Ishicho Hotel

Japan , Kyoto
Kyoto, Higashi-hairu,Takeya-cho,kawaramachi,Nakagyo-ku
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100 reviews shown

10/10

Exceptional

24 Nov 2025

Nova

Staying at Ishicho was a great experience! The staff were incredibly friendly and the room and onsen were very nice! I would definitely recommend staying here.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

24 Nov 2025

Phil

Incredibly friendly and helpful staff, amazing breakfast and dinner, and a very unique hotel room experience. The onsen was the icing on the cake!

Self

10/10

Exceptional

02 Nov 2025

Jack

Central of Kyoto, very clean

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

26 Jul 2025

Clara

Me and a friend stayed for two nights as we wanted to explore areas of the Kansai region. It was such a nice experience! We didn’t end up trying the public baths, so I can’t comment on that, but the room itself and the futons were great ^^

When I think walkable, it may be different to someone else’s walkable, but transport (bus) is okay to get around— it is pretty busy though so take at your own caution if you have a large suitcase. The area is great! We wish we had more time but from what we walked and visited, it was nice. There’s a gachapon place nearby and multiple drug stores and places to eat.

Overall, great experience! And for the price, definitely worth it.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

23 Apr 2025

Dia

The property was very clean and in a good location. The room was just enough space for my sister and I.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

16 Apr 2025

Carlos Fernando

Theres onsen included in the facility to relax on. However, it is shared bath so expect to be comfortably naked around others. The only gripe is the shared laundry machine with the neighbouring building

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

10 Apr 2025

Thank you Ishicho for making my stay in Kyoto so memorable. Loved our tatami room, the impressive and traditional breakfast buffet, and all staff were kind and helpful. Highlight for me was their bathhouse, such a relaxing experience.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

10 Apr 2025

Patrick

Large room in friendly ryokan.

Lovely hotel in good location very close to river, imperial palace and markets. Good access to subway. Room was clean and large. Toilet a bit musty in smell.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

03 Apr 2025

Leo

Nice area if u wanna relax but a bit far from most places

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

01 Apr 2025

Anitza

I enjoyed my stay. This hotels maintains a local vibe and look which I appreciated for my first stay at Kyoto. The breakfast was amazing! Great options and delicious
The rooms have great space and traditional look.
The futons where comfortable enough to sleep well and I like how organize and label everything was.
There was a humidifier in room, a nice touch.

The staff were helpful to provide with bakery recommendations and maps.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

25 Mar 2025

Pier

Spacious room with friendly staff.
Misunderstanding with the parking as it is advertised as free on Expedia and instead we were asked for payment (that we refused to pay…)

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jan 2025

Kerstan L

The ryokan hotel is OUTSTANDING. The staff is SUPER NICE and so so SOOOOOOO helpful. We loved our room, it was really clean, the onsen area was really wonderful too. All outstanding.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

10 Nov 2024

Jake

This hotel was a nice traditional experience in Kyoto. Foreigner friendly, wonderful staff, fun experience.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

04 Nov 2024

Kristine

Perfection in Kyoto

Fantastic! Beautiful traditional rooms,lovely clean onsen, kimono to wear, Incredible very traditional Japanese breakfast. If you are a foreigner and seek an authentic Japanese place to go , this the place. The staff was wonderfully friendly and accommodating. I cannot rave enough about this place!!! Oh, and it was quiet, quiet quiet With a beautiful Zen garden off of our room.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

07 Oct 2024

Taylor

This was an awesome place to stay. I had never stayed in a traditional ryokan before, but the room, meals, and service here far surpassed my expectations. The room was very clean and I got the best night’s sleep of my life. The history of the hotel is also neat. I would recommend getting the breakfast and dinner at least once during your stay.

Leisure

10/10

Exceptional

14 Apr 2024

Kristoffer Tom

I like the atmosphere of the hotel and the staff were very helpful. I chose this place because of ryokan style. This is 2 thumbs up and 5 star rating for me. If i will be back to kyoto, i will book it again to this hotel. Cheers!

