Where to stay in Kawaramachi and Pontocho, Kyoto
河原町・先斗町
Downtown Kyoto around the Shijo-Kawaramachi crossing, with the covered arcades, Nishiki Market, Pontocho and Kiyamachi between Shijo and Sanjo. It suits first-time visitors and travellers who want restaurants and bars at the door and Gion across the river.
- Median per night
- US$376
- Typical range (p25 to p75)
- US$220 to US$617
- Hotels sampled
- 55600 m, 24 September 2026
- Travel time (public transport)
-
- Kyoto Station20 min
- Shijo-Kawaramachi crossing5 min
- Yasaka Shrine (Gion)12 min
- Nearest stations
-
- Kyoto-Kawaramachi5 min walk
- Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae7 min walk
- Gion-Shijo7 min walk
- Sanjo7 min walk
01Hotel prices
Hotels in Kawaramachi and Pontocho for your dates
Live availability and prices from several booking sites. Choose dates to update the map.
Prices and availability come from the booking sites and can change.
02
Pros
- The largest collection of shopping and dining in the city, according to Japan Guide
- Gion, Yasaka Shrine and the Kamo river are a short walk away
- Hankyu trains to Osaka and Arashiyama, Keihan trains to Fushimi Inari, and many bus routes
- Pontocho and Kiyamachi keep restaurants and bars open late
Cons
- No JR station: reaching Kyoto Station takes a bus or a subway transfer
- Streets around Kiyamachi and Kawaramachi are noisy late at night
- Crowded sidewalks and arcades at weekends
Types of stay
Chain and boutique hotels along Shijo, Sanjo and Kawaramachi streets and around City Hall, hostels and capsule hotels, and small ryokan and machiya inns along the Takase canal.
03Map
Places in Kawaramachi and Pontocho
- Market Nishiki Market 錦市場 A narrow covered street five blocks long, one block north of Shijo-dori, lined with more than a hundred food shops and stalls selling pickles, fish, sweets, tofu and kitchen knives. Free entry 1 h 5 min walk
- Street Pontocho 先斗町 A narrow alley running from Shijo-dori to Sanjo-dori one block west of the Kamo river, packed with restaurants and bars from inexpensive yakitori to exclusive traditional dining. Free entry 45 min 3 min walk
- Nightlife Kiyamachi-dori 木屋町通 A street following the Takase canal, dug in 1611, between the Kamo river and Kawaramachi-dori. Free entry 45 min 3 min walk
- Shopping Teramachi and Shinkyogoku Arcades 寺町京極・新京極 Two parallel covered shopping streets running between Shijo and Sanjo. Free entry 1 h 5 min walk
- Nature Kamo River Walk 鴨川 Paths run along both banks of the Kamo river through central Kyoto. Free entry 45 min 3 min walk
- Temple Honno-ji 本能寺 The rebuilt successor of the temple where Oda Nobunaga died in 1582, now on Teramachi-dori near Kyoto City Hall. Paid entry 30 min 3 min walk
- Shrine Nishiki Tenmangu 錦天満宮 A small shrine at the eastern end of Nishiki Market, facing Shinkyogoku, dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deity of learning. Free entry 10 min 4 min walk
04Area
Nearby areas
05FAQ
Questions
How much does a hotel in Kawaramachi and Pontocho cost?
The median nightly rate was US$376 in the 24 September 2026 sample of 55 properties, with a typical range of US$220 to US$617.
How long are the trips from a hotel in Kawaramachi and Pontocho?
Typical door-to-door times by public transport: Kyoto Station 20 min, Shijo-Kawaramachi crossing 5 min, Yasaka Shrine (Gion) 12 min.
Which stations serve hotels in Kawaramachi and Pontocho?
Kyoto-Kawaramachi (Hankyu Kyoto Line), 5 min walk; Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae (Tozai Line), 7 min walk; Gion-Shijo (Keihan Main Line), 7 min walk; Sanjo (Keihan Main Line), 7 min walk.
Who is a stay in Kawaramachi and Pontocho best for?
The data tags it for: first-time visitors and nightlife.