Hotel Kanra

Like Kyoto itself, this boutique hotel combines modern, stylish design that still incorporates traditional Japanese elements.

• Complimentary electric bicycles rentals — a fabulous way to see the compact city where it seems everyone gets around on two wheels
• A location that feels immersed in a real residential neighborhood while still being convenient to the city center and its sites.
• Surprise touches in the room like handmade tea cups, a map of recommended cycling courses and a short primer on everything from geisha culture to Kyoto dialect

The 29-room Kanra is the rare property in Kyoto that is delightfully Western-friendly as well as traditional and intimate, with a design-forward scheme to boot. Rooms feature large, comfortable beds and Bluetooth-compatible speaker systems but also cypress-wood bathtubs and tatami-covered living rooms (shoes are not permitted). In a nod to Kyoto’s trademark machiya homes (historic wooden townhouses), rooms have lattice-wood doors and narrow layouts, which can be awkward to navigate. The Actus room is a slender duplex while the spacious, spare Kanra Suite features an outdoor deck with a stone bath tub – a rare amenity.

Guests arrive through a discreet alleyway entrance (your taxi will have to drop you off on the main street 50 feet away) and in the lobby, an art installation on the ceiling subtly shifts colors throughout the day. The small restaurant specializes in traditional obanzai cuisine and char-grilled vegetables — both Western and Japanese options are offered at breakfast and at lunchtime, it often fills with local ladies chatting in small groups.

So-called “design hotels” often sacrifice style for service. Not so at Kanra, where the staff is sweet, effective and accommodating to all types of travelers, including families. (Mini kimono-style robes and little slippers are laid out for young guests.)

The location, five-minutes by taxi from the train station, is central and convenient. Don't be put-off by the neighboring 7-11, but wander in the other direction and you’ll find yourself lost in a peaceful warren of alleyways that feels pleasantly residential. Homes are fronted by dozens of potted plants, hidden shrines have not a soul in sight and small noodle shops offer a handful of seats at the counter.

Those looking for a smaller, boutique hotel in Kyoto but are not interested in staying in a ryokan.