The family has been running this ryokan for three generations and they truly make the stay of each guest exceptional. The hosts go above and beyond in fulfilling every little request you might have, and are just about the kindest people I have met in Japan. The breakfast was absolutely amazing and each morning some unique new dishes were served. After a long day of hiking and sightseeing around Kyoto, you can use the hot bath, which is a fantastic way to relax. Finally - even the location could not be better - it’s less than 10 minutes from the Kyoto station on foot. Thank you so much for making my stay special - I have never experienced such levels of hospitality anywhere else my whole life.

This was a very traditional Japanese Ryokan. The couple who ran this ryokan did everything to make our stay very memorable. We did have the traditional Japanese breakfast (prepared salmon with other dishes that I did not know what they were but they were delicious). Bath time was scheduled every evening. It is very unique as you wash off prior to getting into the soaking tub. There was a shared bathroom (I think they only have 3 guest rooms at a time). It is very important to be punctual when setting up your times as they value themselves on serving you. On our final morning, we were confused by the JR railway time schedule so we originally thought only 3 trains went to Hiroshima (our next destination). I told the host we would leave at 8 AM & when I looked at the train schedule, I decided to leave earlier to get to the train. I am embarrassed that I did not inform the host that I was leaving earlier & this did throw off their schedule. However, he & his wife still made the time to see us off (that was so sweet). This was a wonderful experience and I am so thankful that my daughter & I were able to share it together.

Not being familiar with the importance of time punctuality (that was my own fault!) Also, the stairs were a little steep to go down in the middle of the night when having to use the bathroom (this can not be changed as it is the house structure). There is one room on the bottom floor so try to get the bottom floor room.

The owners of this ryokan are just the most exquisite hosts. We felt welcomed and attended to in our needs: from the check-in, where they showed us our room (the deluxe suite adjacent to the inner garden), to the bath time in their in-house onsen, everything in the house was authentic and explained for us in detail. We arrived earlier than the check-in time, however we could leave the luggage at the place before coming back for the check-in. Then, at the check-in, we received an explanation of the house rules and we were welcomed with some rice treats and a cup of refreshing cold tea (which was very much needed after a day around Kyoto in the sun). Drinking tea on the tatami, wearing yukatas, felt magical. When our scheduled time arrived, the owners explained the rules for the bath ritual to us before we got in and spent 45 minutes in complete relaxation. The night passed peacefully, and we had a restful sleep on our futons.

We did not book any meals at this ryokan because there were no options for vegetarian/vegan meals. Fortunately, Kyoto is full of veg-friendly places offering a variety of options. Thus, having the opportunity to eat at this accommodation would have been great, but it is not a dealbreaker.

Booking: I used booking. Com to reserve this accommodation. The hosts communicated prior to my arrival via the app about my arrival time and house rules. Everything was very smooth! Hosts: The ryokan is run by the kindest couple, whose family has been operating this inn for 3 generations. I don’t speak much Japanese and they don’t speak much English, but we were able to understand each other perfectly. They greet you each morning and evening as if you’re a family member and lend you an umbrella because rain is in the forecast. The love and care they put into running the ryokan and making sure the guests are having the best time possible are unparalleled and rare. Location: Conveniently located in the center-west, everything is easy to get to via bus and metro. There are multiple bus lines that take you to major destinations. It’s a 15-20 min walk from Kyoto train station. If you’re not in the mood for walking/public transport, hailing a taxi to go to most popular destinations around town are all under 15 minutes. Ambience: I’ve never stayed at a traditional ryokan before, but I’d imagine it’s exactly this. There’s even a koi pond/yard that you can see through the window. The rooms are lined with tatami (shoes off!) and you sleep on futon (mattress pads with a down comforter) every night. The windows and doors are paper-lined, so please take care when opening/closing. The hosts asked us how we slept after the first night, I said ahh the futons took some getting used to because of our American backs, but I’m sure we’ll acclimate soon. That night, I saw that they gave us 2 more mattress pads each to make the futon more comfortable. It was so kind and so thoughtful! Amenities: In our suite, we had our own shower/tub wet bathroom and a separate toilet room. There is a very cool larger bathtub/ofuro that you can use as long as you tell them ahead of time and reserve a spot, since it’s shared with all the guests.

