Sumiya Kiho-an Ryokan

Japan , Kyoto
Kyoto, Yunohana-onsen, Hiedano-cho
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75 reviews shown

10/10

Exceptional

28 Dec 2025

Gracie

Amazing traditional Japanese experience

10/10

Exceptional

27 Nov 2025

Lindsey

Amazing experience would book again

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

19 Nov 2025

Chi Thanh

Room was very clean and services are excellent

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

14 Nov 2025

sahal

All good

Leisure

10/10

Exceptional

10 Nov 2025

Jennifer

Our stay at this ryokan was nothing short of phenomenal - we were treated so well, the food was varied and delicious, and the grounds are extremely beautiful. If we get the chance, we’ll definitely be coming back.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 Oct 2025

Shikun

good

10/10

Exceptional

19 Oct 2025

Gerald

Our full dinner option was nothing short of fantastic. The breakfast was amazing as well. All of the staff were friendly and attentive. Our private onsen was open to the outdoors and lovely.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

18 Oct 2025

Matthew

Amazing all around if you want to use the spa service you'll have to plan in advance

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

16 Oct 2025

Paige

A MUST STAY! As soon as you arrive, you are treated like royalty. The staff are truly incredible, and speak good English. The rooms are spacious and quiet. The private outdoor onsen was very relaxing ($35ish for 45 mins), the bed was comfy and the breakfast nice and fresh. I opted for the Kaiseki dinner and although very fresh and overall nice, it was quite pricey and I’m actually not a huge seafood lover so if you aren’t, I wouldn’t recommend.

I loved my one night stay - I wish I had stayed another night! 100/10!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

13 Oct 2025

Gino

Excellent food, super friendly staff, amazing place, highly recommend!

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

11 Oct 2025

Omodesola

The breakfast was amazing! Me and my friend had the Japanese style for the two days we were there and did an amazing job prepping us and giving us a tour of our room.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

09 Sep 2025

Brendan

This place was an absolutely godsend for our group after an intense week on our feet walking around Tokyo and Osaka. The staff were incredibly welcoming, the food delicious, and the onsen baths deeply relaxing. Also loved their gift shop! We want to come back for sure.

10/10

Exceptional

08 Sep 2025

craig

We had a great time here

10/10

Exceptional

02 Aug 2025

Cara

Very kind and attentive staff. Everything was clean and very comfortable for us.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jul 2025

Caroline

This is a special traditional

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jul 2025

HOSIE

The ryokan was awesome!!! The people were amazing. I have never been to a hotel with this level of service and attention to detail. The customer service was next level and the team worked tirelessly to make the trip a pleasure.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

02 Jun 2025

felix

The real traditional japanese experience

The place was amazing, if you're looking for a typical japanese experience this is the place . The property is nice and well maintained. The rooms are not new but it add to the classical japanese experience.

Overall i recommend if you are looking to live the authentical japanese experience. The staff was so polite and professional too.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 May 2025

Khaled

Great place. Location close to a main road makes it noisy. A particularly annoying issue is that you have to pay for your coffee while in the onsen.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

29 Apr 2025

Anna

The pictures and website don't give this place justice, it was one of the most amazing and relaxing experiences I've had. I had a group of 4 and we booked a room with a private hot spring and foot bath. The room was traditional with the shoji doors and windows, everyone at the hotel is given yukata robes and sandals to wear which were comfortable and fun. We opted for the meals in the restaurant, I loved everything they served and the staff was so professional and kind. I recommend you eat everything with an open mind, it was delectable. We paid extra to visit the mountainside hot spring, it was a small outdoor walk and my favorite part. It's big enough for a group but I went with just my husband and it was a vibe. It was rainy and the sun was setting but I still loved it. I highly recommend staying here, and shout-out to the shuttle guy for driving everyone back and forth seamlessly from the train station

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

19 Apr 2025

Soundus

Our family spent one night at this traditional Ryokan during our time in Kyoto. The service was impeccable, from the moment the shuttle bus picked us up at the train station and throughout our stay. A designated staff member greeted us, offered us tea, and then went over the amenities of the property with us. We reserved the private onsen so we could enjoy it as a family (regular communal onsen is not coed). The onsen is a natural outdoor hot spring with medicinal benefits! Dinner and breakfast were nutritious and delicious, and the mats we slept on on the tatami floor offered a comfortable night of sleep. Would definitely stay here again!

