THE 10 BEST Accommodation in Pontocho (Kyoto), Japan
Pontocho Hotels
Though small by comparison, Pontocho is one of Kyoto's most spirited and memorable neighborhoods. A narrow street straddling the Kamogawa River, it is Kyoto's busiest nightlife spot. When darkness falls, Pontocho's many signs and lanterns bolt to life, making the area glow with invitations to passers-by to come inside and pull up a chair. Its restaurants and bars sprawl onto the riverbank, providing a friendly atmosphere and delicious food. Verandas are always filled with people young and old crowding tables, biting into hot yakitori or sipping cold beers. It is a culinary heart of Kyoto as much as one of its most laid-back, clamorous, and entertaining evening hotspots. Pontocho has more of an amiable vibrancy to it than an elegant one, attracting newcomers, local veterans, and everyone in between, in casual attire like sneakers and jeans.
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- RyokanA Ryokan is a traditional Japanese accommodation which typically features ‘futon’ (folding mattresses) on ‘tatami’ (straw mat) floors. Many Ryokan are known for their public baths (typically "Onsen" hot springs) and their traditional cuisine. 24/7 front desk service is not guaranteed for this accommodation type.
3. Mifuku
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- Missing:PontochoRyokanA Ryokan is a traditional Japanese accommodation which typically features ‘futon’ (folding mattresses) on ‘tatami’ (straw mat) floors. Many Ryokan are known for their public baths (typically "Onsen" hot springs) and their traditional cuisine. 24/7 front desk service is not guaranteed for this accommodation type.
Hotel Tou Nishinotoin Kyoto
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- Missing:PontochoRyokanA Ryokan is a traditional Japanese accommodation which typically features ‘futon’ (folding mattresses) on ‘tatami’ (straw mat) floors. Many Ryokan are known for their public baths (typically "Onsen" hot springs) and their traditional cuisine. 24/7 front desk service is not guaranteed for this accommodation type.
Ryokan Yamazaki
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- Missing:PontochoRyokanA Ryokan is a traditional Japanese accommodation which typically features ‘futon’ (folding mattresses) on ‘tatami’ (straw mat) floors. Many Ryokan are known for their public baths (typically "Onsen" hot springs) and their traditional cuisine. 24/7 front desk service is not guaranteed for this accommodation type.
Kadensho
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- Bobbie WWarwick, Rhode Island1,771 contributionsNarrow walkway with loads of restaurants.Love Pontocho Alley. It’s a long narrow area filled with dining establishments. Done you need reservations for, others you can just walk in. You might have a wait, but worth it. A must to check out!Visited September 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 9 October 2023
- Norm the NomadAustralia1,245 contributionsVery interestingHeading further north, we walked along the banks of the Kamo River, stopping for a quick meal before entering “Pontocho Alley”. This is a small pathway, lined with traditional Japanese eating houses. By this time it was getting dark, which added to the atmosphere as we wondered around.Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 25 October 2023
- Emma CGodalming, United Kingdom3,052 contributionsAtmosphericPontocho at night is atmospheric if very busy. Lots of restaurants, pretty lanterns, ladies in kimono, windchimes, and even fish swimming in bowls outside establishments. On the night we visited, there were also two geisha on their way to their appointment. It fills me with joy to see that!Visited November 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 27 December 2023
- msa23_2000Chino Hills, California1,476 contributionsEnchanting at nightThis is a charming alley filled with restaurants and lanterns. The ambiance was really neat. I decided to wander through there to find something for dinner. I enjoyed the wandering part, but all the restaurants were booked and a reservation was needed. So make a reservation with your hotel before you go.Visited April 2024Travelled soloWritten 3 April 2024
