You Can Do Your Own Cooking! 7 Recommended Hotels With a Kitchen in Kyoto

1. Citadines Karasuma-Gojo Kyoto

You can do your own cooking at the attached kitchen in this apartment-style hotel, which is perfect for long stays. All of the guestrooms come with free Wi-Fi. They have multiple room types to match your needs, and even in their studio-type rooms, there is a bright and roomy kitchen area. The kitchens are equipped with everything you’ll need, including a toaster, microwave, cookware, utensils and more. You can enjoy the depachika (department store basements where food is sold) at Daimaru Kyoto in Shijo Station, which is next to Gojo Station (the station nearest to the hotel). Or you can get your hands on ingredients and dishes that you’ll only find in Kyoto at Nishiki Market, which is also known as “Kyoto’s kitchen”.

At Nishiki Market (Kyoto's kitchen), there are lots of sidedishes on sale.

2. Parkside Umekoji

This is an apartment-type hotel (rather than a guesthouse) with a full range of facilities available, such as a bathroom with a TV, toilet, kitchen, washing machine, standalone TV, PC, air conditioner and free Wi-Fi. The kitchen comes equipped with a 2-burner gas stove, microwave, and refrigerator. You can borrow cookware at the front desk. It’s located close to a bus station, as well as sightseeing areas like Nishi Hongan-ji Temple and Umekoji Park (where Kyoto Aquarium is). It’s recommended for anyone who wants to stay like a Kyoto local. There are convenience stores in the area, so you can easily buy side dishes and basic groceries.

A photo of the lush greenery at Umekoji Park.

3. The Palace Side Hotel

This is the hotel adjacent to the historic Kyoto Imperial Palace, which has been open year-round since July 2016. Each guestroom is equipped with free Wi-Fi and amenities to ensure a comfortable stay. A portion of the double and twin rooms have a mini-kitchen that comes with a microwave, tableware and cookware. Inside the hotel, there is a space that guests can use freely that is equipped with a library, mini-kitchen, lecture room and more. It’s recommended that you buy and bring back some of Kyoto’s “obanzai" (Kyoto-style home dishes) to enjoy eating it there. Also, at the cafe terrace where you can see the view of the Kyoto Imperial Palace spread out before you, they offer a reasonably priced buffet-style breakfast and lunch menu.

An example of the food that comes with the breakfast-included plan.

An image of Kyoto Imperial Palace, which is open year-round.

4. Kyoto Guesthouse Roujiya

At this guesthouse (which is a renovated old Kyoto townhouse), you’re surrounded by a retro townscape that has the atmosphere of ancient Kyoto. There are dormitory-style and individual rooms, free Wi-Fi, and even women-only rooms. There is a shared kitchen where you can do your own cooking. It comes equipped with a microwave, toaster, tableware and basic seasonings. There’s enough in the area to ensure a comfortable stay, including supermarkets and restaurants within walking distance, as well as a shopping street and public bath. Also, if you walk for a few minutes, there is a 800m long shopping street called Kyoto Sanjo Shopping Street, which has around 180 shops that include restaurants, grocery stores, greengrocers, drugstores and more. You can buy things that will be convenient for your stay or buy things that you can only find in Kyoto!

A Japanese-style private room.

5. Piece Hostel Kyoto

This hostel is well-located at just a 5-minute walk from Kyoto Station, and is recommended for people who want to enjoy cultural exchange with other travelers. There are various types of rooms to match your needs, including dormitory-style rooms (co-ed or women-only) and single, double, twin and even family rooms that can accommodate up to 6 people. The building has a stylish exterior and interior, and comes equipped with facilities to ensure a comfortable stay, including free Wi-Fi, a shared library, living room, terrace and kitchen. The kitchen has cookware, implements and ingredients, so you can do your own cooking. However, you’ll be happy to know that they also offer a free, simple breakfast service every morning. They also have a cafe bar where they sell Japanese liquor, cocktails and other alcoholic drinks at night.

They have a free breakfast service.

6. Kyoto Hana Hostel

This guesthouse is in an optimum location for getting to some of Kyoto’s best tourist spots. It’s a 3-minute walk to Higashi Hongan-ji Temple, a 5-minute walk to Kyoto Station, and a 3-minute walk to the electronics retail store Yodobashi Camera Multimedia Kyoto Store. In addition to mixed dormitories and women-only dormitories, there are also private rooms that come with private baths and toilets (a rarity for guesthouses). The entire building has free Wi-Fi, and the living room and kitchen functions as a shared space with a friendly atmosphere that’s unique to guesthouses, making it a place where you can enjoy cultural exchange. There are supermarkets nearby where you can buy ingredients, and the kitchen is equipped with things like a refrigerator, microwave, cookware and seasonings, so you can enjoy cooking for yourself!

A private Japanese-style room with a relaxed atmosphere.

7. Kyoto Guest House Lantern

From dormitory-style rooms (where you can stay for a reasonable price) to private Japanese-style suite rooms that veer just a little on the side of luxury, you can choose what best suits your needs at this Japanese-style guest house. Some dormitories have Japanese-style rooms where you spread the futon (traditional Japanese bedding) on tatami mats, while others are Western-style with beds, and there are also women-only rooms. There is free Wi-Fi inside the building and all the rooms, and there is a shared space with a sunken kotatsu and a large TV, as well as a shared kitchen that you can use as you like. The kitchen has a microwave, refrigerator, coffee maker and seasonings that you are welcome to use. In the vicinity, there are convenience stores where you can buy basic groceries. Also, tourist spots like Nishi Hongan-ji Temple and Higashi Hongan-ji Temple are close by, and there are many stores that sell famous Kyoto sweets and handicrafts.

A private Japanese-style suite room with a Kyoto-esque interior design.