Travel Guide > Asia > Japan > Honshu > Kansai > Kyoto
Kyoto (京都市), Japan's capital until it was moved to Tokyo in 1868, is considered by many to be Japan's most beautiful city. Only Rome lays claim to more designated Unesco World Heritage Sites than this city nestled amongst the mountains of Western Honshu. The magnificent array of temples and shrines include famous names like the Golden Pavilion, Kinkaju and the Ryoanji zen garden.
Kyoto is a sightseers paradise and much can be taken in on foot, although don't expect it to be the first impression you get of the city on arrival. Urban sprawl and ultra modern buildings like the glass and steel main train station, show signs of a city embracing modern times despite it's deeply traditional roots. But once you do find yourself in areas like Old Kyoto wandering down alleys of traditional narrow, wooden houses you will learn to appreciate the great artistic heritage that defined Kyoto for over a thousand years.
The temple architecture in Japan was imported, along with Buddhism, from China around the 6th century. Some famous temples in and around Kyoto are:
Shinto is the state religion in Japan. However, it is not like a religion in a traditional sense, there is no founder, canon or holy book. It is more of a state of mind and way of life. Some important shrines in Kyoto are:
Kyoto has a subtropical humid climate with warm, wet summers and drier but mild winters. Summers last from June to September when average highs are mostly between 28 and 34 °C and nights are between 19 and 24 °C. Winters from December to February see highs of 9-11 °C and lows of 0-2 °C. Most of the annual rain falls between March and October, while winters are relatively dry and there is a chance of snow from December to March, with 3-5cm a month on average.
As Kyoto doesn't have its own airport, Kansai International Airport (KIX) and Osaka Airport (ITM) are the gateways to Kyoto (and Osaka/Kansai for that matter). The latter only serves domestic destinations.
Kyoto can be reached by train from Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe, Hiroshima and Fukuoka, among many other places. Check the Japan Rail website for more details about schedules and prices.
| Property | Address | Type | Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-yado Gion | 3F Sakura bldg., 244-2, Nakano-cho, 2 chome Shinm | Hostel | 90 |
| Amenity Hotel Kyoto Kiyomizu | 4-171 Kiyomizu Higashiyama-ku | Hotel | 77 |
| Backpackers Hostel K's House Kyoto | 418 Nayachou Shichijo-agaru, Dotemachi-dori, Shimogyo-ku | Hostel | 90 |
| bAKpAK Gion Hostel | 2-244 Miyagawa Suji Higashiyama-ku | Hostel | 81 |
| bAKpAK Kyoto Hostel | 1-234 Miyagawa Suji Higashiyama-ku | Hostel | 84 |
| Chita Guest Inn | 343 Takatsuki-cho | Hostel | 90 |
| Daiya Ryokan | 292, Nishi Tamamizu-cho, Higashihairu,Higashino To | Hostel | 62 |
| Eco and Tec Kyoto | 40 Sanjyoboucho Awadaguchi | Hotel | 80 |
| Econo Inn Kyoto | Kawaramachi-Gojo Sagaru Hirai-cho | Hotel | 70 |
| Gion Shinmonso | Shinmon Mae, Hanamikoji, Higashiyama Ku, | Hostel | 93 |
| Gojo Guest House | 3-396-2 Gojobashihigashi Higashiyama-Ku | Hostel | 86 |
| Gojo Guesthouse - Annex | 11-26 Komatsu-cho 4 Higashiyama-ku | Hostel | 92 |
| Guest House Bola-Bola | 25-17 Horigauchi-cho Uzumasa Ukyoku Kyoto city | Hostel | 87 |
| Guest House Kyoto Costa del Sol | 134 Ebisu, Shinmachi, Gojo-sagaru Shimogyo-ku | Guesthouse | 81 |
| Guest House Yahata | 544 Yahata-cho, Gojo-agaru Nishinotoin, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi | Hostel | 84 |
