An expert analysis based on customer reviews and knowledge of Kyoto
The Nazuna Kyoto
Overview
Ryokans are perfect for those looking for an authentic Japanese experience. The typical definition of a Ryokan is a Japanese-style guesthouse, usually including an onsen, tatami floors, and shoji screen doors, with a strong focus on traditional Japanese hospitality. They are sought after because they provide a more historical experience and offer more cultural immersion than modern hotels. But choosing the right accommodation can be a very time-consuming process. How can you be sure it will be worth the price? How do you know which location to choose? And how can you trust the recommendations on other websites? We aim to solve all these problems and save you time.
Our Expertise
After working as a tour guide in Kyoto for over 3 years, I decided to compile this list based on my expert knowledge of this incredible city. On top of this knowledge, I've analyzed thousands of customer reviews to determine an accurate list of the best ryokans in Kyoto. Unlike other websites, this is not a generic article with a top ten list, instead of providing a subjective opinion full of sponsored content and Google Ads, this article gives you measurable data and metrics.
The only filters I've personally applied are:
- a minimum average review rating of 8.5 out of 10
- the location must be convenient for sightseeing
- a minimum of 100 reviews
- must have decent photos (visuals are key)
Our listing for each place has a convenient summary including the:
Gallery
Description
Highlights
Average Price (incl. peak and offpeak)
Location
Review Score
Review Example
The Best Ryokans In Kyoto
High End
$250 - $1000
The Nazuna Nijo Castle — 9.5
The Gion Kyoka Ryokan — 9.5
Mid-Range
$200 - $400
Ohanabo — 9.6
Auberge Azabu — 9.6
Takase-gawa Bettei — 9.5
The Matsui Honkan — 9.3
Ryokan Ryokufuso — 9.2
Most Affordable
$40 - $200
The Saju Kyoto — 9.2
The Sakura Urushitei — 8.9
Gion Ryokan Q-beh — 8.9
The Best High-End Ryokans In Kyoto
1. The Nazuna Kyoto Nijo-jo
The Nazuna brand prides itself in establishing some of the best luxury ryokans in Kyoto, and their property at Nijo Castle is one of their highest-rated locations. The Nazuna Nijo-jo is a restored machiya - a traditional Kyoto-style building - with a collection of beautiful tea-themed rooms, each containing a private open-air bath and Zen garden. The staff here are kind and attentive, making you feel like a unique guest rather than just another customer. The food here is phenomenal, with exclusive kaiseki cuisine prepared right before your eyes from the freshest, locally sourced ingredients.
• Highlights:
─ Luxurious rooms featuring private Zen gardens, outdoor baths, and rainfall showers.
─ Super kind staff that go above and beyond, offering expert tips on sightseeing, attractions, and helping with restaurant reservations.
─ Located right next to Nijo Castle, just a 5-minute taxi ride to downtown Kyoto.
• Price Range: $700 - $1200 per night
• Location: Nijo Castle, near downtown Kyoto
• Google Review Score: 9.5 ★ (150+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"Our stay at Nazuna Kyoto Nijo-jo was absolutely spectacular! Perfect staff that were kind, genuine, and attentive. We had a perfect welcome with matcha, snacks, and a tour. Loved that our fridge was full of local Kyoto drinks that were included free of charge. Food was incredible, we ate dinner in our room every night because it was just so pleasant to be in the room. The outdoor onsen was an amazing touch and helped us relax after lots of walking. The room always smelled outstanding."
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
2. The Gion Kyoka Ryokan
The Gion Kyoka Ryokan is a very authentic Japanese experience, so much so that it's not even labelled in English on booking.com, instead, it's labelled in kanji as 祇園の宿杏花. This ryokan is famous for its traditional atmosphere, historical ambience, and outstanding hospitality. It combines these charming nostalgic elements with modern-day comforts such as a luxurious Western-style mattress, and exquisitely prepared Kyoto cuisine. This 100-year-old building was originally a teahouse and is located right in the heart of Gion, surrounded by historically preserved streets, and just a 2-minute walk to the Kamogawa or a 4-minute walk to the Yasaka Shrine.
• Highlights:
─ Traditional ryokan experience in the heart of Gion, very convenient for sightseeing.
─ A charming 100-year-old teahouse converted into a luxury ryokan.
─ Amazing Japanese cuisine, and spacious room options that can sleep up to 5 people.
• Price Range: $500 - $1000 per night • Location: Gion
• Review Score: 9.5 ★ (200+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"We were absolutely ecstatic with our stay here! The ryokan had the charm of historical Japan, but is modernized and impeccable in every way. We were surprised with how large our accommodations were with a tatami tea room, a compact yet efficient kitchen, beautiful onsen bath and a spacious bedroom... all with a gorgeous view of our own little zen garden. Loved the smell of the cedar hardwood that permeated the space. We will always remember our stay here for the Kyoto experience we always dreamed of."
