Kyoto Ryokan Gion Sano

Japan , Kyoto
Kyoto, 504 Washio-cho, Gion-shimogawara, Higashiyama-ku
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41 reviews shown

10/10

Exceptional

16 Nov 2025

Robert

Great location. The hosts were terrific. As a small lodging within a memorable area of Kyoto, one experiences a very unique and memorable stay.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

02 Nov 2025

Johnny

The staff are so friendly. We were treated with such warm hospitality. Great location. Comfy beds. Big, traditional rooms. Thoughful service. We loved it

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

10 Oct 2025

Natalie

Such a perfect, small hotel to have an authentic Japanese stay. Wonderful staff,who provided sweet treats and extra help. Loved this quaint place and people. manybwprsonqln

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

22 Jun 2025

Sarah

This property is very close to Kodai-ji, which was very convenient. Also, the host washed, dried, and folded our laundry (a family of 5) while we were out seeing the sites. This was incredibly helpful. Another highlight of our stay was the wonderful welcome tea and tasty breakfast provided during our stay. Although it was a bit more expensive than other options, these benefits were well worth the additional cost.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

22 Apr 2025

Katie

This Ryokan is so lovely. Upon checking in they served me tea and waffles in my room and then left snacks in addition to the free tea and ramen in the hallway. The room was extremely clean and it was so nice to put on the yukata they provided and sit on the cool tatami floor at the end of the day blow drying my hair. The futon bed was also very comfortable. I will definitely stay here again if I return to kyoto.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

09 Apr 2025

Giorgio

Amazing location, amenities, free perks, we even have our very own maiko show with free drinks, and the owners were very nice and happy to help with any questions.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

21 Nov 2024

David

Fantastic family run traditional Japanese hotel. We felt like we were part of their family.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

24 Oct 2024

Alexander

Conveniently located, very hospitable hosts, excellent service.
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Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

22 Oct 2024

Rambabu

Our stay at gion sano was truly above and beyond every expectation. We have stayed at many hotels big and small all over the world and this was one of the friendliest, loveliest and most hospitable experience we have had to date. The staff in particular is so warm and generous in their hospitality. I would recommend this location to anyone visiting the Kyoto area.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

14 Aug 2024

Sarah

I loved my stay here. The staff were so kind and friendly and helpful. The room was beautiful, very clean, and had a great view of the mountains! On my last night I was treated to a Maiko performance with a Q and A session which was wonderful. They provided coffee and fruit here, and the location was excellent, near restaurants, Maruyama Park and the Yasaka Shrine. I would absolutely stay here on my next trip to Kyoto!

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jul 2024

Kan

An amazing ryokan with top-notch hospitality. Situated in Gion we were in walking distance to many beautiful areas, shrines, and restaurants. My only regret was not staying in Kyoto longer.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

10 Jul 2024

Staff was amazing. Loved this Ryokan!

10/10

Exceptional

02 Jul 2024

Verified traveler

An amazing authentic Ryokan experience. I would happily come stay again if I come back to Kyoto. Incredible service and friendly hosts. I felt welcome and at home.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

12 May 2024

Jacob

The staff are super friendly and welcoming! On Saturday nights there is also a great free Maiko show that is very fun! 10/10 will visit again

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

29 Apr 2024

Adrian

Excellent area to stay in and above all, the service was absolutely exceptional. The hosts were very friendly and welcoming from the very beginning and went above and beyond to ensure that our stay went as smoothly as possible. They even provided us with snacks and treats during every day of our stay. We felt at home throughout the entire stay and would definitely plan to stay here again along with recommending it to friends and family whom intend to visit Kyoto.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

18 Apr 2024

Adrian

Lovely staff that were very helpful. Snacks were brought to our room every day. This included fruit, breads and cakes 😋

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

12 Mar 2024

Carol

A very traditional guesthouse with basic facilities. I wouldn’t fault it because service was good, room was clean and spacious but it’s too basic and tired looking for my liking. Good for people who wants a good location but on a budget.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

