6 Best Hotels in Eastern Kyoto, Kyoto

Directly opposite the Kyoto National Museum and next to the famous Sanjusangen-do Temple, this is one of Kyoto's premier hotels, offering spacious tasteful rooms. Room interiors are exquisitely designed with soothing colors and garden views for south-facing rooms. The multilingual staff are knowledgeable and most helpful. The garden-view Japanese restaurant specializes in kaiseki dining.

Along the scenic Kamo River with views of the Eastern Mountains, the Ritz-Carlton provides world-class luxury in a Japanese milieu, with subtle lighting, artistic ornamentation, and a renovated century-old estate used for dining. The rooms are spacious and well appointed in the upscale chain's grand tradition. Some suites even have private gardens. The restaurants include ones serving Western and Japanese cuisine.

Nestled in the foothills of the Eastern Mountains, the Four Seasons is a seven-minute walk from the Kyoto National Museum and some of Kyoto’s popular temples. All rooms offer views of the forested hillsides and Myoho-in Temple. An outside-dining deck overlooks the pond, a part of the 800-year old estate and stroll garden.

Murals, art objects, and custom-made furniture by local artists enliven every room and even the public hallways of this boutique hotel on an antiques shop–lined street in the heart of Gion. Its sister hotel (Hotel Gion Misen) is within a block on Shinmonzen-dori.

At the foot of the Philosopher's Path and near the temple and shrine-filled Okazaki area, the renovated Westin Miyako is only minutes from major attractions. Separate cottages with Japanese-style rooms are available, and the views from the restaurants take on a magical quality at night when city lights are twinkling. For several decades this was the queen of Kyoto's hotels and the top choice of visiting celebrities, but newer high-end properties have eclipsed it.

This ryokan feels very "Japanese," and what it lacks in big-hotel amenities it makes up for in atmosphere, albeit with some limitations, including some shared-bath rooms, that may not appeal to all travelers. A traditional ryokan, Yachiyo is in a quiet, verdant part of town close to the Heian Jingu Shrine and the National Museum of Modern Art. The least expensive rooms share bathrooms. If you prefer, you can have breakfast and dinner in your room instead of the restaurant.