Always wanted to experience a traditional Japanese stay, and Ryokan Tori was everything I hoped for and more. The hosts were incredibly kind and sweet, and the entire building was relaxing, clean, comfortable, and beautiful. The futon was immensely comfy and warm, and I had one of the best sleeps I had in the entire trip. I shared with the hostess my itinerary, and she worked around it perfectly. Even when some of my plans changed the day of, she was extremely flexible and had the best hospitality. Her husband was equally as pleasant. They welcomed me with an educational and beautiful tea ceremony. As a matcha lover, I felt so honored to have finally seen one face-to-face and heard a little bit about its history. Afterward, she offered plenty of dinner recommendations for me. I was so grateful because I was tired after a full day of exploring and barely had enough energy or time to look up good restaurants myself. Because of her, I was able to experience an izakaya for the first time. It was a 10-minute walk through the surrounding quiet neighborhood. Because I was meeting my Japanese friend who spoke the language, I was able to order and enjoy the food with ease. Upon returning from dinner, I went up to my room and found the bed already made for me. After 20 minutes, the hostess knocked on my door and led me to the private hot bath that she prepared for me. It was so nice to decompress in the steam, and I came out clean and content in the yukata they provided. I enjoyed the delicious and traditional Japanese breakfast. Knowing I had an early kimono appointment and needed to check out early, the hostess prepared my breakfast a few minutes early and I got to eat with the view of the tea garden we walked through the night before. The food was warm and exquisite. I am so grateful to have found this place, and I plan on returning and staying longer for my next trip to Kyoto <3 Thank you so much for making my first solo trip to Kyoto special.

This Ryokan was an incredible experience - when we arrived we were treated to an incredible tea ceremony and hot bath in the private beautiful onsen style bath. The rooms were very comfortable and bigger than we expected. The owner sets out your futons while you are out for dinner, and prepares a delicious breakfast for you that differs each day. The owner was so warm and welcoming and we would definitely come back!

While not an issue for us, this property is a little outside of Central Kyoto, so be prepared for an uber or taxi into the centre of town. However, it’s close to a lot of attractions in the northwest of Kyoto and we would recommend hiring a bike (offered by the Ryokan for a good rate) and exploring this area.

Very peaceful in a serene part of Kyoto amongst the locals and close to various shrines and temples. Very clean and spacious in the town house. Felt like a welcome contrast to the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. We enjoyed the game of Go on the table too. Very aesthetic with a gorgeous wooden smell throughout. Lots of natural materials and fun to dress up in the traditional dressing gowns. Cute delivery and packing of beautifully presented breakfast boxes.

If you are not very flexible and not used to sitting on the floor.... Hard to have a sit down to relax after a day of sight seeing. All the positives make up for this though. It's fine for a couple of nights stay and a reminder to get back to those yoga or tai chi classes☺️

Our hosts were polite and friendly and spoke good English; which is important to us, as sadly our Japanese is limited to a few stock phrases. They advised on places to eat, alternative aspects to popular resorts, which proved invaluable and recommended some places to visit we had not considered. We were treated to private time in an onsen on each day of our 2 day stay and to a traditional tea ceremony. The breakfast was traditional and delicious (and in our case vegetarian which the hosts understood fully). Altogether a wonderful, peaceful and tranquil few days that recharged our batteries despite a busy schedule of visits and activities. Thoroughly recommended.

There were no aspects that we didn't like.

Our stay at Ryokan Tori was unforgettable and one of the true highlights of our time in Kyoto. We stayed in the annex, which was beautifully designed and incredibly comfortable for our group of 4. Every detail felt thoughtful and serene. The hosts were so kind and went out of their way to accommodate us, making us feel genuinely welcome and at home. One of the most special parts of our stay was the tea ceremony — intimate, authentic, and something that we’ll never forget. Ryokan Tori exceeded all our expectations, and we feel so lucky to have experienced it. We hope to be back one day!

We loved staying here and would highly recommend to anyone visiting Kyoto. It felt like a really special, traditional Japanese experience. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful and you could tell they really wanted you to enjoy your time. The private Onsen was so relaxing, I could have fallen asleep! Followed by our Tea Ceremony which was amazing. It was so interesting and performed so meticulously. We liked that you could ask questions afterwards - it felt very traditional. The staff were also really helpful in forwarding our luggage to our next destination. We stayed for one night which was perfect.

We had a great experience at Ryokan Tori! The family was extremely welcoming and able to handle all of our requests (changes to breakfast timing, luggage delivery, etc.). Daily housekeeping was an unexpected plus, and the traditional breakfast served everyday was great. You really feel as though you're being hosted by a family - it's a lovely, authentic stay in Kyoto.

The location is a little far from Gion (~30 min by public transit), but that also makes it easier to get to the northern areas of Kyoto (Kinkaku-ji, etc.)

It's our first time to Japan. To get the true experience in Kyoto, my partner and I wanted to stay in a traditional ryokan. Every penny (or I guess I should say yen) we put towards our 2 nights at Ryokan Tori was 100% worth it and it's an experience that I will remember for years to come. We were warmly greeted by Satako and she ushered us up to our room, invited us to dress in our yakatas, and enjoy a traditional tea ceremony. The lodgings are beautiful, albeit a bit old with creaky flooring (which adds to the charm of its age), and getting to live the experience of sleeping/sitting on the floor in a traditional style Japanese household is unique and one-of-a-kind. Throughout our stay, Satako and all the staff were incredibly kind and helpful - she helped us get our luggage forwarded to Tokyo and provided recommendations for places to dine in the area. Would highly encourage people to make use of the private bath during their stay as it's super soothing and relaxing. The included breakfasts were a huge treat where all of it was gourmet, filling, and very much akin to traditional Japanese cuisine. Our travelling was for 3 weeks and our stay at Ryokan Tori was like a vacation while on vacation. We checked-out very refreshed and relaxed.

Nothing!

My stay at Ryokan Tori was an unforgettable experience that exceeded all my expectations. The combination of traditional charm, outstanding hospitality, and exquisite dining made it an absolute highlight of my trip to Japan. I highly recommend this ryokan to anyone looking to experience the beauty, culture, and warmth of Japanese hospitality in Kyoto. The hospitality was impeccable. The staff went above and beyond to ensure that every aspect of my stay was perfect. They were incredibly attentive, friendly, and always available to assist with any request, yet they managed to do so in a way that was unobtrusive. The traditional Japanese breakfast the next morning was equally impressive, with a variety of dishes that were both healthy and delicious.

The Ryokan exceeded our expectations. The staff were incredibly kind and attentive, and the Ryokan itself was absolutely beautiful. The entire space felt serene and calming, with thoughtful attention to detail in every aspect. The tea ceremony, bath and traditional Japanese breakfast were the highlights of our stay, making it a truly unforgettable experience in Kyoto.

One thing to note but was not a big deal to us, is that the Ryokan requests returning by 11 PM in the evenings. It wasn’t a hard set rule but more of an ask. We obliged and didn’t think it was a big deal, but for other travelers who are maybe looking to enjoy their night out, it’s something to consider.