Hotels near The Philosopher's Walk in Kyoto

This was our first time staying in the Gion area, and Hotel the Celestine truly elevated the experience. The atmosphere is calm, elegant and very Kyoto. From check in to departure, everything felt smooth and professionally handled. The cleanliness was impeccable. The room was thoughtfully arranged with a perfect balance of modern comfort and traditional Japanese touches. Beds were extremely comfortable and the space felt well planned, not cramped like many city hotels. What makes this hotel special is the location. Stepping outside places you immediately in the charm of old Kyoto. Walking through Gion in the early morning before the crowds arrive was unforgettable. Service deserves special mention. The team was polite, warm and always ready to assist with genuine hospitality. A beautiful property for anyone who appreciates quiet luxury in a prime cultural setting. We would gladly stay again.

For a hostel-type experience, it was probably really good, and very reasonably priced. However, as a couple with lots of luggage, we should have just booked a hotel as this was not very comfortable to stay in, in our personal experience. The room was an okay size, if you are a solo traveller, or travelling light, this will likely not be an issue. However, with 2 people and 2+ bags, it becomes cramped, and a bit like a game of tetris to move the table and your luggage to fit the futon beds on the floor. There is also no elevator (which we should have checked beforehand) but it took us a few trips to get our bags up to the 4th floor (the reception is on the 2nd floor, as you have to walk up some stairs from the street level, 1st floor, to get to the entrance) - I will give the owner credit here though, he helped us bring our bags upstairs when we arrived. Unfortunately, the room did not feel clean, the provided towels felt like blankets (70% polyester) compared to the hand towel which felt like an actual towel (100% cotton) - we ended up buying a cheap towel from one of the convenience stores down the road - and there was only the overhead light (which, although you could dim and change the warmth, it wasn't great in the evenings). The futon sheets did not feel super clean in our opinion, and AC is centrally operated, I think there was a note that said we could mention if the temperature was too hot/cold, but we always returned to the room after the owner had left the reception for the evening (after 9pm), so we just put up with it. Finally, my umbrella got stolen after a rainy day. In the grand scheme of things, it wasn't a big deal as I'd just bought it for cheap, and it was a shared space so was a risk to leave it, but it was annoying, even if it was taken by mistake - I didn't want to take a wet umbrella up into the room. The communal areas (kitchen, lounge area, shower and washing machine areas) were okay but I believe they were only cleaned at the start of the week, then left to people using the facilities to tidy up after themselves (which isn't always successful). There was a bag for composting things like tea bags etc, I think, in the corner of the sink which then decomposed as the week went on, which wasn't ideal. There were only 2 showers for the entire guesthouse (at least 4 rooms per floor - I think there were 3 floors for guests - not sure though), and were average. Body soap and shampoo is provided, the shower pressue and temperature control was good but the overall cleanliness wasn't great. You can imagine the state of the floors if multiple people with long hair are brushing/drying there hair in these rooms - definitely wear slippers when navigating that space. Now, I don't know how the owner could improve this as it's really down to who is staying at any one time - we might have gotten unlucky/being too precious. Suggestions for things that would have improved our stay: (1) A small lamp to use in the evenings instead of the overhead light (2) Better quality towels (3) A fan to plug in, to circulate the air, if individual room AC/leaving the window open is not possible (4) Air freshener spray (or equivalent) (5) Multi purpose spray & wipes for the shared slippers I will say that the price was really unbeatable, the owner supports great causes, and the location is fantastic for easy access to many popular Kyoto spots (mostly temples), and was only a 20-min walk across the river to Kyoto Station, with an even shorter walk to several others. If you are on a budget and travelling solo/lightly, I think this place is better than the average capsule hotel or hostel options, as you do get a private room instead of just a bunk bed. But if you have luggage, aren't able to use stairs, or have the means to (and want to) book an actual hotel, I would suggest doing that, as you get what you pay for.

When we chose this hotel, we saw pictures and videos that made us think it was a resort estate, but it's not. There's very little to see inside the hotel; I could walk through the entire property in 5 minutes. Secondly, the hotel advertises natural hot springs, but the public ones reek of disinfectant as soon as you walk in, which is very unpleasant. The room itself was okay and had character, and the bathtub was very large with a pleasant woody scent when bathing. Finally, the breakfast – honestly, the taste was just mediocre. I wouldn't choose this hotel again at the same price point.

I really liked my stay in Tokyu Stay! The hotel is located quite near the train station, doesn’t give any anxiety when getting to the train station with our luggage’s. It is also located near a lot of food places. I like that there was a washing machine provided in the room, it’s so convenient! There are free sake and coffee at the hotel lobby. There are two hotels under Tokyu Stay on the same street so don’t panic if you went to the wrong one, because this outlet is just down the street.

