Kyoto · Couples & honeymoon
Where should couples stay in Kyoto for a honeymoon trip?
August 2, 2026 · last updated · about 4 min read
Where should couples stay in Kyoto for a honeymoon trip?
Kyoto's temples are scattered and the subway covers only two lines, so pick a base by the cluster of sights you want, then check how far the rest is by bus or private rail.
Higashiyama and Gion
Lantern-lit lanes, machiya townhouses, and the highest concentration of ryokan with kaiseki dinners. Good for walking to Kiyomizu-dera, Yasaka Shrine, and Maruyama Park at night. Higashiyama and Keage stations sit on the Tozai line, but the temples mean uphill walking and streets stay crowded until evening.
Pontocho and Kawaramachi
Riverside dining alleys within walking distance of restaurants and bars. Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae and Sanjo Keihan on the Tozai line are nearby, but Kawaramachi itself needs the private Hankyu or Keihan lines, not the subway.
Kyoto Station area
The Haruka limited express from Kansai International Airport terminates here, suiting couples who want a simple arrival and day trips by JR or bus. It sits on the Karasuma line but is far from Higashiyama or Arashiyama.
Arashiyama
Bamboo grove, riverside views, and a quieter pace, but no subway access; reaching it means the JR Sagano line, Randen tram, or Hankyu, and getting back at night takes planning.
What to check before booking
- Private bath versus shared communal bath, which varies within the same property
- Whether dinner is included and served in-room, since kaiseki timing can be fixed
- Elevator access, since many machiya and ryokan only have stairs
- Minimum stay or fixed check-in rules at smaller ryokan
When to visit
Cherry blossom (late March to early April) and autumn foliage (November) bring the heaviest demand, especially for ryokan with dinner service, so book those months ahead. Summer is humid with lighter demand, and winter is the quietest season, with some temple evening illuminations.
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Things to see in Kyoto
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Temples & religious sites
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Kiyomizu-dera is a Buddhist temple located in eastern Kyoto, Japan. It belongs to the Kita-Hosso sect of Japanese Buddhism and its honzon is a hibutsu statue of Jūichimen Kannon. The temple's full name is Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera. The temple is the 16th stop on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage route. Along with Kōryū-ji and Kurama-dera, it is one of the few temples in Kyoto that predates the foundation of the capital to Heian-kyō. It is also one of Japan's leading temples dedicated to the worship of Kannon, along with Ishiyama-dera and Hase-dera. It is a famous tourist destination in Kyoto City,...
Temples & religious sites
Kinkaku-ji Temple
Kinkaku-ji , officially named Rokuon-ji , is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan and a tourist attraction. It is designated as a World Heritage Site, a National Special Historic Site, a National Special Landscape, and one of the 17 Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto. The temple is nicknamed after its reliquary (shariden), the Golden Pavilion , whose top two floors are coated in 0.5 μm gold leaf. The current pavilion was rebuilt in 1955 after being destroyed in an arson attack.
Temples & religious sites
Fushimi Inari-taisha
Fushimi Inari-taisha is the head shrine of the kami Inari, located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Japan. The shrine sits at the base of a mountain, also named Inari, which is 233 metres (764 ft) above sea level, and includes trails up the mountain to many smaller shrines which span 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) and take approximately 2 hours to walk up. It is unclear whether the mountain's name, Inariyama, or the shrine's name came first.
Nature
Arashiyama
Arashiyama is a district on the western outskirts of Kyoto, Japan. It also refers to the mountain across the Ōi River, which forms a backdrop to the district. Arashiyama is a nationally designated historic site and place of scenic beauty.
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