# Kyoto Ryokan Kyoto ryokan listings show you the garden and leave out the catch. We compared eight, from $109 to $1,365 for two, using guests' own videos and their worst reviews. We haven't stayed at them ourselves. You'll see which baths are real hot springs, which ryokan sell dinner and what went wrong for guests, before you pay. The inner garden of a ryokan in Kyoto at night. Photo: [Maarten Heerlien](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Inner_garden_of_Toshiharu_Ryokan_(48885681682).jpg), CC BY 2.0, cropped. ## Which one fits you - Lowest price: Ryokan Sawaya Honten · $109 with breakfast. One couple said it felt like walking into someone's home. There are stairs throughout and no lift. [See plans](https://www.trip.com/hotels/detail/?hotelId=706205&Allianceid=10673657&SID=335723130&trip_sub1=rj_kyoto_sawaya) - A private tub on a budget: Kyomachiya Ryokan Sakura Urushitei · $109 room only. Reserve your time slot early, because they can be gone by evening. [See plans](https://www.trip.com/hotels/detail/?hotelId=2510627&Allianceid=10673657&SID=335723130&trip_sub1=rj_kyoto_urushitei) - Closest to the trains: Matsubaya Ryokan · $178 with breakfast. About 10 minutes on foot from Kyoto Station. Paper doors carry sound. [See plans](https://www.trip.com/hotels/detail/?hotelId=2195077&Allianceid=10673657&SID=335723130&trip_sub1=rj_kyoto_matsubaya) - A natural hot spring and quiet: Japanese Ryokan Seryo · $421* with dinner and breakfast. Nine rooms in the countryside, about 14 km from central Kyoto. [See plans](https://www.trip.com/hotels/detail/?hotelId=5521865&Allianceid=10673657&SID=335723130&trip_sub1=rj_kyoto_seryo) - Dinner in your room, by the river: Hanaikada · $439* with dinner and breakfast. One couple's 12-course dinner took an hour and a half. No children. [See plans](https://www.trip.com/hotels/detail/?hotelId=2507110&Allianceid=10673657&SID=335723130&trip_sub1=rj_kyoto_hanaikada) - Staying in Gion: Yuzuya Ryokan · $470 with breakfast. Beside Yasaka Shrine. Ages 13 and up only. [See plans](https://www.trip.com/hotels/detail/?hotelId=706228&Allianceid=10673657&SID=335723130&trip_sub1=rj_kyoto_yuzuya) - A historic splurge: Hiiragiya Ryokan · $1,226* with breakfast. Founded in 1818. Some low reviews call the rooms small and old for the price. [See plans](https://www.trip.com/hotels/detail/?hotelId=1636227&Allianceid=10673657&SID=335723130&trip_sub1=rj_kyoto_hiiragiya) For two, one night in January, taxes included. *Price is for January 18. ## Compare Kyoto ryokan at a glance For two adults, one night in January, taxes included. | Ryokan | Area | From | With dinner | Trip.com score | Private bath | The catch | Book | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Ryokan Sawaya Honten | Sakyo, near Heian Shrine | $109 | Not on Trip.com | 9.5 (108) | Small shared baths, plus a shower room | Stairs throughout and no lift. | [See plans](https://www.trip.com/hotels/detail/?hotelId=706205&Allianceid=10673657&SID=335723130&trip_sub1=rj_kyoto_sawaya) | | Kyomachiya Ryokan Sakura Urushitei | Downtown, near Shijo | $109 | Not on Trip.com | 9.1 (133) | Private tub by time slot | Rooms can be small, and bath slots can be gone by evening. | [See plans](https://www.trip.com/hotels/detail/?hotelId=2510627&Allianceid=10673657&SID=335723130&trip_sub1=rj_kyoto_urushitei) | | Ryokan Ryokufuso | Near Kyoto Station | $174 | $373 | 9.6 (65) | Quiet shared baths, plus a bath in your room | Far from the main sights, so expect buses. | [See plans](https://www.trip.com/hotels/detail/?hotelId=706404&Allianceid=10673657&SID=335723130&trip_sub1=rj_kyoto_ryokufuso) | | Matsubaya Ryokan | Near Kyoto Station | $178 | Not on Trip.com | 9.0 (66) | Bath or shower in your room, depending on the plan | Paper doors carry sound. Nobody is on duty after 11 PM. | [See plans](https://www.trip.com/hotels/detail/?hotelId=2195077&Allianceid=10673657&SID=335723130&trip_sub1=rj_kyoto_matsubaya) | | Japanese Ryokan Seryo | Ohara, north of the city | — | $421* | 9.7 (44) | Hot-spring baths, shared and private | About 14 km from central Kyoto. Check-in closes at 5 PM. | [See plans](https://www.trip.com/hotels/detail/?hotelId=5521865&Allianceid=10673657&SID=335723130&trip_sub1=rj_kyoto_seryo) | | Hanaikada | Arashiyama | — | $439* | 9.1 (122) | Hot-spring baths, plus a private one for a fee | No children. Some guests call the building dated. | [See plans](https://www.trip.com/hotels/detail/?hotelId=2507110&Allianceid=10673657&SID=335723130&trip_sub1=rj_kyoto_hanaikada) | | