Ryokan Sakanoue Kyoto

Japan , Kyoto
KYOTO, 502 Washio-Cho Gion Shimogawara,Higashiyama-Ku
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75 reviews shown

10/10

Exceptional

11 Mar 2026

Lisa Anne

Fabulous traditional Japanese hotel that is still outfitted with all of the modern necessities to provide a very comfortable stay. Great location with many shops and attractions within walking distance. Friendly and courteous staff. Highly recommend.

Friends

4/10

Poor

10 Mar 2026

Danielle

This stay was absolutely not worth the price. This was my most expensive hotel of the trip by far, and it was my worst experience.

The hotel smelled moldy, there was water damage in the hallways, and parts of the inn were not even heated.

I paid $50 extra for a “traditional Japanese breakfast” which was by far the worst meal I had on my entire trip. It was served in a cafeteria (not my room as one traditionally would at a ryokan), and at $50 I would have expected the quality to blow me away. Instead, it was some terrible soba, a piece of salmon and some other seafood items of quality. I had far better meals this trip for $8.

It also frustrated me that the staff was no Japanese. I booked this inn and paid a premium specifically to have an authentic experience, and it felt like a sham. I do not recommend staying here and I felt this was a waste of money. Stay elsewhere.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

08 Mar 2026

Kisha

Beautiful, well appointed rooms, incredible location and welcoming staff.. perfect

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jan 2025

Lindsey

Fantastic location and wonderful ryokan experience!

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

03 Jan 2025

Rashida

We stayed 5 nights. We had to stay here as it was prebooked and we would not get a refund. This place is too expensive. There are better places available at this price. There are no amenities. The breakfast is same everyday. The breakfast is not freshly prepared and everything is purchased from outside or food is made from pre packaged. The staff are nice but do not speak in English and it is difficult. The staff is also on rotation and shared with other hotel. The onsen is just a hot tub in the basement.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

17 Oct 2024

Kenneth

Excellent service. Very quiet neighborhood. Enjoyed the Ryokan experience.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

10 Oct 2024

Alexa

Excellent staff and amenities. A very japanese experience, in a cozy place to stay in the heart of Gion.

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

10 Oct 2024

Norma

Misleading and/or confusing information Our room was not cleaned for 2 days, they told us water was free but next day there was a charge. Washing machine was broken after 3 try’s it kept running. Difficult to communicate with staff.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

16 Sep 2024

Daryl

Absolutely wonderful people at SAKANOUE, made me feel so welcome and special. I loved the unique, traditional vibe and peaceful atmosphere here. Only slight downside is outdated bathroom, and there is only an AC unit on the wall which isn’t very powerful so the room is quite stuffy at night (in here in September so it’s hot & humid).

10/10

Exceptional

06 Aug 2024

Christina

Amazing staff, clean and comfortable rooms

The staff was friendly and helpful. The rooms were comfortable and spacious, the amenities offered were great quality. We enjoyed the in room baths and the serene feeling that the Ryokan provided.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

31 Jul 2024

Chennming

Staffs in Sakanoue are very nice. Room is a bit old but clean, very spacious compare to hotels. Location wise, the ryokan is located in Gion, right by Yakasa shrine. Gion is very pretty but it does take around 15 mins walk to all the shops in the CBD area of Kyoto. And FYI there is 12am curfew at sakanoue!
They alsoprovide variety of free food (curry, Chaka and some western food options) for breakfasts, we ordered the Japanese breakfast and it was a bit disappointed tbh considering the price :( but overall very good experience and definitely will come back

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

28 Apr 2024

Consuelo

Friendliest people ever! Our stay was special from the moment we walked in, until the very last part when we left. It was conveniently located where everything was a perfect walking distance. I was sad to leave, but hope to come back many more times ❤️

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

17 Apr 2024

Fouad

Average only location is OK, however can find

The hotel and service average.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

30 Nov 2023

Arvind

Great place to experience an authentic Ryokan stay at the heart of Kyoto. Quite walkable to public transportation and sightseeing places such as Kiyomizu-dera and Kodaiji. Night visits to Yasaka shrine were great - just a 2 min walk from the Ryokan. I did not like that there were no vegetarian options provided for breakfast. Breakfast is a traditional egg, fish, vegetables and rice. Even the vegetables and rice are cooked with fish broth and hence cannot be consumed by vegetarians. I feel the meals can be made vegetarian friendly - at least the rice and vegetables.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

08 Nov 2023

Jeremy

Amazing experience staying in a Ryokan. Hosts were very friendly people and only too happy to help.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

09 Sep 2023

Tugcenur

We loved staying at Sakanoue. It is in the heart of Kyoto, which was very convient and perfect to wake up early to get beautiful pictures in the empty streets. The temples were a walking distance. Lots of good cafes and restaurants around. The floor bed was very comfortable, only pillows were a bit hard to sleep on. The staff was very friendly and helpful. I would love to go back to this hotel!

