I love staying in Kyoto with my family and these are my favourite Kyoto Hotels.
For other Kyoto travel tips with kids see my post here.
Just quickly, before you start reading, if you are looking for an apartment hotel with up to three bedrooms, I highly recommend staying at Mimaru Kyoto Shijo Suites (this is the only Mimaru branch that has 3 rooms as an option! Mimaru Shijo Suites also run free Japanese calligraphy experiences in the lobby on certain days) It can sleep up to 6 people. The Mimaru Shinmachi Shijo option in Kyoto has the Pokemon Rooms!
PLEASE NOTE THAT MOST HOTELS ONLY OPEN UP THEIR BOOKING SYSTEMS 6 MONTHS AHEAD OF TIME.
If you look earlier than 6 months it may look like a hotel is completely booked – but it is because they haven’t yet opened these dates. The Official Tokyo Disney Resort Hotels don’t open up bookings until 3-4 months ahead of time. If you are able to find rooms earlier than 6 months in time they can often be more expensive as the sites are assuming they will be able to get the rooms once the dates are officially open (so compare current and future prices to be sure.)
Please note that this blog post contains affiliate links. This means that I may make a small commission if you make a purchase using one of my links – at no additional cost to you.
22 PIECES
Only a few mins walk from Kyoto Station this apartment hotel has a little kitchenette and the most amazing modern interior. The reception also has games and appliances for guests to borrow – bicycles too, actually!
Some room types offer two double beds in their rooms which was perfect for my family of four. Breakfast isn’t provided at the hotel as there is not a restaurant. You can buy a hamper with bread from a local artisan bakery and Kyoto based butter and jams.
Just a heads up, the rooms with a terrace do let more light in but the terrace garden isn’t accessible from the room.
GOOD NATURE HOTEL KYOTO
Good Nature Hotel in Kyoto has beautiful big modern rooms. Their Deluxe Corner Room, Purple Dried Flower Room, White Dried Flower Room and Superior Twin sleeps 3 adults. The “Welcome Baby” room sleeps 4.
MIMARU IN KYOTO ( There are actually 5 properties)
This hotel caters to large groups and has connecting rooms too. All rooms have little kitchenettes which is fantastic for families. All Mimaru properties have cots / cribs for children 24 months and younger.
Even the newer Mimaru in Kyoto Kawaramachi Gojo has this cute little play area for babies and toddlers.
The Mimaru Website is here.
I wrote about the Mimaru chain here ( specifically about the one in Tokyo but it is the same chain.)
The Mimaru near Nijo Castle is a little bit out of the way compared to some other Mimaru options so requires a train or bus change or two but the rooms here do have a washing machine inside each room and lots of space. They rent out games here and a rooftop space for guests to use.
HOTEL IMAGINE KYOTO
Right in the heart of Kyoto, is a brand new family-focused hotel called Hotel Imagine Kyoto.
See my blog post on this hotel here. I know the room photos are lush but the room price is so reasonable and only 6 minutes walk from Kyoto Station
THE BLOSSOM KYOTO
This hotel accommodates up to 3 people per room- it has 3 single beds. There is a shower and ensuite in the room but no bath as there is a public bath in the hotel for all guests.
CANDEO HOTEL KYOTO KARASUMA ROKKAKU
This hotel is in a beautiful part of Kyoto – less touristy too – but still convenient. The rooms are clean and modern.. My favourite part is the rooftop onsen which they call the Sky Spa. It is separated by gender (of course). There is an outdoor and indoor bath for both genders. Small tattoos allowed as long as they are covered ( and they provide the covers if you need.
3 mins walk from Karasuma Oike Station ( great directions with pictures on the Candeo Hotel Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku website here.)
SOWAKA LUXURY RYOKAN STYLE HOTEL
This luxury hotel has the perfect combination of ryokan features while also embracing some modern architecture.
The Annex Junior Suite Room can accommodate a family of 4 if children are able to bed share. and the Annex Deluxe Room would suit 2 adults and a small child.
If you love design and beautiful architecture – you will love this place so so much.
This hotel has an in-house restaurant and a beautifully appointed lobby lounge.