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

16 Apr 2025

Steve

It was exactly what my wife and I were looking for in the Ryokan experience. The in-room onsen, private onsen, and communal onsens were excellent. Our in room meal was excellent and the traditional ryokan breakfast the following morning was great as well. The only issue was we were only there for 1 night.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

13 Apr 2025

Arif

Amazing private onsen

10/10

Exceptional

25 Feb 2025

Louise

This was easily one of our highlights from our Japan trip. The staff here are extremely friendly and accommodating, food was outstanding and a shuttle to easily get into Kyoto for the day. Don’t skip!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

09 Feb 2025

Terry

Room was very spacious and comfortable. The private Onsen was a treat and the public Onsen is fantastic!
They sure feed you well here too!!

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

16 Jan 2025

Igor

The stay was beautiful!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 Oct 2024

Miah

Amazing. Absolutely amazing. The hospitality and experience of this ryokan was like a dream.

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

03 Oct 2024

Bronte

Pro:
Staff were very helpful and accommodating
Food was excellent
We loved the secret onsen
Con
Our room smelt and was mouldy
It was v expensive

10/10

Exceptional

23 Jul 2024

Daryl

Very friendly staff and beautiful property

10/10

Exceptional

26 May 2024

Drew

Amazing experience. It’s out of the way to get to, and there isn’t anything else really around, but that’s kind of the point….. you go for this hotel to just relax and dine at the hotel. The in room meal was amazing and the onsen was super clean and relaxing. Highly recommended.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 May 2024

Matt

An amazing little getaway

I can't explain enough how much we enjoyed our stay here. The staff was super courteous and spoke very good English. The location is gorgeous and quiet and the hotel runs a shuttle to and from the nearest rail station several times a day if you want to get into Kyoto proper.

That said, it's likely to take an hour to get to Kyoto by shuttle/train or 30 minutes if you take a rather expensive taxi. Plan accordingly! I think we would visit again.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

14 Apr 2024

Rene

This was our first stay at a rhyokan (spelling!)and we were blown away by the beauty, The comfort (personally I felt sleeping on tatami mats on a futon perfect). The attentive service was welcoming and spot on.

We ate breakfast and dinner here and the local food was abundant, gorgeously presented and flavorful.

We had a room with a private Onsen on a deck. Highly recommend.

This was a unique, peak experience and I am a seasoned traveler. Do it.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Nov 2023

Daniel

Absolutely wonderful!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 Oct 2023

Nicholas

An absolutely refreshing getaway from busier city centres to relax. Everyone was polite and service was exceptional. As a foreign visitor they did their best to facilitate their service in English. Breakfast was included - both I had were different and traditional (visitors should do their research on traditional Japanese breakfast). Their supper was presented beautifully and was excellent and refreshing.

Be sure to call in advance for shuttle pick up from Kameoka station. The shuttle is scheduled and is spaced an hour apart. Departing shutting from the ryokan starts at 0900 for any visitors planning their next day’s travel; takes approximately 30 minutes to get to Kameoka station.

Highly recommend, would come again in the future for some much needed relaxation.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

22 Dec 2019

Ryan

Amazing! Very refreshing!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

11 Dec 2019

Verified traveler

Highly appreciate the excellent and delicate seasonal and local dishes in both breakfast and dinner, beautiful environment during the maple season

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

30 Nov 2019

Verified traveler

Relaxing side-trip away from the rush

This is a fabulous place, and the service is amazing. Well worth it as a relaxing side-trip if you're traveling to Kyoto or the surrounding area. The grounds, baths, and rooms are beautifully kept and very clean. The private outdoor onsen is well worth reserving, and gorgeous in the evening/night hours. Quick FYI in case you're unprepared: this is a traditional-style bath house, with separate public baths for men and women; i.e. no swimsuits or clothes allowed in the baths.There is also a shuttle that makes limited trips to/from Kameoka Station and Ryokan Sumiya, and can save you a good bit of taxi fare if your timing works out.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

09 Nov 2019

STEFAN

Staff were very friendly and understanding if you needed to ask about anything, the location is a dream,

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Jul 2019

Verified traveler

What an awesome place! Stayed there at the recommendation of a Japanese friend. It's great to experience a traditional Japanese hotel for a few days. You sleep on the mats in your room, and you can order a dinner to be served in the room. The food is excellent, try their traditional multi-course dinner, it's a bit expensive but totally worth it! It looks like the most of the guests are Japanese, but stuff goes out of their way to make foreign visitors welcome. Most of them speak decent English. Also, try the onsen - the experience sounds a bit weird at first, but it's really amazing!