4/10

Poor

18 Apr 2023

Taneshiro

Threadbare, futon mattress single and hard, futon laid and kept laid throughout visit, bathroom wooden slab black with mold. Staff were helpful but short staffed to whit not putting away futon each day. Overall overrated and overpriced.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

28 Mar 2023

Elina

Great property and stuff were very friendly!!!

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

15 Mar 2020

Rory

Comfortable ryokan in interesting area of Kyoto

Comfortable ryokan in lovely part of Kyoto. Friendly welcoming team and we enjoyed the traditional Japanese style room. Found a great cosy restaurant to eat in nearby and had a delicious full Japanese breakfast at the ryokan before leaving.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 Jan 2020

Yoseb

Great choice to stay here without regrets!

Overall, I was assured that I made a great choice to stay here. Their service was superb, and the facilities were nice and cozy.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jan 2020

Nina

Very good location, in the heart of gion.
Breakfast and dinner is incredible, super nice service

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

05 Jan 2020

Verified traveler

Like the bathtub in the room, could have included some bath salt to add into the tub. Overall it is a good experience. Great service.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

02 Jan 2020

Sarah

Overall it’s a nice property in a good location. It was very cold in the bathroom and it was not nice to take a shower there. Heater remote was in Japanese and I had to call the lady for help. Wish they wrote something in English for us to control. We couldn’t figure it out over night and had to wait until morning to call the lady. Dinner was just ok but breakfast was good. Staff were all friendly and nice.

10/10

Exceptional

04 Dec 2019

Verified traveler

Staff is very friendly. Some speak English fluently. Even those who don't speak English well do their best to communicate. The building is old so can't fault it if certain things look old and dated. Part of the charm. The rooms are kept spotlessly clean.

Ryokan is in a quiet location and a short walk to the popular Yasaka Shrine and Maruyama Park. Dining is still accessible along the road leading up to the shrine. There's also the option to have a kaiseki meal right inside the Ryokan.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

27 Oct 2019

Kenneth

The location was unbeatable - turn left and you’re footsteps away from a great temple walk past Kodaiji all the way to Kiyamizu-dera. Turn right as you exit the ryokan and you’re a few blocks away from shopping, restaurants, and convenient train lines, as well as the famous streets of Gion. But most impressive were the staff who were very attentive, kind, and obviously cared deeply about the experience of their guests. The room was beautiful. And the breakfasts were delicious.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

23 Oct 2019

Verified traveler

For those looking for a traditional Japanese Inn experience, this is a fantastic choice. The room was quite large and we'll equipped, the staff was very friendly and helpful, and the location is difficult to beat in the historic Gion District with several Kyoto landmarks within walking distance and transit options only a few minutes away.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

14 Oct 2019

Verified traveler

The staff were so lovely, they held our bags all day because we were leaving late and they even gave us a little parting gift when we checked out.

Friends_and_family Partner

8/10

Excellent

13 Oct 2019

Verified traveler

Would have appreciated a mini tour of the grounds and bath house. We didn’t even realize there was one there until it was too late. Excellent service, very quaint. The dinner was just okay... not our favorite meal. We enjoyed our 1 night stay here for the experience.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

23 Sep 2019

Verified traveler

Very nice ryokan and good price. The staff is amazing. I though I would have a hard time sleeping in a ryokan, but it was very comfortable. Loved the experience.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 Aug 2019

Verified traveler

Staff are very friendly and helpful. Convenient location.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

03 Aug 2019

Verified traveler

Excellent service and staff. Ideal location, close to major temple and shrines.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

30 Jul 2019

Verified traveler

Very nice Ryokan in the best area of Kyoto

I visit Kyoto every year and this was the best Ryokan I’ve at reasonable price and services. I’ll recommend this place to everyone from couple to family.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jul 2019

Dave

Great location for this authentic Japanese ryokan. Staff were friendly and one was American so spoke fluent English. Walking distance to several temples and shrines as well as many restaurants. Great spot for couples or families with teenage children.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jul 2019

Verified traveler

Sakanoue was a very welcoming and relaxing facility. Staff were very pleasant and helpful. Food was tasty.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 Jun 2019

jenny

Wonderful stay!

