Last Updated on September 30, 2026 by A Teaspoon of Travel

Where to Stay in Kyoto with Kids: Best Family Hotels

Having traveled to Japan both before and after having a kid, we have realized how much the right hotel matters on a family trip. Before kids, we mostly prioritized location since we were only in the room to sleep. But traveling with a toddler changed that completely, especially in Japan where hotel rooms can be notoriously small. Extra space for energetic kids to bounce around around and a kitchenette for easy breakfasts and simple meals make a huge difference in Japan, especially since many places in Japan open later in the morning. The Kyoto hotels we recommend balance convenient sightseeing locations with larger rooms and thoughtful family-friendly amenities. In fact, our favorite hotel we’ve stayed at anywhere in Japan is in Kyoto! If you’re wondering where to stay in Kyoto with kids, these are the hotels we’d personally recommend for the best combination of location, space, and family-friendly amenities.

Our Top Picks for Kyoto Hotels for Families

Want the hotel we personally loved most? → 22 Pieces

Want to be as close to Kyoto Station as possible? → Mimaru Kyoto Station

Want to save money while still getting a kitchen? → MONday Apart Premium Kyoto Station

Want traditional Japanese atmosphere? → Hotel Imagine Kyoto

Want multiple bedrooms? → Mimaru Suites Kyoto Shijo

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 with kids are hotels or aparthotels.

Whether to stay in a home rental or a hotel is usually a point of personal preference. However, especially in Japan, 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, it’s much easier to stay in a hotel or an apartment run by a hotel because of the 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 with kids are hotels or aparthotels.

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. Our recommendations for where to stay in Kyoto with kids are located close to the train stations or main streets, so there is less chance of getting lost while looking for your accommodations.

Where to Stay in Kyoto with Kids

Kyoto is a large city, so the sights are spaced pretty far apart. However, public transportation connects you easily to all the sights. The two most convenient areas to stay in Kyoto for sightseeing are:

• Near Kyoto Station (for easiest transportation)
• Downtown Kyoto (to be close to the main attractions)

Other Kyoto Areas to Consider With Kids

Why we chose Kyoto Station instead

We ultimately chose to stay near Kyoto Station since we were visiting sights closer to the station or outside of the city on our family trip to Kyoto. Being close to Kyoto Station meant that we didn’t have much further to go to get back to our room after a long day trip or a long day of sightseeing. This really made a difference in limiting our kid’s complaining at the end of the day.

Near Kyoto Station

Mimaru Kyoto Station ($$$) – best for families who want an apartment-style stay

The Mimaru Kyoto Station is perfect for families because all the rooms are apartment style with multiple beds. You get the space and kitchen of an Airbnb, but with the front desk staff and amenities of a hotel. It’s the best of both worlds! This Mimaru hotel even has the Pokemon-themed apartments and apartments overlooking the Kyoto station train tracks, for extra fun for kids. Usually the Mimaru brand hotels are a slightly further walk from the station, but this one is just a one minute walk from Kyoto Station! While this hotel is more expensive, it could be worth it for families looking for the extra space and convenient location. This was our top pick when researching, but in the end we decided to save a bit of money in our accommodations budget for ryokan stays in other cities.

The kitchenette is especially helpful when traveling with kids because you can make breakfast before heading out instead of waiting for restaurants to open. And if you have picky eaters, you can prepare meals in the hotel rather than trying to find a restaurant with food everyone will eat. The best thing about the location of this Mimaru is that there is a full grocery store just a short walk away!

22 Pieces ($$) – where we stayed, our favorite hotel!

Another more modern aparthotel option in the Kyoto Station area is 22 Pieces. These studio style apartments have kitchens, and some even have an outdoor terrace with a peaceful rock garden. A nice feature for families is that most of the rooms have 3 beds! We usually don’t usually bedshare with our kid so it was so nice to have my own bed for a couple nights.

Our room was incredibly spacious for Japan standards, and we loved the layout. We chose the room with a dining table, which was especially nice for eating breakfast in the morning. They also have a bunch of small kitchen appliances (even an air fryer!) and kids toys that you can rent for your stay at check in. It’s only about a 5 minute walk from Kyoto Station and about a block away from the giant Aeon Mall (with a grocery store), but tucked away in a quiet residential neighborhood. This hotel is my idea of perfect, with the ideal combination of location, space, and family-friendly amenities!

MONday Apart Premium Kyoto Station ($)

The MONday Apart Premium Kyoto Station is a slightly more affordable aparthotel option in the Kyoto Station area, if you’re ok with a further walk. It’s about a 10 minute walk from the station. But all the rooms have a kitchenette and dining area, and some even have in room laundry. The decor feels a bit more basic, but if you’re just looking for extra space and a kitchen and don’t need the luxury, it fits the bill! We considered this stay because of the great savings, but knowing our kid would be too tired to walk we prioritized a closer stay to 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. We considered this hotel so we could still get some traditional vibes since we weren’t staying in the Gion area.

For a list of kid essentials you’ll be glad you brought to Japan, check out our Japan packing list for kids!

Downtown Kyoto

Mimaru Suites Kyoto Shijo ($$$) – best for families

The Mimaru aparthotels are pricey, but worth it for the space and family-friendly amenities. Mimaru Suites Kyoto Shijo has a great location a couple minutes walk from Nishiki Market just outside the crowds. It’s also close to a train station for easy access to Kyoto’s other sights. The best part is the 2 and 3 bedroom suite options, so there is plenty of space for families traveling together.

Like all the Mimaru hotels, these rooms have a kitchenette. Being able to prepare some light meals when traveling with kids is great, especially on those days when everyone is too tired to find a family-friendly restaurant at the end of the day or early in the morning. The layout and extra space of the Mimaru hotels is also great for kids who nap, or just need time to decompress from a hectic day of sightseeing.

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.

One of the big convenience factors for families is that this 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. Department store basements are a travel hack for parents with picky eaters. At the end of a long day of walking and sightseeing, sometimes having easy food options right downstairs can be the difference between a quiet night and a meltdown.

If you want to explore outside Kyoto, definitely check out our Kyoto, Osaka, Wakayama Itinerary for ideas on day trips and side trips from Kyoto to see a more local side of Japan!