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

08 Apr 2024

Shelby

If you are looking for a true experience of Japanese culture you pick this hotel right now. But do remember to make some research about Japanese lifestyle in a washitsu room before coming ;)
Staff all speak good English. Very helpful and polite.
Price stable throughout the year and the room size is just ideal compared with the 12-15sqm rooms offer by other hotels in the similar area at a similar price.
Close to subway and bus stations, traffic is good, some tourist sites like the Royal Garden and Nijo Cho are even within walking distance. Close to Sanjo and Gion too. Nonetheless very quite since it's not right next to the mainstreet. There is a FamilyMart 2min's walk away.
Room facility: appliances are new and are not cheap ones, furniture is older but in perfect condition.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

08 Apr 2024

Joycelyn

Nice area.. room is comfortable and big for three people… the traditional breakfast and Buffett breakfast was great..Keiseki dinner was new experienced for us and we enjoyed it. Housekeeping come morning and evening to set up our room

Hotel has only total of 2 washers/dryers.. hard to get turn washing/drying your clothes. Hallways smells smoke.. not sure if they allow smoking in the room

Overall, great stay!

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

02 Apr 2024

Peter

Public bath!

4/10

Poor

30 Mar 2024

Fionne

Thank hotel’s staff since they were very friendly and nice. However the facility is not too clean. Unpleasant smell was found in elevator and hotel toilet room, and toilet is not fully functional.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

29 Dec 2023

Vanna

Hotel staff was very accommodating in storing our luggage before our checkout time.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

14 Oct 2023

Aimee

We had an excellent stay at Ishicho. Our suite had one large room for sleeping and hanging out, a narrow balcony, a toilet room, and a room with a tub and shower. It was very quiet.

I had read a few reviews before our stay and had been a little nervous about a few things. I wanted to address some of those things for other people who are considering staying.

First, someone had left the review that the staff was not friendly and did not speak English. The staff was extremely kind and helpful, very attentive, and everyone spoke enough English to get things done. The staff was great!

Another review said that there was a weird smell in the bathtub. When we first arrived, there was a strange smell in the room with the bath, but we think it is a cleaning product as we smelled it at both the apartment we rented and the hotel we stayed at in Tokyo. It dissipated the first day and the bathtub and shower were very very clean.

Some reviews say that it is a bit run down - the facility feels older, but it doesn’t feel like a bad thing; everything is very clean and very well-tended.

The futons are a bit thin, which might be uncomfortable if you are not used to sleeping in the floor. The pillows are the usual for Japan - small and flat. I would say that sleeping in Japan in general is less comfortable than sleeping in a hotel elsewhere… so no matter where you stay, you can expect to want a better pillow and a softer bed. ;)

The ryokan breakfast is very nice!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

08 Aug 2023

Jean-Philippe

The Japanese style room was amazing, a must do.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

12 May 2023

Francisco

Awesome ryokan! Onsen was very clean and relaxing. Highly recommend the traditional breakfast. Would definitely stay again!

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

09 May 2023

Zoha

Very clean, great service.

Leisure Friends

6/10

Pleasant

19 Apr 2023

Austin

This place did the job, but overall the property and amenities felt quite old and limited. It’s more of a hotel than a standard ryokan, and all in all just felt a little substandard compared to similarly priced Kyoto hotels

10/10

Exceptional

13 Apr 2023

Jenna

Fantastic staff and unique experience

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

26 Jul 2019

Verified traveler

Kyoto

It was a great experience of a traditional Japanese hotel.

Family

6/10

Pleasant

13 Jun 2019

Hany

Convenient but basic

Convenient location -ryokan is a bit rundown. Breakfasts are good, but the rooms are average, staff is ok but not stellar. Rooms and bathrooms are very basic.

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

11 May 2019

Verified traveler

It’s in a nice area close to good food, the staff is great and the room is exactly what we were looking for.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

20 Apr 2019

Christine

Great Staff

The staff were really nice and the location was ideal.

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

17 Feb 2019

Verified traveler

Friendly staff, spacious room.