We loved the Sakanoue. The location in Gion can’t be beat. The staff was lovely and helpful. The traditional Japanese accommodations were fabulous and we loved soaking in the tub each night after lots of walking each day.

Family

2/10

Poor

14 Jun 2019

Andreas

Hotels.Com as misinforming the property is NOT smoke free there were people smoking in the lobby. Nice people at hotel though but incorrect description of property.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jun 2019

Verified traveler

Great ryokan

Wonderful stay with friendly staff. Even though they spoke limited English, they were so sweet. Very cool experience to stay in a traditional ryokan and enjoy a gourmet kaiseki dinner and breakfast. Neighborhood is quiet and mostly residential.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jun 2019

BTerry79

Great location near excellent restaurants. Wonderful staff. Very quiet.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

03 Jun 2019

Stay here one night to get the traditional Japanese experience, make sure to book with meals so you can try Kaiseki multicourse dinner, and Japanese style breakfast. It’s in the heart of Gion so you can see old style town homes (machiya). I recommend after one night in ryokan, change to a regular hotel for the rest of your time in Kyoto for a more comfortable stay and closer to downtown amenities.

It’s not a very comfortable stay, but I think that’s typical of traditional Japanese ryokan experience. For example, the summer futon is very thin/hard so I didn’t sleep well. Lots of sitting on the floor or low to the ground (hard for my 60 year old mom). The traditional architecture means many changes in floor height, so going to the bathroom at night is a toe stubbing experience. Lots of rules- changing of slippers, curfew, being careful not to damage tatami with your suitcase or rain jacket, etc. my understanding is this is typical of all Ryokan, just set your expectations accordingly.

The staff at Saka no Ue are really nice and it’s well kept, I’m glad I did it once but also was glad to get a comfortable bed somewhere else the next night.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

23 May 2019

Verified traveler

Traditional Japan

Tremendously friendly and helpful staff. Dinner and breakfast were excellent!

Partner

8/10

Excellent

12 May 2019

Camille

Authentic Japanese Culture

AUTHENTIC! Loved my stay at Sakanoue! Hope it never changes and people will always respect the culture that Sakanoue presents to its patrons.

Family

8/10

Excellent

02 May 2019

Verified traveler

Lovely traditional ryokan. Great service and friendly staff. Great location in Gion, close to major tourist spot.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

01 May 2019

Stacy

Perfection traditional experience

We loved our stay at a traditional ryokan. The location was perfect to bus stops and trains as well as great restaurants. The breakfast meal was delicious and all the staff was extremely welcoming and sweet.

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

20 Mar 2019

Alyssa

Lovely stay!

Wonderful stay! The staff was amazingly helpful and friendly. As someone who doesn't speak Japanese, the staff went out of their way to speak English (very well, too!),and there were never any communication issues. The staff was able to help me by calling restaurants and making dinner reservations. The room was spacious and comfortable. The common areas could use some upgrades, but overall I would highly recommend it. We did not eat at the ryokan so I cannot comment on the food. A wonderful traditional experience and I would highly recommend it.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

18 Mar 2019

Stuart

Very enjoyable stay

I had a very enjoyable stay in this ryokan. The staff were very welcoming and helpful. Great location, and easy to find using Google maps. We opted for the half board option and the food was excellent.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 Feb 2019

Verified traveler

We loved Sakanoue! We had such a great time in Kyoto. Sakanoue is in a great location in the Gion district. You’re a short walk away from all of the local rail lines. Call a month ahead and they’ll make restaurant reservations for you. Some of the finest restaurants in Gion book up fast and only take reservations. Or, you can head over to Pontocho for good food. Sakanoue always has someone available who speaks English. Sakanoue is a very clean traditional Ryokan with modern amenities.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

05 Feb 2019

Verified traveler

Nice host, great location!!
Good choice for real japanese style ryokan experience

10/10

Exceptional

03 Feb 2019

Verified traveler

Rooms were very clean. Staff super helpful. Loved the old Japanese format. Sleeping was fun to be on floor level. Location was great to walk about Kyoto.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

17 Jan 2019

Verified traveler

Nice traditional accomodation near historic sites.

