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Shijo Karasuma hotels in Kyoto: 5 picked from 773
Approximate, at the rate on 2026-10-02. You pay in yen.
- Where to stay near Shijo Karasuma: five hotels from about ¥6,000 per person with breakfast
- Daiwa Roynet is a minute from Shijo exit 5; Vista Premio’s breakfast is rated 5.00
- Matsui Bekkan is a machiya-style ryokan with a bath house; Richmond Premier averages 4.60
The five
| Best for | Where to book | Score | Weeknight (per person) | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast rated 5.0, in the Gion Festival float district — if you can’t decide | Hotel Vista Premio Kyoto Watei Check price |
83/100 | ¥6,000–19,000 | ¥9,000–23,000 |
| Quiet small hotel, 6 min from Shijo and Karasuma stations | Shizutetsu Hotel Prezio Kyoto Shijo Check price |
81/100 | ¥7,000–26,000 | ¥12,000–27,000 |
| One minute from Shijo station exit 5, renovated in 2026 | Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto Shijo Karasuma Check price |
78/100 | ¥7,000–25,000 | ¥10,000–48,000 |
| Machiya-style ryokan with a bath, 7 min from Karasuma | Matsui Bekkan Hanakanzashi Check price |
72/100 | ¥21,000–31,000 | ¥21,000–35,000 |
| The best-reviewed hotel (not ryokan) here, 6 min from Karasuma | Richmond Hotel Premier Kyoto Shijo Check price |
70/100 | ¥14,000–65,000 | ¥18,000–30,000 |
Prices are the cheapest per person found on Rakuten Travel for Wednesdays and Saturdays between 2026-11-18 – 2027-01-09, for 2 adults in one room (checked 2026-11-09). They move daily — the link shows live prices.
The booking links go to Agoda, which shows today’s price and lets you pay in your own currency. Its price can differ from the Rakuten Travel figures above.
Breakfast rated 5.0, in the Gion Festival float district
Hotel Vista Premio Kyoto Watei
Reviews: Rakuten Travel 4.48/5 (503)
- Opened in August 2018 in the middle of the Gion Festival float district
- Rakuten’s breakfast score is 5.00, and cleanliness 4.67
- The Kyoto accommodation tax is included in the price
Why it made the five
- About seven minutes on foot from Shijo station (subway Karasuma line).
- Breakfast rated 5.00 on Rakuten; 4.48 across 503 reviews.
- From about ¥6,000 per person with breakfast on a weeknight — the cheapest of the five.
- 84 rooms; the accommodation tax is already in the price.
Getting there: About seven minutes on foot from Shijo station (Kyoto subway Karasuma line). Vista has two hotels in Kyoto; this one, Watei, is in the Shijo Shinmachi area.
Language and payment: Rakuten’s listing says a few staff speak a little English. Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express and Diners are listed. Transformers can be borrowed. No bath house, so tattoos do not come up.
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Right for: Looking forward to breakfast, or wanting to stay among the floats at Gion Festival time.
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Not for: No parking and no bath house.
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Worth knowing: Cancelling on the day costs 100%, and from two days before, 80%.
Score breakdown — 83/100
| Criterion | Stars | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | ★★★☆☆ | The categories Rakuten does show (room and others) average 4.56 |
| Value for money | ★★★★★ | ¥6,000–19,000 per person on a weeknight (Rakuten, breakfast) — 63% of the median of everything we compared |
| Easy to stay | ★★★★★ | Check-out 11:00; about seven minutes from Shijo station on the subway; in the heart of the Gion Festival float district; accommodation tax included in the price; transformers to borrow; 84 rooms. |
| Trust | ★★★☆☆ | 4.48 across 503 reviews (Rakuten Travel 503) |
| Only here | ★★★★☆ | Breakfast rated 5.00 on Rakuten, in the middle of the Gion Festival float district. |
Quiet small hotel, 6 min from Shijo and Karasuma stations
Shizutetsu Hotel Prezio Kyoto Shijo
Reviews: Rakuten Travel 4.53/5 (653)
- A five-storey hotel in a residential street, six minutes from exit 24
- Room and cleanliness both rated 4.53 on Rakuten
- 653 reviews
Why it made the five
- Six minutes on foot from exit 24 of Shijo / Karasuma stations, which are joined underground.
- Room and cleanliness both rated 4.53; 4.53 across 653 reviews.
- Breakfast is a buffet in the restaurant.
- From about ¥7,000 per person with breakfast on a weeknight; 115 rooms.
Getting there: Six minutes on foot from exit 24 of Shijo station (Kyoto subway Karasuma line) and Karasuma station (Hankyu Kyoto line), which are joined underground.