There is also a rooftop for guests to use that has an incredible view of the Kyoto – especially at night.
KYOMACHIYA SAKURA URUSHITEI
This building is a former tea house and is now a ryokan. This hotel is child-friendly and English friendly. They even have additional experiences lined up for guests such as the opportunity to try on a kimono, try Japanese calligraphy, take part in a tea ceremony and ikebana. Some of the traditional ryokan rooms can accommodate up to 5 people (of those 5, only 3 max can be adults.) Please note that this ryokan does not have an in-house restaurant – however you can order bento meals at the front desk.
This ryokan also doesn’t have an onsen but it does have a public bath that you can reserve a timeslot and have it all to yourself (2 people at a time but you can ask for more people if you are going as a family with small children.) Please note that you cannot wear a swimsuit in the public bath at any time.
This hotel/ryokan are able to help you forward your luggage to your next hotel.
This hotel is 7 mins walk from Shijo Station.
The staff here are so kind and there is a little rooftop patio with a view of Kyoto Tower.
THE ROYAL PARK HOTEL ICONIC KYOTO
This hotel is located near Nishiki Market. It’s 15 mins walk from Nijo Castle and 17 mins walk from the Imperial Palace.
To get here from Kyoto Station, it is 8 mins on the subway and 5 mins in a cab. Please note that these rooms don’t cater to more than groups of 3 people (although they may allow a baby too.)
WAYFARER KYOTO SHIJO
This apartment style hotel has beautiful spacious rooms and room options include triple rooms, essential tatami family rooms for up to 4 people and tatami rooms for up to 3 people. It’s not a ryokan but is a beautiful Japanese guest house.
KYOISUKE INN, HOKOMACHI
Kyoisuke Inn, Hokomachi is a stand alone house (an old tea house actually) and it has an outdoor and indoor private bath.
This house is just 6 minutes walk from Kyoto’s Nishiki Market and sleeps up to 7 adults. Their website is a bit tricky to navigate so I recommend looking at booking via booking.com
MIZUNOHA MACHIYA HOUSE, GION
Another stand alone Machiya (old tea house) home is Mizunoha Machiya House in Gionmachi. This townhouse has 3 bedrooms (2 futon beds, 2 double beds and 2 single beds.). This house has a small japanese garden (not a kick a footy around garden – a japanese ornamental garden) and there is also a washing machine. The entire property is, of course, non-smoking.
Some people who are new to Japan worry about staying in Gion because of those news articles about streets being closed to tourists, but I explain there real story here.
SOTETSU FRESA INN, KYOTO HACHIJOGUCHI
This is a great option if you are watching your budget or need multiple rooms. This hotel is very simple and I don’t recommend it for families with small children as there really is only space to sleep (which sounds great in theory until you all need to take a breather for a minute.) But if the budget is top priority – this hotel is clean, you can collect all of your toiletries in the lobby and it’s only 4 mins walk from Kyoto Station, Hachijoguchi Exit. There is a Don Quijote store across from the hotel and a Lawson convenience store just a few doors down.
RESI STAY KYO RYUVILUX NIJO
This hotel has beautiful big rooms and can accommodate families of up to four people (4 separate beds or futons, depending on the room type.) Some rooms have a tatami section and two separate toilets and bathrooms per room. There are sliding room dividers so it’s a great option if you want the kids to sleep first.
It is near Nijo Castle and 14 mins walk /6 mins (600 yen) cab ride from Nishiki Market. 14 mins (1500 yen) in a cab from Kyoto Station or 25 mins on public transport. It’s a quieter part of town – this is a good thing in Kyoto although it does make travel and packing up to head back to the station a little bit more difficult – but I think it is worth it for the space and a more authentic experience, if that’s what you are after.
KYOTO TOKYU HOTEL
This is a lovely “standard” hotel. Lovely and clean. You could be anywhere in the world type of room but if you get a good price or availability I would go for it. The Hollywood Triple and Concept Triple Rooms accommodate 3 people and the Superior 4th Room and the Function Room accommodates 4 (4 separate beds in the room.) They have a complimentary shuttle bus from Kyoto Station to the hotel (or you can walk for 8 mins from Exit 4 of Gojo Station.)
