The hotel was in the middle of a beautiful street in Gion district. Coming out and walking around was so tranquil and peaceful with old style Kyoto homes. The property itself was super cute and clean. The best part was the on-site doggies that greeted you with lots of kisses. They had a maiko performance on Saturday for the guests of the hotel. We were able to interact with the performer, played games, danced and there was even karaoke! The staff would provide amazing fruits and snacks everyday. They have a massage chair if you are tired of all the walking and the best perk is that they did our laundry while we were out exploring. The staff were super sweet and though communication was a little challenge we always managed to get everything answered using apps on our phone. We usually stay in 4-5 star hotels but the dogs on site convinced me to stay here and I have to say this hotel was a better experience than any 5 star hotel we have stayed in. I would 100% recommend this place for couples, singles and friends traveling to Kyoto. We were so sad to leave this place but hope we can come back and stay here again.

Nothing

Absolutely perfect location in Gion. These small streets are a different world from the rest of Kyoto. The 4 hosts here are both sweet and very, very funny. The rooms are spacious and comfortable. While breakfast and omakase are not served here, fresh fruit, snacks, and treats are delivered to your room daily. The hosts kindly do your laundry for you while you are exploring. If you are there while they host a Maiko show YOU MUST GO! A private event with a geisha normally starts at 80,000 yen and this is free for guests! Tea, sake, dancing, games, and karaoke. I've never laughed so hard in my life.

If I could give this place 11 I would! We were made to feel so welcome as soon as we arrived, shown around our room and delivered fresh melon. The room was lovely - traditionally Japanese - with lots of nice little touches. Every day they left us a little surprise snack in our room. Although they say they don't provide meals they left us pastries and bananas every day which was plenty for breakfast for us. Our first evening there was a free geisha performance and karaoke which we really enjoyed. The ryokan is located in beautiful historic Gion close to lots of the main sites.

Due to its location in historic Gion there weren't a lot of affordable restaurants close by but I think that's a price we were happy to pay for staying somewhere so special

My stay at this charming traditional inn (ryokan) in Gion was absolutely unforgettable. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed with genuine warmth and kindness by the incredible staff. Everyone went above and beyond to make me feel at home, and their hospitality was one of the highlights of my visit. The inn itself is a beautiful example of classic Japanese accommodation — quaint, peaceful, and full of character. Sleeping on tatami mats and futons added an authentic touch that made the experience feel uniquely special. Everything was impeccably clean, well-maintained, and thoughtfully arranged. The location couldn’t be better — just a short walk from some of Kyoto’s most iconic temples and historic streets. It’s the perfect base for exploring the cultural heart of the city. And to top it all off, there are adorable dogs on the property that made my stay even more heartwarming! If you’re looking for a peaceful, authentic, and welcoming place to stay in Kyoto, I can’t recommend this spot highly enough. I’m already looking forward to my next visit.

Everything about this ryokan was amazing! The hosts were very friendly and welcoming-- as were their dogs! They greeted us with tea and treats! The snacks/breakfasts were perfect and much appreciated. The beds were comfortable. The evening with the Meiko was wonderful surprise!! We brought home many happy memories from that night-- and a game which we have taught our family-- and will continue to play! The location was perfect-- walking distance to sites, shopping, restaurants, etc. The massage chair was wonderful to sit in at the end of a long day. We will recommend this stay to any family and friends who visit Kyoto-- and hopefully we will be back someday!

We absolutely loved our five-day stay here! The location couldn't be better, each night. We walked back to our hotel through the Yasaka Shrine. The shrine and the district at night was magical and quiet. The staff were so friendly and helpful. The amenities couldn't have been better. Our son loved the dogs and played with them each morning before we left and when we got home from the day. The staff were so accommodating and would go seek out the dogs to bring them to him each night. One night, they brought in a Maiko to do a performance. She danced and taught us traditional Japanese games, we had such a great time! It was an unexpected surprise but ended up being the highlight of our trip. Thank you to everyone at Ryokan Gion Sion, we had a lovely stay.

There wasn't anything we didn't like!

Amazing stay! I spent 6 nights here, and it was wonderful. The family was so lovely and kind. My room was big, well organized and comfortable. I loved the little hallway where I could leave my shoes and my suitcase, so that the room felt like a real bedroom. The family brought so many delicious afternoon snacks and breakfast items too. The location was wonderful, and I really felt like I was staying in a home, which is a nice change from staying in hotels. Thank you so much for everything!

Everything was perfect!

The owner, Ishko and her family are the sweetest most welcoming people ever. They're so hospitable and welcomed me with snacks and an overview of their home. They showed me how to get in and out of the property and were so incredibly attentive, bringing sliced fruit each day to my room. I truly felt so well cared for. Additionally, they offer free laundry service (provided you bring it to them before 9:30 pm), and they handled my clothing with such care. I didn't have to worry about returning within a certain period of time to move my clothes into the dryer, and I knew my items were in good hands. Additionally, the location is on a serene and peaceful street that is very quiet. I appreciated the nice atmosphere of the surrounding environment and enjoyed that this ryokan was just a 5 minute walk from Yasaka Pagoda, Maruyama Park and a short distance away from Ninnenzaka and Sannenzaka.

Perfect stay, nothing to complain about.

The hosts were fabulous. We arrived to a welcome drink/snack. Facilities were very clean. They offered a Maiko show the first evening that we were there, it was fabulous and free of charge (entertaining and educational) and also included a snack and beverage of choice. Hosts were very helpful in booking us Taxis when needed. This did not include full meals like many traditional Ryokans, but this suited us fine as we wanted to explore restaurants in the neighborood. Gion is an excellent area to stay in Kyoto with lots of restaurants, temples and fun streets within walking distance.

The hosts, the unlimited bottled water, the tea and coffee as well as multiple snacks. Also, daily, one came back to fresh fruit cut up and stored in the refrigerator. This was our first trip to Japan and we will have been here for 2 weeks. In retrospect, I realize just how expensive fruit is here and the snacks add up. All this was complementary here. We had an atypical situation where various kids joined us at different times … this did not faze the hosts at all. They were gracious and kind. And then the Maiko (geishas in training) show was outstanding. Not only did they again provide complementary sake and snacks, but I found out from a guide that it is rare for a Maiko to go to anyone ‘s house unless it is an old, established relationship. From the humility and interactions with our hosts, one would never guess their status. Other reviews had posted about curfew … there isn’t one. The front desk is open till 11pm. After this, they have a way to come in a different way. We had a quadruple room which was spacious and comfortable. We also had an en suite bathroom which was remarkably useful esp at night. Sadly, we left here to go to another local Ryokan for traditional meal; well it was a mistake. I recommend kyoto ryokan Gion Sano unreservedly.

Loved everything.