We didn't know the hotel has 2 different towers (just 1 min walk away) and we turned up at the wrong one. Staff were friendly to show us to the right tower, even helped with our suitcase. Place is dated but we like that. The breakfast is awesome! The location is a 15 min walk from Sanjo-dori and it's easier to hop on buses with bus stops located within 3 min walk from the hotel....6 min walk with a 4-year-old.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jan 2019

Verified traveler

Very nice experience staying there. Everyone was so friendly. The location is great too.
Thought the facility is a little bit old. But we are OK with that.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

05 Jan 2019

Oscar

The room and breakfast is excellent. The breakfast buffet is worth the money. The location is a little bit out of the City center and the Main Train Station and the Subway, you can get the bus with one day pass around the city.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

04 Dec 2018

Verified traveler

Japanese Experience

We enjoyed Ishicho. It was a true Japanese experience. We especially enjoyed the traditional breakfast! Very special!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

03 Aug 2018

Verified traveler

Friendly staff, beautiful ryokan. Thank you for having us!

8/10

Excellent

09 Apr 2018

Verified traveler

Rooms were very spacious and enjoyed the Japanese style atmosphere. Breakfast was delicious!

8/10

Excellent

29 Jul 2017

peike

店里的服务人员态度挺好的，装修也是日式的，适合喜欢日本古典文化的旅客。
Staffs are caring and nice, and the decoration is very Japanese style, which is totoally for the visitors who love Japanese classical culture.
但是清洁的确是这个酒店的短板，我的朋友在洗手池塞子下找到了很多头发，地板上的头发没有清理干净。
But the cleanliness is the shortcome. My roommate found many hairs beneath the plug of the washbasin. Hairs on the floor were not cleaned.

10/10

Exceptional

26 Jul 2017

Merve

Great amenities in a charming traditional package

A great balance of the traditional country feel, but with the needed amenities to feel comfortable and supported.

Family

6/10

Pleasant

07 Jul 2017

Catherine

Big space

A good 9 minutes walk from the subway to the hotel( have to get on subway from Kyoto Main Station first). Place look raggard on the outside, but the rooms was spacious enough . Bus stops are a few minutes walk from hotel,and most of the sightseeing places are indicated on the buses . Amazingly, Gion is just ten mins away, and you can easily get back to the hotel using Google maps.

8/10

Excellent

25 Jun 2017

Connie Chui Yie

Smitten by the welcome sign at entrance. Hotel seems old but room was clean, spacious and comfortable. Breakfast was sumptuous too.
However , very disappointed by the Onsen (public bath in the hotel ) it was closed at 9 am when we were awake n didn't get a chance to use as we checked in late ( around 10 pm) and my request for late check out was not even considered.
After all, it was in my consideration when I chose this Ryokan. When asked why the Onsen was closed, we were told that it was for cleaning and in preparation for use for a group of students !!

Family

8/10

Excellent

12 May 2017

Verified traveler

Very good and quiet location.

This ryokan was a good place to base for our five nights in Kyoto. It is a block from the entry to the river which is the best route to walk to Gion. It is also close to Imperial Palace and not far from good shopping.

The hotel is old, so rooms not fresh looking. Staff at front desk very nice and helpful. The room cleaning staff though seemed a bit rude when we set out the futons ourselves to take an afternoon nap as we were jetlagged. After we did this, the next day they hid the futons. And then when we found the futons and took a nap again, they moved the table to the center of the room to block us from pulling out the futon again. Of course we still moved the table to be able to rest after a full morning of touring. We had come from Canada and were not onky adjusting go 13 hourstime difference but also to the 25C heat!

8/10

Excellent

14 Apr 2017

Trevor

Traditional

A traditional Ryokan, with friendly staff, in the northern part of Kyoto, you can (long) walk to many of the northern sights.
The onsen facility is quite basic.
Taxi from station cost ¥1600.
The are many restaurants and 7-11 store within close walking distance.

4/10

Poor

06 Sep 2016

John

It is oversold

Overall the place is just dingy and very tired. It sells itself as authentic but the bathroom was in need of a major overhaul. Just too expensive. Don't stay!

6/10

Pleasant

27 Aug 2016

Jackie

the hotel is actually in the middle of nowhere

There are no restaurants just dingy joints in the area. It says Central Kyoto, so we expected more liveliness. The liveliness came from avoiding bicycles riding on the sidewalk without lights. Almost got hit by one. Horrible evening when we had high expectations of \"kyoto happening\". The hotel first denied that we had booking with them. THe owner or some jerk stopped us on the street and claimed we had no room booked. Apparently they were mostly booked by a Chinese group and we were \"round eyes\" from America. Then he allowed us into the lobby where the clerk found our reservations. Would recommend the place only to my enemies, not friends.

