Kyoto/Central

Kyoto's extensive rail, subway, and bus networks can all be accessed through the city's main transportation hub: the gargantuan glass-and-steel structure of Kyoto Station (京都駅, Kyōto-eki) – an outstanding piece of architecture that's worth seeing in itself (see below).

By train

Kyoto Station is a major stop on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen Line. From the station, travellers arriving by shinkansen (or by other railway lines) can easily access the city's municipal subway and bus systems.

By subway

Central Kyoto is served by two intersecting subway lines. The north-south Karasuma Line (which stops at Kyoto Station) and the west-east Tōzai Line link up at Karasuma-Oike Station near the city centre.

By bus

Several important bus routes (covering not only Central Kyoto but other parts of the city as well) start and end at the Kyōto-eki-mae terminal - which, as the name indicates, is right in front of Kyoto Station. Take the station's Karasuma/North exit and you'll see the bus terminal, which is divided into four boarding platforms (from A to D) and has signs in English identifying key stops on each route. For detailed route information, pick up a copy of the helpful "Bus Navi" leaflet from the information centre near the terminal.

Central Kyoto is a mix of museums, religious heritage sites, contemporary shopping and office buildings. Note that museums are limited in their non-Japanese offerings when it comes to labels and guides. Most religious sites close by 17:00 daily. This is often an area that surprises tourists — many come to Kyoto expecting tradition, and are often surprised to find contemporary life humming along as it does in most medium and big cities, except in Kyoto — it's alongside real tradition.

• Shinsen-en Garden

  phone: +81 75 821-1466
  address: 167 Monzen-cho, Nakagyo-ku
  Although cherry blossom-viewing and festivals can be seen all over Japan today, Shinsen-en Garden is where the very first organized cherry blossom viewing festival took place.

• Nijō Castle

  phone: +81 75 841-0096
  address: 541 Nijojo-cho, Horikawa-nishiiru, Nijo-dori, Nakagyo-ku
  Certainly one of the highlights of Kyoto, with fine gardens and splendid centuries-old structures. The castle was built by the Tokugawa shoguns to serve as the shogun's residence in Kyoto. After the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate, the castle served as an imperial residence before being converted to a museum and opened to the public. The series of ornately-decorated reception rooms within the Ninomaru Palace complex is particularly impressive, and known for its "nightingale floors" - wooden flooring which makes bird-like squeaking sounds when stepped on so as to give advance warning when someone was approaching. From the empty base of the donjon that once overlooked the innermost section of the fortress (known as the Honmaru), you can get good views over parts of the castle compound and the wider city beyond. The donjon and original honmaru palace burnt down in two separate fires, and the existing honmaru palace was constructed in the early Meiji period (late 19th century). Unlike the ninomaru palace, the honmaru palace is not open to the public, though visitors may walk in the honmaru garden and view the exterior of the palace up close. See also Japanese castles.

• Nijō-Jinya

  phone: +81 75 381-6487
  address: Just south of Nijo Castle
  A private residence, Nijo-Jinya is a former samurai house. Tours discuss the roles of samurai and the dangers experienced during that time period. The house features unique trap doors and escape routes used by samurai and former residents to escape fires and attacks. Guided tours are available in Japanese by a family member of the current residents. You are welcome to bring an interpreter.

• The Museum of Kyoto

  phone: +81 75-222-0888
  address: Sanjo Takakura, Nakagyo-ku
  The museum features many ancient artifacts relating to Kyoto life and history. It has an expansive ancient ceramics collection.

• Kyoto International Manga Museum

  phone: +81-75-254-7414
  address: Kinbuki cho 452, Nagakyō-ku
  Housed in an old elementary school building, the museum holds over 300,000 manga-related items ranging from rare Meiji-era publications to the works of contemporary artists. One of its main attractions is the so-called "Wall of Manga": a vast collection of some 50,000 volumes arranged on shelves running along the building's corridors. Much of the collection is in Japanese, but there is a sizeable selection of manga translated into various foreign languages (including English) on the ground floor. Visitors are welcome to pick out and read anything they choose from the "Wall of Manga" (although the books can't be checked out for offsite reading), which explains the large numbers of children and young adults that throng the museum - and the large Astroturf field just outside where people can read the manga of their choosing. The museum also hosts special temporary exhibitions and other manga-related events. Closed Wednesdays and national holidays.

• Nishi Honganji

  address: 60 Horikawa-dōri Hanaya-chō Kudaru Honganji Monzen-machi, Shimogyō-ku
  One of many World Heritage Site in Kyoto, Nishi Honganji is one of two temple complexes of the Buddhist sect, Jōdo Shinshū (the other being Higashi Honganji). It was founded in 1602, and has gates dating back to 1573.

