Family-Friendly Hotels in Kyoto: Stations, Machiya, Tatami Rooms

When choosing a place to stay in Kyoto with children, the first question is usually whether to pick a hotel near the station for easy sightseeing, a machiya townhouse (a traditional wooden merchant home) where your family has the whole place to yourselves, or an inn with a tatami room where everyone can rest on the floor. Kyoto's sights are spread widely across the city, and some areas such as Arashiyama sit a little way out, so where you base yourself makes a real difference to how easily you can move around. With young children, location and the type of lodging are what decide how comfortable the trip feels.

For families who want to see a lot efficiently, the large hotels around Kyoto Station are convenient. They are easy to reach by shinkansen, and city buses and the subway make it simple to head out to each landmark. Some, such as RIHGA Royal Hotel Kyoto, offer Japanese-style rooms and children's meals, which keeps the load lighter even when you are traveling with a baby and plenty of luggage. You can also stay in the city center and make a day trip out to Arashiyama, home of the Togetsukyo Bridge and the bamboo grove path.

Looking at facilities for children, Kyoto has 17 properties with Japanese-style rooms where you can lay out futons and sleep beside your child, and 22 that lend out cribs, so even families with very young babies can find a comfortable fit. 13 properties accommodate food allergies. There are 8 properties with a bath in the guest room, so families with little ones who are not ready for a large communal bath can still enjoy a relaxed soak together. With futons side by side on the tatami, even families whose children are at the rolling-over and restless-sleeper stage can settle in for a calm night together.

For families who would rather live like locals, Kyoto machiya townhouses and condominium-style lodgings are another option. Some come with a kitchen so you can cook for yourselves and take the stay at your child's own rhythm. In-room dining at ryokan inns is easiest to find at small properties in town, where you can enjoy Kyoto cuisine with children without worrying about the people around you. Kyoto also has plenty of places young children love, including the Kyoto Railway Museum, the Kyoto Aquarium in Umekoji Park, Toei Kyoto Studio Park (a working film set you can walk through), and the Kyoto City Zoo, so the trip can be about more than temples and shrines. Weigh up location, the type of lodging, and the facilities for children, and choose the Kyoto stay that fits your family's style.