10/10

Exceptional

03 Aug 2016

George

The best hotel for our Japan Trip

The stay gave us a great experience of Japanese living style. We enjoy very much the cleanness and a high standard of service by the hotel.

8/10

Excellent

27 Jul 2016

Old but comfortable hotel

Relatively close to places you want to go. Use 1 day bus pass.

6/10

Pleasant

24 Jul 2016

Mary fr SF

Reasonable ryokan experience

Great ryokan experience! Room and facility is clean except bathroom and lobby furniture needs updating. We were assigned one of the rooms on the 4th floor. Supposed to be a non smoking room/floor but the toilet smells like cigarettes coming from the vent! Smoke smell was awful caused us to be so nauseated after using the toilet. Reported it to the front desk during check out but I don't know if they'll do anything about it.

8/10

Excellent

16 May 2016

J&K

Traditional style with good service

Enjoyable

6/10

Pleasant

10 May 2016

Lida

A nice hotel but language skills don't exist

The stay was nice overall. Japanese-style rooms, japanese-style breakfast (with black tea and coffee for Western tourist), hot baths... quite a pleasant experience.
The only exception was the receptionists. Quite cold and seem unfriendly - but I guess it all stems from their inability to speak English.
All in all 6 out of 10!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

18 Apr 2016

Kyoto

The hotel was located in a convenient part of Kyoto. It was easy to access transportation to the various temples and sites from the hotel. Also the public bath was great!!

8/10

Excellent

17 Apr 2016

Justin

Nice place to stay, close to transport

Bit pricey compared to other hotels we stayed in on our trip compared to what you got for your money, was noisey until midnight with a party on the floor above, staff were very friendly and obliging

8/10

Excellent

07 Apr 2016

Verified traveler

A hidden gem.

Located on a quiet side street, it is only a short walk away to subway stations. Once you get to the subway, it is not too hard to get around. Do walk along the river, especially now during cherry blossom season. The breakfast brunch was very good - much selection and tasty food. Our room was clean and spacious (it could easily fit 5 people) with a sink and toilet, television and small refrigerator. It was very comfortable, with the main room having tatami mats. Sleeping on futons on the floor was a different, but good experience.

8/10

Excellent

01 Apr 2016

Rosemary

Terrific \"down home\" style ryokan. Not fancy or up-to-date, but clean, tidy, well-kept traditional tatami mat rooms and futons. Staff is helpful and thoughtful. Best of all...the baths!

10/10

Exceptional

30 Mar 2016

William

Great spot to stay!

Great central location base to tour from. Bus service is right around the corner.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

19 Mar 2016

Verified traveler

Nice Ryokan for the price

We decided to experience staying in a Ryokan during our stay in Kyoto - 4 nights total. It was a great experience! The hotel staff sets up the bedding daily. The futons were more comfortable than I expected, being hesitant to sleep on one for that many nights. But it just felt like a slumber party with my cousins! Our room was very spacious for our party of 3. We had a private bathroom. We did try the public bath once just to try. It wasn't too bad. It had all the bathing supplies you needed, but you can bring your own shampoo/soap if you like (just bring your towel/robe from your room). It's open until midnight so we bathed at 11pm when no one was around. We didn't try the breakfast or dinner available for purchase, but it seemed like it would have been nice. We saw them set it up daily in the big dining hall & the food smelled good upon passing...
It was a little difficult trying to find the place at first. The directions just say a short walk from either the subway line or bus stop... But doesn't go further into which streets to turn into. We were lucky to find someone on the street with a phone. Once we got closer to the place, we were greeted immediately with staff waiting for us outside the entrance...
The hotel is near city hall and once we mastered the walking directions and public transportation, it was pretty easy to get around.
This was a nice ryokan, decently priced and I recommend staying at this place if you want to experience staying in a ryokan.