20 Nov 2023

Kade

I was in Kyoto for work and was only able to stay for 1 night. I wish I could have stayed for longer! Sano-san and the staff made me feel right at home from the moment I walked in the door. The room was beautiful with a nice view. The futon was clean and very comfortable. It was the best nights sleep that I had all week. It is not the fanciest place, but it is most certainly the most friendly and hospitable. They were VERY helpful with suggestions and helping with any directions that were needed. I look forward to staying here again when I come with my family. Thank you Kyoto Ryokan Gion Sano!!

Business Self

10/10

Exceptional

18 Nov 2023

Yu Ping

All are good, just staffs speak limited English

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

18 Oct 2023

Peter

Our hosts were super super helpful. Snacks and water were always available. Love it.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

14 Oct 2023

Abhishek

Amazing property right in Gion. Hosts are super amazing, helpful and the rooms are clean and spacious. Definitely recommend this place for a stay in Kyoto

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jun 2023

Raul

Best ryokan in Kyoto!

I do not have enough words to express how much of an amazing experience it was to stay in Kyoto Ryokan Gion Sano. This is a small but beautiful ryokan, family run, and I felt as if I was home. It is perfectly located, minutes away from the main old town. The hosts went above and beyond to make me feel comfortable, the room was really nice and clean, ryokan style, and with a real bonzai on my window!! They even organize a night show in the hotel with a Maiko, so we got an opportunity to interact with her, and ask her questions, which is quite exceptional in Kyoto. All in all, a fantastic experience.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

10 Feb 2020

Verified traveler

Nice Ryokan right in the old Gion district

Great place to explore Kyoto from. Close to metro, bus lines and right in the Gion area with all its charm. No meals are included but they provide fresh fruit and snacks. Very pleasant.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

08 Apr 2019

Domenick

This little place is SO CUTE! The staff members are so nice - they brought me tea and snacks every day AND every time I would head out for the day, they would walk with me and open each of the doors and tell me \"Itterasshai\".

Also amazing location in Gion.

8/10

Excellent

04 Mar 2019

Martin

Great location, great service

Superbly located in Gion so you can walk to many temples, etc. Very helpful owners, although they don't really speak English. Just be aware that they like to lock the doors at 11pm so this is not the place to stay if you like to stay out partying until late.

10/10

Exceptional

15 Nov 2018

Verified traveler

Great place to stay in Gion for fair price. Includes entertainment from a Maiko (Geisha in training). Clean facilities and wonderful atmosphere

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

19 Oct 2018

William

Perfect location, perfect hosts!

Fantastic location, super accommodating hosts who bent over backwards to make sure we were comfortable. A former student and her daughter dropped by the ryokan to show us around the neighboring area, and the host brought them melon and tea - so thoughtful! We also had the use of a washer/dryer (free) which was very convenient. As for the room...I love the Japanese tatami-syle with futon beds so the room was perfect!

Partner

8/10

Excellent

27 Jul 2018

Verified traveler

Staff was great and location was great

10/10

Exceptional

05 Jun 2018

David

The most wonderful place to stay in Gion

We loved the traditional atmosphere in this Ryokan and we had such a lovely time here. The room was spacious and extremely comfortable with the tatami mats and was a lovely place to relax after a day of walking around Kyoto. The owners and staff were extremely friendly and helpful and did everything they could do make our stay enjoyable and were very accommodating. Fresh fruit and snacks were left in the room while we were out which was a nice touch.The location is the best part about this Ryokan as it a short walk to the forest and multiple temples and it is situated right next door to an extremely beautiful park. We will definitely stay here again when we next visit Kyoto. For those of you who do stay here, be sure to go for a walk around the park after midnight as it is extremely romantic and is a lovely peaceful place to relax when there is nobody else around and this area has a totally different atmosphere at nighttime. This was a very memorable trip for us thank you so much!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 May 2018

Cory

Amazing ryokan

I loved this place. It had a more traditional feel to it, with the tatami flooring. The beds/mats that were rolled out were really comfortable. The staff bent over backwards to help us out and make us feel welcome. I cannot say enough positive things about my experience. Its location is also fantastic, a short walk of maybe 5 minutes from Yasaka Shrine and near enough to Kiyomizu Dera. Fantastic stay.