Language and payment: Rakuten’s listing says a few staff speak a little English. Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners and Discover are listed. No bath house, so tattoos do not come up.
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Right for: Wanting somewhere quiet, a little away from the shopping streets.
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Not for: No view to speak of — the windows are frosted glass in all but a few rooms.
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Worth knowing: Cancelling after 15:00 on the day costs 100%, and the day before, 50%.
Score breakdown — 81/100
| Criterion | Stars | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | ★★★☆☆ | The categories Rakuten does show (room and others) average 4.54 |
| Value for money | ★★★★★ | ¥7,000–26,000 per person on a weeknight (Rakuten, breakfast) — 76% of the median of everything we compared |
| Easy to stay | ★★★★★ | Check-out 11:00; six minutes from exit 24 of Shijo and Karasuma stations, which are joined underground; buffet breakfast in the restaurant; 115 rooms. |
| Trust | ★★★☆☆ | 4.53 across 653 reviews (Rakuten Travel 653) |
| Only here | ★★☆☆☆ | A small five-storey hotel in a residential street, with room and cleanliness both rated 4.53 on Rakuten. |
One minute from Shijo station exit 5, renovated in 2026
Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto Shijo Karasuma
Reviews: Rakuten Travel 4.46/5 (2,293)
- About a minute from exit 5 of Shijo station, three minutes from Kyoto Station by subway
- Reopened after renovation on 14 March 2026
- 2,293 reviews, the most of the five
Why it made the five
- About one minute on foot from exit 5 of Shijo station; about four from Hankyu Karasuma.
- About three minutes from Kyoto Station on the subway Karasuma line.
- Reopened after renovation on 14 March 2026.
- 4.46 across 2,293 reviews; from about ¥7,000 per person with breakfast on a weeknight; 233 rooms.
Getting there: Take the Kyoto subway Karasuma line from Kyoto Station (about three minutes) to Shijo, then about one minute on foot from exit 5. About four minutes on foot from Karasuma station (Hankyu Kyoto line).
Language and payment: English support is not published, so ask when you book. Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners and UnionPay are listed. No bath house, so tattoos do not come up.
- Right for: Getting from Kyoto Station to your room in minutes, with luggage.
- Not for: No bath house, and breakfast is rated 3.65 on Rakuten — lower than its other scores.
Score breakdown — 78/100
| Criterion | Stars | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | ★★☆☆☆ | The categories Rakuten does show (room and others) average 4.47 |
| Value for money | ★★★★★ | ¥7,000–25,000 per person on a weeknight (Rakuten, breakfast) — 70% of the median of everything we compared |
| Easy to stay | ★★★★★ | Check-out 11:00; about one minute from exit 5 of Shijo station; about three minutes from Kyoto Station on the Karasuma line; reopened after renovation on 14 March 2026; buffet breakfast in the restaurant; 233 rooms. |
| Trust | ★★★☆☆ | 4.46 across 2,293 reviews (Rakuten Travel 2,293) |
| Only here | ★★★☆☆ | About a minute from exit 5 of Shijo station, the closest of the five to a station, and renovated in March 2026. |
Machiya-style ryokan with a bath, 7 min from Karasuma
Reviews: Rakuten Travel 4.83/5 (58)
- A 30-room ryokan in the style of a Kyoto townhouse (machiya), in the middle of the city
- Dinner in your room or a private room; a communal bath house
- Breakfast rated 4.80 and dinner 4.75 on Rakuten
Why it made the five
- Seven minutes on foot from Hankyu Karasuma; five from Karasuma Oike on the subway.
- 4.83 average, the highest of the eight hotels in this guide — though from only 58 reviews.
- Dinner served in your room or a private room; breakfast in a hall; a bath house.
- From about ¥21,000 per person with breakfast on a weeknight.
Getting there: Seven minutes on foot from Karasuma station (Hankyu Kyoto line), five from Karasuma Oike (Kyoto subway), five from the Shijo Takakura bus stop; about ten minutes by taxi from JR Kyoto Station.
Language and payment: Rakuten’s listing says a few staff speak a little English. Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners and debit cards are listed. Transformers can be borrowed. The bath is communal and nude in the Japanese way; tattoo rules are not published, so ask when you book.
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Right for: Wanting a ryokan in a Kyoto townhouse setting rather than a hotel.
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Not for: A midnight curfew, and with dinner you must arrive by 19:00. Only 58 reviews so far.
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Worth knowing: Depending on the day, your stay may be moved to Matsui Honkan, two minutes’ walk away.