8/10

Excellent

12 Mar 2016

Sina

Nice Ryokan with premium location

I stayed at this Ryokan for three days. Here's my comments:

1. Room: very nice Japanese style room with great view of the river in the back. Room was very clean and nice but it smelled like a smoker's room although it was not. Hotel also confirmed that my room is not a smokers room but I guess this had to to with central ventilation.

2. Location: great location 10 min walk from City Hall train which could connect to to anywhere in Kyoto. 10-15 min walk from a local big bazar (Teramachi/Shinkyogoky), and 20-25 min walk from Pontocho and Kawaramachi nightlife/bars and restaurants. 5 min walk from Ritz Carlton hotel so definately location is good.

3. Hotel Service: overall good but staff DO NOT speak English. I mean seriously they don't. This would not be an issue unless you have a specific request or need to communicate something, good luck with that. One tip: our check in was at 3, they did not let us use our room before that. So, make sure to plan for the on time check in.

4. Food and restaurant: did not use it since the combination they offered did not appeal to me

Overall, I liked this Ryokan a lot. The only thing that bothered me was the reek of smoke everywhere even in my non-smoking room. People smoke like chimney in Japan!!

2/10

Poor

12 Feb 2016

Nasty service with bad attitude.

We only stayed in this hotel for one night on our 15-day trip to Japan. All the staffs were having some terrible attitudes which we didn't see everywhere elae in the entire trip.

2/10

Poor

30 Jan 2016

Yung Hua

The staffs are very rude, never come back!

Very bad hotel overall

Family

8/10

Excellent

14 Jan 2016

Dan

Good ryokan in Kyoto

While a bit dated, my group of four enjoyed this ryokan. The futons were comfortable and the room was very spacious and clean. Not many dining options next to the hotel, but plenty of choices just a 10 minute walk south. Convenient access to the Keihan railway nearby, and by bus.

4/10

Poor

12 Jan 2016

Kajsa

Good location but uncomfortable

Old and impersonal, good location, nice staff and ok breakfast but its an hotel without charm and no extras. Very uncomfortable beds.

Family

8/10

Excellent

07 Jan 2016

Verified traveler

It was a enjoyable stay.

Family

6/10

Pleasant

06 Jan 2016

Aggie

Decent hotel, but not worth the money

Hotel is a traditional Japanese ryokan. However, the quality is that of a Japanese school trip. It is decent, but dated. Stayed over oshugatsu (New Year season) so pricing was higher than usual. Typical ryokan room with tatami, futon, small TV, and tea setup. Rooms can be noisy due to squeaky doors (which can easily be resolved by mgmt, but haven't been addressed.) Walls are thin, so expect to hear some noise from next door rooms. Could smell smoke from nearby rooms/smoking area. Onsen is artificial. It's a hot bath, but not natural water. Kyoto is wonderful and for people wanting a traditional experience on a budget, this is sufficient. However, if you truly understand Japanese tradition, you'll be disappointed. Location is decent. Not a lot very close (<5 min walking) to the hotel, but if you're willing to walk 15 minutes, you be be near many \"hole in the wall\" restaurants and shopping area.
Also, the price you pay is the price you pay. You will not be nickel and dimed here.

8/10

Excellent

05 Jan 2016

Verified traveler

Clean room

Japanese style, like it very much, will come again in future.

8/10

Excellent

05 Jan 2016

Verified traveler

Like it very much.

The hotel is at good location, close to the downtown and interesting area you would like to see.
Some hotel staff are good at English but some not....Room is big enough, clean and tidy.

Will come to here again next time.

8/10

Excellent

04 Jan 2016

Chee Seng

a great discovery.

our family of 5 took 2 rooms for a one night stay. The hotel is very clean, well kept with english speaking front desk staff who are helpful and reliable. Location is great, only steps away from the pretty river that runs thru the city, and a charming stream, which if you walk along will bring u to the heart of the city, san jo and shi jo, in like 10 to 15 minutes. highly recommended.

Family

8/10

Excellent

03 Jan 2016

Joanna

The ryokan experience

I recommend this ryokan. It's a great place to stay if you're looking for a traditional Japanese setting. The flooring is tatami, so you are not allowed to walk on it with shoes. The toilet is separate from the tub/shower, they are on opposite sides of the room. The ryokan is quiet and comfortable. They allow you to leave your luggage there if you arrive before check-in. It's located about 12 minutes walking from the local train station and 20 minutes from the station with JR lines. Staff is friendly and speak some English.