It turns out that John Lennon and Yoko Ono visited this place in 1977, if you ask, they will show you their autograph.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

14 May 2019

Joshua

Rejuvenation for the rest of our trip

Loved our stay at this Ryokan! The service was amazing as expected. If you love nature and want to get away from the buzz of the city, you’ll love it too! They have a shuttle you can take instead of the bus from Kameoka station.

Friends

4/10

Poor

10 Feb 2019

Verified traveler

The ryokan is located next to the car road in the middle of country field. Its good that they have shuttle bus from kameoka station. We made reservation for 1night and paid extra $32 for using private open air bath for 45min(usually other ryokans offer it for free). Private bath was very dark and far...not very clean...and seemed insecure and we had to leave after 20min.
Sumiya Kihoan was very different from other ryokans making us pay for even WATER bottles and all the minibar drinks. no complimentary drinks in the room. i recommend to buy water bottles when you arrive at the train station before taking the shuttle bus. bc there is nothing near this ryokan. i feel sorry to the staffs but kaiseki food is really bad. fish is dry and sashimi is not fresh. only! steak is good (paid extra for steak). Also if you bring wine bottle and drink during in room dining, they also ask you for ridiculous corkage cover charge. Theres a reason for cheap room price. they will make you pay extra for many things.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

09 Dec 2018

Verified traveler

We enjoyed very personalised service from the time we boarded the hotel shuttle bus to the time we left on the same shuttle bus. The hotel staff ensured we were taken care of every time we interacted with them. We loved the private Onsen experience even though it was somewhat mysterious/ scary to be bathing in near darkness. Meal times were especially delightful. Our waiters and waitresses were all highly professional, engendering mutual respect and kindness for each other. Overall, we loved the stay as we did everywhere and every time we are in Kyoto.

8/10

Excellent

01 Oct 2018

Verified traveler

Very traditional Japanese furnishings in guest room. No chairs or sofa. Low table and sitting position on floor. Beds were flat cushions on the floor and if used to soft mattress it is an unpleasant experience. Dinner was outstanding and so was breakfast but very pricy as no other restaurants nearby for options. Would stay again for the service and experience.

10/10

Exceptional

28 Dec 2017

Chelsea

Nice Ryokan with friendly staff

Took the complimentary shuttle bus from JR Kamaeoka station provided by the Ryokan. Upon arrival, I was warmly welcomed by someone who personally attended to me and brought me to my room.

I selected the room package that came with dinner as well as breakfast and they were all served in-room. Food was really good and fresh and again I was being attended to during the meals.

The ryokan also had an outdoor and indoor onsen and although it wasnt very big but it was good enough as the ryokan doesnt accomodate many rooms as well hence there wasnt any crowd for the onsen.

Overall, i had a good stay and I believe its a must-go if visiting Kyoto.

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jul 2017

bethany

Beautiful ryokan with amazing staff and service.

I loved everything about this ryokan. The staff were all amazing polite, the onsen was clean and comfortable, and the rooms were spacious and clean. I would recommend this place to anyone!

10/10

Exceptional

30 May 2017

Verified traveler

One of the best onsen hotel that we have ever stayed in Japan. I would recommend everyone to stay at least one night of accommodation in onsen hotel such as Sumiya Rokyan to experience Japanese onsen and the traditional Kaiseki dinner. Value for money!

10/10

Exceptional

27 May 2017

Shun Yan

Unforgettable experience

amazing experience - friendly staff, the place is super comfortable.
the secret onsen and the food were nice - worth a try.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

21 Nov 2016

Lo Mei

Not value for money

Paid a fortune but got only dinner with seasonal vegetables. Onsens very small and not well equipped. Strange that no drinking water was provided in the changing room. Just small towels provided in the onsen, and you will be charged if you need additional bath towels ! Service not on par with general Japanese onsen standard.

10/10

Exceptional

29 Oct 2016

irene

Amazing experience, felt fully relaxed and pampered.

10/10

Exceptional

10 Oct 2016

tammy

Great service , not too far from city , easy to access

10/10

Exceptional

12 Jul 2016

Hong

Delightful experience

Great onsen experience and room service. Exceeded our expectations.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

04 May 2016

Michael

It was a great experience

I've stayed at another Ryokan in Nikko that was THE BEST experience, but I could say this is almost just as great and easier to get to.

