Everything to book for Kyoto, on one page

Last checked 10/22Flights · Hotels · Airport transfer · Tickets · eSIM1,000 Japanese yen ≈ US$6.33

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Yasaka Pagoda seen from the Ninenzaka area — Kyoto · Yasaka Pagoda

Plan my Kyoto trip: enter dates and get hotels, transport, coupons and weather in one place

1 Flights

Kyoto has no airport. Fly into Osaka's Kansai Airport, then take the JR HARUKA directly to Kyoto Station.

Singapore → Kyoto

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Hong Kong → Kyoto

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Sydney → Kyoto

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London → Kyoto

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Los Angeles → Kyoto

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New York → Kyoto

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Kuala Lumpur → Kyoto

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Manila → Kyoto

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The button pre-fills dates departing one month from now for 4 nights; you can change them on the platform.

2 Where to stay

First see which area suits you, then click through to the hotels.

Kyoto StationHARUKA, the shinkansen and limousine buses all arrive at Kyoto Station, and city buses and the subway start here too. The easiest area if you have luggage. Shijo Kawaramachi · GionKyoto's busiest district: Nishiki Market, Pontocho and Gion are within walking distance, and Hankyu trains run straight to Osaka Umeda. Shijo KarasumaThe Karasuma subway line and Hankyu meet at Shijo-Karasuma. Kyoto Station is two subway stops away, and Nishiki Market and Shijo Kawaramachi are walkable. ArashiyamaTogetsukyo Bridge, the Bamboo Grove and the Sagano Romantic Train are all nearby; stay a night to explore early in the morning before the crowds.

Hotel Keihan Kyoto GrandeHotel Keihan Kyoto Grande

Kyoto Station · City hotel · Price band $

Good for: those arriving by HARUKA or shinkansen who want the hotel right by the station

JR · Shinkansen · Subway · Kintetsu Kyoto Station Hachijo East Exit, about 1 min walk
Double rooms about 19㎡
Breakfast: buffet at Octavar restaurant on floor 2, 7:00–10:00; adults ¥2,750, elementary schoolers ¥1,400 (incl. tax)

Good to know:On the south side of Kyoto Station (Hachijo exit); you'll need a bus or the subway to reach Shijo Kawaramachi and Gion.

Source:Hotel's official website(checked 10/22)

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Super Hotel Kyoto Shijo KawaramachiSuper Hotel Kyoto Shijo Kawaramachi (Natural Hot Spring Gosho no Yu)

Shijo Kawaramachi · Gion · Business hotel · Price band $

Good for: tight budgets, staying in the Kawaramachi district with a hot spring bath

Hankyu Kyoto-kawaramachi Station, about 3 min walk
Double rooms about 12㎡
Large public bath on site
Breakfast: free breakfast (freshly baked bread), 7:00–9:00

Good to know:Rooms 12㎡; some room types have a shower booth only; the hot spring bath alternates between men's and women's hours.

Source:Hotel's official website(checked 10/22)

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Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto ShijoMitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Shijo

Shijo Karasuma · City hotel · Price band $

Good for: tight budgets, those who want a large public bath

Hankyu Karasuma Station Exit 26; Subway Karasuma Line Shijo Station Exit 2, about 6 min walk
Double rooms about 17㎡
Large public bath on site
Breakfast: buffet 6:30–10:00 (last entry 9:30), ¥2,530 (incl. tax)

Good to know:6 min walk from the station; the large public bath gets crowded at peak times.

Source:Hotel's official website(checked 10/22)

Check rooms on Agoda Trip.com Opens this hotel's page directly · Prices set by the platform

See the full area comparison and all hotels

3 Airport transfer

Choose by arrival airport and the area you're staying in.

JR Kansai Airport Express HARUKA

Direct from Kansai Airport to Tennoji, Shin-Osaka and Kyoto; no transfer if you're staying in Kyoto.

≈ US$7and up · checked 10/22

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Kansai Airport Limousine Bus

For those with lots of luggage who'd rather not transfer; runs from Kansai Airport to destinations across Osaka and Kyoto.

≈ US$8and up · checked 10/22

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Keihan Railway Kyoto-Osaka Sightseeing Pass

Good if you're staying in Osaka and doing day trips to Gion and Fushimi Inari in Kyoto.

≈ US$6and up · checked 10/22

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Hankyu Tourist Pass

One-day pass for the entire Hankyu network from Umeda to Kyoto-kawaramachi, Arashiyama and Kobe.

≈ US$8and up · checked 10/22

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4 Tickets & tours

Book popular time slots early.

Sagano Romantic Train (Arashiyama scenic train)

Sells out fast in autumn foliage and cherry blossom season; book reserved seats early.

≈ US$5and up · checked 10/22

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Kyoto kimono rental (Gion · Yasaka Shrine)

Wear a kimono around Yasaka Shrine and Kiyomizu-dera; dressing included.

≈ US$17and up · checked 10/22

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Thousand torii gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha

Kyoto & Nara day trip (Chinese-speaking guide)

Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari and Nara Park in one day; departs with a minimum of 1 participants.

≈ US$45and up · checked 10/22

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Kyoto tea ceremony experience

Small-group tea ceremony class, about one hour.

≈ US$8and up · checked 10/22

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Kyoto Railway Museum

Near Kyoto Station; for families with kids and train fans.

≈ US$9and up · checked 10/22

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Gion Corner Traditional performing arts

Seven traditional performing arts in one show, including tea ceremony, flower arrangement and maiko dance.

≈ US$35and up · checked 10/22

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5 eSIM & SIM

If your phone supports eSIM, buy before you go and it works as soon as you land.

Japan eSIM (KDDI 5G)

Buy before you go and get online as soon as you land; check that your phone supports eSIM first.

≈ US$5and up · checked 10/22

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Japan eSIM Unlimited data (Softbank/KDDI)

Choose this if you'll use hotspot or stream video.

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Shopping in Kyoto

Drugstores, electronics, duty-free: open the page on your phone and show it to the cashier at checkout.

26 Japan store couponsDon Quijote, Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Cocokara Fine, Sundrug… each marked with the last-checked date

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Kyoto guides

How to plan your days, whether transport passes pay off, how to buy tickets, and roughly what it costs.

Kyoto budget hotels: 6 hotels under NT$3,000 (Taiwan dollars) a night Kyoto hotels in price band $ (about NT$3,000 or less a night, in Taiwan dollars): 6 hotels here, in Kyoto Station (2), Shijo Kawara… Checked 10/22

Kyoto hotels near the station: 8 hotels within a 3-minute walk Kyoto hotels within a 3-minute walk of a station per their official sites: 8 hotels here, in Kyoto Station (2), Shijo Kawaramachi ·… Checked 10/22

Kyoto hotels with a public bath: 7 hotels, by area Kyoto hotels with a public bath stated on their official sites: 7 hotels here, in Shijo Kawaramachi · Gion (1), Shijo Karasuma (3)… Checked 10/22

FAQ

How to get from Kansai Airport to Kyoto?

The JR HARUKA limited express goes straight to Kyoto Station with no transfer; with lots of luggage you can also take the limousine bus to Kyoto Station.

Do I need to book the Sagano Romantic Train in advance?

Sells out fast in cherry blossom and autumn foliage peak season; book reserved seats once your dates are set.

Is it easy to visit Kyoto while staying in Osaka?

Yes. Hankyu from Umeda, Keihan from Yodoyabashi or Kyobashi, or JR from Osaka Station all reach Kyoto in one ride.