Hip Apartments in Kyoto, Japan, You'll Want to Call Home

Book a stay at the Iori Machiya Stay if you are after a traditional Kyoto living experience
Book a stay at the Iori Machiya Stay if you are after a traditional Kyoto living experience | Courtesy of Iori Machiya Stay / Expedia

Japan’s old capital Kyoto offers an enormous haul of sights and experiences, from its 2,000 shrines and temples to its blossom-filled parks and gardens. And, for visitors who are looking to enjoy home comforts during their stay, there’s a huge selection of holiday apartments, too. In these independent-minded stays, facilities range from private terraces with river views to fully equipped kitchens and just-for-you spas.

Bijuu

Suite Hotel, Apartment

Spacious room interior at Bijuu, Kyoto, with a large double bed on a raised platform, red brick wall, wooden furnishings and large windows
Courtesy of Bijuu / Expedia

Three-suite Bijuu proudly brands itself as your second home in Kyoto, and it’s easy to see why. The rooms at Bijuu offer you a luxury home environment, with enormous suites that include lounge areas, bedrooms, bathrooms and even a private, personal spa in the 501 apartment. All the luxury of a hotel with the comfort and convenience of an apartment. Coupled with a unique minimalist and pseudo-brutalist aesthetic, there is nothing quite like Bijuu.

Hotel Sou Kyoto Gion

Apartment

Simple room interior at Hotel Sou Kyoto Gion, with a double and single bed, chair and side table, plus an air conditioner on the wall
Courtesy of Hotel Sou Kyoto Gion / Expedia

If you like being able to take control of your time and space, including cooking for yourself, Hotel Sou is your ideal holiday apartment. The rooms come fully equipped with a kitchen area that includes all the cooking tools you need to make every meal for yourself, so you’re free to manage your stay as you see fit.

Glanz Kei Kyoto Station

Suite Hotel

Suite at Glanz Kei Kyoto Station; dining table and kitchenette in front; tatami mat with traditional low dining table behind
Courtesy of Glanz Kei Kyoto Station / Expedia

As its name implies, Glanz Kei Kyoto Station is conveniently located near Kyoto station, giving you quick access to the rest of the Kansai region, including the cities of Osaka and Nara. Glanz Kei’s condo suites feature fully furnished cooking areas that include pots and pans for meal prep, as well as a TV and dining area for the complete home-style experience. The traditional Japanese aesthetic, including futons, adds a welcome pinch of authenticity.

ZEN Kyoto

Serviced Apartment

A room at Zen Kyoto Apartment Hotel, with two double beds, a large sofa, and a raised tatami platform with a low dining table
Courtesy of Zen Kyoto Apartment Hotel / Expedia

Zen Kyoto aparthotel provides you with a perfect blend of home comforts and a Japanese aesthetic. Shoji screens and wood furnishings pair beautifully with spacious lounge and dining areas to ensure guests feel catered for in atmosphere and space. The suites, with their kitchen areas and traditional Japanese dining rooms, provide the perfect space for families staying in Kyoto.

Ben's Guesthouse Kyoto

Apartment, Guesthouse

Suite interior at Bens Guesthouse Kyoto, with a kitchenette in the foreground, a tatami mat with low dining table in the midground and a bedroom in the background
Courtesy of Ben's Guesthouse Kyoto / Expedia

Guests staying at Ben’s Guesthouse can comfortably enjoy cooking for themselves in their own private kitchenette; each one comes kitted out with a microwave and fridge. Rooms also have private washing facilities, and, if you’re hoping to stock up during your stay, the supermarket is just down the street. Essentially, everything you need to feel at home is right on your doorstep.

Aoi Kyoto Stay

Apartment

Bright interior of a sitting room in Aoi Kyoto Stay, with two armchairs and a bench; sliding doors lead outside
Courtesy of Aoi Kyoto Stay / Expedia

Spacious apartments with a minimalist approach to design, a private terrace from which to enjoy the Kyoto skyline and walls decorated with huge Japanese art pieces – Aoi Kyoto Stay offers you a one-of-a-kind experience. A tatami space for sleeping adds an extra layer of local flavour, and the comfortable sofas mean that private relaxation comes easily in these open and spacious rooms.

Iori Machiya Stay

Apartment, Guesthouse

Traditional wooden interior of Iori Machiya Stay, Kyoto, with a low dining table in the background
Courtesy of Iori Machiya Stay / Expedia

Iori Machiya Stay takes its name from the word for a traditional Japanese machiya, or townhouse, offering its guests an age-old Kyoto living experience. That experience includes art and aesthetics, such as garden views and the use of shoji screens. One of the apartments that guests can book was once an artist’s atelier. Another features a private terrace with peaceful views of the Kamo River, which runs through central Kyoto.

Kyostay Iroha Toji Annex

Apartment

Bedroom interior at Kyostay Iroha Toji Annex, with two single beds, a large window, air conditioner and clock on the wall
Courtesy of Kyostay Iroha Toji Annex / Expedia

Convenience and self-catering are the focus at Kyostay, ensured by offering a kitchen area for home cooking, as well as a dining area for eating together as a family. The bunk beds and double (or twin) rooms ensure families with children will be comfortable, able to cook, eat and relax together in complete privacy. Balconies offer views of a nearby temple pagoda, enticing you to explore the historic neighbourhood of Minami-ku outside.

Looking for more? Book into one of the best hostels in Kyoto, or, if you’re looking for something more traditional, check out the top cultural hotels in the city.

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