Score breakdown — 72/100
| Criterion | Stars | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | ★★★★☆ | The categories Rakuten does show (room and others) average 4.75 |
| Value for money | ★☆☆☆☆ | ¥21,000–31,000 per person on a weeknight (Rakuten, breakfast) — 215% of the median of everything we compared |
| Easy to stay | ★★★★★ | Check-out 11:00; dinner in your room or a private room, breakfast in a hall; seven minutes from Hankyu Karasuma and five from Karasuma Oike; a machiya-style ryokan; a bath house; transformers to borrow; Nishiki Market, the Museum of Kyoto and Rokkakudo listed as nearby sights. |
| Trust | ★★★★☆ | 4.83 across 58 reviews (Rakuten Travel 58) |
| Only here | ★★★★★ | A ryokan in the style of a Kyoto townhouse, and its 4.83 average is the highest of the eight in this guide. |
The best-reviewed hotel (not ryokan) here, 6 min from Karasuma
Richmond Hotel Premier Kyoto Shijo
Reviews: Rakuten Travel 4.60/5 (189)
- Built around the idea of utsuroi — Kyoto’s changing seasons — felt through all five senses
- Service and breakfast both rated 4.70 on Rakuten
- Some connecting rooms, bookable for families and groups
Why it made the five
- Six minutes on foot from Hankyu Karasuma; seven from Shijo on the subway.
- 4.60 across 189 reviews — the highest of the hotels (as opposed to ryokan) in this guide.
- Service and breakfast both rated 4.70; a lounge.
- Connecting rooms in some categories, by reservation; check-in from 14:00.
Getting there: Six minutes on foot from Karasuma station and seven from Omiya station (Hankyu Kyoto line); seven minutes from Shijo station (Kyoto subway Karasuma line).
Language and payment: Rakuten’s listing says a few staff speak a little English. Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express and Diners are listed. No bath house, so tattoos do not come up. The Kyoto accommodation tax is charged separately.
- Right for: Wanting a hotel with solid reviews, or connecting rooms for a family.
- Not for: No bath house, and six to seven minutes from the stations.
Score breakdown — 70/100
| Criterion | Stars | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | ★★★★☆ | The categories Rakuten does show (room and others) average 4.65 |
| Value for money | ★☆☆☆☆ | ¥14,000–65,000 per person on a weeknight (Rakuten, breakfast) — 147% of the median of everything we compared |
| Easy to stay | ★★★★★ | Check-out 11:00; six minutes from Hankyu Karasuma and seven from Shijo on the subway; connecting rooms in some categories, by reservation; check-in from 14:00; a lounge. |
| Trust | ★★★★☆ | 4.6 across 189 reviews (Rakuten Travel 189) |
| Only here | ★★★☆☆ | Its 4.60 average is the highest of the hotels (not counting ryokan) among the eight in this guide, with service and breakfast both rated 4.70. |
Know before you book
- Shijo (Kyoto subway Karasuma line) and Karasuma (Hankyu Kyoto line) are the same crossroads, joined underground. Kyoto Station is about three minutes away on the subway, so arriving with luggage is easy.
- The Hankyu line from Karasuma runs to Osaka without going back to Kyoto Station, which makes this a good base if you are splitting a trip between the two cities.
- Nishiki Market and the Shijo and Kawaramachi shopping streets are a walk east along Shijo-dori. Gion is further on, across the Kamo river.
- The blocks just south-west of the crossroads are the Gion Festival float district: in July the tall festival floats are built and displayed in these streets. Hotel Vista Premio Kyoto Watei sits in the middle of it.
- Step a few streets off Shijo-dori or Karasuma-dori and it turns residential, with old townhouses (machiya) and small shops — quieter at night than Kawaramachi.
- Prices here are per person with breakfast, for two sharing. Kyoto city adds an accommodation tax per person per night; from 1 March 2026 it is ¥200 to ¥1,000 for rooms under ¥50,000, depending on the rate. Vista Premio includes it in the price; Richmond Premier and Candeo charge it separately.
How we chose: theme, conditions, scoring
How we chose
- Candidates: every property in Shijo Karasuma listed on Rakuten Travel — 773
- Passed the review filter (counts and averages on Rakuten Travel, the one site that lists every property in the area): 131
- Met every condition below: 24
- Kept: five, each the best at something different
Where the facts come from
- Facts: Rakuten Travel property information (in some articles, each hotel’s own site too)
- Prices: Rakuten Travel live availability, Wednesdays and Saturdays over eight weeks
- Reviews: the count and average on Rakuten Travel, as given in each hotel’s Trust row
Conditions (all of them, not most of them)
- In Rakuten Travel’s Kyoto district B — Kawaramachi, Shijo-Karasuma, Nijo Castle and the Imperial Palace
- At least 50 reviews on Rakuten Travel, averaging 4.0 or better
- The cheapest rate falls between ¥6,000 and ¥50,000 per person per night
- The listing names Shijo station, Karasuma station or Shijo Karasuma in its access details
Scoring
Five criteria, one to five stars each, weighted to one hundred points. Every star says where the number came from.
