Find Ryokans in Kyoto, Japan

My stay in Aarashiyama Benkei Ryokan was absolutely perfect!! The ryokan is a 15 min walk from JR Saga-Arashiyama Station. On reaching the ryokan, my name was displayed on a chalk board outside the main door, nice touch! The ryokan was situated RIGHT next to the river and a 2 min walk from Togetsu Bridge. The staff alsowiped our luggages clean and actually tied on small decorative notes. Such attention to detail, very sweet! On checking into our 12-tatami room with half board (incl dinner and breakfast) on the first floor, we were absolutely wow-ed. The room was very spacious for 2 (can fit 4) and had a wall-to-floor glass door with a small garden outside. The indoor onsen was essentially a small bathtub that can barely fit two regular-sized people, so don't expect much. We paid 2100Y for a 45-min soak in the private outdoor onsen and it was wonderful. Fits two with lots of room. Dinner was served in our room, course-by-course. Each course was so delicate and delicious. When we were done eating, the staff proceeded with setting up our super comfy futons! The yukatas (Jap casual kimonos/bathrobes) came with inner pieces (4 sizes provided), and outer pieces in 4 different colors! Breakfast was served in the dining room, which only had 2 tables, each by the window, with a view of the river. Needless to say, breakfast was also very enjoyable and sumptuous. I didn't try the public baths, but the outdoor one looked really great too! There was also a free-to-use massage chair that really hit the spot on my back. Check-in and check-out was totally hassle-free. I only produced my booking in softcopy during check-in, and paid my extra charges on check-out. That was all. I really loved this place. The staff were attentive and also watched us for a good 2 min as we made our way out, making us feel really cherished as guests. Though this place was slightly more expensive in my opinion (about 50,000 Y), I will definitely recommend this place to EVERYONE!

For the price and the location, this place was a steal! You'd better book this fast before it gets popular and the prices sky rocket! The rooms available on Agoda were for the suite-style rooms. Apparently there are normal rooms there, but not posted on Agoda for booking. The suite style rooms were out of the world, considering the prices of ryokan in the area. The hotel itself did not have much in terms of facilities, but the room made up for itself! Service at the accomodation was good, though they did not know much english. Staff were friendly and smiling and went out of their way to show superb Japanese hospitality... Definitely one of the best finds for my Japan trip!

My family, including two teenage children, visited Japan in June and wanted to experience the traditional Japanese accommodations of a ryokan. Ryokan Kanade exceeded our expectations. The room was immaculate and was plenty large enough for the four futons each evening. Our room had it's own toilet and sink, in addition to a shower and bath, which was a pleasant surprise. Our room overlooked both a rock patio, and the beautifully lush Japanese garden which can also been seen from the dining room. The Kaiseki dinners both evenings are indescribable - each course was a beautiful work of art and the quality of the food beyond measure. It was certainly more food than we are accustomed to. Breakfast was the same. The staff was very nice and did their best to explain to us how to appropriately wear the yukata, socks, and slippers provided in each room. A great stay!

If you love immersing yourself in a culture and just going with the flow, a ryokan is a great way to experience a part of the long and ancient culture of Japan. A traditional style hotel, it is a different universe from your 4 or 5 star modern hotels, but as a unique experience, it is superlative. I cannot recommend enough that you go for the full experience - the kaiseki dinner, five courses of local, seasonal dishes, with easily 6 to 12 different foods in each course, is both delicious and artful. Luckily it is usually served in the room, and you are already sitting on the comfortably springy tatami mat because you are not going to want to move for several hours afterwards. The public hot baths are HOT! Ryokans were traditionally a one-night stop for pilgrims and travelers, and the amenities are customized to that experience - if you have been sightseeing to the limit of your endurance, a night in a ryokan is a great way to rest your aching muscles and relax before diving back into exploring the wonderful nation of Japan. Gion Hatanaka in particular is wonderfully placed next to Yasaka, an ancient shinto shrine, and within easy walking distance of Nishiki Market (great for foodies!), Kodai-ji, Shoho-ji (Buddist temple), Kennin-ji (Zen buddist temple with zen rock garden) Hanamikoji dori (the classic neighborhood of geiko/geisha) and just a thousand and one different attractions that are fascinating! The staff really cares about every little detail and your stay here will be a delight!

