Luxury Hotels and Ryokans in Kyoto, Southern Honshu & Kyushu

A stay in Kyoto and southern Honshu could include anything from a sleek, minimalist hotel on a far-flung peninsula to an ancient inn where you'll spend the night on traditional futon bedding. We just loved the morning prayers and afternoon meditation at the working monastery Souji-in, which also pairs perfectly with another favourite of ours, the Amanemu, a tranquil retreat overlooking Ago Bay in the Ise-Shima National Park. Take a look below at our selection of hotels for more inspiration: 

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We've found [N] hotels in Kyoto, Southern Honshu & Kyushu for you
Amanemu, Japan

Amanemu

Location: Kyoto, Southern Honshu & Kyushu | Japan

Drawing influences from traditional minka country homes but exuding Aman’s signature sleek style, Amanemu is a minimalist and modern retreat set amidst tranquil, forested hills. The resort is graced with Japanese flourishes, such as sliding screens, low-hanging tiled roofs and tempting onsen baths, enhanced by luxe amenities that are designed to pamper and spoil.   

Best for: Hideaway, Peace & Quiet, Spa & Wellness, Cultural Immersion

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Hyatt Regency

Location: Kyoto, Southern Honshu & Kyushu | Japan

The Hyatt Regency Kyoto is a luxurious hotel in a historic area of Japan’s one-time imperial capital, perfectly located for experiencing Kyoto’s historical delights and representing the seamless blend of ancient and modern which characterises this charming city.

Best for: History & Heritage, Food & Wine, Luxury Hotel, City Hotel

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Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto, Japan

Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto

Location: Kyoto, Southern Honshu & Kyushu | Japan

The sleek, stylish Four Seasons Kyoto epitomises Japan’s knack of seamlessly blending the traditional and the modern, and takes its inspiration from ancient Japanese architecture and artistry while embracing contemporary chic.

Best for: Family-friendly, Luxury Hotel, History & Heritage, Food & Wine

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Ritz-Carlton Osaka

Location: Kyoto, Southern Honshu & Kyushu | Japan

Centrally located, beautifully luxurious and home to some of the best restaurants in this world-class food destination, the Ritz-Carlton Osaka encapsulates the vitality of Japan’s third city while remaining a haven of calm amidst the urban chaos.

Best for: Luxury Hotel, Food & Wine, Family-friendly, City Hotel

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Hoshinoya Kyoto

Location: Kyoto, Southern Honshu & Kyushu | Japan

Hoshinoya Kyoto, nestled in the forested hills surrounding Japan’s imperial capital, is the perfect place to take in the tranquillity and spirituality of old world Japan, while enjoying the ultimate in luxury and comfort with a modern touch.

Best for: Cultural Immersion, History & Heritage, Guesthouse or Inn, Service & Hospitality

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Ritz-Carlton Kyoto

Ritz-Carlton Kyoto

Location: Kyoto, Southern Honshu & Kyushu | Japan

The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto is every inch reflective of Japan’s ancient capital, a modern-day ryokan that blends centuries of tradition with the height of modern luxury and comfort and is ideally located for exploring the myriad cultural treasures that Kyoto has to offer.

Best for: Family-friendly, Luxury Hotel, Service & Hospitality, History & Heritage

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Yoshikawa Ryokan

Location: Kyoto, Southern Honshu & Kyushu | Japan

Built over a century ago, Yoshikawa Ryokan is a perfect representation of old Kyoto, a classic example of the traditional Japanese sukiya architectural style and home to an exquisite garden with its own koi carp pond.

Best for: Chic Design, Guesthouse or Inn, Peace & Quiet, Romantic

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Kanamean Nishitomiya, Kyoto, Japan

Kanamean Nishitomiya

Location: Kyoto, Southern Honshu & Kyushu | Japan

Kanamean Nishitomiya is a traditional Japanese ryokan inn with a history dating back to the 19th century. With its tatami floors, sliding screens, slippers and kimonos, it offers a quintessential ryokan experience - alongside a Michelin-starred restaurant serving up magnificent multi-course kaiseki cuisine.

Best for: History & Heritage, Cultural Immersion, Setting & Views, Food & Wine

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Tawaraya Ryokan

Location: Kyoto, Southern Honshu & Kyushu | Japan

Staying in a ryokan – or traditional inn – is the perfect way to experience Japanese culture first hand, and at Tawaraya Ryokan, three hundred years old and one of the finest of its kind in the country, the perfect balance is drawn between refreshing minimalism and luxurious comfort.

Best for: Guesthouse or Inn, Service & Hospitality, Cultural Immersion, Honeymoon

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Hotel Granvia

Location: Kyoto, Southern Honshu & Kyushu | Japan

Kyoto hotels don’t come much better placed than Hotel Granvia, a luxurious hotel within the walls of the city’s main station complex, ideally located for exploring the collision of the past and the future which is modern-day Kyoto.

Best for: Luxury Hotel, City Hotel, Setting & Views, History & Heritage

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Wasurenosato Gajoen

Wasurenosato Gajoen

Location: Kyoto, Southern Honshu & Kyushu | Japan

Wasurenosato Gajoen is a luxurious ryokan inn in Kagoshima, which makes the most of the area’s rich volcanic activity and onsen hot springs.

