During our tour of Japan, we wanted to experience a more traditional style of Japanese accommodation. Takasegawa Bettei, is a 'ryokan' (villa) style property on a quiet residential street. On arrival we received the warmest welcome from very helpful, kimono wearing, English speaking staff who taught us about the etiquette of wearing 'uwabaki' slippers everywhere inside the building. The bedrooms were modest but gorgeous with wood panelling, paper blinds, 'zaizu' chairs, and lcaquerwear ornaments. The bathroom was wood panelled with a traditional cypress wood bath and everywhere was spotlessly clean. Yet we had all the mod-cons with good wi-fi connection, amazing automatic bathroom, flat screen TV, fridge, safe, tea/coffee making facilities and light switches and sockets in all the right places etc. Most importantly the large bed was comfortable. The location was great with the historic district of Gion about 15 minutes walk away including the Kyoto National Museum and numerous temples. It was easy to reach the centre of Kyoto on foot or via Shichijo station (2 stops on the Keihan line). There were plenty of good places to eat nearby plus 2 very good craft beer micro- breweries within a couple of minutes walk from the front door! We really couldn't recommend this place more.

It's not a 5 star Western style hotel, but it's lovely, clean, comfortable and great value so you won't be disappointed - Just go-ahead and book!

We had an incredible stay at this hotel and cannot recommend it highly enough. From the moment we arrived, the staff went above and beyond to make our stay comfortable and stress-free. The location is also unbeatable – centrally located with easy access to major attractions and transport links. What truly set this hotel apart, though, was the exceptional care and attention we received from the staff. My wife was in her first trimester of pregnancy and unfortunately became unwell after a long flight. The hotel staff immediately stepped in to help, offering us ginger tea to help with her nausea and making sure she was as comfortable as possible. They even allowed us to use their phone to contact the airline and rearrange our flights without any hesitation – a gesture that truly saved us from a lot of stress. Another highlight was the breakfast, which was not only delicious but also handled with impressive attention to detail. One morning, the staff noticed that we weren’t eating the vegetarian sausage that came with our meal. Without us even mentioning it, they kindly asked if we would like to replace it with something else. This level of thoughtfulness and attention to detail really stood out and made us feel genuinely cared for. Throughout our stay, the staff consistently checked in on us and made sure we had everything we needed. Their warmth and genuine care made a huge difference in our experience. If you’re looking for a hotel with top-notch service, a convenient location, and staff who truly care about their guests, this is the place to stay. We will absolutely be returning on our next trip!

The staff was very friendly and always ready to assist you. They gave us ice-cold bottles of water every morning to combat the exceptionally hot weather, as well as umbrellas when it rained! The bath was super relaxing, and the yukatas to wear were a nice touch. The hotel had a traditional feel, which was a nice change from the Tokyo hotels. Our room had such a good view as well! The hotel is on a quiet, cute little street, with a good connection to other places in Kyoto, like Gion and Nishiki Market. You could also find a few restaurants in nearby and you can take a nice walk by the Kamo river!

Although the connections to other places in Kyoto were good, the walk from Kyoto station to the hotel was grueling in the summer heat.

This is one of the best hotel I ever stayed. The staffs are really professional and they really prioritise the guest alot. Offering hand warmer everytime we head out as it is winter. Greeting and bowing each and everytime they see the guest. There are no communication barrier as they speak really good English. Top notch customer service.

Non actually

Stayed here for 2 nights and really enjoyed it. The hotel is in a quiet location about 15 minutes walk from Kyoto station. You are greeted at reception where you remove your shoes and leave them in a locker. Sandals are provided for walking around the hotel. The room was a traditional style room with tatami flooring. It was large, very clean with a big, comfortable bed. The bathroom has an amazing, deep cyprus wooden bath and a shower. Breakfast was served to the room and was a choice of Western or Japanese, both were excellent but we preferred the Japanese breakfast. The staff were very friendly and very helpful. Would recommend this hotel and would stay here again.

We had a fantastic stay!! Amazing first rate service at the desk - you are treated like a king or queen. It is in nice quiet and peaceful street about 15-20 minute walk from Kyoto station. It is also about a 15-20 minute walk to Pontocho area where a lot of restaurants are. Rooms were super nice, clean, very comfy beds, nice robes, tatami mat floor, nice bathroom and wooden shower / tub. The optional Japanese breakfast was amazing - and there are veggie / vegan options. The AC is very strong and cooled the room fine in the hot weather. Highly recommend!

No real negatives - just know that the laundry service is pricey, but it’s very clear before you pay for this.

Our experience staying here for 4 nights was wonderful! The blend of traditional Japanese custom in an immaculately modern hotel was beautifully done. Highlights included the wood paneled bath and shower, the truly delicious Japanese style breakfast and the traditional tatami mat flooring in a spacious room. The hotel is located in a very quiet street with the convenience of a 10-15 minute walk to Gion district canal-side restaurants or 6 minute walk to the nearest train station. Moreover, the care and consideration shown by the small team of excellent staff was some of the best service we received during our Japan travel. Thank you for your kindness.

Nothing at all, everything was exceptional

We had a wonderful stay here for three nights. The staff are incredibly kind and welcoming. Thankfully everyone spoke English which I appreciated as Japanese is difficult for me. There are shoe lockers at the entrance and you are provided slippers to wear to your room. There is a beverage vending machine in the lobby if you get thirsty. The rooms are spacious and decorated in traditional Japanese style. The bathrooms feature cedar flooring, walls, and bathtub which I’ve never encountered before but was a pleasant experience. The bed was a bit firm for my taste but still good for a night’s rest. The hotel is on a very quiet road with a nice creek that runs down the middle. There is an underground station about five minutes away that is a good launch point for just about anywhere you want to go in Kyoto and beyond. This location is a very good base for sightseeing all the major highlights of Kyoto. On our checkout day the staff helpfully held our luggage while we did some last sightseeing before moving to our next city. If we found ourselves in Kyoto again we would definitely stay here again!

Very modern take on a traditional Japanese room, the tatami in the room was nice, the hinoki tub is excellent and the western style bed was appreciated. The lighting in the room is dimmable with multiple zones to get it exactly right. The windows have the traditional sliding screens to cover them but a blackout shade pulls down to get total darkness.

The light in the bathroom is motion activated which means if you get up in the middle of the night to use it, you get blasted with light. You have to leave your shoes at the door of the hotel (in a locker which is nice) but it can be a bit inconvenient to have to swap to slippers if you just need to run in for something, overall the stay was great.

The room was very large and comfortable. It had all the amenities I would expect from a modern hotel but the feel from a traditional Ryokan. The location was great, it was off the beaten path so it was quiet but not so far out of the way that it was bothersome. It was an easy 5-10 minute walk to several shrines and a 15 minute walk to the train station (or a short taxi). The breakfast was a mixture between traditional japanese and american. Nothing spectacular but was delivered with a smiling face and was very delightful.

Not much, everything was very enjoyable from the whole experience of changing your shoes at the front door to bamboo floors in the hotel room, it was pretty amazing for my first trip to Japan.