Wonderful onsen for the price! I arrived early and left my bags with them which were waiting for me in my room when I came back to check in after sightseeing. although it's in a beautiful area and located across the street from a train station I gave it a satisfactory on the location since the train line that runs to it isn't from Kyoto station. There is another station with a train running from Kyoto station but it's a long walk with heavy luggage so I recommend a taxi from that station or one directly from Kyoto station which is what I did but be warned it's a hefty taxi fare. Other than that the food and baths were wonderful! They have 5 private baths on a first come first serve basis (so be prepared to wait a bit if you want those unless you go earlier in the evening). There is also a free hot and cold drink bar along with ice cream in the evening and probiotic drinks in the morning, as well as a massage parlor for an additional fee of course but the massage was excellent!

A late review (my apologies) from my first Japan trip during sakura season. This hotel, staff, location was 10/10. My god, you need to treat yourself to a place like this at least once in your life. Service: I was greeted so warmly upon my arrival and they accommodated my early check in as well. The staff also graciously accommodated my allergies to seafood (yes, seafood and I'm in Japan, so sad!!!). I had the kaiseki dinner and breakfast and IT WAS SO DELICIOUS!!! I was treated like a QUEEN. Room: BEAUTIFUL. It was like a modern ryokan. I booked the room with private onsen and it was so relaxing and luxurious with great Japanese style. Pajamas and all the amenities you can think of were provided. Beds were comfortable and clean. I felt safe and at peace here with the warm and quiet atmosphere. Location: Walking distance (3-5 mins) from Kiyomizudera Temple and lots of cute shops! Would stay here again in a heartbeat!!! Thank you, Saka Hotel!!!

Junei hotel was fantastic for our 3 night stay in Kyoto. The staff were extremely helpful booking us restaurants and answering all our questions with their great knowledge of the city. Hotel rooms and bathrooms are quite large for Japan's standards and our room included a 'handy' phone which we could take with us for the duration of our time there. This helped a great deal for Google maps and researching places. Hotel is not centrally located to the Gion/Nishiki market area but still not too far away. Having said that, it's very close to other attractions like nijo castle and imperial palace. Thanks again to all the staff for making our holiday a memorable one. We would definitely stay again if we come back to Kyoto!

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.

Yachiyo is a beautiful ryokan in Kyoto. It’s away from the busy parts (about 15min walking) so it feels like a peaceful escape. It’s very close to a few temples and you can easily get to the philosopher’s walk to Gingaku-ji. The staff were warm and welcoming and we wish we could have stayed longer. We stayed in the traditional Japanese room with no garden view and it was lovely. We had a tea set and hot water in our room and a tv which we didn’t use. Because we arrived late, the staff had already set out our tatami mats. We used the shared bathing (onsen) twice (9:30pm and 9:00 am) and had it all to our selves. Traditional robes were provided to wear to and from the bath. Highly recommend the free soft serve in the lobby after you soak.

This is my first time staying at a ryokan, and it was a great experience. Our room rate came with breakfast, and the Japanese breakfast every morning was delicious (they also offer continental breakfast but I recommend the Japanese breakfast unless you are a picky eater). We also had a kaiseki dinner our last night, and it was some of the best food I've ever had. The staff was great, and they do speak limited English. The ryokan is also very centrally located. However, it is not close to Kyoto Station, so we had to take a cab from Kyoto Station to the ryokan. The front doors of the ryokan are not very obvious (one small entrance and a sign), so I definitely recommend you printing out the directions and maybe a picture of the entrance sign.

We spent hours researching different Ryokans in Kyoto and chose this one because of the beautiful remote location and private outdoor bath. I am so glad that we went with this one. There are no words for how beautiful the location of this Ryokan is. It's remote, but getting there was super easy with the shuttle they provide. The service was also amazing, they made us feel so special and it was truly a unique experience staying here. I'd love to go back.