8/10

Excellent

02 Jan 2016

Alan

Directions to reach the hotel location were not clear enough. Just saying \"walk for 5 minutes from the station\" did not tell me in which direction or give any landmarks to look for, and where to turn left/right etc. The futon was not so comfortable (for me) on the tatami, but with the use of a couple of extra blankets underneath, it was fine. The other members of my party had no problem with their bedding. Otherwise, staff were all very attentive and helpful.

Family

6/10

Pleasant

01 Jan 2016

Kai

Not worth the time and money

This is the first time we stay in a Japanese style hotel. This hotel breakfast tasted really horrible and the last entering time for breakfast is 8:30 am!!! And when you missed the breakfast the hotel staff will call you twice to wake you up anyway. The hotel will not clean your room if you leave your room after 1 pm, except folding the futons ( Japanese bed) they didn't even give us fresh towels and take out the trash!!! The younger female staff is the only one that has been helpful, others were rude. When you try to ask the gentalman in the front desk to make a reservation for you, he will tell you do it your self and the restaurant that we want to go to is a tradition Kyoto restaurant that require all booking through the hotel if you don't speak japanese! Over all, the bed is really uncomfortable, the hotel is close to the bus stops to major sightseeing places so you have rented a wifi machine at the airport, you can just google which bus to take very easily and just follow google map. In my opinion I think is more worth it to stay in Osaka and take a 17 min bullet train to Kyoto to visit, the bullet train btw Osaka and Kyoto for non-reserved seats are only 1750 yen per person. Or if you really wanted to try what a Japanese hotel is like, I will say two night stays is the maximum as the pillow is really low after two days you neck will start to get hurt.....

8/10

Excellent

31 Dec 2015

tereza

Traditional style hotel made to feel welcome

Good experience beds on floor surprisingly comfy, staff helpful, provided map and directions for where we wanted to go. Lovely bakery close

6/10

Pleasant

30 Dec 2015

Verified traveler

Traditional style, close to good dinning

Traditional tatami room, if you're ok sleeping in the futons on the floor. We had fun as a 5 person family, sharing one room. Pretty old facility, minimal english. Small breakfast. I would recommend just don't have high expectations.

8/10

Excellent

31 Oct 2015

Ya-Fang

A great traditional Japanese hotel!!

This is a great hotel, clean and comfortable. I love the smell of tatami. >////< There is a wonderful hot spring which make you relax. Pretty nice!!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

15 Oct 2015

Lani

Loved the onsen!!

Family

8/10

Excellent

12 Sep 2015

Dennis

Nice hotel in Kyoto

We booked a japanese style room. Overall conditional is good (Clean and comfortable). Hotel location is also close to POI. Just few minutes walk to bus and train station. We are very satisfied with the hotel.

10/10

Exceptional

11 Sep 2015

Verified traveler

Amazing experience!

it like you're staying with family. You get an amazing Japanese cultural experience with an amazing staff. Some staff speak English, so don't speak a lot, but they create a relaxed inclusive environment.

8/10

Excellent

16 Aug 2015

Verified traveler

Nice clean hotel

We stayed for one day we're out most of the time. Hotel was nice and near places to see.

8/10

Excellent

07 Aug 2015

James G

Graet little japanese hotel in Kyoto.

Great hotel, very reasonable and a VERY Japanese experience with the in-house traditional bathes in the basement level in a super convenient location.
River walk with shops, cafes and restaurants are just blocks away.
Very good and reasonable western breakfast for about $5 across the street in the associated hotel ground level. Really enjoyed our stay!

Family

8/10

Excellent

06 Aug 2015

Simon

traditional Japanese Hotel, huge rooms

Good experience if you want to try traditional Japanese hotel (sleeping on futons on floor). Location a bit out of the way, but spa area quite nice.

Family

6/10

Pleasant

05 Aug 2015

Chen

Hotel staff not too friendly.