• Higashi Honganji

  phone: +81-75-371-9181
  address: Karasuma Shichi-jō Agaru, Shimogyō-ku, Kyoto 600-8505
  Higashi Honganji was established in 1602 by the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu when he split the Shin sect in two (Nishi Honganji being the other) in order to diminish its power. Today it is the headquarters of the Ōtani branch of Jōdo Shin-shū. The Founder’s Hall (Goei-dō) is said to be the second-largest wooden structure in Japan. With a capacity for 5,000 people, it's majestic. Check out the massive coil of hair rope, donated by a group of female devotees and used to haul the massive timbers for the reconstruction of the temple in the 1880s.

• Shōseien Garden

  phone: +81 75-371-9210
  address: 300 higashitamamizu-chō, Shimojyuzuyamachi-dōri Aidanochō-higashiru, Shimogyō-ku
  Shosei-en Garden was commissioned by Prince Minamoto no Tōru. He created the Ingetsu Pond was designed to look like the Shiogama coast in Miyagi Prefecture. During the Tokugawa Period the garden was given to Higashi Hongan-ji Temple, restoring the old sections and adding on to the garden. It's a stroll garden with buildings dating back to the 19th century.

• Tō-ji

  address: Kujyomachi, Minami-ku
  An impressive complex of Buddhist temple buildings, this site features the tallest pagoda in Japan. Bright colors decorate the interior of many buildings on the site, and Buddhist sculptures compliment the color choices. The grounds include a relaxing garden, and cherry blossoms. The Kōbō-san market fair is held here on the 21st of every month.

• Kyoto Tower

  phone: +81 75-361-3215
  address: Karasuma-dōri Shichijō-sagaru, Shimogyō-ku
  A source of bitterness of locals due to its futuristic feel, which counteracts the historic feel the city is known for, the Kyoto Tower is an overpriced viewing tower where you can observe Kyoto's urban sprawl at its finest. There is also a hotel and banquet hall at the tower.

• Mibu-dera

  phone: +81 75-841-3381
  address: Bojo-dori Bukkouji Kita-iru, Nakagyo-ku
  Founded in 991 CE, Mibu-dera is a Buddhist temple. The temple has Setsubun celebrations in February which draws large crowds. It's free to visit the grounds, however, a small museum and garden have an admission fee.

• Kyoto StationEven if you are not travelling by train, it is worth spending an hour or so wandering around the station, which is an outstanding example of modern architecture. The station, with its futurist architecture designed by Hiroshi Hara, opened in 1997 to commemorate Kyoto's 1,200th anniversary. There are two tourist information centers in the building on the 2nd and 9th floors. Take the main escalator or stairs to the top where there is a rooftop garden with views over the city, and if you have a head for heights, walk across the skywalk on the 11th floor.

Imperial Park

The Imperial Park is a large, peaceful area in the centre of Kyoto, centred around the Imperial Palace. The palaces are only open to visitors on free guided tours, and bookings must be made at the Imperial Household Agency, online or in their office to the west of the palace complex.If you're in Kyoto for an extended amount of time, the park can make for a very pleasant afternoon, and it's large enough to let you forget the noise of the city outside the walls. It's home to 50,000 trees, including cherry, plum and peach tree orchards (mostly in the northern section).

• Kyoto Imperial PalaceThe palace is a reconstruction (dating from 1855), though the Emperor doesn't spend much time there, and the guided tour doesn't enter the palace buildings, only peeking at them from the outside, but nevertheless, it provides interesting insight into the lives of the Imperial Court and it's the only Imperial site in Kyoto that offers English guides. Show up an hour before the tour at the Imperial Household Agency building (west of Kyoto Imperial Palace), and they'll let you join if there's space, or make a booking for another day if there isn't. If you don't want to chance it, advance bookings can also be made online through the Imperial Household Agency's official website .

• Sentō Imperial PalaceThis palace is one of the most competitive for reservations, because this is the palace where the Imperial family stays when in Kyoto.

• Nishijin Textile Center

  phone: +81 75-451-9231
  address: Horikawa-Imadegawa
  While visitors may just go to the museum to see the history of Nishijin Textiles, you may also want to try dressing up as a geisha or trying your hand at weaving. You need reservations for each activity, and separate fees are charged for each activity.

