A very gracious host. The place is the real thing, very traditional, (and I lived in Japan for 4 years, so I know what I am talking about) gorgeous rooms, great Japanese garden, hot bath run for us every night, delicious food, and the inn has been in the same family for centuries. Almost all the extras, like the special dishes were specialties of Kyoto, and the hostess was super friendly, and very knowledgeable about local things to see, with smart recommendations, off the beaten path. I should mention that I speak fluent Japanese, so I learned a lot more than you would if you didn't, but she seems to have lots of experience with foreigners who do not speak Japanese. Yes, it was expensive, but if you want the real thing, in a choice, traditional area, I guess that is what it cost.

There was nothing not to like here. I guess if I was searching for *something* I would mention that if you stay in the "villa" which is a converted teahouse, the step down out of the room is a bit uneven, so not great if you have balance or mobility issues. The other rooms seemed to be all upstairs at the main building, so if you have limited mobility, that again might not be perfect. Anyway, the place is great.

An ancient ryokan, owned by the same family for 200 years, set on a beautiful ‘no photo’ back street in Kyoto’s Gion district. A quick stroll to everything in the historic Gion / Higashimaya area, 10 min walk to the station and river. Very traditional setting, charming hostess (who was a dab hand at Google translate when needed!), our upstairs room had a lovely sun-dappled balcony to enjoy a peaceful pot of matcha. We requested one breakfast during our stay - it was fantastic with an array of local dishes to try out. Also, fabulous artisan coffee shop just next door.

We enjoyed staying here and learnt a great deal about traditional Kyoto as a result. But this is for those who are seeking an authentic experience in a family ryokan, rather than modern Western luxury. Bathrooms a little tired.

We loved everything about it. The rooms were gorgeous, as was the rest of the accomodation. The futons were so comfortable - like sleeping on clouds! The breakfast was delicious, and the staff was incrediby helpful and friendly. We had such a great time here! The ryokan has been open for 200 years and breathes history. It really takes you back in time, without sacrificing modern comfort and amenities. We were initially not sure what to expect of the shared bath facilities, but it just meant that you take turns with the other guests. You just lock it when it's your turn, and then you can enjoy your bath in full privacy and peace. The wooden bath was absolutely amazing, too!

Nothing, everything was perfect.

Ryokan Inakatei was the perfect place to stay during my holiday in Kyoto! It is located at the heart of the historic neighbourhood of Gion, near many temples and attractions, and preserves a traditional way of living. Opening my shoji-style door every morning to the quiet and green garden was a highlight of my trip. Well worth the stay, the staff were incredibly polite and the traditional breakfast is something I really recommend too! Would definitely stay again! A+

Honestly, it was great.

Lovely place right in the heart of Gion. Really good location for exploring Gion district. It’s in a street which has no photography signs since it’s a protected area, so the street is very quiet and has limited tourists. The room had good aircon, which is definitely needed for the summer. The shared shower area was good and wasn’t a problem - very interesting to shower with a wooden stool and bucket, the water was always hot when I needed it. Provided toiletries, shampoo + conditioner.

The windows don’t block out the light during the night, so would recommend bringing a sleeping eye mask. The main problem I had at this stay was the cicadas are SO LOUD during the summer, so I couldn’t sleep at all, maybe maximum 3-4 hours. Definitely bring ear plugs or noise cancelling headphones if you plan to come during the summer. Also there is no fridge in the room to store cold drinks/perishables.

This quaint historic building is a generational-family-run ryokan. It’s nestled in a quiet neighborhood. The toilets are very modern and clean! The cotton and down futons are extremely comfortable! It feels like sleeping on a cloud. It was the best sleep I’d gotten during the whole time I was in Japan. They provide fresh towels and robes daily. The view from our room was incredible! The inn-keeper and staff are friendly and welcoming. I hope to be back soon!

The shower/bath tub is in a separate building, but it’s part of the authentic experience. You get to walk in the traditional wooden slippers!

The room was beautiful! It felt very special to be staying in a 200-year-old traditional Japanese home. The room is very spacious, fresh tatami mats throughout, and has a lovely view into the temple yard across the road. Our host (I wish I could remember her name!) was so gracious and helpful. The only reason we bumped the bed comfort down from "exceptional" is that we aren't used to sleeping on futons. The pillows were nice and the blankets were warm and cozy.

The showers are outside and shared, but always clean with nice shampoo etc., plenty of hot water, and good pressure. In our room, we were provided with fresh, clean, traditional yukatas every day, and our host put out traditional Japanese geta (wooden) shoes for us to wear to the shower. The very short walk to the shower was through her lovely Japanese garden. With all of the other excellent service, the shared outdoor shower was a very small concern!

The location doesn’t get any better than this. Roaming the quiet streets in the morning was a real treat. Yasaka pagoda two minutes away and Kiyomizu-dera within 10minutes walk - great for beating the crowds. Staying in a room where tea ceremonies were conducted over 200years ago was an unreal experience. The traditional Japanese breakfast followed by a coffee by the door and taking in the fresh air made for a beautiful start to the morning. Was pleasantly surprised by the comfort of the bed.

The only thing I was concerned about was whether or not the bath water was being refilled after each use. Opted to shower afterwards and was so happy I did, very relaxing after a big day of walking.

Very traditional, we were provided with Kimono’s to wear in the Ryokan but were not monitory. The street that the Ryokan was on was very quiet and was a no photo or video street so it was not bombarded with tourists. It was also right by a very traditional part of Kyoto.

The table in the tea room was very worn and was covered in mug rings from hot tea cups but that is expected. Coasters would preserve the table definitely and make it look more authentic.

This place is incredible. Right in the inner heart of Kyoto's old town, hidden among narrow streets so beautiful that photography is forbidden. I never experienced such caring and attentive service in a place to stay. It's like stepping back in time and disappearing into a peaceful other world. And the breakfast is beyond delicious. We felt blessed to be able to stay here.