| Guesthouse Bon | 63-2 Kamimonzen-cho Murasakino Kita-ku Kyoto Japan | Hostel | 88 |
| Guesthouse Waraku-an | Sannou-cho19-2, Shougoin Sakyou-ku | Hostel | 93 |
| Hanakiya Inn | 583-101 Higashi Rokucho-me Higashiyama-ku, 605-0856 | Hostel | 88 |
| Hannari | Higurashidori Shimodachiurisagaru Kushigecho, Kami | Hostel | 87 |
| Hirashin, Shijo Karasuma | Takoyakushi-Doori, Takakura-Nishi Nakagyou-Ku | Hostel | 91 |
| Hotel Alpha Kyoto | Sanjo-Agaru, Kawaramachi Nakagyo-Ku | Hotel | - |
| Hotel Iida | 717 Shiokojiagaru, Akezudoori Shimogyo-ku | Hotel | 50 |
| Hotel Mystays Kyoto-Shijo | 52,Kasaboko-cho,Aburanokoji,Higashi-iru Shimogyo-k | Hotel | 82 |
| Hotel Sanoya Kyoto Station | 539, Higashishiokoji-cho Higashinotoindori-Nanajo | Hostel | 82 |
| Hotel Sugicho | 172, Moriyama-cho, Tomikoji-oike-agaru Nakagyo-ku | Hostel | 76 |
| IchiEnSou Guesthouse | 4-2 Komatsu-Chou SijoSagaru 4 Choume YamatoOojiDou | Hostel | 97 |
| Ikoi-no-Ie Kyoto | 885 Ushitora-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto city | Hostel | 87 |
| Ishicho Shogikuen | Kawaramachi Dori Takeya Higashi Iru, Nakagyo-ku | Hostel | 92 |
| J-Hoppers Kyoto Guest House | 51-2, Nakagoryo-cho Higashikujo, Minami-ku | Hostel | 86 |
| Kazariya | 184 Higashi-Kazariya-Cho Gojo-Muromachi-Nishiiru | Hostel | 90 |
| Kyoto Cheapest Inn | 783 Sabamatsu-cho, Marutamachi-dori Matsuyacyo Nis Kamigyo-ku | Hostel | 74 |
| Kyoto Eki-mae White House | Sagaru Higashi, Shimogyo-ku | Guesthouse | - |
| Kyoto Guest House The Earthship | 33-15 Naka-Adaticho, Yoshida, Sakyo-ku | Hostel | 76 |
| Kyoto Nissho Besso Ryokan | Toninokoji nishi 13 Nakagyo-ku Sanjo | Hostel | 70 |
| Kyoto Travelers Inn | 91, ENSHOJI-CHO, OKAZAKI SAKYO-KU | Hostel | 81 |
| Kyoto UTANO Youth Hostel | 29 Nakayamacho Uzumasa Ukyo-ku | Hostel | 85 |
| Kyoto White Hotel | Higashi Shiokoji-cho, Shimogyo-ku | Hotel | - |
| Miwaya Ryokan | 229 Shichijo Agaru,Akezu-dori Shimogyo-ku | Hostel | 71 |
| Nagomi-Ryokan Yuu | 94 Kamiwakamiya-cho, Wakamiya-dori Rokujo Nishi-ir Shimogyo-ku | Hostel | 88 |
| O-yado Sato | 93 Kamiwakamiya-cho Shimogyo-ku | Hostel | 83 |
| Orange Inn | Kita-Kinuta 8, NIshi-Nanajyo, Shimogyo-ku, | Hostel | 52 |
| Oyado Ishicho | Kawaramachi Dori Takeya Higashi Iru, Nakagyo-ku | Hostel | 87 |
| RokuRoku | 28-1 Nishiteranomae-cho Shishigatani Saky | Hostel | 85 |
| Ryokan Hiraiwa | 314,Hayao-cho,Kaminokuchi-agaru,Ninomiyacho-dori | Hostel | 63 |
| Ryokan Nihonkan | Higashi Shiokoji-cho, Shichijo-sagaru, Karasuma-do | Hostel | 78 |
| Ryokan Sanki | Shimabara Nishi-Shinyashiki-Shimono-cho | Hostel | 81 |
| Ryokan Wajimaya | Higashi-iru,Karasuma,Kamijuzuyamachi, Shimogyo-Ku | Hostel | 82 |
| Ryokan Wakamiya | 701,Ebisuno-cho, Nishinotoinhigashiiru Nanajodori | Hostel | - |
| Ryokan Yachiyo | 34 Fukuchi Cho Nanzenji Sakyo | Hostel | 92 |
| Sandal Wood | 2F 32-2 Ttakada-Cho,Saiin Ukyou-ku | Hostel | 92 |
| Sparkling Dolphins Inn Kyoto | Kamigoreicho 56,Higashi Kujyo Minami-ku | Hostel | 75 |
| Station Hotel Seiki | 24-25 Kitakarasuma-cho Higashikujo, Minami-ku | Hostel | 60 |
| Tomato | 135, Shimizu, Siokoji-Horikawa-Nishi Shimogyo | Hostel | 71 |
| Tomiya Ryokan, Kyoto Station | 545 Higashishiokoji-cho, Higashinotoin-nishiiru S | Hostel | 62 |
| Uno House | 108 Marutamachi-Sagaru, Shinkarasuma-dori | Hostel | 53 |
| Uoiwa Ryokan | Nanajo agaru 143, Horikawa-dori Shimogyo-ku | Hostel | 93 |
| Watazen Ryokan | 413, Izutuyatyo Nakagyoku,Yanaginobanba,Rokkaku,Sagaru | Hostel | 93 |
| Yamashiroya Ryokan | 517,shiokoji-cho,nanajousagaru,toudouindori shimog | Hostel | 90 |
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