Nothing!

It was a really nice experience in a traditional ryokan. The family that hosted us was very nice, really made us feel in a family. When we left they waited until we left the street to wave like a family would do and I was very impressed by their gesture. They were very warm and welcoming. The inn was very clean and beautiful. It was a little noisy from outside, but nothing unbearable. The tatami and the floor table were unexpectedly comfortable. We also had a hot bath prepared for us which was very relaxing. It wasn't clear for us from the description if the room would have a private toilet and shower, but it does!

We didn't know we needed to pay the Kyoto accommodation tax separately. It was a very small amount when we visited, we just did not expect it and did not see it mentioned anywhere. I'm not sure how common it is in Kyoto for a place to charge this separately from the price you already pay for booking.

The hosts were super welcoming and accomodating, and they helped us with every request or info or giving tips for our visit. It was so kind of them to store our luggage before and after our arrival. We've been served a welcome tea in the room. Everything was tidy, authentic, and carefully detailed. My mum, my sister and I got the room next to the small bridge with a vista on the garden and it was lovely. We made an additional reservation for Japanese traditional breakfast, which was so tasty and rich. It was an amazing experience, Wish we had spent more nights there!

The family bath was really good for us because I had a hard time convincing my husband earlier to go to a public bath - he didn’t want to bath with other men. So it was very good for him that he could try it out in this hotel. And after the bath, we even received some hot tea and cookies! We felt totally pampered! Our unit also had a modern bathroom. It was very well built and hygienic. The tatami and futon were of high quality. We love everything about the room! The hosts are so helpful to us. I lost a bag on the airport shuttle bus and had to call the customer service number. The hosts called the number for us and talked to the bus company to arrange my lost bag be delivered from the lost and found office to Kyoto. The hosts also cleaned our rooms everyday and arranged the rooms according to our activities. We feel ashamed that we didn’t have enough time to clean up our mess in the bathroom sometimes because we are too used to the Western style where we only asked for cleaning service when we check-out.

My husband noticed that the hot water in the bathroom inside our unit seemed to get turned off at around 11 PM. I was okay with that because I was very tired from the trip, but my husband was surprised when he wanted to use hot water again.

The ryokan is just beautiful. The whole place is nicely, traditionally decorated and absolutely spotless. It was really nice to have everything you need in the bedroom at all times to make yourself a nice cup of Japanese tea. We loved the Japanese garden view from the bedroom window. The owners are super nice, really welcoming and the most pleasant and lovely hosts you can possibly hope for. We had breakfast twice during our stay: it was a great experience and the food that was prepared and served was just delicious.

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It was a fantastic stay that I would never forget about my visit in Japan. I also made reservation for the family bath. It was also wonderful. It's a pity that I was to stay at this place for only one night, experiencing this authentic facility and also traditional Japanese breakfast. I will definitely recommend this place to all my friends visiting Japan. Hosts are wonderful people, very kind, and they explain everything in detail. They have been running this Ryokan for 3 generations. Long history, you realize when you step in. They even waved me goodbye until I disappeared in the horizon. Lovely people.

Arriving at Ryokan Yadoya Kikokuso felt like coming home—to a home where the hosts are like doting parents! They made sure we knew exactly when to come and go, setting a curfew from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., which kept the place wonderfully quiet. There's also a bathroom schedule, which meant we had a reserved slot at 9:00 p.m.—perfect timing for a hot Japanese bath, after which we could drift off like rosy-cheeked kids, ready to tackle Kyoto again the next day. The location is close to major transport hubs, so getting around is a breeze. Just make sure to listen to your "parents," and you’ll be set for an authentic, cozy Kyoto experience.