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
The Best Mid-Range Ryokans In Kyoto
1. The Ohanabo
The Ohanabo is a wonderful old ryokan just 10 minutes' walk from Kyoto Station. It has a lovely authentic atmosphere, incredible tempura plus a variety of Japanese cuisine, and a small, yet charming, onsen bath. The staff have become famous for their warm, friendly, and personalised service, making every guest feel at home. You'll need to book early though, it's not a large property and gets booked out pretty quickly.
• Highlights:
─ Conveniently located just 10 minutes' walk from the entrance to Kyoto Station.
─ Beautiful traditional rooms with stow-away futons, tatami floors, and shoji screen doors.
─ Amazing kaiseki cuisine prepared with seasonal ingredients, exclusively for guests.
• Price Range: $250 - $450 per night
• Location: Near Kyoto Station
• Review Score: 9.6 ★ (400+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"Ohanabo was a delight and will always remain in our hearts as a fond memory. It is a special place with special people who are friendly, attentive and accommodating. The staff exude a beautiful energy and make you feel as if you have known them for many years. The property was immaculate and well-cared for, with a convenient location. We enjoyed varied breakfasts and dinners during our stay. Everything we ate was consistently delicious and presented masterfully, with no detail overlooked. The traditional kaiseki dinner was particularly impressive."
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
2. The Auberge Azabu
The Auberge Azabu offers a modern take on the traditional ryokan and doesn't hold back with beautiful architectural design, natural floorboards, and shoji screen doors. The rooms are spacious, very beautiful, and come with luxurious amenities. The centre of the property features a relaxing Zen garden inspired by famous designer Shigemori Mirei. The Auberge also offers breakfast and dinner, with a mixture of Japanese and French cuisine.
• Highlights:
─ Onsite restaurant specialises in Japanese and French cuisine.
─ Features a relaxing Zen garden inspired by famous designer Shigemori Mirei.
─ A modern ryokan with beautiful architectural design, natural floor boards, and shoji screen doors.
• Price Range: $250 - $450 per night
• Location: Between Kyoto Station & Downtown
• Review Score: 9.6 ★ (400+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"This is such a gorgeous little place down a side street in Kyoto. Whilst it's very accessible via train (one stop from Kyoto main station), it's in a quiet street and you feel like you're in an oasis. The rooms are beautifully maintained, and the hosts are amazing. So may little touches, like how they make your room each day to the amazing breakfast they make for you. It really has the vibe of being an old school Bed and Breakfast with a Japanese twist. I couldn't recommend this place more."
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
3. The Takase-gawa Bettei
This unique ryokan offers a peaceful location along a small canal lined with cherry trees, conveniently situated between Kyoto Station and the downtown area. It's perfect for people who want the experience of a traditional ryokan without the high price tag. The location provides a welcome relief from the crowds and noise of the more touristy areas, but still close enough to be convenient as you're only a 5-minute taxi ride to most attractions. All the rooms are nice and spacious and come with a natural cypress bathtub.
• Highlights:
─ Away from the crowds, located along a canal lined with cherry trees. ─ Spacious rooms featuring tatami floors, shoji screen doors, and cypress bathtubs.
─ Only a 5-minute taxi ride to most attractions including downtown, Gion, and Higashiyama.
• Price Range: $200 - $400 per night
• Location: Between Kyoto Station & Downtown
• Review Score: 9.5 ★ (3000+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"This ryokan was absolutely beautiful - from the wonderful and friendly service to the beautiful finishings, everything was exceptional and great value for money. Wonderful traditional Japanese theme throughout. Room was spacious and thoughtfully laid out and furnished. Beautiful cedar bath and shower. Very clean and comfortable. Staff made our stay. Located close to the heart of Kyoto. Definetly recommend!"
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
4. The Matsui Honkan
The Matsui Honkan might be my favourite ryokan on this list. Its location is super convenient, right in downtown Kyoto, so you're within walking distance to famous attractions, amazing restaurants, and multiple train stations, and yet it's still on a relatively quiet street so you don't feel overwhelmed. The rooms are beautiful, spacious, and authentic, with the option to have Japanese-style futons or Western-style mattresses. The property has been thoughtfully designed and features its own Zen gardens. The onsen facilities are perfect, with ambient lighting and relaxing waterfalls, the whole place feels like a 5-star experience without the 5-star price tag. They even have a huge family room that comfortably sleeps up to 8 people.
• Highlights:
─ Amazing onsen facilities with ambient lighting and relaxing waterfalls.
─ Super convenient location in downtown Kyoto, within walking distance to famous attractions and multiple train stations.
─ Various room options, including a large family room that comfortably sleeps up to 8 people.
• Price Range: $260 - $900 per night
• Location: Downtown Kyoto
• Review Score: 9.3 ★ (250+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"This place was amazing! I loved that the rooms felt like an apartment, very spacious. The staff were very friendly and always helpful. The breakfast there was delicious, and I loved the public baths. While we had our own private shower/bath in our room, I really enjoyed the communal onsen. The location was perfect! Right next to Nishiki Market. If I could give them 11/10 I would, very beautiful place and wonderful staff."
