Kyoto ended up being one of our favorite stops in Japan, and not because of anything we paid for. If you close your eyes and imagine Japan, you are probably envisioning somewhere in Kyoto. Some of the most beautiful, immersive experiences of the entire trip were completely free.
Here’s where we stayed, where to stay in Kyoto with kids depending on your family’s priorities, and why Kyoto might be the best value city on your whole itinerary.
Traveled: Late May / Early June 2026.
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Where We Stayed: Hotel Grand Bach Kyoto Select
We stayed at Hotel Grand Bach Kyoto Select, right in the Kawaramachi area, about a 5-minute walk from Kawaramachi Station. That location put us within easy reach of downtown shopping, restaurants, and the Kamo River, and made it simple to get out to the rest of the city by train.
Honestly, this hotel was great. We loved the modern feel of the whole place, and the drinks in the hotel lounge became a nice way to wind down after long days of walking Kyoto. But our favorite part was the onsen. By the end of our Kyoto stay, we were due for laundry, and the hotel has it on-site, so we soaked in the onsen while our clothes washed. It turned a chore into one of the most relaxing hours of the trip.
Good for: families who want a modern, central base in Kyoto with an onsen and on-site laundry, especially if you’re partway through a longer Japan trip and need to reset.
Read More: Where We Stayed in Japan: Honest Reviews of Our 6 Hotels (13 Nights as a Family)
Where to Stay in Kyoto With Kids: The Best Areas
Kyoto is spread out, and where you stay changes how easy it is to reach the temples, markets, and neighborhoods that make the city worth visiting. Here's the breakdown:
Kawaramachi / Downtown Kyoto is where we stayed. From our hotel, downtown shopping, restaurants, and the Kamo River were an easy walk, and guests also describe an easy walk to Gion. Hotel Forza is about a 1-minute walk from Nishiki Market. It's central and walkable, and a strong pick if you want to be in the middle of everything.
Gion / Higashiyama is close to the temples. Guests describe NOHGA HOTEL KIYOMIZU KYOTO as about a 10-minute walk from Kiyomizu-dera. Hotel The Celestine Kyoto Gion is about a 7-minute walk from Yasaka Shrine. The trade-off is distance from Kyoto Station. One Nohga guest found there's a metro stop about a 10-minute walk away, without direct access to Kyoto Station.
Kyoto Station / Shimogyo-ku is the most convenient for train travel. Hotel Granvia is attached to the station. One guest said all the trains, buses, and subways are right outside.
Arashiyama is on the western edge of the city, with the Bamboo Grove, the Monkey Park, and the Togetsukyo Bridge. The GrandWest Arashiyama is a 5-minute walk from Hankyu Arashiyama Station. One guest noted it's about a 10-minute taxi ride from the JR station, and that restaurants in Arashiyama either close early or require reservations. It's a quieter, more nature-focused base, but plan extra time to get back into central Kyoto.
Family-Friendly Hotels in Kyoto, By Area
If you’re traveling with kids, here are the options we could confirm in each area. We haven’t stayed at any of these except our own hotel. We found them while researching our trip, and these picks come from guest ratings, review volume, and family-friendly features. Ratings are Booking.com guest scores and verified review counts as of September 21, 2026, and they change over time.
Kawaramachi / Downtown Kyoto
Hotel Grand Bach Kyoto Select (where we stayed): rated 9.0 out of 10 from 2,707 verified reviews. One guest praised the breakfast and noted plenty of gluten-free options. Guests mention a public bath and welcome drinks.
Good to know: rooms may be small for some.
MIMARU SUITES Kyoto Shijo: rated 9.5 out of 10 from 820 verified reviews. One family said their children loved the bingo and games. Family rooms have fully equipped kitchens, and each room includes a washing machine. Another guest mentioned a free calligraphy class.
Good to know: one guest found it expensive with no breakfast. The front desk is open 7:00 to 22:00.
Hotel Forza Kyoto Shijo Kawaramachi: rated 9.0 out of 10 from 3,731 verified reviews. It has family rooms listed for up to six, and Nishiki Market is about a 1-minute walk. A 7-Eleven is across the street, and there's access to the train station from the lower level.
Good to know: one guest found the elevators slow and the breakfast underwhelming, and another said the soundproofing was poor.