• Kyoto Butoh-kan

  phone: +81 75-254-6520
  address: Tsukinukecho 135, Nakagyoku, Kyoto 604-8202
  In the heart of the city is located the Butoh-kan, the world's first theatre devoted to weekly performances of the elusive dance of Butoh. Performances are by world-famous Butoh dancer Tenko Ima, every Thursday at 18:00 and 20:00. She is accompanied by live Shamisen music. The "theatre" is an ancient plaster storehouse, so the atmosphere is vivid and intimate, because there are only eight seats per show.

The city's main shopping district is centered on the intersection of Shijō-dōri and Kawaramachi-dōri, a short distance from the Kamo River and a manageable walk away from the neighbouring Gion district in Higashiyama. Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyū Line puts you right in the heart of the action, within easy reach of three major department stores and a wide assortment of other shopping options.
For electronics, head up to Teramachi and turn left; for clothes boutiques, including your chance at finding the perfect Engrish t-shirt, turn right into the covered arcade portion of Teramachi and Shinkyōgoku, which runs parallel.
Specific places worth checking out include the following:

• Kōbō-san Market

  address: Tō-ji, 1 Kujō-chō, Minami-ku
  On the 21st of each month, Tō-ji hosts a large flea market on and around the temple grounds. It's like a one-day festival, with long rows of food vendors joining an odd assortment of sellers — everything from elegant Japanese crafts and rare plants to piles of old postcards, photos, movie posters, and appliances from decades past.

• Gallery Gado

  phone: +81 75-464-1655
  address: 27 Miyashiki-cho Hirano, Kitaku
  Gallery Gado sells modern woodblock prints (ukiyo-e) with traditional themes. The gallery also has catalogs of the work of artists who are maintaining this art form. All prints are authentic woodblock prints.

• Junkudo

  phone: +81 75-253-6460
  A huge bookstore with big selection of English books and magazines.

• Nishiki Market

  address: Nishikikoji-dori and Takakura-dori
  An enclosed traditional shopping street, expensive but full of interesting shops and products, including great souvenirs and snacks. It runs east-west, a block north of Shijo-dori, and at its eastern end it connects to Teramachi-dori, another, newer shopping street that runs north-south.

Budget

• Musashi Sushi: one of the oldest kaitenzushiya (conveyor belt sushi) restaurants in Kyoto, it is directly across from Kappa Sushi at the corner of Sanjo/Kawaramachi. All of the sushi is handmade, though it may take a while to see something new float by. Fortunately, the seats surround the chefs, so you can request whatever you want if you don't see something you like. Price: ¥137 per plate (usually 2 pieces per plate).
• Kappa Sushi is a chain kaitenzushiya (conveyor belt sushi) restaurant on the corner of Sanjo and Kawaramachi at the entrance to the Shinkyogoku/Teramachi covered mall. Lots of variety and cheap prices, but the sushi isn't handmade — machines are used to cut the rice and fish. Price: ¥100 per plate (usually 2 pieces per plate).
• Mr. Young Men is a pleasantly grubby okonomiyaki restaurant downtown, at the corner of Shijo and the covered shopping street of Teramachi. Basic English menus are available. A basic dish of Osaka-style okonomiyaki will run about ¥800, although a few variations (including a bizarre cheese and potato version) are available for about the same price.
• Hati Hati is an Indonesian restaurant on Kiyamachi, near Takoyakushi. It has great food and atmosphere, but it's occasionally converted into a bar and a performance space for local bands and DJs at night on weekends. For really late night food on Kiyamachi, there is a cheap, open-air falafel cafe a couple doors down from Hati Hati that never seems to close.
• Donguri is a cheap yet very nice okonomiyaki restaurant on the Northwest corner of Kawaramachi and Shijo. It's a sub-level place so it might take a bit to find it. It is next to the Excelsior Coffee; if you walk past The Body Shop you went too far. It's about ¥500 yen for an okonomiyaki and about ¥300-500 for a namachuu (mid sized mug of beer). Expect to pay ¥800-900 in the evening. Great place for a date or nicer evening.
• Kappa Sushi (on Pontocho) is a reasonably-priced (for fresh sushi) restaurant. They have an English menu which is, unfortunately, inferior to the Japanese menu. Specials change daily, but are generally on the pricey side. Sit at the sushi bar, and eat well-apportioned nigiri off of banana leaves with your fingers. Not a bad place to try real o-toro for ¥800 a plate.
• efish 798-1 Nishihashizume-cho +81 075-361-3069 (near the Idemetsu gas station, across the river from Keihan Gogo 京阪五条 station. Open every day, 11:00 to 23:00 (until 22:00 in the winter). This cafe, tucked away down a hidden side street, has a trendy ambiance and river views. For lunch, try the okra curry (¥850) or soup and bread set (¥650).

• ShofukuteiOne person udon nabe for ¥1000. Green soba or udon noodles for as cheap as ¥400.

