Tune Stay Kyoto
Modern minimalist lifestyle hotel with a bookish, culturally curious personality. Think cool Kyoto indie rather than traditional ryokan. Art exhibitions rotate regularly. The lobby does a lot of heavy lifting as library, cinema, gin bar, and social space.
Book via the official site (go-piece.reservation.jp) for exclusive rates — the 'Official Site Exclusive Offer' simple stay is typically the cheapest option
Why It Matters
One of the only hotels in Kyoto built around a bookstore concept. The Numabooks-curated 2,500-volume library is legitimately impressive, and the nightly short-film screenings via SAMANSA are a rare touch that actually gets used. Also Michelin Key hotel recognized.
Opened in November 2019 as the fourth property of the PIECE Group, Tune Stay Kyoto is a minimalist lifestyle hotel that leads with ideas over amenities. The centerpiece is a curated bookstore spanning 2,500+ titles about Kyoto — selected by Tokyo creative firm Numabooks — built around a dramatic staircase that doubles as a short-film theater at night. Three signature experiences anchor the stay: BOOKS, FILM, and GIN, the last being a craft gin bar where you build your own gin and tonic from 24 gins, 6 tonics, and your pick of garnishes. Rooms in the main building run 11–16 sqm and are genuinely small, but the HIDEOUT annex next door offers suite rooms from 50–93 sqm with full kitchens and an all-inclusive Club Lounge.
Where You'll Stay
11 room types available
Bunkbed Twin Room
11 sqm with semi-double-size bunk beds stacked vertically. No TV in this room type. Good for friends traveling together on a budget who don't plan to spend much time in the room.
Bunk beds — semi-double (120 x 195 cm each) · 11 sqm
Corner Suite
60 sqm corner rooms with king bed, full kitchen, and some units that are universally accessible. Good views from upper floors. Max 2 staying guests, up to 4 total.
King (180 x 200 cm) · 60 sqmDouble Room
The smallest proper double in the main building. Queen bed, independent shower and toilet, TV, refrigerator, and humidifier packed into 12 sqm. Functional and clean, but bring only one bag if you're two people.
Queen (160 x 195 cm) · 12 sqmJapanese Suite A
60 sqm with three double beds — designed for small groups of three. Full kitchen, record player, living and dining area. Up to 5 guests total with invited guests.
Three double beds (140 x 195 cm each) · 60 sqmJapanese Suite B
65 sqm with four semi-double beds — the best option for a group of four traveling together. Full kitchen and dining area make it a good apartment-style base for exploring Kyoto.
Four semi-double beds (140 x 195 cm each) · 65 sqmJapanese Suite C
66 sqm, three semi-double beds, full kitchen. No view from this unit, but otherwise matches the other Japanese Suites. Up to 5 guests total.
Three semi-double beds (140 x 195 cm each) · 66 sqmJunior Suite
Entry-level suite in the HIDEOUT building at 50 sqm — roughly four times the size of the main building's double. King bed, living and dining area, refrigerator, record player, speaker, and TV. Note: no induction cooktop and no view.
King (180 x 200 cm) · 50 sqmPremium 2-Bedroom Suite
The largest option at 93 sqm with two separate bedrooms — a king and a wide king (240 cm wide). Full kitchen, living and dining area, record player. Sleeps 4 comfortably and can host up to 6 total.
King (180 x 200 cm) + Wide King (240 x 200 cm) · 93 sqmPremium Suite
The flagship single-bedroom suite at 92 sqm with a king bed. Full kitchen, living and dining area, record player, and speaker system. Max 2 staying guests but up to 6 guests total — designed for entertaining.
King (180 x 200 cm) · 92 sqmPremium Suite with Terrace
76 sqm interior plus a 16 sqm private terrace with views of Kyoto Tower reported by guests. King bed, full kitchen. Up to 6 guests total — one of the most sought-after rooms in the building.
King (180 x 200 cm) · 76 sqmStandard Twin Room
The roomiest option in the main building at 16 sqm. Two semi-double beds side by side, giving pairs a bit more breathing room than the Double. Still compact by any Western standard, but workable for a couple with one bag each.
Two semi-double beds (120 x 195 cm each) · 16 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
2 venues on property
Restaurant
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
A 2,500+ volume bookstore focused entirely on Kyoto — fiction, history, art, architecture, food, and more — curated by Tokyo creative firm Numabooks and directed by Value Books. The shelves cascade down the dramatic main staircase. You can browse 24 hours and purchase between 7AM–10:30PM. Books can be purchased; unpurchased books cannot be taken to rooms.
The hotel hosts regularly changing solo art exhibitions in its common spaces. Recent shows have included photography, illustration, and mixed-media works by Japanese artists. Check the TOPICS section of the website to see what's on during your stay.
The grand staircase area converts into a small cinema each evening. Four short films are screened per night via the SAMANSA platform (a streaming service dedicated to award-winning short films from festivals worldwide). Two films at 9PM, two more at 10PM. Drama, sci-fi, comedy, and documentary — running times mostly under 30 minutes. Free for guests, no booking needed.
The HIDEOUT Club Lounge stocks a vinyl record collection focused on music from the 1980s and early 1990s. All HIDEOUT Suite rooms are equipped with record players to continue listening in your room.
Choose three gins from 24 craft options, taste them on the rocks, then select one of six tonic waters and your garnishes to build a personalized gin and tonic. Staff-recommended seasonal combinations also available. The tasting set runs approximately 1,000 JPY. Guests-only, 5PM–10:30PM.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Elevator access to upper floors. Some Corner Suite units in the HIDEOUT building are universally accessible.
Complimentary Wi-Fi in all rooms and common areas.
Luggage storage available for guests arriving before check-in or departing after check-out.
Shared kitchen open 24 hours. Equipped with refrigerators, induction stoves, kitchen utensils, toasters, microwaves, and seasonings. No food supplies provided — guests bring their own ingredients. A genuine upgrade over a standard hotel room for self-caterers.
On-site coin laundry with automatic detergent loading. Washer 300 JPY/30 minutes. Dryer 100 JPY/10 minutes.
All rooms are air-conditioned with heating. Humidifiers are included in standard rooms.
Available at reception: toothbrush, slippers, shampoo, conditioner, body soap, hand soap, bath towel, face towel, bath mat, Japanese yukata, razor, and hairbrush. Standard rooms; HIDEOUT suites also include a skincare set and pajamas.
Front desk staff are multilingual (English confirmed by multiple guests) and consistently praised for helpfulness. Open 7AM–midnight.
Two private baths available for guest use — one large, one small. Must be reserved at the front desk. A nice upgrade from in-room shower-only setups.
BUILD YOUR TUNE STAY KYOTO PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
Start Planning