Ryokan in Arashiyama Kyoto: Riverside Retreats & Onsen

Staying in Arashiyama rather than central Kyoto gives you a quieter version of the city. By 5 pm most day-trippers have left, the bamboo grove path empties, and a riverside ryokan in Arashiyama Kyoto puts you within a short walk of Tenryuji Temple and Togetsukyo Bridge before the first tour groups arrive in the morning. This guide covers the properties currently open, what each includes (meals are not automatic — more on that below), walk times from the rail stations, and how to time an autumn visit. For hotel options in the same area, see all Arashiyama stays. For the full neighbourhood breakdown, read our full Kyoto area guide.

Arashiyama ryokan at a glance

Note: Arashiyama Benkei has been closed for renovation since late 2024 and is excluded until a confirmed reopening is available.

What's included: dinner-inclusive kaiseki vs room-only stays

The distinction matters more in Arashiyama than in central Kyoto because the area has limited late-evening dining options. Here is how each property breaks down:

• Dinner-inclusive (half-board): Togetsutei, Hanaikada, and Ryotei Rangetsu all offer plans where kaiseki dinner is served in your room or a private dining space, typically at a fixed seating between 6 pm and 7:30 pm. Breakfast is also included, usually 7–9 am. Togetsutei and Hanaikada also offer room-only plans for guests who prefer to arrange their own meals.
• Room-only base rate: HOSHINOYA Kyoto and Suiran both price rooms without meals by default. Dining at the in-house restaurant can be arranged, but requires a separate reservation. At HOSHINOYA Kyoto, dinner was priced at approximately ¥23,760 per person as of 2025; confirm current pricing when booking.

If you want a complete kaiseki evening without coordinating logistics, book a dinner-inclusive plan at Togetsutei, Hanaikada, or Rangetsu. If you prefer to keep meals flexible — or plan to taxi into central Kyoto for dinner — a room-only booking at HOSHINOYA or Suiran works well.

Riverside ryokan with Katsura River and mountain views

HOSHINOYA Kyoto

HOSHINOYA Kyoto has no road access. Guests check in at a pier near Togetsukyo Bridge — roughly a 10-min walk from JR Saga-Arashiyama Station (Central Exit) or from Randen Arashiyama Station — and travel upriver by private boat for 15 minutes into a forested valley. All 25 rooms face the Oi River directly. Room-only rates start from around ¥65,000 per night; rates vary by season. Two important policies to confirm before booking: the property does not accept guests under 13 years old, and payment is accepted in cash only. Check rates.

Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto

Suiran is officially a Marriott hotel, not a traditional inn, but it belongs in this comparison: 17 of its 39 rooms have private open-air baths fed by the Arashiyama hot spring, and the building sits directly on the Katsura River. It is a 15-min walk from JR Saga-Arashiyama Station (Central Exit), or about a 3-min walk from Tenryuji Temple's east gate. Room-only rates start from around ¥75,000 per night; rates vary by season. The on-site restaurant, Kyo Suiran, serves a kaiseki-influenced menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Check rates.

Ryokan with onsen or private open-air baths

Togetsutei

In operation since 1897, Togetsutei stands at the south end of Togetsukyo Bridge — a 15-min walk from JR Saga-Arashiyama Station (Central Exit). All 25 rooms are traditional tatami-and-futon layout. The property has indoor hot-spring baths, eight guest rooms with their own private outdoor hot-spring baths, and one reservable communal private bath. Both dinner-inclusive and room-only plans are available; room-only starts from ¥29,000 per person per night, with dinner-inclusive plans priced higher and varying by season. Check rates.

Hanaikada

Hanaikada has 15 rooms, four of which include a private onsen bath. The other 11 rooms share gender-separated communal baths with an outdoor section overlooking the river. The standard plan includes kaiseki dinner served in your room and breakfast in the dining hall. The property is steps from Togetsukyo Bridge and approximately a 12-min walk from JR Saga-Arashiyama Station (Central Exit). Rates start from ¥45,000 per night; rates vary by season. Check rates.

Ryotei Rangetsu

Rangetsu reopened a renovated luxury suite with a semi-open-air private bath in July 2024 — the renovation is ongoing so check current room availability before booking. Its standard plans include kaiseki dinner and breakfast. Some rooms have private onsen access; shared baths use natural spring water from Arashiyama. Rates start from ¥40,000 per night; rates vary by season. For a wider comparison of private-bath options across Kyoto, see ryokan with private onsen citywide. Check rates.

Best for a splurge night away from central crowds

Arashiyama works particularly well as a one-night detour from a central Kyoto base. You do the bamboo grove and Tenryuji in the morning, stay through the afternoon as the crowds thin, then have a riverside onsen and dinner waiting in the evening. The two or three nights many visitors spend in Kyoto can be split: one night in Arashiyama, the rest centrally located.

• Maximum seclusion, no children under 13: HOSHINOYA Kyoto — the boat-only access means you leave the tourist circuit entirely once you leave the pier.
• Onsen room with river view, Marriott points: Suiran — the only Marriott property in this area with a hot spring.
• Classic tatami ryokan with the best address in Arashiyama: Togetsutei — it sits at the most photographed spot in the district; step outside and you are at the bridge.
• Dinner-inclusive kaiseki with private onsen option at a mid-range entry price: Hanaikada or Ryotei Rangetsu, both with confirmed 2024–2025 operation.

All five properties are in the splurge category by most travel budgets. If you are considering a more affordable overnight in Arashiyama, the hotel options along the same riverfront start at considerably lower rates — see all Arashiyama stays for that comparison.

Compare the ryokan

Practical tips: meal times, transfers, and autumn-foliage booking

Meal timing at dinner-inclusive ryokan. Kaiseki dinner is served at a fixed time — typically a seating between 6 pm and 7:30 pm. If your train from central Kyoto is likely to arrive after 5:30 pm on a busy day, contact the inn before arrival to confirm the schedule. Most Arashiyama ryokan have a check-in window of 3 pm to 6 pm; guests arriving after 6 pm should notify the property in advance.

Getting to Arashiyama from central Kyoto.

• JR San'in Line: Kyoto Station to JR Saga-Arashiyama Station, approximately 15 minutes. Use the Central Exit and walk toward the river. This is the most direct option from Kyoto Station.
• Randen (Keifuku) Arashiyama Line: Shijo-Omiya to Arashiyama Station, approximately 20 minutes. Useful if you are coming from the Kawaramachi or Gion side rather than Kyoto Station.
• Hankyu Arashiyama Line: Transfer at Katsura from the Hankyu Kyoto Line to Hankyu Arashiyama Station, about 30 minutes from Kawaramachi.
• Taxi: About 25–30 minutes from Kyoto Station; recommended if you have luggage too heavy to carry to HOSHINOYA's boat pier, or if you are arriving late.

Luggage at HOSHINOYA Kyoto. Because access is by boat, the property recommends sending heavy luggage ahead via takkyubin (door-to-door delivery service) to arrive before your check-in date. Confirm the delivery address and cut-off time directly with HOSHINOYA when you book.

Autumn foliage (November) and cherry blossom (April). Arashiyama is one of Kyoto's most-visited autumn spots, and rates at every property listed here rise significantly from standard season pricing during November and late March to early April. At smaller inns like Hanaikada and Rangetsu, available rooms for peak foliage weekends can disappear within days of the booking window opening. Book at least two to three months in advance for November; the same lead time applies for cherry-blossom dates.