Rakuro Kyoto
Modern Japanese lifestyle hotel with a botanical, nature-forward aesthetic. Think contemporary architecture with tatami accents, natural materials, and a community-minded ethos — part design hotel, part neighborhood gathering spot.
Book directly on the official site — they guarantee the lowest rate and include a free 1-hour late checkout extension
Why It Matters
Selected for the Michelin Guide Hotel Selection in July 2024. One of nine properties in the THE SHARE HOTELS brand across Japan, RAKURO is the Kyoto entry that threads the needle between contemporary design and genuine local connection — the brand's 'SHARING WITH LOCALS' concept is more than marketing here, with rotating pop-up shops from Kyoto artisans and a cafe run by a local operator.
RAKURO sits across from Kyoto Gyoen — the sprawling Imperial Palace park — and leans hard into that proximity. The design is contemporary and plant-forward: hanging botanical installations, an in-house aroma distillery using cedar and kuromoji sourced from Kyoto's northern Keihoku region, arts and craft objects throughout. But rooms are compact by Western standards, and the hotel's 56 rooms spread across 9 types mean this is not the place if you need a lot of space.
Where You'll Stay
9 room types available
Junior Suite
From JPY48,000 / nightThe biggest room in the house at 47m² — a Japanese-Western hybrid with a bright, open living room connected to a separate bedroom. Hollywood twin setup (two singles pushed together) with a sofa bed that lets you squeeze in up to 4 people. The only suite category on offer.
Hollywood Twin (W950mm) + sofa bed · 47 sqmModerate
From JPY16,500 / nightTwo single beds with a tatami raised area and low table. At 23m² it is snug but functional. Can sleep up to 3 with futons on the tatami. A solid mid-tier option for two travelers on a budget.
Hollywood Twin (W1100mm) + tatami futon option · 23 sqmModerate Large with Japanese-style
From JPY21,000 / nightA queen bed (W1600mm) paired with a tatami raised area and a low table set. At 29m² with a queen, it is one of the more comfortable options for couples who want a Japanese-style touch without going full floor bed. Futons on the tatami add up to 4-guest capacity.
Queen (W1600mm) + tatami futon option · 29 sqmModerate with Japanese-style and Adjoining Private Bathroom
From JPY16,500 / nightThe most plentiful room type at 14 units. Fully Japanese-style — floor beds on a tatami platform, low table, traditional aesthetic. The private bathroom is accessed via an entrance porch (outside the main room but exclusively yours). At 21m², these are compact. But the tatami-centric design is immersive.
Floor beds on tatami (W950mm) + futon option · 21 sqmStandard Queen
From JPY14,000 / nightQueen bed (W1600mm) with a sofa and side table. At 19m² it is the most compact room with a full queen, and the entry-level price at ¥14,000+. Four rooms only. No tatami here — pure Western layout.
Queen (W1600mm) · 19 sqmStandard Queen with Japanese-style
From JPY14,000 / nightA full Japanese-style room with a queen floor bed on tatami (W1600mm) and a low table set. At 18m² it is among the smallest rooms but the aesthetic is distinctly traditional. Only 2 rooms in this category, so it books up fast.
Queen floor bed on tatami (W1600mm) · 18 sqmStandard Twin
From JPY15,000 / nightTwo singles and a table set in a straightforward 18m² Western-style room. No tatami element here. The most basic option and the most numerous at 14 units. Honest and functional — good for travelers who just need a clean, well-located base.
Hollywood Twin (W1100mm) · 18 sqmSuperior with Japanese-style
From JPY24,000 / nightHollywood twin with a raised tatami platform (ko-agari) featuring floor beds and a living set. Futons can be laid on the tatami and the sofa bed deployed for up to 4 guests. One of the more photogenic room types with the tatami-meets-modern aesthetic that defines the hotel.
Hollywood Twin floor beds on tatami (W950mm) + sofa bed option · 30 sqmSuperior with Japanese-style and Adjoining Private Bathroom
From JPY24,000 / nightSame tatami raised-platform layout as the Superior Japanese-style, but the private bathroom is accessed via an entrance porch rather than inside the room itself. Slightly larger at 31m² and with a wider main bed (W1100mm). Worth knowing about the bathroom setup before you book — it is still fully private, just externally connected.
Hollywood Twin floor beds on tatami (W1100mm) + sofa bed option · 31 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
1 venue on property
Restaurant
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Every August 16th, the Five Mountains Sending Off Fire (Daimonji) ceremony lights up the surrounding Kyoto hills. The hotel's rooftop terrace offers a direct sightline to the bonfires — a rare, walkable vantage point in a city where good spots are fiercely competed over.
Regular morning yoga sessions held in the guest lounge. Also occasional sunset yoga on the rooftop terrace. Schedule varies — check events page or inquire at front desk.
The 1F shop space regularly hosts pop-up exhibitions from Kyoto and Japan-based designers and craftspeople — past residents have included ceramic jewelers, pottery studios, and accessory makers. The schedule changes throughout the year.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
A small in-house distillery in a corner of the Guest Lounge. Daily distills aromatic plants — kuromoji and cedar — sourced from Kyoto's northern Keihoku region. The resulting aroma water is available in spray bottles for use in guest rooms.
Guests-only lounge with a distinctive circular window framing hanging botanical installations. Sofas for reading, work tables, and a free drink bar stocked with tea and herb-infused water. A water station lets guests refill in-room bottles. Usable during the stay and until 14:00 on checkout day.
Available at front desk: nail clippers, phone chargers, multi-adapter plugs, and Bluetooth speaker.
Self-service amenity shelf near the elevator on the ground floor. Stocked with toothbrushes, razors, hairbrushes, cotton pads, and nightwear. Guests take only what they need — an eco-conscious approach.
Each room is equipped with a combined air purifier and humidifier.
Open rooftop deck with views across to the green canopy of Kyoto Gyoen (Imperial Palace Park) and mountains beyond. Seating available. In summer, this is one of the few hotel spots in the area with a sightline to the Gozan no Okuribi fire ceremony on the surrounding hillsides.
Luggage can be stored before check-in and after checkout.
Self-service laundry. Washing machine ¥400 per cycle, dryer ¥100. Accepts ¥100 coins only.
No on-site parking. Paid parking is available directly across the street.
BUILD YOUR RAKURO KYOTO BY THE SHARE HOTELS PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
Start Planning