Hotel Kanra

One of Kyoto’s newest hotels, the Kanra creates an exquisite blend of traditional Japanese design and contemporary boutique sensibility. Kanra is well located to the subway station, making an attractive and convenient place to stay in Kyoto. It’s quirky too: there is a cafe located in the lobby (which serves delicious, local coffee) and there are many restaurants nearby. It’s a hotel with rooms which more closely resemble machiya, making this a great choice for those looking for something a little different. Rooms all come with a cypress bath and many have tatami floor spaces as well as the bedroom area and bathroom, giving the rooms a ryokan feeling. The staff speak good English and the hotel is centrally located, which is great for sightseeing.

Stylish, spacious and charming, the Kanra offers a fabulous base from which to explore Kyoto.

Kanra is a great blend of traditional style machiya and hotel. The rooms look like mini-houses, and the corridors echo the cobbled streets outside in Kyoto. It has an elegance and charm which makes it a quirky, unique place to stay. I'd recommend the Kanra for families and those looking to bridge the gap between a hotel and more typically Japanese accommodation.

Reviewed by Hannah