Watazen Ryokan Hotel

Great location, walking distance to many many restaurants! While visiting Japan you should really try a Ryokan and this hotel is a very easy and convenient way of getting that unique experience. Try the onsen as well! Well worth the money for the beautiful tatami room which was spacious and comfortable. Would definitely go back to this place. PS: make sure you have the Japanese breakfast (don’t take western breakfast)

Well located near the Nishiki market with subway and bus options around Kyoto. Pretty much met my expectations for a clean, friendly, no frills hotel. (Note: There is a Lawson 100 nearby which sells almost everythig at 100 yen!)

Reception was so nice and give us so many infomations about the ryokan facilities and surrounds. We have a very good stay ans comfortable. The location is just ok not to far from JR Station and Bus Stations.

The value they offer was good! the place was quite old, but well-maintained and good location. Kyoto Gogyo is just a few doors away (a must try Black Burnt Ramen) and Nishiki Market 5-mins walk away for breakfast. We didn't have time to try the onsen but will definitely come back to this ryokan again if we come back to Kyoto one day!

The location is very convenient! It's right in the city center. Walking distance to major shopping area, Gion area and the famous Nishiki Market! Staffs are very friendly and the room is spacious. The room could use some updates though.

We enjoyed the simplicity and the confort of the Japanese style room during 3nights. Very celan with friendly staff , lacation is very strategic in Kyoto center close to many shopping, galleries and cultural areas .

Excellent location which is very easy to get bus or subway to other famous locations and also having a good survice. It's a real nice hotel that if you wanna have tranditonal Japan tatami style experience. Just an advice for the food service that need to confirm in the future if any limitations or concern of customers. It's a nice hotel choice for my next Kyoto trip.

Watazen Ryokan provided a highly affordable Ryokan style accommodation without breaking the bank. Staff were extremely friendly and provided the most personalized service I had ever experienced throughout my 16 day stay in Japan. Counter and room service staff remembered my ability to understand Japanese (despite me being a foreigner) and communicated with me in Japanese thoroughout my stay which added a lot to the experience of staying in a Ryokan. As my access to Kokedera was reserved through Watazen, it was nice that the counter staff took the initiative to ask if I enjoyed Kokedera upon my return as well. I had a marvelous Kaiseki dinner on my 2nd night of stay in Watazen and was greeted by the owner of the ryokan during my meal in my room. In overall, Watazen was the highlight of my trip in Japan and would definitely be my accommodation of choice the next time I return to Kyoto.

Very spacious room which was good for family with young children (to run around). Facilities is a tad old but the room is very clean and tidy. Staff diligently prepared the futon every evening (we stayed for 4 nights). Onsen is a tad small but not many users (not many rooms). Very friendly staff which made the stay ever so enjoyable. A perfect Ryokan experience.

Our first ryokan experience. A very knowledgable front desk manager (an elderly guy- forgot his name). Very spacious,comfortable,good attention to detail,a lovely gesture of sweets every day. Ryokan also has an onsen. Location wise, within walking distance to Nishiki market. Need to walk a bit further to the train station though. Also located near a great yakitori place. If you have kids, do think of a ryokan esp those which are family friendly like Watazen

There is a British across the hotel, so it may be considered noisy for other people, but surprisingly, I can hear a bit of noise earlier in the night, but people are very considerate in this neighborhood. A few steps, and you get to the main street with restaurants, train stations, bus stops, and of course, shopping. It's a bit hard to find, but once you get the right direction after you get off the bus or train, the map in the website makes more sense.

This ryokan is very new, we heard it was newly renovated. They put modern shower booths instead of the typical tiny bathtubs that most Japanese hotels have. We like this better. Besides, if you want a bath, you can go try their public bath, a must experience in Japan :-) Location couldn't be better, it is in a quiet street, yet it's just a few blocks to the main street where you can find restaurants, shopping, bus stops, train stations, etc. Nishiki Food Market is just a few blocks away too, although I wish the market was open earlier than 9am, would be a good quiet walk in the morning, especially if you don't stay in hotel or breakfast.

I love this ryokan. We booked 3 rooms. It's quiet new since it's newly renovated so it doesn't have that old feel. So we get best of both worlds, clean and new plus traditional style. It even includes a booklet that explains the different parts of a ryokan room which I think was cool. Toilet was ok, much better with a modern shower booth which I think was excellent option compared to most hotel toilets. The price is a bit on the high side, but given the newly renovated rooms, I think it's quite worth it. We did not get a chance to have breakfast or dinner in, since we already tried the traditional meals elsewhere. Location, a bit hard to find, but we asked around, and the locals are so kind to help us find the hotel even if it was out of their way. Just a few blocks and you're in the main shopping area of Kyoto, where you can find restaurants, shops, Nishiki Food Market, and train and bus stops. Very convenient indeed and it was interesting to see the modern main center turn into old style Japanese streets in just a turn of a corner. Staff were excellent, they were very helpful and friendly and spoke great English.

a unique experience for those who have never stayed in a ryokan. one discovers that life can be just as pleasurable without much furniture. all the modern things are there - tv, fridge, closet, bathroom - but carefully hidden away. the meals were excellent - breakfast in a giant tatami-ed room overlooking a small zen garden, dinner served to the room. the common bath was another adventure - clean and pleasant.

1. My child draws a fortune stick to get a little prize (a pen) at check in counter. So happy to start our trip. 2. Hotel lobby, corridors, rooms are in traditional style. The room is very nice. 3. While there is a bath tube in our room, I go to the public bath downstairs with my child. An impressive experience. 4. All staff are helpful and a Chinese staff speaks both Mandarin and English. 5. A light breakfast free of charge. You can pay to get a full set of Japanese breakfast as well.

Ryokans are expensive but it's nice to get the peaceful authentic experience and I recommend it for at least one night of your trip. This one was very clean and nice. The public bath was a great intro to the onsen experience. They provided yukata (kimonos) to wear and tea upon arrival. Very central location. Wifi was not very strong but enough for the basics. I recommend Watazen!

Welcome gifts by your lucky(how many persons check in then Watazen will send corresponding chances). And Watazen also provide free bread, coffee and tea as staying guests' breakfast. Watazen close Nishiki market and Shinkyogoku street. Not far from Gion, by walk.

My experience was quite good at this ryokan. Its no fancy hotel nor a very traditional ryokan but we liked the simplicity of the Japanese style room we got. It is very very close to nishiki market so we got to eat all the street food we wanted. The staff were quite nice and helpful. And a few of them spoke English well. The Japanese breakfast set we ordered was wonderful , and we got to have breakfast at the dining hall using the hotel-provided robes for a truly 'local feel'. As a bonus, they even have a public onsen at the basement of the ryokan which guests could use for free.

The location is good, within walking distance to subway stations, Nishiki market and shops, restaurants. They have several bicycles to rent and Kyoto coop is just at the opposite side from where you can also rent a bicyle. The staff are nice and willing to help. We did not try the food so cannot share any comments. But the room is not bad. Generally a good stay may choose again.

This is my first trip to Japan and I decided to make my first hotel stay in a Japanese-style (Ryokan) hotel. The location of the hotel is good as it is near the Nishiki Food Market and Daimaru Department Store. The hotel is also easily accessible by buses and subway stations. From the hotel, you can may your way to all those tour spots (Kiyomizu Temple, Ginkakuji Temple, Kinkakuji Temple and Nijo Castle). i will stay at this hotel again.