I went with my girlfriend and stayed for two days. We hit the onsen each day, had kaiseki, breakfast, and also the private onsen. I would say that is a MUST do at this place and do it during sunset. you won't see the sunset, but you'll see the nature in both light and dark.

The food was authentic and delicious, the onsens were not the biggest, but nice, and everyone working there was VERY nice. I'd go again for sure.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

10 Apr 2016

James

Great authentic experience of Japan

The onsen was great, I wish I could go back tomorrow, for a japanese room it was huge and had plenty of great features, which really let me heal after the last couple of days of walking across tokyo for 8 hours at a time. Everything was very organized and there were set times for dinner and breakfast. the breakfast was insane, just great food after great food. I spent my night hiking around the town of Kameoka and it was all very gorgeous and I took a ton of photos. The shuttle was very convenient and was pleasant too and from the train station.

10/10

Exceptional

09 Apr 2016

BENNY

Excellent ryokan fantastic private outdoor onsen

Great service for an excellent couples retreat

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

02 Jan 2016

Achim Christopher

Beautiful Japan Experience

The Ryokan is a cozy retreat, with very comfortable rooms, a nice onsen and especially attentive staff. We arrived later than planned, so the dinner time was over. We were served in our room a more than satisfing choice of small dishes by the very friendly and polite staff. This made the first impression exceptionally nice. The area around is not too much to explore, so just enjoy the hotel itself, the privat onsen for example.

Family

8/10

Excellent

20 Nov 2015

Fred

Great experience

It's awesome to experience this Japanese traditional hotel in a small town outside Kyoto. Excellent personal service from the start all the way to the end of our stay. Very good food but just few options. Be aware of the very limited hotel shuttle times. First one at 9am going out and about 5:50 pm coming in to hotel.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 Oct 2015

Kira

Great for a traditional experience

For two Americans looking for a traditional Japanese experience, this hotel was outstanding!! The onsen (communal hot spring bath) was fabulous, the room large and comfortable, and the staff attentive and helpful. They spoke some English (though speaking more Japanese would give you a better experience here) and were kind. The only difficult thing was that the hotel is a bit remote, and the shuttle bus leaves at specific times only (you must come back to the hotel no later than 5:50pm,) so we took a city bus back from Kameoka Station, which ran til 8pm and cost about $4. Breakfast is awesome, I highly recommend the traditional Japanese breakfast. Dinner was overpriced ($50/pp!?!?) and not outstanding.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

23 Oct 2015

Kelvin

Experiencing Japan

The hotel is a traditional ryokan and the facilities were wonderful with private rooms, a beautiful lounge area and a fantastic restaurant. The shuttle to and from the local railway station was excellent. By far the best part of the hotel were the wonderful staff and the truly outstanding food - an experience to be remembered and cherished.

8/10

Excellent

21 Oct 2015

Chloe

Lovely stay !

The staff were very lovely, polite and spoke very good English. They did everything to make my stay perfect.
I had a bath in the \"secret\" private onsen which was amazing.
It was nice to be secluded most of the time but if you get hungry or needed something, you couldn't go out and get anything nearby so its best for a couple of nights.
Would love to go back if I go to Kyoto again!

10/10

Exceptional

18 Oct 2015

Verified traveler

Beautiful 60 year old charming ryokan.

We traveled with our twenty-something daughters for some quality time together. The ryokan was the highlight of our 10 day Kyoto/Tokyo trip by all accounts. Convenient to Kyoto from Kameoka station (hotel shuttle). We stayed in the spacious four futon tatami room with private bathroom. Staff is excellent and speak English. Amazing in-room generous authentic multi-course dinner. Two in party were vegetarian and two regular meals. Awesome Japanese breakfast as well- ours was in dining room. Reserved secret garden onsen for private use and also experienced the public onsen. Very clean. We enthusiastically recommend this ryokan. We wish we checked out the scenic train instead (need advance reservation) and stream rapids boat ride nearby. We can try that next time!