Although it was short, I loved my stay here. Had great quality of sleep. Good base for Kyoto, near enough to key locations, but expect a lot of walking unless you use the bus. Nearest station is Kyoto Kawaramachi which is great for day drips just outside central Kyoto and if you are coming from Osaka or Kansai airport - see my tips below. Pros: great bathroom and toiletries, good water pressure and temperature, smart toilet, TV with streaming services, fridge, desk/stool, coat hooks (handy for winter time), semi-full length mirror, luggage rack, various lights to adjust to your preference, very clean, super comfortable firm mattress and pillows, good soundproofing for light sleepers, great air conditioning (room warms up pretty quickly in the winter), you can also open the windows which is nice, felt very safe as a solo female, can ask for more water bottles in reception, lift was never crowded, outlets next to bed, has luggage storage if you need, near the river and traditional streets for scenic strolls, close to bus stop, family mart otw from station for late night snacks. Cons: can hear police cars or cars with loud engines at night sometimes but not frequent, walking from the station with a suitcase was a bit longer than expected, my double room was a bit cramped for opening suitcase (could not open the front or bathroom doors fully to avoid hitting my suitcase) and I am one person (two suitcases would fit but you wouldn't be able to walk around the bed properly). Tips: If you are coming from Kansai airport (KIX), I recommend you take the airport limousine to Namba (bought a return ticket since it is cheaper). It drops you outside JR Namba station, you can go inside to get to the metro station, follow signs for the red Midosuji Line. Board the train to Umeda. Stay inside the station and follow signs for Osaka-Umeda or the brown Hankyu-Kyoto line. This line goes directly to Kyoto Kawaramachi station. When stations, always look for the lift signs if you have luggages. I think I took the lift closest to Exit 4, and it brings you up to a department store. You kinda have to walk through and get out. If you walk out the front entrance, there are a few steps, but if you go to the side doors, it has a slope to avoid carrying suitcases. It's a straight walk from the station. Unless you are doing day trips, Kyoto city buses are a lot better mode of transport in my opinion.

This is a venerable super five-star hotel with an excellent location, though it's a bit out of the city center, making it quite inconvenient for getting to sights, attractions, and dining. However, the hotel shuttle bus to Kyoto Station is a lifesaver. The hotel was renovated a few years ago, but it still retains its 40+ years of history and luxurious decor, now blended with modern, clean design elements. Charging facilities and hygiene are excellent. I would definitely stay here again!

We absolutely loved the facilities and location of Kyoto Gojo Premium Hotel. It is incredibly convenient—just a 5-minute drive to Kyoto Station, and only one train stop away, making it very easy to get around. The hot spring facilities were especially comfortable and relaxing, and it was such a wonderful experience for our whole family. We also really enjoyed the breakfast provided by the hotel, which was delicious and a great way to start each day. The staff were warm, friendly, and always helpful. Overall, we had a truly enjoyable stay and a very memorable experience.

I stayed here in a double room and overall had a pretty good experience. The room was clean and comfortable, and both the air conditioning and heater worked very well. One thing that really stood out was the bathroom — the bathtub was much larger than what you usually get in Japan. I’m a tall person, and I could actually sit down and lie back comfortably, which is rare. Most hotel baths feel very small, but this one felt closer to around 1.4m in length, which made having a bath genuinely enjoyable. The bed was comfortable, and housekeeping did a great job — the bed was made every day with fresh sheets. Wi-Fi was also very fast, which was a big plus. Amenities were decent, and you can pick up extra items if you need them. Check-in is a bit late at 3pm, which I didn’t love, but that’s balanced out by an 11am checkout. Having that extra time in the morning made it feel worth it overall. I did have a couple of negatives. The strangest one was finding an old sock behind the TV when I arrived. It was very obvious and not hidden, so I’m not sure how it was missed during cleaning. It was a bit gross, but I just left it. Another downside was the mini fridge — it’s more like a cooler than a real fridge. It keeps drinks from getting warm, but they don’t get properly cold. In summer, this really wouldn’t be good enough. Replacing it with a proper mini fridge would be a big upgrade. The other major issue was the lift. It is painfully slow, and there’s only one lift for the upper floors. On checkout day, I left my room about 10 minutes before checkout time, and I almost didn’t make it downstairs in time because of how slow it was. That part was honestly pretty ridiculous. Location-wise, this hotel is excellent. It’s very easy to get to from Kyoto Station — just head south and you’re there in about 4–5 minutes. It’s also very convenient when leaving Kyoto by train. A tip for using the subway: instead of going back to Kyoto Station, walk right from the hotel to Shijō Station. It’s on the same subway line, you’ll get on before Kyoto Station, and the train is empty — so you’re almost guaranteed a seat and can ride comfortably to your destinations. For food and shopping, there’s a shopping mall just across the road toward the station with a Don Quijote, McDonald’s, and other options. The hotel is also right next to a Coco Ichibanya curry house, which is fantastic and open late. Overall, despite a few odd issues, this was a solid stay with a great location, good comfort, and very easy access to transport. I’d happily consider staying here again.

The hotel is great and very comfortable and there’s 30% charges for early check in which it’s understandable. The hotel room is spacious and so comfortable with a bigger toilet as well. However, the location is walkable to Kyoto station, Aeon mall for around 15 mins but it was quite dark and so quiet when walking back to the hotel at night as there is very very less car and walking people, the street light is quite dim as well. This is the only downside which make me feel uneasy although Japan is safe but will still feel insecure. Breakfast and dinner is provided but no chance to try the dinner as always back after dinner time. Overall, everything is good and fine.

Хороший отель, чтобы остановиться на несколько дней, рядом со станцией и прогулочными улицами. Чистая и приятная атмосфера. У нас был забавный номер со скалодромом