- Quality20 pts
- The average of the scores Rakuten Travel publishes for the room, the bath and the food.
- Value for money25 pts
- The cheapest breakfast-inclusive rate against the median of the hotels we compared.
- Easy to stay30 pts
- Minutes from the station, a bath house, and check-out time.
- Trust20 pts
- Review counts and averages published by Rakuten Travel.
- Only here5 pts
- What this hotel has that the other 23 do not.
What we dropped
| Property | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Intergate Kyoto Shijo Shinmachi | Runner-up (69/100) | 69/100, one point behind the fifth pick. It has a bath house and the free lounge, but weeknights at about ¥10,000–27,000 per person sit right at the median, so value took three stars, and the scores Rakuten shows for it average 4.42, two stars on quality. |
| Sotetsu Fresa Inn Kyoto Shijo Karasuma | Runner-up (65/100) | 65/100, five points behind the fifth pick. Weeknights from about ¥6,000 per person are 60% of the median, five stars on value, but its reviews average 4.15 and the scores Rakuten shows average 4.12 — one star each on trust and quality. |
| Candeo Hotels Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku | Runner-up (55/100) | 55/100, fifteen points behind the fifth pick. The bath house and machiya lounge stand out, but the scores Rakuten shows average 4.19, one star on quality; its reviews average 4.29, two stars on trust; and weeknights at about ¥11,000–32,000 per person are 114% of the median. |
| THE L.A.MART HOTEL KYOTO | Outside the theme | 4.53 across 91 reviews, but its listing gives about fourteen minutes on foot from Karasuma and Shijo — it is a Kawaramachi hotel, not a Shijo Karasuma one. |
| Matsui Honkan | Runner-up | 5.00 across 91 reviews, eight minutes from Shijo and Karasuma — but it is the sister ryokan of Matsui Bekkan, two minutes away, and already appears in our Kyoto ryokan guide. |
| Hotel Nikko Princess Kyoto | Runner-up | 4.58 across 1,885 reviews, about three minutes from Shijo exit 5, but it already appears in our Kawaramachi guide, so we left room for another hotel here. |
| Hotel Monterey Kyoto | Runner-up | 4.49 across 5,442 reviews with a hot spring, but it already appears in our Nijo Castle and Kawaramachi guides. |
| 642 hotels | Below the floor | Fewer than 50 reviews, or an average below 4.0. |
Questions visitors ask
Why stay at Shijo Karasuma?
It is the most central crossroads in Kyoto that sits on two rail lines. The Karasuma subway runs to Kyoto Station in about three minutes, and the Hankyu line runs from Karasuma to Osaka. Nishiki Market and the Kawaramachi shopping streets are a walk east, and the side streets are quieter than Kawaramachi at night.
How do I get here from Kyoto Station?
Take the Karasuma subway line north to Shijo, about three minutes. Daiwa Roynet is about a minute from exit 5 and Sotetsu Fresa Inn two minutes from exit 4; Shizutetsu Prezio and Intergate are five to six minutes away. Matsui Bekkan is closer to Karasuma Oike, the next stop, or about ten minutes from Kyoto Station by taxi.
Is there a ryokan or a bath house?
Matsui Bekkan Hanakanzashi is a ryokan in a Kyoto townhouse style, with dinner served in your room or a private room and a bath house; it has a midnight curfew. Among the runners-up, Hotel Intergate has a bath house with a free lounge, and Candeo Hotels has a bath house and sauna. All are communal and nude in the Japanese way and do not publish tattoo rules, so ask first.
What is the Gion Festival float district?
The Gion Festival in July is Kyoto’s biggest festival, and its tall floats are built and displayed in the streets around Shijo Karasuma. Hotel Vista Premio Kyoto Watei is in the middle of that district. Expect crowds and higher prices at festival time.
How much do these cost?
The table shows the cheapest price per person with breakfast, for two sharing, from Rakuten Travel’s availability search for Wednesdays and Saturdays between 18 November 2026 and 9 January 2027. Weeknights start from about ¥6,000 at Hotel Vista Premio Kyoto Watei to about ¥21,000 at Matsui Bekkan Hanakanzashi. Kyoto’s accommodation tax is included at Vista Premio and comes on top at Richmond Premier.
Which one would you book?
Hotel Vista Premio Kyoto Watei: 83 points, the highest score here, breakfast rated 5.00, and from about ¥6,000 per person on a weeknight — the cheapest of the five. If you are arriving with luggage, Daiwa Roynet is about a minute from Shijo exit 5 and three minutes from Kyoto Station on the subway.
Changes
- 2026-11-10 First published. Scored from 773 candidates.