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

25 Apr 2018

Mary

Excellent

This was truly an amazing place, a cultural experience, with outstanding and personalized, attentive service. Each day, plates with pastries, sandwiches, fresh fruit were placed in our refrigerator. On arrival, a tray with homemade cherry blossom tea, cakes, and large juicy strawberries was brought to our room. We were informed that the following evening there would be a performance by a Maiko (geiko or geisha in training). She was with the guests (about 10 of us) for an hour, performing some dances, instructing us with a game, answering our numerous questions, welcoming photographs, and a staff member was there to translate. Each staff person / or the owner was helpful providing information, maps, answering our questions. There were notebooks, in both the lobby and our room, with laminated pages including maps and info about nearby shrines, temples, restaurants, with detailed directions, subway or bus stops. We had a delightful time and will stay there again. Location was excellent- within a few blocks walk to temples, shrines, Kyoto Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanji Museum, wonderful shops with fine artisanal pieces (glass, ceramics, paper, textile...), close to bus stops and subway.
Our room was spacious, well appointed with electric hot water machine for tea, choices of teas, wifi, TV, robes, snacks.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

09 Mar 2018

Verified traveler

A fabulous place to stay!

Loved this place - can’t say enough good things about my stay here! Beautiful property in the historic and quaint area of Gion; very nice traditional features such as tatami mats, sliding doors, futons, low furniture, tea set, etc. but with modern conveniences such as an elevator, TVs, private bathrooms, electric water kettle, etc. The bedding is so soft (with two ultra fluffy duvets) it’s like sleeping on a cloud. Love the sleeping clothes/hotel clothes that they leave in your room - a long cotton robe and a shorter vintage silk jacket with a long cotton belt - really special.
The owners and staff here really go the extra mile - they were so kind and nice the minute you walk in and every encounter that I’ve had with them it’s just been so pleasant and welcoming! I don’t want to leave! (And considering the rate I got, this in extremely good deal.)

10/10

Exceptional

29 Mar 2026

Jérome

Les hôtes sont vraiment gentil, il sont au petit soins avec la clientelle. L’emplacement est exceptionnel. Je recommande fortement !

Self

10/10

Exceptional

08 Oct 2025

Thomas

Ambiance traditionelle excellente, grande chambre et personnel très attentionnés.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

27 Nov 2024

MINSUG

아주 만족스러웠던 숙소

위치.친절함, 청결함 모두 아주 만족스러웠어요.
닌넨자카.산넨자카로 청수사를 갈수있는 곳에 위치해있어서 아침.저녁으로 두번 다녀왔습니다.
야스카신사에서도 아주 가까워 기온거리쪽으로 나가기에도 좋았습니다. 다음에 교토를 가면 또 가고싶은 숙소입니다.

10/10

Exceptional

17 Aug 2024

Jan Willem

I was offered a free dinner and a sake rice wine.People were very friendly The only thing I regretted was that I booked for one single night instead of some more.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

06 Aug 2024

SHINIL

너무 친절하게 응대해 주셔서 감사했습니다.

조식은 없었지만, 간식도 풍성하게 챙겨주셔서 다양한 음식 잘 맛 보았습니다.

10/10

Exceptional

05 Nov 2018

Verified traveler

굿

완전 깔끔하고 아담하고 위치도 좋았어요!! 정통 료칸을 체험해볼 수 있어서 좋았습니다. 근데 방에 혼자 자려니 밤엔 좀 무서웠어요ㅠㅠ