Mid-range

• Shishin Samurai Cafe & Bar

  phone: +81 75 231-5155
  address: 230-1 Kamimyoukakuji-cho Nakagyo-ku
  The place proclaims that an increase of food production, food self-sufficiency, and the decrease of food waste can prevent war. This cafe serves local Japanese foods as much as possible to increase food self-sufficiency and sustainability. In addition this cafe uses 5% of its gross sales to aid homeless people and orphans who are suffering from a lack of food. Furthermore, this cafe aims to reintroduce declining Japanese traditional customs and keep these traditions alive. Also, this cafe plans to hold lectures, discussions and forums concerning peace and food sustainability (please, note different menu items during cafe and bar times).

• SiamA tiny but wonderful Thai curry restaurant. The food is delicious, reasonably priced and spice levels are indicated on the menu. Relax in a soft-lit room decorated with exotic paintings from Bali, while the friendly staff prepare your meal right in front of you. An English menu available.

• FukaThis old shop makes the best nama-fu (wheat gluten filled with sweet bean paste) in Kyoto and supplies many sweet shops and restaurants throughout the city. There might not be enough supplies to sell over the counter, so it is best to arrive early.

• TenguA chain izakaya offering their own beer and good shared food with occasional seasonal specials.

• AnilA nice Nepalese restaurant with a great atmosphere and awesome food. The dahl, cheese nan and momo dumplings are highly recommended.

• TorikizokuTorikizoku is the most popular yakitori chain in Kansai. There are several locations in Kyoto - most convenient for travellers is in Kawaramachi/Shijo, just before the bridge, or between sanjo and shijo, on kiyachou-dori. The yakitori is delicious, comes in generous serves and is very cheap. It's very popular with both locals and expats, and is always busy. Try to come before 19:30 to secure seats. Look for the Japanese characters on the distinctive yellow and red sign.

• Scorpione Kichiu

  phone: +81 75-354-9517
  address: 140-18 Saitocho, Shimogyo-ku
  Contemporary Italian food with an open kitchen and outdoor dining on the river. Attentive service with small but filling portions. Offers set meals lunches (¥2300 average) and dinners (¥5300-7900). Ala carte is available as well, however, a ¥1000 charge is added to eat head that purchases ala carte. Wine, beer, and cocktails available.

• Apollo

  phone: +81 75-212-2233
  address: Rokakku-dori
  If hipster izakaya didn't exist before, Apollo has invented it. Izakaya style with a clean, laid back environment consisting more of hip and arty locals instead of an older "regulars" crowd. Beautiful interior with a center garden and private dining rooms, or you can sit at the bar or in the more casual tables upstairs. Chefs prepare a mix of salads, grilled foods and fried foods from seasonal regional ingredients. House speciality is a pork gyoza. Affordable, cool and laid back.

• Tuzuri

  address: Matsubara Dori, just west of Karasuma
  Quiet Japanese place specialising in hamburger patties.

Splurge

• PontochōOne of Kyoto's most traditional nightlife districts, the restaurants here run the gamut for super-exclusive geisha houses to common yakitori bars. Many have pleasant open-air riverside terraces. Rule of thumb is, any establishment with a menu and prices outside is OK, but others are best skipped.

• Mishima-teiIf you have a yearning for sukiyaki, and your pockets are deep, you must visit Mishima-tei at the junction of Teramachi-dori and Sanjo-dori. Here you will be bowed in and shown to your own private tatami room by your personal kimono-clad hostess. There, having helped you to order, she will prepare your sukiyaki feast on the hotplate set between you. Order the "premium beef", and the richly marbled meat will just melt in your mouth, and require almost no chewing whatsoever: it is delectable – and it should be since two of you will spend around ¥25,000 in less than an hour on 360 grams of beef and a few vegetables! (For the cost-shy, there is a 'tourist set' on the menu which results in a bill of about ¥13,600 for 2.

Kyoto is a more sleepy town compared its neighbours like Osaka and Kobe. Bars range from "girlie bars" to a select few bars that cater to gaijin and their friends to local watering holes. The best bars in Kyoto are often less noticeable. When heading out for a drink, look for bars in Central and Eastern Kyoto with little or no signage. You can always pop your head in the door to take a look at the crowd and vibe. Fixing a nice mix is a good way to feel comfortable, and bartenders usually do their best to make you feel welcome by attempting some conversation if they know a bit of English. However, you can also enjoy a drink in the corner while observing the locals and pay up after a drink. Some places might charge a fee of ¥500-1000.
Beer and sake are common place in most bars. Wine is rarer, and often overpriced and mediocre. Mixed drinks are also common, and at many bars you'll find local liqueurs you can't find anywhere else.
There are little to no nightclubs and a small selection of live music venues in Kyoto. The local government has cut back on nightclubs and girlie bars to keep a more calm, safe and relaxed environment in the historic city. However, Gion still serves as a major entertainment district, and if you arrive early enough (before 18:00) you might see a geisha wandering off to an appointment in Gion.

