The Best Hotels in Kyoto, From Intimate Ryokans to Contemporary Escapes

Set in the Arashiyama district on the western side of Kyoto (an area frequented by Japanese nobles of years gone by), Suiran sits seamlessly on the jade waters of the Katsura River. The original buildings, which now house the restaurants and lobby, are constructed around beautifully manicured Japanese gardens, and sunlight-dappled pebble pathways lead the way to the more modern low-rise buildings where you’ll find the rooms. Yukata-clad staff welcome you warmly with a hot towel and tea whilst discreetly whisking your luggage off to your room, leaving you to enjoy the serene surroundings, bathed in light. Here, chaotic city life is a distant memory, and the deliberate and unhurried pace is the catalyst for achieving a state of repose. —Rachel Tranter Davies