Best for: Peace & Quiet, Cultural Immersion, Service & Hospitality, History & Heritage

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Kyoto Hotel Okura

Location: Kyoto, Southern Honshu & Kyushu | Japan

Kyoto Hotel Okura has an appropriately rich history for Japan’s former imperial capital, having stood for over 120 years in the centre of downtown Kyoto. Classically designed and featuring a grand, sweeping lobby, Hotel Okura fuses European and Japanese tastes seamlessly and is the perfect base for exploring Kyoto in style.

Best for: History & Heritage, Cultural Immersion, Luxury Hotel, City Hotel

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St Regis

Location: Kyoto, Southern Honshu & Kyushu | Japan

A classically elegant sanctuary in the fashionable heart of Osaka, St Regis is brilliantly located and endlessly luxurious, perfect for making the most of the vibrant cultural hotspot that is Japan’s third most populous city.

Best for: Luxury Hotel, City Hotel, Service & Hospitality, History & Heritage

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Takefue

Location: Kyoto, Southern Honshu & Kyushu | Japan

Takefue is a luxury ryokan in Kurokawa Onsen, a popular hot springs town in Kyushu, the most southwesterly of Japan’s main islands. The hotel is surrounded by rich bamboo forest, and several historic temples, shrines and spots of natural beauty lie nearby.

Best for: Peace & Quiet, Cultural Immersion, Food & Wine, Spa & Wellness

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Rihga Royal Hotel Hiroshima

Location: Kyoto, Southern Honshu & Kyushu | Japan

Modern, stylish and brilliantly located for exploring the vibrant city that is present-day Hiroshima, Rihga Royal’s unique design pays homage to the city’s famous ‘Carp Castle’, and houses luxurious rooms and suites with sweeping views of the cityscape.

Best for: Luxury Hotel, City Hotel, Setting & Views, History & Heritage

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Ryokan Kurashiki

Location: Kyoto, Southern Honshu & Kyushu | Japan

Ryokan Kurashiki is a luxurious ryokan hotel in the old town of historic Kurashiki.

Best for: Service & Hospitality, History & Heritage, Cultural Immersion, Food & Wine

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Shiraume Ryokan

Location: Kyoto, Southern Honshu & Kyushu | Japan

Exemplifying the traditional ryokan inn style, Shiraume’s old world atmosphere, combined with its surroundings in the historic Kyoto district of Gion, will make you believe you’ve stepped back in time to medieval Japan.

Best for: Service & Hospitality, History & Heritage, Cultural Immersion, Honeymoon

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Souji-in

Location: Kyoto, Southern Honshu & Kyushu | Japan

With a history that can traced back to the early 12th century, Souji-in is a serene working monastery offering traditional Japanese accommodation for those who want to experience a Buddhist way of life.

Best for: Peace & Quiet, History & Heritage, Cultural Immersion, Unusual

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Sankara

Location: Kyoto, Southern Honshu & Kyushu | Japan

Sankara Hotel & Spa is a luxurious property on the southeastern tip of the beautiful island of Yakushima. Its stylish, evocative interiors use rich teak furnishings and polished floors to create a modern aesthetic which blends Eastern and Western elements.

Best for: Luxury Hotel, Chic Design, Guesthouse or Inn, Setting & Views

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Intercontinental

Location: Kyoto, Southern Honshu & Kyushu | Japan

In the heart of Osaka, the Intercontinental represents everything that makes residents of this buzzing city – Japan’s third largest by population – think of it as the country’s true capital: great food, impeccable style and a hospitality that will ensure you never want to leave.

Best for: Family-friendly, Luxury Hotel, City Hotel, History & Heritage

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Benesse House

Location: Kyoto, Southern Honshu & Kyushu | Japan

Half hotel, half museum, Benesse House is a remarkable property designed by the renowned architect Tadao Ando.

Best for: Chic Design, Cultural Immersion, Honeymoon, Family-friendly

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Ryokan Kifu No Sato

Location: Kyoto, Southern Honshu & Kyushu | Japan

With a history going back 4 generations, Kifu No Sato combines the aesthetic of a authentic, traditional Japanese ryokan inn with modern elements, featuring tatami mats, onsen hot springs and beautifully presented kaiseki cuisine.

Best for: Cultural Immersion, History & Heritage, Guesthouse or Inn, Service & Hospitality

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Hiiragiya

Location: Kyoto, Southern Honshu & Kyushu | Japan

Established in 1818, Hiiragiya has been in the hands of the same family for six generations, and has long been a favourite of celebrated artists, writers, and scientists as well as politicians and members of the imperial family.

Best for: Cultural Immersion, Guesthouse or Inn, Setting & Views, Service & Hospitality

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Iwaso Ryokan

Location: Kyoto, Southern Honshu & Kyushu | Japan

The tiny island of Miyajima, famed for the Itsukushima shrine and its centuries-old religious architecture, is among Japan’s most beautiful and tranquil destinations. Iwaso Ryokan lets you take it all in the Japanese way, with mouthwatering kaiseki cuisine, traditional Japanese architecture and hot spring baths all nestled in a peaceful, primeval forest.

Best for: Guesthouse or Inn, Setting & Views, Peace & Quiet, Romantic

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