• IngNo night in Kyoto is complete without the requisite after hours visit to all-night Ing (a.k.a., "Box Bar," or "the office"). Proprietor Hako-san will keep bringing you the booze, and he's happy to join you for a drink when offered. Food there is always an option - tofu salad & potato pizza are good for the price (¥600). Get ready for Rolling Stones, competitive Jenga, sharing tables with odd drunk people, and clothes permanently soaked in smoke. Good luck finding it. If you see Hamid's Falafel you're on the right track. Ing is on the second floor of a building slightly south of Hamid's.

• Sake Bar Yoramu

  phone: +81-75-213-1512
  address: Nijo-dori east of Karasuma
  From the unusual to the standard, this sake bar has both an impressive selection of traditional Japanese rice wine. Even more impressive is the barkeep and owner, who's from Israel, who can translate your preferences in wine into sake. Well-aged sake is available, busting the myth that sake does not age. Traditionally-brewed sake ranging from slightly cloudy to yogurt-like may also be available.

• Nikki's Bar

  address: Nishi-Kiyamachi 804 Daini Kankou Building
  This is a nice little bar ran by a gregarious Nepalese guy named Nikki. It's got a great bunch of regulars and new customers are always warmly welcomed. It's just north of Hamid's Kebab shop. Mixed drinks and beer run ¥700 per drink and shots are ¥500. It's a little hard to find because it's on the 8th floor. If you can't find it ask the folks working at Hamid's.

• Sugar Trip

  phone: +81 75-211-1145
  address: Rokkaku Building2F 236 Yamasaki-cho Nakagyo-ku
  A ritsy cocktail bar with a variety of drinks from the standard beers to champaigne and cava. Most people come for one of the many cocktail varieties that this bar is famous for.

• Rub-a-Dub

  phone: +81 75-256-3122
  address: Tsujita bld.BF,115 Ishiya-cho, Kiyamachi-Sanjo
  A one-room Jamaican Reggae bar. It can either be an over-crowded mess or a box of delirious fun, depending on which record is on (and how much you like Red Stripe) either way you must try the jerk chicken. Must be 18 years or older to enter.

• A bar

  phone: +81 75-213-2129
  A hard-to-find (on 2nd floor) izakaya close to the Shijo/Kiyamachi corners, makes a great start to the evening. Food is good and reasonable - daily sashimi specials and fried goods, especially. You share long tables with foreigners and locals alike; a friendly thing to do would be to pour beers for your neighbors and Suei-san, the proprietor.

• Pub Africa

  phone: +81 75-255 4518
  address: KyotoRokkaku Terrace Bld 1F
  Although many think this is an Africa-themed bar, there is nothing very African about it. If there's a football match from home that you need to catch, they'll show it here, and they have cheap Asahi jugs. Beers half off during Happy Hour. Also, their fooseball table is very well kept. Across from the Hub, infra.

• K-ya

  phone: +81 75-241-0489
  address: 105 Yaoya-cho, Gokomachi-nishiiru, Rokkaku-dori, Nakagyo-ku
  Classy beautiful off the beaten path bar that caters to locals more than tourists. The owner is one of Japan's best bartenders. Staff wear tux's ala Rainbow Room in New York. The vibe is upscale yet casual. It overlooks a beautiful Japanese garden. Cocktails range from classics like Moscow Mule to their own specialities. Tasty amuse bouche come with each round of drinks. Service is wonderful.

• Milan's BarA fun little bar tucked away down a back alley on the west side of the canal. The alley is just south of Karaoke Paradise, and the sign for Milan's read just Mil-N Bar. Located on the 2nd floor, it's a cozy, cave-like interior, but Milan, the Nepalese proprietor, is gregarious and always has a funny tale to tell.

British and Irish pubs

These are popular with foreign tourists looking for a "closer to home" connection and with locals wanting to meet them.

• The HubLots of TVs for sports, cheap beer (¥700/pint) (especially with a ¥500 membership) and more expensive imports; food, however, is mediocre. This is basically the headquarters for English-speaking tourists and gaijin residents for happy hour. Happy hour (17:00-19:00) discounts cocktails only. If you want some inside information about where to go, where to eat, what to see, etc., ask a group here. One of the larger bars in Kyoto, it is a popular spot for happy hours and goodbye parties. The real draw is the football, darts tournaments, and, upstairs in the back, the pool table.