8/10

Excellent

16 Jan 2019

Diane

The hotel is centrally located and the staff was very friendly. This is a traditional Japanese inn experience so sleeping on futons by default is not comfortable, we stayed for one night and that was perfect. Also be aware that the room is not turned over for sleeping until 8pm (ie, futon mats placed for sleeping), we were exhausted from traveling so would have liked to lay down before heading out again. We did not try the dinner but we enjoyed the morning breakfast.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Dec 2018

Henry

Traditional Experience!

Great stay - very traditional experience!

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

20 Dec 2018

Verified traveler

Excelent location, food, hospitality, everything excelent

Leisure

10/10

Exceptional

12 Dec 2018

Birger

Nice ryokan experience

Great way to experience the Ryokan guest house experience. Friendly staff, clean and cozy. WIFI sometimes a little slow, but overall a great experience.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

18 Nov 2018

Verified traveler

R&R at the Ryokan

Beautiful ryokan with extra attentive staff at the front desk and at the breakfast service who made my visit a pleasure. My room was small but sunlit looking onto a small garden at the front of the ryokan and a bit isolated from the other rooms that were more internal surrounding a central courtyard, so I didn't get the feel for what these rooms might be like. But the area is surprisingly quiet at night and I slept fitfully! The local area is gorgeous - good for exploring on foot - autumn red leaf maples were everywhere. The temples and shrines are lit at night and look spectacular. Loved the udon noodles at the local Omen restaurants.

10/10

Exceptional

14 Nov 2018

Wong

Good experiences. Like the feeling of old traditional japanese inn. Good food

8/10

Excellent

14 Nov 2018

Michel

We very much enjoyed the staff, service and location of the Sanakoue Ryokan. Our only complaint is that the place is due for some renewal. It is after all a very expensive place some one would not expect old carpets and old, fairly cheap furniture. Bout the staff was very friendly and helpful, the breakfasts were great and the location can't be beat, so we still thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

10 Nov 2018

Verified traveler

Lovely Ryokan Experience

A real Ryokan not aimed towards tourists but for everyone visiting Kyoto. Lovely understated service, excellent breakfast, good rooms.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

23 Oct 2018

For anyone coming to Japan and visiting Kyoto, this is a must stay! Taking a walk in the evening around Gion and coming back to this lovely place was extraordinary.

The staff is very hospitable and can speak enough English for you to get by. Make sure you learn some words in japanese to return the favour.

My husband and I will be back for sure.

4/10

Poor

03 Oct 2018

Sweef

Simple Ryokan

Disappointed that this ryokan does not provide in room breakfast service, which I thought is the main point for a traditional ryokan experience. Staff told us we can only have it in the common dining room. Worse is that the food is not great at all.

10/10

Exceptional

01 Oct 2018

Verified traveler

Other reviewers have remarked about the extremely good location for those visiting Kyoto for sightseeing as well as the level of service. I would second those opinions quite strongly and add a couple details. The first is especially noteworthy. While staying there my wife had severe dental pain. The ryokan immediately made a location at a nearby dentist and a staff member accompanied us there so that she could translate. This is a level of service that is noteworthy even by high Japanese standards.

Second, less important but still of note, the breakfast each day was slightly different (we stayed three days).

This is the second ryokan I have stayed in. It seems to cater primarily to Japanese visitors but makes two concessions that guests from the Americas or Europe in particular are likely to appreciate. First, there are bathrooms, showers, and small tubs in each room. Second there was always someone who spoke English present.

For those looking for a ryokan experience in Kyoto, I cannot imagine doing any better.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

29 Sep 2018

Fiona

Great location and welcoming, friendly staff. Everything was perfect.

10/10

Exceptional

13 Sep 2018

Verified traveler

Great service, and the facilities and room were very clean. The food was excellent, and the hostess made sure we understood the times that we needed to be ready to eat or use the private bath facilities.

10/10

Exceptional

11 Sep 2018

Verified traveler

Staff was soooo nice! You made us feel like family. We really enjoyed the food and stay. The hotel was such a great experience and it was so close to everything.

10/10

Exceptional

15 Aug 2018

Claire

Amazing!

It was amazing in so many ways. The service and food was outstanding!

8/10

Excellent

15 Aug 2018

Verified traveler

Interesting experience!

Nice experience in a Ryokan! I think that everybody should try it!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

23 Jul 2018

Verified traveler

We stayed here recently for six days and it was wonderful. Our room was lovely and so comfortable to relax in after long hot days of temple hiking. The location is convenient for walking, busing, or train to pretty much anything you could dream of doing in Kyoto. Evening walks around the neighborhood were fantastic.