- LolaGo1Washington DC, District of Columbia6,624 contributionsGot lost walking back to my hotel, but found this attraction!I came accross this neighborhood when I was walking back to my hotel, took the wrong turn and saw the bridge and the beautiful river. Continued my walk and saw restaurants along the way, most of which were closed at the time of my visit. Looked around, admired the peaceful ambience of the river and concluded to go back here in the evening to have dinner.Visited April 2024Travelled soloWritten 27 April 2024
- raetripVancouver, Canada332 contributionsVery crowded in the eveningWe went to see the famous alley at around 2 pm and nothing was open. I had heard it was something to see, so we went back in the evening and it was jammed with people. It was quite difficult to stop and check out restaurants which were now open. We walked back along the river which was less crowded. Not sure if anywhere was worth the crush of people.Visited May 2024Travelled with familyWritten 3 June 2024
- What We Found TravellingSydney, Australia7,015 contributionsHappening PlaceThis is a happening place especially from late afternoon. Great vibe & atmosphere walking the streets with heaps of restaurants overlooking the river. The night time lanterns & lighting just add to the charm. Expect lots of crowds mingling the small alley ways & streets. If you can handle the crowds you’ll enjoy Pontocho.Visited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 14 August 2024
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Hotels in nearby neighbourhoods
- City Center HotelsNo district of Kyoto is quite as representative of its blended nature as the City Center. By day, the covered shopping arcades along Kawaramachi and Shijo Street bring deal hunters and fashionistas out in droves to peruse the clothing, accessories, gifts, and home goods offerings. When it grows dark, the City Center is a hip spot for nightlife, alive with bars and clubs. A trendy culinary scene and an abundance of local watering holes give the Center its youthful vibrancy. In contrast, the quieter areas of the City Center seem a world away, shielded from noise by the foliage of the public gardens and zen spaces surrounding the area's shrines, castles, and the Imperial Palace. These ancient and sacred spots are seamlessly folded into the scenery, providing a respite from the energy of the city, but close enough to put you directly back onto the pulse of the city when you're ready.Read more
- Shimogyo-ku HotelsShimogyo-ku is centered around the busy train hub, Kyoto Station. A nexus for commerce, shopping, dining, and hotels, the Shimogyo-ku area is infused with tourists and local business travelers, making it a competitive location for ever-new commercial structures. The shops and cafes here are chic and trendy, as a result, with many recognizable chains. Commuters flood the Shimogyo-ku area twice a day, and with Kyoto Station itself being a modern mega-complex and an architectural marvel, this neighborhood is one of the most contemporary and energetic areas that the city has to offer. Buildings here look futuristic, and huge department stores, shopping arcades, and public meeting spaces provide every possible convenience. It is also nearly the only place in Kyoto where rooftop dining and socializing is available, completing its modern tone.Read more
- Southern Kyoto HotelsSouthern Kyoto has a reserved air. Though the Fushimi Inari Shrine is one of Kyoto's major tourist attractions, the surrounding nature, parks, gardens, temples, and shrines provide less-visited spaces for strolling and reflection. The Fushimi Inari Shrine itself is made up of 32,000 sub-shrines, and the mountain they are dotted across beckons hikers, picnickers, and lovers of the outdoors. Many of the mountain's off-set paths aren't frequented by tourists, and the mountain's serenity can be enjoyed at a leisurely pace. Southern Kyoto is the place to enjoy being outside, and to pay your respects to the ancient architecture and gods of the land that are celebrated here.Read more
- Northern Kyoto HotelsHot springs and historic temples characterize the leafy landscapes of Northern Kyoto. Acres of tranquil residential streets are interrupted by some of Kyoto's most gorgeous architectural gems, including the majestic Golden Pavilion of Kinkakuji, the serene artistry of the Ryoanji Temple rock gardens, and the bold red paint across the structures of Enryakuji Temple. Once a religious core of the city, the district now boasts some of its most remote and peaceful hot springs, as well as a few of its best family-run mom-and-pop restaurants. A blend of extremely local at its outskirts, and highly peopled at its tourist centers, Northern Kyoto nonetheless retains a halcyon air in harmony with nature.Read more