• McLoughlin'sPresided over by the most amiable owner/chef Tadg McLoughlin. Quality beers, domestic and foreign (including microbrews). The staff are friendly and speak English. Live music on weekends. Giant screen TV (Mr. McLoughlin being a rugby fanatic), darts, foosball and a great view of east Kyoto. Happy hours are 17:00-20:00.

The great majority of Kyoto's accommodations can be found here. Staying closer to Kyoto Station provides immediate access to the Shinkansen and the hub of the city bus network; closer to Karasuma-Oike puts you in the midst of downtown and closer to the Gion. They're only minutes apart by subway, making the choice merely a matter of personal convenience.

Budget

Internet and manga cafés

• Topscafé

  address: Hachijo street

• Popeye media cafeThe most famous one. Cafeteria seats are OK, but it is better to use two if sleeping.

Hostels

• Guest House Kyoto Inn

  phone: +81 75 681-2282
  address: 15, Sujaku Shokaicho, Shimogyo-ku
  Opened November 2016. Very new and clean guesthouse where you can feel at home. Friendly, helpful and knowledgeable staffs who can speak good English. Comfy beds with curtain on the bottom bunk. Smooth Wi-Fi access, tea and coffee, computer and dryer use, left luggage service are all free. Enough number of toilets and showers with soap, well equipped kitchen. Air-conditioned dorms.

• Guesthouse Yahata

  phone: +81 75 204-5897 (Japanese only)
  address: 544 Yahata-cho, Gojo-agaru, Nishinotoin, Shimogyo-ku

• JAM Hostel

  phone: +81-75 201-3374
  address: Tokiwacho170 Higashiyama

• Hirano's B&B Kyoto

  phone: +81 75256-3081
  address: 38 Nakano-cho Oshikoji-sagaru, Shinmachi-dori, Nakagyo-ku
  A quiet and intimate B&B (three guest rooms), near Nijo Castle. Guests experience being at home with a Japanese family.

• J-Hoppers Kyoto Guesthouse

  phone: +81 75 681-2282 (SKYPE:jhoppers)
  address: 51-2, Nakagoryo-cho, Higashikujo, Minami-ku
  A clean backpackers hostel. Rental (worn-out) bikes ¥500/day, Internet ¥300/hour. No curfew; up-to-date local information by local staff.

• K's House Kyoto

  phone: +81 75-342-2444
  address: 418 Nayacho, Shichijo-agaru, Dotemachi-dori, Shimogyo-ku
  Opened in November 2003, this clean, foreigner-friendly hostel with English speaking staff has amenities like internet access and kitchens. The hostel itself can be difficult to find, as it is located down a narrow street off the main road.

• Khaosan Kyoto Guesthouse

  phone: +81 75-201-4063
  address: 568 Nakanocho, Bukkoji-agaru, Teramachi-dori, Shimogyo-ku
  Opened November 2010. Staff are very friendly and they provide heaps of local information. No curfew, free (but somewhat slow) Wi-Fi access, free tea and coffee available at Japanese style living room.

• Kyoto Cheapest Inn

  phone: +81 75-821-3323
  address: 783 Sabamatsu-cho, Marutamachi Omiya-Dori, Kamigyo-ku.
  Credit cards accepted, English available, sheets included. Free wifi, computer use. Long stay discount. Additional charges for various services - use of printer or fax, changing sheets more frequently, etc. Bike rental (¥500/day)

• Mosaic Hostel

  phone: +81 756720511
  address: 4-1 Nishikujo Kasugacho, Minami-ku
  Not a party hostel by any means, but has a friendly, social vibe, which seems to be encouraged by the free dinners they provide some days. The dorms are capsule-style, meaning that your bunk is enclosed in a capsule with walls on either side and a curtain at your feet, which makes the dorms quiet and feel much more private than your typical hostel. Each capsule has a little panel that lets in natural light in the morning, so make sure you have a sleeping mask if you want to sleep past sunrise. Big lockers, helpful staff, and they provide free slippers, earplugs, toothbrushes, and so on if you forgot them.

• Sandal Wood Hostel

  phone: +81 75-585-7052
  address: 2F 32-2 Ttakada-Cho ,Saiin, Ukyou-ku
  New hostel with friendly, English-speaking staff. Guests are always greeted with an unlimited amount of either ice cold water, hot coffee, or iced coffee. It is not uncommon for the hosts to offer plates of fruits and nuts during nights in. Free WiFi, towel use, washer and dryer, common room, left luggage service.