Family

8/10

Excellent

20 Jul 2015

Verified traveler

Walking distance ti Kyoto Central

Very good service!! We were greeted by a young friendly man. They are very accomodating and when we left the hotel and asked for a taxi the hotel crew didnt leave until our taxi left the front door. Japanese hospitaly at its best!!!!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

14 Jul 2015

lynn

Nice hotel and great location

Very happy with this hotel. Great services and walking distance to public bus transportation. Staffs are very nice and breakfast is great.

8/10

Excellent

23 Apr 2015

Verified traveler

It's a resignal ryokan, so nothing fancy, but fills the bill of staying at a Japanese style accommodation.

10/10

Exceptional

13 Apr 2015

Christopher

Wonderful Place

Excellent value hotel. Very good location for walks amongst the temples set on the wooded slopes of eastern Kyoto… The Philosophers Walk etc. If you want a western breakfast make sure you ask for it as you check in. We would eat trad Japanese any evening, or lunch, but in the morning miso and pickles doesn't do it for us. Staff very friendly. Most speak just enough English to help with anything you need. The cab company they use will come to the hotel in 5 mins and are very cheap. We used them to get over to the Golden Temple etc in the western districts. Also to get to and from the station. Otherwise Gion and the eastern temples etc are all walkable. Eat out well and cheaply at the tiny Pork Cutlet restaurant on the main street 5 minutes walk away from hotel. 100 yr old waiter is very friendly, and the food simple, tasty and inexpensive. Great low-brow Japanese TV on as you eat. Our young kids loved it too. No other foreigners, a proper working man or working woman's joint.

Family

4/10

Poor

29 Mar 2015

world traveler

So disappointing especially for this price.

I have stayed in Ryokan before and was looking forward to this experience.

Sadly this couldn't be further away from this actual experience.

Musty smelling, dirty, falling apart and staff that doesn't even speak basic English.

Sadly this ended up being the worst part of my multi hotel stay in Japan.

10/10

Exceptional

12 Mar 2015

Verified traveler

Excellent hotel

Very nice hotel. Convenient location. Room is clean and spacious.

10/10

Exceptional

26 Feb 2015

Selina

Stay in Kyoto

Great hotel for our family and to experience the Japanese culture. Great staff from the front desk to the food servers!

Family

8/10

Excellent

30 Dec 2014

Larissa

Comfortable traditional Japanese inn

Staying in this traditional ryokan in Kyoto was a highlight of our trip. The room was clean and the staff, although not all proficient English speakers, were as helpful as possible. The ryokan is located about a 5-7 min walk from the closest subway and about a 15-20 min walk from a main shopping area. Though we did not eat at any of the nearby restaurants, they all seemed quaint and inviting. There is a convenience store and several vending machines at the corner. Our favorite part of our hotel stay was the breakfast! I traveled with my sister and two nephews, and if you are up for trying a Japanese style breakfast (not Western), this alone, was worth our stay. Beautifully presented and very filling, it was a great experience for my family.

8/10

Excellent

17 Nov 2014

John

Traditional Japanese Ryokan hotel in Kyoto

We were surprised to see the type of the hotel when we arrived as we did not realise that it would be a traditional Japanese Ryokan hotel. However we enjoyed our stay in the hotel which was a different experience for us.

The hotel provided us with a map of Kyoto, a local bus map and a bus map of the town. All were very useful.

The temples, castle and their gardens were all quite stunning as the trees were all in their autumn colours.

Everyone that we met in Kyoto was very helpful with directions and advice.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

18 Aug 2014

Lorna

Traditional Japanese Experience

We chose this hotel because we wanted a unique experience. We loved staying here! The traditional room was everything that we expected. During the day, the room is set up for tea. In the evening, futons with fluffy duvets are set out. Thanks to another guest review, we found the laundry room on the 4th floor. The beer vending machine in the lobby made our Canadian hearts flutter. The area is quiet but bust shopping area is very close. The hotel is very clean. Highly recommend this to travellers who are looking for an interesting experience - this is not for you if you need 5 star service and amenities.

6/10

Pleasant

31 Jul 2014

Paul

Sleeping on the floor as a family

We wanted a ryokan experience in Kyoto itself, but our kids did not fully appreciate that they would be sleeping on thin mats on the hard floor. All of us wished for beds after a two nights. The staff were friendly enough, but had very limited English. The location was a walk to anything. We thought we were getting a room with a view of the garden but our view was a brick wall. It was not a bad experience, just not great. We are not confident that we would stay there again.