We stayed as a family of four adults for two nights and can’t speak more highly of the staff and location. It felt like a home away from home. The hospitality was incredible from the constant complementary food, providing an experience of meeting an authentic Maiko, directions... nothing was too much trouble and to top it all off the beautiful dogs were a true delight. Location is so convenient to many temples, shires and stunning gardens as well as restaurants. The whole district comes alive at night and it is as if you’ve stepped back in time. Wonderful memories were created and staying at the Kyoto Ryokan Gion Sano made our experience truely amazing.

I was looking for a ryokan during my two-week vacation in Japan to split the hotel stays and experience staying at a traditional Japanese inn. I saw plenty of pricey ryokans and came across Momijiya Honkan which was cheaper than other ryokans I researched but still had great reviews. I can easily say that this ryokan was the best value for the price I paid and the friendliness of the staff exceeded my expectations! The free shuttle from just outside JR Hanazono Station is very convenient, staff was extremely friendly (the entire staff waved goodbye to us on our last day as our shuttle took off and it was very heartwarming), dinner was very filling and not typically things I would order at a restaurant (a good thing), and the view from our "non view" room was still awesome (part road, part mountain). I highly recommend this place!

This delightful Ryokan was just outside Kyoto. We planned our trip in the morning so that we would have our last port of call Kinkakuji. From there we hunted around for a Lawson station and bought a few snacks and drinks for after dinner. We caught 2 taxies near the "Golden Pavilion". The cost was each which was well worth it since we had a group of 6 and we were all tired from a big day. Staff greeted us and we were very happy with the room. He speaks some English was very welcoming. Around the corner we ate at the attached restaurant. The Donburi was excellent value at Y980. We had a relaxing bath and back to our rooms for some IPAD karaoke and chuhi on the landing outside our rooms. Everything was clean and gorgeous. The access to WiFi and a computer was an added bonus. Breakfast was a choice of western (toast, coffee, eggs)or Japanese . Both were great. We were able to catch the JR bus almost outside next day to Enmachi Station then a short train ride to Arashiyama. Best stay in Japan I've had at a small Ryokan and excellent value. Don't be put off by the location. The beautiful gardens and traditional feel make it worthwhile. Recommend you stop at the visitors centre when you arrive at Kyoto Stn and discuss your options with the staff there.

My wife dreamed of staying in a ryokan during our first trip to Japan and Nazuna was amazing! We had a 3 room suite to ourselves with a private open air hot tub and glass enclosed outdoor shower. The staff was attentive and spoke English well. They welcomed us with a tea ceremony in our room and arranged dinner and taxi on the Kyoto river. The location is quiet and a 2 block walk to the Nijo castle. The breakfast in the morning was a fascinating Japanese style of barbecue with a hearth in the counter before us. We took a chance on this brand new ryokan and it was the high point of our hotels, which included the Imperial hotel in Tokyo and the Hilton Seahawk in Fukuoka.

I have been to Japan four times and out of the many accommodations I have been to. This is the prime example of Japanese hospitality. You are served a cup of hot tea, local matcha chocolate and cheese cake once you arrive. They are always thanking you for everything and bowing to you with much respect and courtesy. Every single staff is polite and makes you feel at home. We had the in-room dinner and breakfast option. Dinner was quite good but we loved the breakfast! Nonetheless, there are so many dishes that you feel like a king for the day. Room is spacious and clean. You also have the option to bathe in the onsen located in the basement which looks new compared to many of the other onsens that I have been to. The staff always greets you when you are leaving or coming back to the hotel which makes it a very pleasant experience. They also give you green tea leaves and amenities kit for you to bring home as a souvenir. All in all, it was a memorable stay in Kyoto.

had a wonderful stay here, it was the highlight of my two weeks travelling around Japan, the location is really brilliant, the staff were so kind and spoke really good English (which is a massive bonus in Japan!) the beds were really comfy, the room was really warm and we had a wonderful view of the Japanese garden in the middle of the Ryokan which was lovely, people staying there were very considerate of the thin walls and I didn't get woken up once. Only downside was shared showers and sinks but they were very clean and I rarely saw anyone so not all bad! If you come to Kyoto you should stay here!

