Pay 
Language 
Currency 
No results found
Accommodation in Kyoto for long-term stays as a digital nomad
Experience Japanese tradition in Kyoto with long-term stays: machiyas, coliving, residences, and hotels for your perfect accommodation.
Located in the heart of Honshu Island, you’ll find this Japanese city famous for its Buddhist temples, imperial palaces, gardens, and geishas. If you’re wondering where to stay in Kyoto, we’ll explore its best neighbourhoods for digital nomads, students, or travellers planning a long stay in this destination, including options for accommodation in Kyoto for long-term stays.
Discover the recommended long-stay accommodations in this city, their types, features, services, and rates. We’ll also give you advice on how to stay connected to the internet anywhere and other tips for travellers in love with Japan. Explore with us Kyoto’s lodgings, the birthplace of Japanese culture!
Long-stay accommodation options in Kyoto
Where to stay in Kyoto is a question every traveller asks when planning to live in this city for a while. There are many types of accommodation, from the most traditional to the typical Japanese houses called machiyas, each one offering unique features that suit different lifestyles.
Student residence
Many foreign students decide to study the Japanese language in this city or begin a university programme, often thanks to one of the scholarships offered by the government. If that’s your case, a suitable option would be a student residence.
- Dormy Residence: Student housing with breakfast and meals included. Prices start from $2,160 (€2,000) per term.
- Arashiyama International House: Only six minutes from the city centre, with fully furnished double rooms. Prices available after admission.
Coliving in Kyoto
Meanwhile, digital nomads applying for Japan’s digital nomad visa can live in the country for up to one renewable year. If you choose this city as your working base and wonder where to stay in Kyoto, colivings are your best choice.
These accommodations offer private rooms or studios while sharing common areas with other guests, such as lounges, coworking spaces, cafés, or terraces. Monthly rent includes utilities, so it’s cheaper than a private flat. Here are some good options:
- Chūdōji Yabunouchichō: Just ten minutes from the main station, a single room costs from $1,055 (€975) per month.
- Coliving House: A traditional home with gardens and coworking areas, where rooms start from $773 (€715) monthly.
Traditional Machiyas
Machiyas are Kyoto’s iconic wooden townhouses and offer a unique answer to where to stay in Kyoto. These homes regulate temperature naturally and are built to withstand earthquakes.
We recommend this type of stay for travellers willing to invest in a higher budget. If you’d like to experience life like a local, sleeping on tatami floors, book a machiya:
- Machiya Residence Inn: Restored machiya houses with every comfort. From $3,240 (€3,000) per month.
Top hotels in the city centre
Hotels can also be a great choice for long stays in Kyoto, as some offer special discounts for extended stays.
For nomads and slow travel lovers who appreciate hotel comforts like daily cleaning, breakfast, internet, and central location, this is a good pick:
- Daiwa Roynet: Four minutes’ walk from JR Kyoto Station and 15 minutes from Toji Temple, they offer laptop rental, and a single room costs from $3,716 (€3,440) per month.
Capsule hostels
A cheaper way to find where to stay in Kyoto is at capsule hostels. These are small hotels with shared rooms equipped with individual sleeping capsules just big enough to lie down.
They’re not ideal if you suffer from claustrophobia. Because of the limited space, we recommend them for backpackers who don’t mind fewer comforts to save money. Here’s one option:
- Hostel Sui: Spacious wooden capsule in a shared room from $856 (€793) per month.
Reliable internet connection in Kyoto
Whether you’re in your Kyoto accommodation or exploring tourist areas, temples, or gardens, you need a steady smartphone connection for working outdoors when you fancy it.
With Holafly’s monthly subscription plans, you’ll get 25 GB or unlimited data and share it with other devices at the same time. Plus, you can travel anywhere without swapping SIMs, as these plans are global.
Important: If you are a frequent traveler and want to stay connected without worrying about expensive roaming or looking for a new SIM at every destination, Holafly’s subscription plans are for you. With a single eSIM, enjoy internet in more than 160 countries for a fixed price and no surprises on your bill. Travel without limits and connect easily and securely! 🚀🌍
The best neighbourhoods and areas in Kyoto for a long stay
1. Kawaramachi and Shijo (Kyoto city centre)
The city centre is the top choice for those wondering where to stay in Kyoto, especially for digital nomads and students. Its location, easy transport links, and proximity to main services make it ideal.
This area has no temples to visit but modern streets full of shops, covered malls, and local markets. You can work or study in coworking spaces and libraries while enjoying culture and entertainment just steps away.
- Long-stay hotel: Stay at Imu Hotel, near the metro and Hankyu Karasuma stations. Comfortable rooms from $1,815 (€1,680) per month.
- Capsule hostel: Sleep in a modern capsule at Millennials Kyoto from $900 (€828) monthly.
- Coworking: Work remotely from Impact Hub for $165 (€155) per month at a shared desk.
- Cafés for remote work: Enjoy a coffee while working from % Arabica and Blue Bottle Coffee.
2. Gion and Higashiyama (Traditional areas)
If you want to immerse yourself in Japanese culture, these areas have a more traditional atmosphere with typical architecture, old houses, temples, and streets where famous geishas walk.
These two districts are perfect for travellers interested in Japan’s history and looking for a more authentic experience. Here’s what they offer:
- Capsule hostel: At Glansit Kyoto, you can sleep in a capsule for just $826 (€765) per month.
- Long-stay hotel: A single room costs from $2,065 (€1,900) with breakfast included.
- Coworkings: Work remotely from the Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry space.
- Cafés for remote work: Commode Café offers great prices and internet, while Café Bibliotec combines a café and a library.
3. Arashiyama (Quiet and natural area)
If you’re asking where to stay in Kyoto in a peaceful, nature-filled area, choose Arashiyama. You can stroll through its bamboo forest or visit temples like Tenryu-ji.
This isn’t a typical digital nomad area but rather for travellers seeking a break from the city buzz. Yet, if you need deep focus for work, it’s perfect.
- Long-stay hotels: Riverside Hotel offers double rooms from $3,770 (€3,470) per month.
- Traditional Machiya: Stay in a typical Japanese house from $2,390 (€2,200) for a double room.
- Coworkings: Taikoukyo workspace is a house in the forest where you can focus completely from $32 (€30) per day.
- Natural spots for remote work: The bamboo forest and Kameyama Park are peaceful outdoor places where creativity flows.
Frequently asked questions about staying in Kyoto for a while
Kyoto attracts many travellers, so there’s plenty of accommodation for both short and long stays. However, due to high demand, we recommend booking in advance.
The most affordable option in this city is the famous capsule hostels, small sleeping pods in shared rooms from $856 (€793) per month.
Kyoto is a modern, tech-driven city with excellent connectivity. Most places offer free Wi-Fi, perfect for remote work.
The best areas for digital nomads in Kyoto are the city centre (Kawaramachi and Shijo), thanks to their coworking spaces, vibrant nomad community, and easy transport.
Of course. If you stay in a coliving space with other international professionals, you’ll mainly speak English. In tourist areas, you’ll also manage easily in English.
Kyoto is easy to explore on foot or by bicycle. It also has reliable public transport like trams, buses, and trains with reasonable fares.
The cost of living in Japan depends on the city you choose. Kyoto is cheaper than Osaka or Tokyo. If you stay in shared housing, like a coliving, your monthly expenses will be lower, around $773 (€715) per month.
