First Time Visitors Ultimate Guide: Where to Stay in Kyoto and Hiroshima

Planning your first trip to Japan can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially when it comes to choosing the perfect places to stay. Visiting Japan is a culture shock, but in the best way. There are so many unique and fun experiences in Japan. The challenge is navigating the dizzying number of train lines along with the language barrier to get where you want to go. However, you can make things easier for yourself by staying in a central location. Staying in a central location helps you save time – time getting lost and time getting to restaurants and sights. There are literally thousands of hotels in Japan to choose from. But don’t let that analysis paralysis overwhelm you! This post narrows it down for you and has our recommendations for where to stay in Kyoto and Hiroshima for first time visitors. These are places that we personally stayed in, or considered for our trip. From luxury hotels to cozy guesthouses, let’s explore where to stay in Kyoto and Hiroshima, Japan for first-time visitors!

Home Rentals or Hotels in Japan?

Whether to stay in a home rental or a hotel is usually a point of personal preference. However. Asian countries are different from Western countries in many ways, and it can be helpful to have the convenience of hotel front desk staff to help facilitate on your first trip. I enjoy the comfort and privacy of a home rental when traveling in the United States. But especially in Japan where English is not widely spoken, it’s much easier to stay in a hotel or an apartment run by a hotel. It is helpful to have front desk staff who can assist with making dinner reservations or explaining directions. That is why all our recommendations for where to stay in Kyoto and Hiroshima are hotels or apart-hotels.

It is often also easier to find hotels than home rentals in Japan. Japan has few street signs, making it easy to get lost, even with Google Maps as your guide. The hotel recommendations below are located close to the train stations or main streets, so there is less chance of getting lost while looking for your accommodations. Our recommendations for where to stay in Kyoto and Hiroshima are in prime locations to best set you up for exploring.

Whether you choose to stay in home rentals or hotels in Japan, get out there and explore!

Where to Stay in Kyoto

Kyoto is a large city, so the sights are spaced pretty far apart. However, the public transportation connects you easily to all the sights. The two most convenient areas to stay in for sightseeing are either downtown Kyoto (to be close to the main attractions) or near Kyoto Station (for easiest transportation). Since our trip involved a lot of travel out of downtown Kyoto, we ultimately opted to stay near the train station to save time.

Downtown Kyoto

Good Nature Hotel Kyoto ($)

The Good Nature Hotel Kyoto is perfectly located in downtown Kyoto right on the main street of Kawaramachi-dori. Despite being on a bustling street, I love that the hotel itself is an oasis of zen because of the greenery incorporated into the design. Some of the rooms have an amazing terrace where you can relax at the end of a day of sightseeing. And the atrium itself is very unique with a lattice of greenery running up the building. The hotel has a grocery store in the basement and is also a block away from a large department store with plentiful food options in the basement.

Near Kyoto Station

Hotel Imagine Kyoto ($$)

If you want to stay near Kyoto Station but still have that traditional vibe, the Hotel Imagine Kyoto is your pick. The decor is a cross between a traditional ryokan and a modern hotel since the rooms have both a western bed and also a tatami mat area. To add to the ryokan vibes, the front desk has yukatas (traditional robes) available. There is a beautiful rooftop garden and also a useful communal kitchen next to the lobby. The slightly larger room set up and the communal kitchen make it a good option for families that could use more space.

Kyoto Century Hotel ($)

The Kyoto Century Hotel is right next to Kyoto Station, so it’s my top choice if you are looking for ultimate convenience to the train station. It also exudes elegance, from the classy lobby to the plush rooms. It’s not the most modern, but it feels like a stately old hotel. It is surprisingly affordable for being right next to the train station.

If those hotels are not quite what you’re looking for, check out these other highly rated accommodations near downtown Kyoto and Kyoto Station!

Where to Stay in Hiroshima

Accommodations in Hiroshima are mostly clustered either around the JR Hiroshima Station or in downtown Hiroshima. Staying near JR Hiroshima Station is convenient for transportation, but it is about a 30 minute walk away (or short bus ride) from the majority of the sights in Hiroshima. If you plan on catching any early or late trains, then staying near the JR Hiroshima Station makes more sense. Staying in downtown Hiroshima will put you closer to the main sights, restaurants, and nightlife. Hotels in Hiroshima tend to be a bit more affordable compared to the other cities in Japan, so it’s a great place to spring for a more luxurious stay or opt for a moderately priced hotel to stretch your travel budget.

Near Hiroshima Station

Hotel Granvia Hiroshima ($)

The Hotel Granvia Hiroshima is directly connected to the JR Hiroshima Station, so location can’t be beat. It is also surprisingly affordable given its prime location. It is about a 30 minute walk from downtown Hiroshima but it is on the tram loop line so still easily accessible to the main sights. Note that there are smoking and non-smoking rooms so make sure you book the right category.

Sheraton Grand Hiroshima Hotel ($)

For a splurge, stay at the Sheraton Grand Hiroshima Hotel near the JR Hiroshima Station. The rooms here are huge for Asian standards and it has all the extra amenities expected in a luxury hotel. The rooms on the upper levels have fantastic city views. The best part is, you can get these luxury amenities for a quarter of the price of a similar hotel in the bigger cities. This was our top pick when we were considering staying close to the station.

Downtown Hiroshima

Hiroshima Washington Hotel ($)

The Hiroshima Washington Hotel, where we stayed, is located in downtown Hiroshima. It is about midway between the JR Hiroshima Station and the main sights, so it’s about a 15 minute walk either way or a short tram ride away. The other bonus about the location is that there are many restaurants, shops, and department stores surrounding the hotel. I loved that there was a Don Quijote right across the street and it was nearby to the okonomiyaki building. The rooms themselves are pretty standard, but it’s a great value in a convenient location for stretching that travel budget. Note that there are smoking and non-smoking rooms so make sure you book the right category.

If those stays are not quite right, find other highly rated stays in Hiroshima here!

Now that you have booked your hotels, time to get excited planning your trip with our complete 2 weeks Japan itinerary!