Two bases, one decision
The bamboo path is best before 9 a.m. A bed in Arashiyama puts you at the path without a commute from the centre. A bed near Kyoto Station keeps you on the direct JR line, about 11 minutes by rapid train to Saga-Arashiyama, and close to the rest of the city.
If you only come for the day, you do not need a hotel here at all. Guided Arashiyama tours start at Kyoto Avanti in the Kyoto Station area at 8:30 a.m., and the Kyoto day tour meets at 7:50 a.m. Both suit a base at the station.
Arashiyama or Kyoto Station
The trade-offs that hold for every hotel in the district.
| Stay in Arashiyama | Stay near Kyoto Station | |
|---|---|---|
| Bamboo path in the morning | Short walk or ride, no commute from the centre | JR train, about 11 minutes by rapid, plus the walk to the platform |
| Other Kyoto sights | Train or bus ride into the city | Closer to the centre |
| Evenings | Riverside and the bridge, then back to the hotel | Station area and the city |
Prices depend on the date, the number of guests, meals and cancellation terms, so compare live offers for your own dates. For most first-time visitors who plan several days in Kyoto, a base at the station is the practical choice, with one early train to Arashiyama. If the bamboo and the river are the main goal, sleep in Arashiyama.
Our pick: a day trip from Osaka
If you stay in Osaka, this day covers Arashiyama and ends with an evening in Gion.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Arashiyama tours from Kyoto
Guided walks, river cruises and day trips, with live prices and availability.
Two hotels with a river setting
Descriptions are from the hotels themselves. No room prices are given here.
Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto
The hotel places itself on the Hozu river in Arashiyama, at 12 Susukinobaba-chō, Saga-Tenryūji, Ukyō-ku. The address is in the Saga-Tenryūji district. Check the live price for your date, including meals, tax and cancellation terms.
HOSHINOYA Kyoto
Guests can arrive by private boat, which you must reserve in advance. The first boat leaves the boat lounge at 2:30 p.m. and the last at 5:45 p.m. In bad weather or on a disrupted river, a private car transfer replaces the boat. The hotel has no car park of its own. The boat is a hotel transfer, not a Hozugawa river boat ride.
Hozugawa river boat ride →These two examples are not a ranking of Arashiyama hotels. For a base in eastern Kyoto instead, see where to stay near Kiyomizu-dera, and for the south of the city where to stay near Fushimi Inari.
Kyoto lodging tax since 1 March 2026
The tax is charged per person and night.
| Accommodation charge per person and night | Tax per person and night |
|---|---|
| Under JPY 6,000 | JPY 200 |
| JPY 6,000 to under JPY 20,000 | JPY 400 |
| JPY 20,000 to under JPY 50,000 | JPY 1,000 |
| JPY 50,000 to under JPY 100,000 | JPY 4,000 |
| JPY 100,000 and above | JPY 10,000 |
The charge used for the tier includes the service fee but not meals or consumption tax. A room at JPY 25,000 per person and night falls in the JPY 20,000 tier, so the tax is JPY 1,000 per person and night. It is not a flat fee per room, so a party of three pays three times.
If a booking site or tour operator already collected the tax, you do not pay it again at the hotel. Check the invoice to see which line shows it. Add the tax to your budget before you compare Arashiyama with Kyoto Station, since the same tier rules apply in both places.
Plan the rest of your visit
Pages that go with choosing a base.
Where to stay in Arashiyama: frequently asked questions
Is it better to stay in Arashiyama or in Kyoto?
Stay in Arashiyama if the bamboo and the river are your main goal and you want to start early. Stay near Kyoto Station if you plan several days across the city.
How much is the Kyoto lodging tax?
Since 1 March 2026 it is JPY 200 to JPY 10,000 per person and night, in five tiers by accommodation charge. It is not a flat fee per room.
Do I pay the lodging tax twice?
No. If a booking portal or tour operator already collected it, you do not pay again at the hotel. The invoice shows which party charged it.
Can I arrive at a hotel by boat?
HOSHINOYA Kyoto offers a private boat transfer that you reserve in advance. The first boat leaves at 2:30 p.m. and the last at 5:45 p.m. In bad weather a car transfer replaces it.
Can I park at my hotel?
HOSHINOYA Kyoto has no car park. Ask any other hotel about parking before you book, since spaces in the district are limited.