• Tomato Guesthouse

  phone: +81 75-203-8228
  address: 135 Shimizu, Nishi-iru Shiokoji-Horikawa, Shimogyou-ku

• Tour Club

  phone: +81 75-353-6968
  address: 362 Momijicho, Higashinakasuji, Shomensagaru, Shimogyo-ku
  A friendly, clean hostel with both dorm and private rooms. There is a beautiful zen garden and traditional Japanese-living room with a small library of local travel information. Free wifi, coffee and tea and the chance to try on a kimono. Air-con, bicycle rental, coin operated internet terminals and laundry are also available.

• Uronza Guesthouse

  phone: +81 75-341-3226
  address: 427 Yohoji-cho Shimogyo-ku
  A guesthouse offering Japanese and Western-style rooms in a traditional wooden house built in 1897, with no air-conditioning. Read the house rules before booking.

Hotels, minshuku & ryokan

• B&B Keiko

  address: 576-1 Matsumotocho, Ebisugawa Agaru,Gokomachi, Nakagyo-ku
  A traditional, 80-year-old house with two tatami mat rooms. Shared bath. Short walk to shops and restaurants. Highly rated by reviewers. Free wi-fi throughout.

• Budget Inn

  phone: +81 75-344-1510
  Under the same management as Tour Club (above). A variety of dorm and private rooms, with elevator access. Kitchen and laundry facilities available. Offers discounts for stays beyond 4 nights.

• Crossroads

  phone: +81 75-354-3066
  address: 45-14 Ebisu Banba-cho, Shimogyo-ku
  A ryokan with shared shower & toilet facilities. 23:00 curfew.

• Econo Inn Discount Hotel

  phone: +81 75-343-6660
  address: 67 Hirai-cho, Kawaramachi-Gojo Sagaru, Shimogyo-ku
  Western-style private singles, doubles, and triples. All rooms have a bath unit, air-conditioner and TV. Caters more to long-term stays.

• Hotel Iida

  phone: +81 75-341-3256
  address: 717 Shiokoji-agaru, Akezu-dori, Shimogyo-ku
  Mostly Japanese style rooms, with a few Western rooms, both varieties with or without private bath.

• Ikoi-no-Ie

  phone: +81 75-354-8081
  address: 885 Ushitora-cho, Rokujo-dori, Shinmachi Higashi-iru, Shimogyo-ku
  All non-smoking rooms, some en-suite. The ground floor rooms near the lobby can be noisy. LAN ports in most rooms.

• Palace Side Hotel

  phone: +81 75-415-8887
  address: Karasuma Shimodachiuri Agaru, Kamigyo-ku
  It's exactly where the name suggests: across the street from the Kyoto Imperial Palace and park, on Karasuma (near the intersection with Marutamachi). It's a Western-style hotel reminiscent of a much more expensive hotel that could use a good scrubbing. The staff speak fluent English, and the front desk is always open, as are computers with Internet access in the lobby. It's often used by academic groups from nearby universities, though, so advance reservations should be made. There are discounts for stays of three or more nights.

• Ryokan Hiraiwa

  phone: +81 75-351-6748
  address: 314 Hayao-cho, Kaminokuchi-agaru, Ninomiyacho-dori, Shimogyo-ku
  A self-proclaimed ryokan (really a minshuku) catering almost entirely to the foreign market, in an old Japanese house plastered with English signs, warnings and tips. All rooms are Japanese style. Traditional breakfast is available for an extra charge. Shared bathrooms or a public bath half a block away. But it's cheap (¥4200 for a single, ¥8400 for a double, breakfast not included) and reasonably friendly, though opinions beyond that vary widely. Slightly inconveniently located halfway between the station and the center of town (it's bit of a hike to either).

• Ryokan Kyoraku

  phone: +81 75-371-7161
  address: 231 Kogawa-cho, Shichijo-agaru, Akezu-dori, Shimogyo-ku
  14 Japanese-style rooms (half with private bath, half without) and two Western-style double rooms (both with private bath). 23:00 curfew.

• Ryokan Yuhara

  phone: +81 75-371-9583
  address: 188 Kagiyacho, Shomen-agaru, Kiyamachi-dori, Shimogyo-ku
  Japanese style rooms, shared bath, sink in room. Very nice rooms, very clean, very friendly. 23:00 curfew.

• Station Ryokan Seiki

  phone: +81 75-682-0444
  address: 24-5, Kitakarasuma-cho, Higashikujo, Minami-ku
  Shabby building, but the staff is friendly.

