Great location, nice authentic room, awesome staff and a good breakfast

Soundproofing is pretty bad - could hear everything from the adjacent room. Also, more of a note - there’s a lot of light from the dawn, as there are no blinds or curtains.

My husband and I absolutely loved this beautiful little ryokan, conveniently close to the train station and main attractions in Kyoto. The traditional daily Japanese breakfasts were delicious and generous, and the staff were incredibly lovely and attentive. The traditional rooms added to the authentic experience, and we enjoyed a private bath one evening for an hour. Renting e-bikes from a nearby store made exploring Kyoto even more fun. Highly recommend for an authentic stay in Kyoto!

The room was a little dated and could use a bit of a refresh, but it didn't detract much from our overall experience.

If you’re looking for a traditional Japanese living experience, then Matsubaya Ryokan is for you. The staff were very friendly and helpful. We stayed in the garden room which had access to a small garden, which was well maintained and provided a tranquil environment to complement the room. We also booked a salt bath each night which is highly recommended. The Ryokan is close to Kyoto station and Higashi Hongan-ji temple. The rooms are small, so travelling light is essential, but highly recommended in the beautiful city of Kyoto.

This ryokan is walking distance from Kyoto station (< 15 min). The room is really large, which is a welcomed change if, like us, you've stayed at tiny Tokyo hotels beforehand. The room itself is charming, quiet, and relaxing, and the amenities (including the futon) are all and very comfy. The staff was absolutely lovely and very accommodating, and the breakfast was delicious.

The bathroom is quite old. Not in a 1600s traditional way, more in a... 1980s way. Everything worked just fine, so we weren't too bothered, but I didn't feel like the pictures were 100% representative of the actual bathroom. But again, not the end of the world!

This is a ryokan with history that has been modernised while staying true to the spirit of tradition. A nice experience. The location is great. Walkable from kyoto station and a short walk from the city bus station that will get you to most tourist sites that people come to kyoto for. The room has a kettle, a fridge and very clean bathrooms/ shower. There is green tea and cookies provided with a traditional tea set. Excellent if you are looking for a reasonably priced experience but just to be clear this is not a high end ryokan.

Nothing. The rooms may be considered small and run down by some but hey they rebuilt this 20 years ago with wood scavanged from the 130 year old ryokan that had stood before on the same site according to their website. But the rooms are clean.

Enjoyed the Japanese style set breakfast. We were there in November and the floor futons and down blankets were cozy. Ample storage space in our room, which is unusual for japan lodgings.. The staff and owners were extremely helpful and friendly. Close and walkable to Kyoto train station. Highly recommend the ryokan and would stay there again.

The onsite "onsen" is a small deep soak tub big enough for one person, or two small people. It's private, though, which is nice. The onsen is a separate Y1000 fee and needs to be reserved ahead of time. Be sure to tell them "not too hot" when they fill the tub. Mine was so scalding hot, I had to drain half the water and refill with cold before I could slip in.

I loved the comfort, cleanliness and welcoming atmosphere.

The ability of the reception staff to help with directions or queries. I have no problem if language is an issue but I think sometimes they pretended to understand when not. This resulted in me going to a train station with all my luggage to get a special train, only to discover it does indeed only operate on weekends, as I had thought. Not a huge thing but managing expectations would be useful and I would have trusted information on the internet better rather than my preference, which is local knowledge.

The front desk ladies were so sweet at ryokan matsubaya! The tatami room was a modern take on a tatami room. It was comfortable and very well lit (only tatami room we stayed in without green fluorescent lighting). The private onsen is a nice deep tub that accommodates two people. The yuzu bath was super relaxing. The only downside is that their yukata stock in their shop was low, and we weren’t able to purchase the yukata provided to us in our room. Otherwise it was a great stay, and close to the train station!

A little disappointed that they sold yukata (Japanese robes), but they had a very low stock.

We had a delightful stay at this charming little Ryokan. From the moment we arrived, the staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcome, showcasing the renowned Japanese hospitality. The breakfast was a delicious foray into Japanese cuisine, setting us up perfectly for the day ahead. Despite the rainy weather, the free umbrellas provided by the Ryokan were a thoughtful touch that didn't go unnoticed. Booking a session at the in-house bath was a breeze, even for last-minute decisions. It proved to be an inexpensive yet utterly relaxing experience, adding a special memory to our stay. The rooms exuded authenticity, comfort, and were equipped with everything we needed for a cozy stay. For those seeking an authentic Ryokan experience without breaking the bank, this place is a must-visit. It offers great value and a genuine taste of Japan, making it a standout choice compared to the pricier alternatives.

While the Ryokan is situated a bit away from the main station and city center, the location encourages exploring the area by foot or a short bus ride, which we didn’t mind at all.

Everything was good quality and gave a lovely traditional atmosphere with modern comfort. The japanese breakfast was delicious and allowed me to taste local specialties, so it felt both homey and a little gourmet!

It’s really more on me, but I was clumsy around the traditional lay-out, kept banging against the fixtures! Bear in mind that if you’re a bit tall you’ll have to crouch a little, but honestly, this is for the sake of mentioning a potencial con, that doesn’t really stand against all the pros.