HILTON GARDEN INN KYOTO, SHIJO KARASUMA
This hotel can do connecting rooms (they also will provide doorstops in order to keep the doors open between the rooms) and their Twin Queen Family Suite sleeps up to 6 adults. This hotel has an all day restaurant called Together & Co. (salads, burgers, steak, pasta.) This hotel is 10 mins (approx 900 yen) in a taxi from Kyoto Station.
MIYAKO KINTETSU HOTEL KYOTO
This is a simple business hotel within Kyoto Station (so super convenient and often much more affordable than other hotels.) They have a simple breakfast restaurant. Rooms aren’t fancy but have all you need. Rooms here can accommodate 3-4 people, depending on the room type and the ages of your children.
This hotel does not have connecting/adjoining rooms but you can request to have rooms next to one another. Please note that you will have to use an after hours entrance if coming back to the hotel between 11:35pm -5am (as the main entrance if through the station- a section closed off during the night.) I have stayed here with my kids and, although it wasn’t particularly memorable, we loved the convenience of being right in the station. You can see the trains and bullet trains from your room (if you are on the train line side) so that’s very cool!
STAY SAKURA KYOTO APARTMENTS
There are several options in Kyoto under this brand name. Basically, the hotels are renovated apartment blocks. So the rooms are apartment style – clean but basic. All rooms have a kitchenette, refrigerator, microwave, electric kettle, TV and a washing machine. Please note that there is no front desk here – although they do have a 24 hour phone for support line.
HOTEL MUSSE KYOTO SHIJO KAWARAMACHI
Musse Hotel in Kyoto is simple business hotel. Lovely clean rooms and an affordable price tag. The rooms have a traditional Japanese inspired theme. The perfect spot if you just need somewhere modern and convenient just for sleeping. The breakfast buffet here is delicious and perfect for travellers. There is a coin laundry on the 6th floor. There is also a drugstore on the ground floor. The hotel also has a drink vending machine and a microwave (so you can easily heat up your bento from the convenience stores nearby.). Close to Nishiki Market, Gion (7 mins on foot) and transportation options. This hotel is also 10 mins from bus from Kiyomizudera. Most rooms are for 2-3 people but I also recommend booking the connecting room. 3 mins walk from Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Line and 7 mins from subway Kyoto Shiyakushomae Station.
POCKET HOTEL KYOTO SHIJO KARASUMA and POCKET HOTEL KYOTO KARASUMA GOJO (there are two locations)
This is a great option if you are on a tight budget. These are basically hostels but are clean and each room has it’s own lock for privacy.
For women travelling with just a female child- there is a women only floor option.
Bathrooms are communal – separated by gender (ie. there is a woman’s shower room and a men’s shower room.)
The hotel provides pyjamas for guests to use during their stay.
They also have connecting rooms -so you can have one set of bunks in one room connected to a room with another set of bunk rooms making it a total of 4 people (and you could get several of these types of rooms for larger families.) The Karasuma Gojo option has rooms with two sets of bunk beds (ie. sleeps 4 people in one room) AND they have an option with one set of bunk beds and two single beds pushed together to make one big bed (ie. sleeps 4 people in one room.)
Starbucks is just on the corner of the Kyoto Shijo Karasuma hotel . There is a gyoza restaurant literally next door called Motoi Gyoza. They welcome families with kids and have space to store strollers while you dine. The Kyoto Shijo Karasuma Hotel is also 1 min walk from Nishiki Market.
I also have heard wonderful things about Hotel Resol Kyoto Shijo Muromachi – but I haven’t stayed personally.
Same goes for Granbell Hotel Kyoto in Gion. I haven’t stayed but I have it on my list as they have a regular Maiko show just for guests on Tuesdays and Fridays. It also has a public bath (onsen style) for guests to use. Please note though, the Granbell here can only sleep a couple plus a baby who can bedshare.
For other Kyoto travel tips with kids see my post here.
Please note that this blog post contains affiliate links. This means that I may make a small commission if you make a purchase using one of my links – at no additional cost to you.