The staff are extremely friendly and helpful, and you instantly sense that they love their jobs and are happy to please the guests and ensure they enjoy their stay. We were greeted at the entrance by a nice and beautifully dressed lady in Japanese traditional attire. We were then ushered to the lobby and offered tea while our reservation was being quickly processed. Thereafter, we were taken to our room which was really lovely and had authentic green tea and utensils for Japanese tea ceremony as well as kimonos (the traditional attire) for our use and enjoyment, all complimentary! Our room had a private bath and toilet but were were also invited to use the shared hot bath at will and it was amazing! We took most of our baths there. The food was extremely delicious. We had breakfast there each morning. The Ryokan offered both traditional and western breakfast to give guests a choice. Each morning, we ordered one Japanese and one western breakfast and both were delicious and well made. The staff gave us useful tips and directions on where to go for sightseeing and to eat, and where to find products and gifts we were looking for. Everywhere was easily accessible because Ryokufuso is centrally located....within walking distance of the Kyoto central station and just about 3 or 4 stops by Bus 50, which stops right opposite the ryokan. We enjoyed our stay so much that we added an extra day...and even got a bigger room with a balcony at only a slightly higher price! If you visit Kyoto, don't miss staying at Ryokan Ryokufuso...it's a good feeling ryokan all through!!

This is a great Ryokan, but what really sets this place apart from other nice places is the wonderful staff. They speak excellent English and are extremely helpful for planning your excursions around Kyoto. The rooms are a decent size for Japan and extremely clean. Great location - only about a 10 min walk from Kyoto station (5 min cab ride) with plenty of good restaurants within walking distance. They also provide a list of restaurant recommendations - both ones we went to were great. They also have a washer and dryer you can use for 500 yen a load. It includes the detergent too. Definitely would stay here again if we come back to Kyoto.

I think everyone should visit Sumiya Kiho-an Ryokan and experience what I had experienced. I must applaud the staff there, they were the most friendliest, kind, professional and helpful staff member I could ever ask for. They went above and beyond my expectations in every best was possible!! I even would to send my gratitude by offering a generous tip (though was not accepted) I believe they are worth every yen. The place, facilities, rooms was a perfect mix of modern and traditional Japanese architecture, it gives off a very graceful and calm feel. Finally the food was not only presented very well however it also tasted like royalty, there was a combination of food which matched every dish. I had an incredibly good stay at Sumiya Kiho-an, Since it wasnt long enough, I will surely have to visit again, I am sure there is much more to it than what I ave experienced. Great work Sumiya Kiho-an Ryokan, Keep it up!! Kingsley and Annie

Location is good with bus stop within 5 min walk. Right next to Toji pagoda so very easy to locate on map. We took a taxi from kyoto station, cost us 1000yen. A supermaket and minimart is within walking distance. Room is clean and sparkling. Building is new as this hotel is open this year. bathroom is good size and a washing machine (detergent is provided). Small balcony to hang washed clothes. Mini kitchen has fridge, kettle, microwave and induction cooker. Good for my family as I need to warm milk for kids. No TV, but basically we don't need it after a whole day of sightseeing. Disadvanage: no space for a table to put small items like bag/watch etc. There is a small foldable table provided but we cant use it as we need the space for futon and luggage (we have only 1 large luggage) No elevator (3 level hotel) Staff let us leave our stroller at the ground floor. Overall, a good value hotel. Good choice to stay in kyoto

This is a really nice Ryokan on the quieter side of Ohara, there is a temple just up the road but it's not as busy as the others in Ohara so the area is more peaceful. I really appreciated the staffs efforts to make vegetarian food for me, which they only found out about when I arrived. Go here for an authentic Japanese Ryokan experience in a quiet mountain village next to nature, and visit the footbath café next to the hotel also, it's very nice. Couple of things Western travelers need to be aware of: - this is a Ryokan which means self service, making your own bed, cooking the food set out for you at dinner, etc - toilets and showers/hot baths are shared, if you want to bathe alone, book the private bath they have - food is Japanese, including breakfast so get ready for nice but savoury flavours in the morning -look out for your shoes, they're swapped at the entrance to the hotel, at rooms, and at toilets I would definitely come again.

