ¥6,000, ¥400 from ¥6,000 to under ¥20,000, ¥1,000 from ¥20,000 to under ¥50,000, ¥4,000 from ¥50,000 to under ¥100,000, and ¥10,000 for ¥100,000 and above. Please follow the property’s explanation for how it is actually collected.
FAQ
Q: What highly rated hotels are there around Kyoto Station?
A: There are many highly rated hotels around Kyoto Station, such as Hotel Granvia Kyoto and RIHGA Royal Hotel Kyoto, offering choices from upscale to budget.
Q: How do I book a hotel around Kyoto Station?
A: You can book through booking platforms such as Booking.com and Agoda, or directly on the hotel’s official website.
Q: How convenient is the transport around Kyoto Station?
A: Kyoto Station is a transport hub, and most nearby hotels are within walking distance of the station. Hotels at the Karasuma Central Exit and Hachijo Exit are about 1 to 7 minutes on foot, so transport is very convenient.
Q: What distinctive hotels are there around Kyoto Station?
A: Distinctive stays include Hotel Vischio Kyoto and Onyado Nono Kyoto Shichijo, offering unique experiences.
Q: What is the price range of hotels around Kyoto Station?
A: Prices range from budget to upscale, depending on the hotel’s star rating and facilities. Most hotels do not publish rack rates on their official sites, so please check on a booking platform.
