Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street

Snug cafe serving traditional Japanese confections, cakes & matcha in a charming setting.

Nestled in serene Higashiyama Ward, this chic hotel offers stylish rooms, three top-notch restaurants, and a tranquil spa, perfect for unwinding after exploring Kyoto.

Riverside walkway beside traditional homes, popular for strolls & beers at the water's edge.

Posh hotel offering a Zen-like garden with a spa, plus a refined cafe with a terrace & river views. Overlooking the Hozu river, this upscale hotel is an 8-minute walk from the iconic Tenryū-ji Zen temple. The streamlined rooms (all nonsmoking) offer free Wi-Fi, flat-screens, minifridges, and tea and coffeemakers; some have balconies with garden or mountain views, or provide tatami mats, chabudai dining tables and futons. Upgraded rooms add wooden soaking tubs, while suites feature living areas; some come with river views. Room service is available 24/7. There's an understated restaurant, and a refined cafe with a terrace and river views. A serene garden features an open-air spa with hot spring baths. Breakfast and parking are offered (fee).

Refined quarters in a high-end hotel with an Ayurvedic spa, dining & a cafe/bar, plus outdoor pools. Set at the foot of the Takagamine Mountains, this high-end hotel beside the Tenjin River is 13 minutes' walk from Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion, an 18-minute walk from the Daitoku-ji temple complex and 103 km from Kansai International Airport. Sophisticated rooms feature Wi-Fi, flat-screens and minibars, as well as daybeds. Upgraded rooms offer private gardens and/or sitting areas. Suites add living rooms and/or whirlpool tubs. Room service is available. Amenities include an airy restaurant, and a cafe/bar with a riverside terrace, plus a 24-hour gym, outdoor pools, and an Ayurvedic spa that has a geothermal pool. Breakfast is also available.

Quiet, car-free area of traditional, 19th-century wooden homes & shops, with forest views.

Perched on Mount Otowa, this enchanting Buddhist temple dazzles with stunning views, vibrant autumn foliage, and an intriguing array of architectural gems.

Casual, cozy inn offering rooms with tatami floors & futons, plus a bathhouse & a restaurant. Set in a bustling shopping district, this informal, cozy inn with a traditional wooden facade is a 7-minute walk from a subway station, 3 km from Yasaka Shrine and 4 km from Nijō Castle. Understated, spartan rooms come with free Wi-Fi, TVs and minifridges, and feature tatami floors with areas for futons. Breakfast (fee) is available in a down-to-earth restaurant that offers refined meals. There's also a gender-segregated, communal bathhouse.

Buddhist temple founded in the 8th century, featuring more than 1,200 stone heads on its grounds.

Experience the charm of Kyoto at this historic ryokan, where elegant rooms, exquisite kaiseki cuisine, and warm hospitality create a cozy retreat.