- Western Kyoto HotelsWestern Kyoto is home to some of the city's best eccentricities. Kyoto's Saga-Toriimoto Preserved Street takes visitors back in time to the Meiji Period, where old homes have been transformed into tea houses and eateries. Pleasure boats drift down the riverbank, under wooden bridges that beckon nature lovers to hiking trails and botanical walks. The area's famously tall bamboo groves, monkey park, and impressive vistas during the Hanami cherry blossom viewing season mean that it is busiest in warmer months, though also gorgeous in the fall, when the mountains and hills along the banks turn multi-colored. Historic and engaging, even the rail cars in Western Kyoto seek to exemplify its traditional nature and scenic beauty. Many people, including natives, come to visit the 1,200 rakan statues at the Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple, which is still in use as a religious site.Read more
- Nishijin District HotelsA district with a long textile heritage, ancient Kyoto is still alive in the Nishijin District. Studded with its weaving factories, tea houses, and onsen, the neighborhood is charming and peaceful with a self-possessed air. Less traveled than other parts of the city, it is a district where you can take it at your own pace. Visitors can explore the many weaving and cloth houses, the free kimono shows, and the many shops selling traditional clothing and goods. Showcasing architecture with sloping roofs and wooden reliefs dating to decades past, the streets in the Nishijin District transport you back in time, making them a joy to wander.Read more
- Gion HotelsGion is Kyoto's famed Geisha District (called "Geiko" in Kyoto). Though Gion's many tea houses and entertainment restaurants are closed to foreigners, Geiko and Maiko in their traditional makeup with gilded hair in full kimono can be seen drifting the streets on their way to and from work, where they fan dance, sing, and play instruments for customers. Gion lights up at night, when the ancient-looking streets glow with lanterns along the river, where weeping willows catch the starlight and the air is warmed with conversation. Groups pass through to populate the restaurants and bars along the riverfront, but Gion still manages to be a mostly quiet district, due in large part to limited automotive traffic through many of its streets. Gion is a wonderful place to indulge in Kyoto's local and customary cuisines, and is best enjoyed after dark.Read more
Kyoto Accommodations Information
Accommodations in Kyoto | 11 |
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Accommodations Prices From | $33 |
Accommodations Reviews | 939 |
Accommodations Photos | 1,156 |
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Frequently Asked Questions about Pontocho hotels
- Some of the more popular Pontocho hotels near Kiyomizu-dera Temple include:THE GATE HOTEL KYOTO TAKASEGAWA by HULIC - Traveller rating: 4.5/5Mifuku - Traveller rating: 4.5/5Hotel Ponto - Traveller rating: 4.5/5
- Some of the best Pontocho hotels in Kyoto are:Cross Hotel Kyoto - Traveller rating: 4.5/5THE GATE HOTEL KYOTO TAKASEGAWA by HULIC - Traveller rating: 4.5/5Mifuku - Traveller rating: 4.5/5
- A front desk is staffed 24 hours per day at these Pontocho hotels in Kyoto:Cross Hotel Kyoto - Traveller rating: 4.5/5THE GATE HOTEL KYOTO TAKASEGAWA by HULIC - Traveller rating: 4.5/5Hotel Ponto - Traveller rating: 4.5/5
- Housekeeping services are available at the following Pontocho hotels in Kyoto:Cross Hotel Kyoto - Traveller rating: 4.5/5THE GATE HOTEL KYOTO TAKASEGAWA by HULIC - Traveller rating: 4.5/5Hotel Ponto - Traveller rating: 4.5/5
More Popular Hotels
Cross Hotel KyotoTHE GATE HOTEL KYOTO TAKASEGAWA by HULICMifukuYadoya-DejavuVilla PontochoHotel PontoBusiness Hotel ShusenkakuGuest House YoshinoyaKyoto Kiyamachi GuesthouseIzutsu Hotel Takasegawa BetteiMegumi-An ApartmentHotel Tou Nishinotoin KyotoRIHGA Royal Hotel KyotoTennen Onsen Renka no Yu Onyado Nono Kyoto ShichijoRyokan YamazakiRihga Gran KyotoMiyako Hotel Kyoto HachijoHotel Vischio Kyoto by GranviaHotel Monterey KyotoOriental Hotel Kyoto RokujoHotel Granvia KyotoAce Hotel KyotoMiyako City Kintetsu Kyoto StationRef Kyoto Hachijoguchi By Vessel HotelsHotel Gracery Kyoto SanjoAPA Hotel Kyoto EkihigashiNohga Hotel Kiyomizu KyotoKeio Prelia Hotel Kyoto Karasuma GojoSolaria Nishitetsu Hotel Kyoto Premier Sanjo KamogawaKadensho