We booked in here for two nights to make it stay in Kyoto special. The staff were extremely helpful and friendly. The location was great for people needing to be close to the station. Downtown is around 25 minutes away walking but we hired bikes and was able to get there quicker (also a taxi back in the evening was only around 1000 yen). The room was beautiful, spacious, excellent amenities (coffee machine, tv, L’Occtaine shampoo, conditioner and body wash). The room also had a balcony with a wonderful view of Kyoto as we was on the 6th floor. Also is located on a small side street alongside a beautiful canal. Would highly recommend!

One of the top highlights. Well worth the price for a more traditional experience inside an old Kyoto building. Stayed for 3 nights. Had the ryokan breakfast each morning. Stayed in the Satsuki room. Had its own little garden and private sink and toilet located outside. Sleeping arrangement: futon. Comfortable enough, slept well. No problems with noise. Bathing areas include a bathtub and a shower by reservation. Shared with other ryokan guests. No problem bathing when I wanted. Recommend trying out both the Japanese and western style baths. Had the ryokan breakfast each morning. Generally: egg dish, fish dish, tofu dish, various vegetables and pickled items, and miso soup and rice. Style of preparation always unique and delicious. Staff truly welcomed us and cared for us. Always available and attentive whenever we had a question, going out of their way to accommodate some of our needs. A very memorable and wonderful experience. Thank you!

From booking the reservation to the staff bowing until our shuttle was out of sight, Yunohana resort has been one of the best, if not, THE best experience from beginning to end. They have staff who speak English so they were helpful when confirming my booking before our trip. They also emailed us a couple days before our check-in day to confirm our stay and to ask about our arrival time at the local station so we can use the shuttle. The hotel is about a 15 - 20 min drive from the station. It was raining hard the day we arrived and it was actually the perfect weather to stay inside in the warm resort and enjoy the hot spa. The garden looked amazing from the lobby and there were still cherry blossoms on the trees. They provide a bit of tea and sweets as you check in, and they also have you pick out your yukata, which is the one you will be wearing around everywhere. We reserved the Japanese Twin Style Room with Private Open-Air Bath and it was the perfect room for us. The bath was just the perfect temperature and made for quite an awesome photoshoot on the balcony with the pink blossoms behind us. There is also a small separate living room with a couch, a tv, tea and some sweets. All the drinks in the fridge are free and there are more than enough to last a one-night stay. Dinner and breakfast the next day are incredible. They have private dining rooms so that was nice. The young chef came by to our table to say hello and what an amazing talent and artistic eye he has. Every dish was like artwork and we had such a fun time just looking at it. At the end of dinner they brought out a variety of raw fish so we could choose our main entree for breakfast. That was such a nice touch! The public bath is just as clean and with all the amenities you could ask for. You are able to choose from a variety of shampoos and conditioners. The one thing I wish they had was the chestnut snack in our room was so yummy that we wanted to buy a pack, but they didn't have any in their l

It is our 1st experience to stay at Ryokan & it is beyond our expectation. It is clean & tidy and so comfortable to sleep with tatami style especially if you had back pain after long walks haha. The staff are friendly & very helpful to give any info where to go, where to eat & how to deliver luggage to other city. The service is EXCELLENT, we arrived early at the ryokan before check-in so we kept our luggage at the concierge and when we arrived back to the hotel we found our luggage are ready in our room (it's a WOW experience). Also we got the mattress were set up when we arrived from our dinner. EXCELLENT! Surely will stay here again once we visit Kyoto again. Arigatou-gozaimasu.

This Ryokan was amazing, traditional + modern and felt very true to Japanese style architecture. The 2 level apartment was comfortable with a small private garden. The place was better than what we had expected. We just wish we could have had more people come experience the place with us bc it was large enough for an entire family. Staying in this Ryokan was a nice bonus for our second trip to Kyoto.