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
5. Ryokan Ryokufuso
The Ryoku-fuso is a gorgeous ryokan located on a quiet street just one stop from Kyoto Station. The rooms receive beautiful natural light that creates a charming atmosphere as it illuminates the shoji screen doors that cover the windows in each room. The stowaway futon beds make the rooms feel super spacious and give the space a relaxing, traditional ambience. One of the highlights is the onsen on the top floor, it's quite large, provides a nice view, and is the perfect way to wind down after a long day. There's also an onsite restaurant serving Japanese breakfast, lunch, and full-course kaiseki dinners.
• Highlights:
─ Beautiful rooms filled with natural light with huge shoji screen doors.
─ Large spacious rooms with tatami floors and stowaway futon beds.
─ The top-floor onsen provides nice views over Kyoto and a relaxing way to end the day.
• Price Range: $200 - $500 per night
• Location: Near Kyoto Station
• Review Score: 9.2 ★ (700+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"Wow, my stay was amazing! Spotless facilities and a keen eye for comfort. My room was exceptionally comfortable and welcoming. The bath was relaxing and very clean. My breakfasts every morning were perhaps my favorite meals I had during my stay in Kyoto. But the best part was the staff. The bathhouse was super relaxing and I enjoyed the products that were supplied in the washrooms. It is also super close to Kyoto Station!"
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
The Best Affordable Ryokans In Kyoto
1. The Saju Kyoto
The Saju Kyoto is a beautiful ryokan that focuses on natural design elements incorporating wood, tatami, and stone, which provides a relaxing scent that can be felt throughout the property. The Saju offers the experience of "living in a tea room", the staff are warm and friendly, and welcome each guest with a tea ceremony featuring Kyoto sweets and high-grade matcha. The rooms give an aesthetically pleasing traditional vibe which feels unique among Kyoto ryokans.
• Highlights:
─ Super convenient location, only a 5-minute walk to Nishiki Market and Pontocho Alley.
─ Beautiful tatami rooms incorporating wood, tatami, and stone, which offers a relaxing scent that can be felt throughout the property.
─ The experience of "living in a tea room, each guest receives a tea ceremony upon arrival, with high-grade Kyoto matcha.
• Price Range: $100 - $250 per night
• Location: Downtown Kyoto
• Review Score: 9.2 ★ (300+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"The location is amazing, you can walk to many attractions (Kiyomizu-dera, Nishiki market, the Gion district), the neighbourhood is nice and quiet but lots of great places to eat are right around the corner. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming, we truly felt at home here. The tea ceremony upon entering was the highlight of our stay. Highly recommend for anyone who is looking for a traditional tatami room to sleep in."
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
2. The Sakura Urushitei Ryokan
The Sakura Urushitei is an absolutely beautiful ryokan that blends traditional Japanese design with modern elements. Their rooms are spacious, their beds are comfy, and the staff are really helpful for sightseeing around Kyoto. You'll be conveniently located in the downtown area, only a 10-minute walk from Nishiki Market and Pontocho Alley. They also have a nice rooftop terrace which is an awesome place for hanging out and offers some lovely views over Kyoto. They offer amazing rates even during peak season, but early bookings are needed as they sell out quickly.
• Highlights:
─ Convenient location, only a 10-minute walk to Nishiki Market and Pontocho Alley.
─ Knowledgable staff that provide useful info for sightseeing around Kyoto and arrange various cultural activies such as sake tasting and calligraphy workshops.
─ A beautiful property that's been renovated to blend traditional aesthetics with modern elements, giving a unique atmosphere.
• Price Range: $100 - $200 per night
• Location: Between Kyoto Station & Downtown
• Review Score: 8.9 ★ (3000+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"We stayed for 3 nights and were really impressed. The reception staff spoke English and were incredibly passionate and helpful. When they checked us in they gave awesome recommendations and information about anything we could possibly want. The traditional room was incredibly clean and spacious and the futons to our surprise were super comfortable, especially after exploring Nishki market, which was only a 10 minute walk away from the hotel. With a rooftop terrace, onsen, events, dining area, it was more than we ever expected."
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
3. The Gion Ryokan Q-beh
The Gion Ryokan Q-beh combines the charms of a traditional Kyoto ryokan with the low prices of a hostel. The result is a unique experience in a beautiful Kyoto guesthouse while sharing facilities with fellow travellers in a hostel atmosphere. This classic Japanese architecture has a strong emphasis on nature, with a beautiful garden, sliding shoji windows, and soft tatami floors. The perfect choice if you're seeking a traditional Japanese experience in an amazing location and without the high price tag.
• Highlights:
─ A traditional ryokan ambience in a budget-friendly hostel.
─ Amazing location in Gion, on a quiet street right next to the Yasaka Shrine.
─ Classic Japanese architecture with a beautiful garden, sliding shoji windows, and soft tatami floors.
• Price Range: $40 - $200 per night
• Review Score: 8.9 ★ (1400+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"Huge comfortable room (we’ve got room for 4 people with private bathroom and shower), friendly stuff, smoking area right near the entrance, great view from the window. The showers and facilities were so clean and amazing. The staff were sooooo nice and friendly."
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