Family

8/10

Excellent

26 Jul 2014

sansei

Modern Ryokan

I've stayed at many ryokan in Japan, and this's one falls on the nice side of the spectrum. The baths, rooms, and hallways were always clean, and he staff was responsive. All hotel staff spoke English, so it made the stay for my family smooth. The neighborhood isn't particularly exciting, but it's on major bus and subway routes, so no complaints there. Overall a nice stay.

8/10

Excellent

13 May 2014

Verified traveler

Great spot

Great traditional Japanese style rooms. Walking distance to restaurants, bus stops etc. Perfect location, quiet back street whilst close to the essentials. On site bike hire available.

10/10

Exceptional

08 May 2014

Emilie

Mountain escape

This was a great place to stay after the crowds in Tokyo. It was easy to get to by train and had a small town feel, but was still convenient and accessible. The hotel staff were so helpful and had great suggestions, and their English was some of the best we encountered in Japan. The location was peaceful. We did a great hike nearby, spent a lot of time in the onsen, and wandered about town enjoying the multiple temples.

6/10

Pleasant

17 Apr 2014

Verified traveler

My stay was comfortable, and I enjoyed the traditional Ryokan room. Staff has some limitations on English communication. I had asked for additional 1 hr for check out. Person on phone at that time said it was OK. However cleaning staff came at original check out time. When I asked lobby personnel, they said no late checkout possible, and if I wanted additional 1 hr, then it will be additional $20 charge.

10/10

Exceptional

13 Apr 2014

Lisa

Nice hotel close to town

Large, spacious light and airy traditional tatami room, with balcony. Clean and comfortable. Access to roof top with beautiful views. Centrally located. 10min taxi ride to train station. Travelled with a 7 year old, staff helpful.

8/10

Excellent

12 Apr 2014

wong

location is good

very convenient location,easy to get to various bus stops for hopping to different areas; we booked a room good for 4 people but we only have 2 persons staying, so the room size is generous; but the entrance (where to put the luggage) & toilet area are a bit tight. Futon beds are comfy, but the set up of the room (I think it;s japanese style) doesnt allow lights by the beds, so getting up at the middle of the nite is a bit tricky. Breakfast is also terrific.

4/10

Poor

09 Apr 2014

Mark

Ryokan Hotel newbie

We booked this place without ANY idea what Ryokan meant. This was our first ever trip to Japan. O.k., so once the shock of how different the place was from any hotel we had ever stayed in wore off, we were able to evaluate the place. The room was clean enough, but was in need of a bit of a facelift. They provided no explanatory booklets or brochures about the place and the staff spoke v. little english---some none at all. Having no western style chairs or a desk, there was no place to relax, get comfortable, or do any kind of business. Sitting on the floor blows. Luggage on the floor was inconvenient. The futons and the pancake thin pillows were not comfortable at all. A/C worked well. Location was good. Ten minute walk to great restaurants along the river. In view of the fact that we didn't know the Ryokan style hotel thing, I would say one should take our review with a grain of salt. I just don't know why anyone would want to sit on the floor and sleep on a hard futon. Even though I'm a backpacker I still couldn't warm up to this living on the ground experience. Just sayin'...

8/10

Excellent

08 Apr 2014

Nice experience

Overall, the hotel is good. Clean, comfortable, service is good and staff are polite. Language is the only barrier. However, this is expected.

10/10

Exceptional

07 Apr 2014

Sandra

Beautiful!

Very nice Japanese hotel and the staff is so accomodating and very nice. I would definitely stay here again!

Family

8/10

Excellent

06 Apr 2014

jolynnzxc

Japanese Feel

the hotel is pretty far from any city lights and also from train stations. train stations is 5-10mins away from hotel. this hotel from the outside looked just like a normal building, but when you proceed inside, you seem like you are transported to a japanese onsen. the room is just as what you see in the pictures. simple yet beautiful. they have personal room baths and public baths. do try public baths if you and your friends are not shy as you have to be totally naked. Hotel's pricing is slightly high but no regrets coming. you get to wear informal yukatas too.

Family