Cross Hotel Kyoto: rated 9.2 out of 10 from 4,793 verified reviews, the largest review base on this list. It's near Nishiki Market and department stores, and one guest called the breakfast outstanding. It has a deluxe family room, but guests advise confirming the exact beds before you book.
Good to know: one guest wished for washing machines.
Gion / Higashiyama
NOHGA HOTEL KIYOMIZU KYOTO: rated 9.3 out of 10 from 3,915 verified reviews. Guests mention a rooftop bar, bakery, and restaurant. A family enjoyed the triple room.
Good to know: one listing says cribs and extra beds can't be added to any room type, while another lists free cribs in some rooms, so confirm with the hotel.
Hotel The Celestine Kyoto Gion: rated 9.1 out of 10 from 1,341 verified reviews. Guests mention an hourly free shuttle to Kyoto Station. One guest described it as extremely quiet, and a family of four booked two neighboring rooms and said it worked great.
Good to know: the rooms shown on one listing sleep two, and one guest said the restaurant isn't adapted for families. It's more of a quiet, upscale option.
Kyoto Station / Shimogyo-ku
MIMARU Kyoto Station: rated 9.2 out of 10 from 1,081 verified reviews. One guest stayed as a family of five and called it very close to the station. Family rooms with bunk beds are listed.
Good to know: the coin laundry has three washers and dryers shared by 10 floors and can be busy.
Hotel Granvia Kyoto: rated 8.8 out of 10 from 2,486 verified reviews. It's attached to the station. Cribs are listed as available.
Good to know: one guest described the rooms as old but well designed and comfortable, and the pool and fitness center are limited to guests 18 and over, so teens can’t use them.
Arashiyama
The GrandWest Arashiyama: The GrandWest Arashiyama: rated 9.2 out of 10 from 558 verified reviews (October 10, 2026). It has family rooms with toys, and the hotel says its free bike rental includes bikes with child seats. The hotel says the breakfast cafe has a kids' room.
Good to know: one guest noted there's no elevator and the staircase is narrow.
The Honest Take: Kyoto's Best Moments Are Free
This is the thing that stood out most about Kyoto: it felt like the most authentic, real version of Japan on our whole trip, and most of what made it feel that way didn't cost us anything. Fushimi Inari Taisha, with its thousands of red torii gates climbing the mountain, is completely free to visit. Nishiki Market is free to wander (you only pay for what you actually eat or buy). Just walking the streets of Kyoto, especially through the older neighborhoods, felt like an experience in itself.
We also visited the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, which is free, but we'll be honest: it didn't live up to the hype for us. It's worth a quick stop if you're already in Arashiyama, but we wouldn't build a special trip around it.
The one paid attraction that genuinely impressed us was the Monkey Park in Arashiyama. It has an entrance fee, but it's affordable, and watching wild monkeys up close with a mountaintop view over the city was one of the best things we did in Kyoto, paid or free.
Curious what we actually spent in Kyoto? Read More: What We Spent in Kyoto: A Real Cost Breakdown
Practical Notes
Fushimi Inari Taisha is free and open 24/7, but it gets crowded fast - an early morning visit is worth the wake-up call if you want fewer people in your photos.
Skip the Bamboo Grove if you're tight on time. It's free, but it's also one of the most crowded, quickest photo-ops in the city and isn't worth rearranging your day around.
Budget a little extra time for the Monkey Park - the entrance fee is affordable, but between the hike up and the time you'll want to spend once you're there, it's easy to underestimate.
If you're staying in Arashiyama, plan for the 25-30 minute train ride into downtown Kyoto for anything outside the immediate area.
Wondering how Kyoto did overall with kids? Read More: Is Kyoto Good for Kids? Our Honest Take
Bottom Line
For most families, especially first-timers, Kawaramachi is the easiest base: central, walkable, and close to Nishiki Market and Gion. Choose Kyoto Station if you have early trains or lots of day trips, Gion/Higashiyama if temples and quiet evening walks are your priority, and Arashiyama only if you want a calmer, nature-focused stay and don’t mind the ride back into the city.
Where to Next
From Kyoto, we took the Shinkansen to Hiroshima, then the ferry over to Miyajima for the night.
Book it: Shinkansen Tickets
Read More: Where to Stay in Miyajima With Kids: Our Honest Take
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