The staff is wonderful and very kind. Plenty of English speakers on the staff, so they make it quite easy for clueless tourists like us. Even the staff members with less English do everything to make you feel at home and I didn’t ever find communication difficult. They seriously go all out for their guests. They really think of all the nice little things, like every night we came home to tea and sweets, which was wonderful to enjoy after a long bath (they have a large bath you can reserve but we preferred the small one in our room). The cooking was fantastic as well. I’m a vegan and gave them a card I printed from the internet explaining what I could and couldn’t eat. After a little back and forth with the cook (Can you have miso soup if we don’t put in the dashi? Yes. Do you eat tofu? Yes.) I was presented with the most amazing all vegetarian Japanese feast every morning. Those were some of the best meals I’ve had and I will be dreaming about those breakfasts!
Just trust me that you will not regret staying here!

10/10

Exceptional

14 Jun 2018

Dana

Wonderful experience at Sakonoue. The staff was so sweet and went out of their way multiple times to accommodate all our needs and requests. Breakfast was exceptional, we enjoyed both Continental and traditional Japanese breakfast. We will definitely stay here again if we come back to Kyoto

8/10

Excellent

13 Jun 2018

Verified traveler

Great location and service

My wife and I had a great time at Sakanoue. From the very polite and helpful hostess greeting us and taking our heavy luggage to our departure, we experienced great hospitality. The kaiseki dinner was very good. My wife doesn't eat as much raw fish and they accommodated us with more cooked items.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

30 May 2018

Verified traveler

Everything was quaint and very traditional. Dinner was very different and delicious, especially the beef! The traditional Japanese breakfast was also very interesting and amazing!

Partner

8/10

Excellent

10 May 2018

Verified traveler

Traditional Ryokan

An enjoyable stay in a traditional Japanese Ryokan. Nothing was too much trouble for our lovely hosts. We would definitely recommend this experience during a stay in Japan.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

06 Mar 2018

Jing

Great location and nice service

Great location, close to sightseeing attractions and a lot small restaurants around. The room is neat and clean, although it's a bit small and out of date (believe it's quite normal within this the town of all history). Front desk and serve lady is super nice, even majority of them only speaks Japanese.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

23 Dec 2017

Jonathan

A step back in time!

What a lovely ryokan experience! The entire staff was beyond curtious and dedicated to ensuring we had a pleasant stay. The rooms are in the traditional, simple Japanese style. Furniture was simply a low table and 2 chairs. The staff would come in nightly to set up the futon cushion bedding on the floor, and come back each morning promptly 30 minutes before breakfast to put the room back in order. The Japanese-style breakfast was a wonderful experience with a dozen different items brought to your room. The Japanese -style dinner, which we did only 1 night, was a lovely multi-course feast also served in the room. Finally, the location is in the heart of old Gion. Would wholeheartedly recommend Sakanoue for anyone looking for a restful, traditional ryokan experience.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Sep 2017

Dreamzje

The Ryokan was a wonderful experience. The innkeepers were extremely nice and very accommodating. I only wish that the wifi had extended into our main room and not just the Lobby.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

21 Mar 2017

Charlotte

Great stay!

We had a great time staying in the Sakanoue Ryokan! Came with no expectation on tradition Japanese Ryokans, we were amazed by how nice they are!

Pros: friendly staffs (always greet us, take out our shoes, ask us when we're coming back so they can make beds for us), great breakfast, location (located in Gion, very close to the bus/subway station)!

Cons: No

I'd totally come back to stay in Sakanoue next time I'm visiting Kyoto!

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jul 2016

XiaoLu

Traditional Ryokan experience in central location

It took me a long time to find the right ryokan in Kyoto, as many are very expensive and some don't have private bathrooms. I'm very glad I chose Sakanoue, it has traditional Japanese hospitality, an older Japanese lady dressed in kimono served us breakfast every morning and was very friendly, the room is traditional style but very comfortable, with private bathroom shower and small bathtub, all very spacious. I did not try their Kaiseki dinner but I'm sure it would be great, judging by the high quality of their breakfast. The neighborhood is fantastic, walking distance to all major sights, we took public transportation only to Kinkakuji and Fushimi Inari shrine. Okamoto's kjimono rental Gion store is also just around the corner.

Family