10/10

Exceptional

10 Oct 2015

Verified traveler

Amazing typical riokan yet an hour away from Kyoto

I wanted a typical Japanese setting with hot springs and found this excellent one. Highly recommend

8/10

Excellent

09 Oct 2015

Kelly

Wonderful hospitality and beautiful onsen

We loved staying at the Ryokan and enjoyed the extremely wonderful hospitality. They went above and beyond to do everything to make our visit perfect. The onsen is a great place to relax and we enjoyed ending the day with the baths. On some nights there were other guests in the baths but often it was empty. Service was a bit off for dinner in the restaurant but we thought they might have just had a bad night. Hope to come back soon!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

08 Aug 2015

Verified traveler

One of tge best hotels i have staied on

Great place, wondeful staff and outstanding room and food

8/10

Excellent

10 Jun 2015

Verified traveler

Great place to turn off your brain

Stayed for one night with a party of four. Ordered the Secret Open Air Onsen (private hot springs) for about $40 USD. Could not reserve the spa, even though we asked several months in advance.

Pros
- Friendly staff.
- Free 30 minute shuttle bus to/from Kameoka station.
- Delicious food (Bento Box and Tempura).
- Relaxing atmosphere.
- Room reasonably comfortable as it can get with futons on the floor.

Cons
- Food expensive. No other options for food in area.
- Nothing in the area, although you are best spending the whole day in the ryokan relaxing.
- Secret Open Air Onsen was a little dirty and had more bugs than I would have expected. A significant part of your time-limited paid experience will be spent trying to find it.
- If they removed the television from the room, it would have made things significantly more authentic feeling.

Overall pleasant, relaxing experience. It was very much needed after 6 days of exploring Tokyo on foot.

10/10

Exceptional

01 May 2015

James

Very good, worth staying

Very good. Feel like we are treated like a VIP. No wifi in the room. Opt for the japanese style dinner & breakfast. Not used to it.

If you want to try the Secret Onsen, suggest book days or weeks before as we booked when we check-in and given time slot 10pm to 10:45pm and late at night is quite scary.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

27 Apr 2015

TATT JIN

Ryokan Luxury

Staying at the Ryokan Sumiya Kihoan is truly a one of a kind experience for travellers. Though on the pricey side, I highly recommend a short stay for those looking for something different.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

14 Apr 2015

Matt

Traditional Japanese-style Ryokan

A must stay for the full Japanese experience. Wish I had time to stay longer, and will definitely book again. Beautiful traditional-style rooms and hot spring. Great service with authentic feel. Only negative is somewhat far from the city, but the hotel provides a shuttle back to the train station after checkout.

10/10

Exceptional

04 Apr 2015

Sylvie

Beautiful and peaceful place.

It was one of my best experience in Japan. Staffs make you feel very welcome and couldn't do anymore to please me. I stayed 2 nights, they made sure I had a different diner and breakfast each time. I highly recommend it. They put attention to each details, up to the moment the bus leaves to the station. What a great Japanese experience.

10/10

Exceptional

03 Apr 2015

Osvaldo

Nice traditional / Ryokan Japan style hotel

Nice traditional / Ryokan Japan style hotel. Nice Staff, very friendly.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

01 Apr 2015

Verified traveler

Quite Little Spa Feeling

I think this Ryokan is great if you are into the experience. My partner and I were not extremely into the traditional Japanese courses and the dining area was too cold for me. Everything else was flawless.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

06 Dec 2014

Jeffrey

Wonderful ryokan

We were very impressed with the pictures on the website and the Sumiya exceeded out expectations. Staff were warm and welcoming, the decor was elegant and rooms were especially spacious. Breakfast and dinner rocked! We enjoyed the the public onsen with outdoor tubs and the toiletries were scrumptious. We also booked the private onsen which was wonderful.
We stayed here in between Kyoto, visiting Arashiyama en route to Nara.
Of all the Ryokans we've been to on our Japan excursions thus far, this was the most comfortable and elegant so much so we didn't want to leave.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

20 Apr 2014

Jeannie

wonderful experience

we could call this birdwatching in kimonos because we embraced the japanese experience, the hot spring, the spa. we hiked behind the ryokan on a little trail. rooms and spa were so worth the experience. breakfast superb. The dinner was so over priced we were a little frustrated. I loved the hot springs experience, both indoors and out!. Situated on busy road but the wall of mountain behind this ryokan was lovely

10/10

Exceptional

19 Feb 2026

Wooseok

깨끗한 객실과 아주 친절한 직원들. 그리고 저녁의 카이세키와 아침 교토식 조반이 너무 맛있고 가격대비 앚. 좋았음

10/10

Exceptional

14 Feb 2026

SUNGMI

직원분들이 친절하고 아침이 위에 부담없고 깔끔하고 맛있었습니다

10/10

Exceptional