• Super Hotel Kyoto Karasuma Gojo

  phone: +81 75-343-9000
  address: Karasuma Dori, Gojo Kudaru, Osaka Machi 396-3
  A Japanese budget hotel chain. All rates include tax and breakfast.

• Toyoko Inn Kyoto Gojo-Karasuma

  phone: +81 75 344-1045
  address: 393, Gojo-Karasumasho Karasuma-dori Matsubara-sagaru Shimogyo-ku
  A Japanese budget hotel chain. Good value for twin rooms. Online reservations showing vacancies & bookings available on all sites, enter as "General Guest" if you do not have membership. Two other locations nearby, at Shijo-Omiya and Shijo-Karasuma, with similar prices.

Mid-range

• Gimmond Hotel

  phone: +81 75-221-4111
  address: Takakura-Oike-dori, Nakagyo-ku
  A foreigner-friendly hotel, neat and tidy, downtown near City Hall. Discount for Internet booking. For breakfast one has the choice between American or Japanese.

• Hearton Hotel Kyoto

  phone: +81 75-222-1300
  address: Higashi no Toin Dori Oike Agaru, Nakagyo-ku
  Mid range, Western-style hotel located downtown.

• Hotel Monterey Kyoto

  phone: +81 75-251-7111
  address: 3 Jyo Minami Karasuma-dori, Nakagyo-ku
  Japanese chain of boutique hotels. A 5-minute walk from Karasuma Oike station. A quick walk towards the heart of the city where restaurants and bars are located. Rates are best on their website, versus discount travel sites. The hotel has a spa, a chapel (Christian churches aren't common in Japan, so this makes up for it), and three restaurants (bar, French and Japanese). Decor is contemporary with a British revival twist. The hotel can use a good clean up, but the location is good. Free Wi-Fi for guests and visitors.

• Hotel Sugicho

  phone: +81 75-241-0106
  address: 172 Moriyamacho, Oike-agaru, Tominokoji, Nakagyo-ku
  Mostly Japanese-style rooms, with a few Western. Breakfast and dinner available. Adjacent to Kyoto Gyoen and the Nishiki Markets.

• Kyoto Garden Hotel

  phone: +81 75-255-2000
  address: Muromachi-dori, Oike Minamiiru, Nakagyo-ku
  Downtown location; a short walk away from the Kyoto International Manga Museum, a long (but manageable) walk away from Nijo Castle. All rooms are non-smoking. Guests with their own LAN-enabled laptops/netbooks can get internet access in their rooms free of charge; just borrow a connection kit from the front desk. Actual rates vary depending on the time of year and discounts/special offers are available for online bookings.

• Kyoto Tower Hotel

  phone: +81 75-361-3212
  address: Karasuma-dori Shichijo-sagaru, Shimogyo-ku
  Foreigner-friendly hotel, and the location across the street from JR Kyoto Station is impossible to miss. The same company operates two additional hotels nearby: the Kyoto Tower Hotel Annex, a few blocks northwest, and the Kyoto Dai-Ni Tower Hotel, east of the station.

• Ryokan Shimizu

  phone: +81 75-371-5538
  address: 644 Wakamiya Agaru Shichijo, Shimogyo-ku
  A modern ryokan which is welcoming to foreign visitors. The owners can speak some English. En-suite facilities are provided and a Japanese breakfast is available. There is a communal Japanese bath facility.

• Hotel San Crane

  address: 264 Daigo-cho
  Comfortable hotel a bit away from the main station.

• Citadines Karasuma-Gojo Kyoto

  phone: +81-75 352 8900
  address: 432 Matsuya-cho Gojo-dori Karasuma- Higashiiru Shimogyo-ku
  This apart-hotel offers studio and one-bedroom apartments. It also conducts certain residents' programmes.

Splurge

• Kyoto Hotel Okura

  phone: +81 75-211-5111
  address: Kawaramachi-Oike, Nakagyo-ku
  A large, modern Western-style hotel downtown.

• New Miyako Hotel

  phone: +81 75-661-7111
  address: 17 Nishikujo-Inmachi, Minami-ku
  The largest hotel in Kyoto with over 700 rooms, and the prices to match: starting at ¥10,000 for singles and ¥21,000 for doubles. Located immediately south of Kyoto station. If you get a room facing north, you'll be able to see the bullet trains coming in and out of the station, as well as the glass windows from the exterior of the Isetan department store that seem to reflect the sky if the weather conditions are just right. The slightly more expensive south wing opened in 2005.

• Japan National Tourism Board: Central Kyoto

• Arashiyama (Western Kyoto)
• Higashiyama (Eastern Kyoto)
• North Kyoto
• South Kyoto
• Uji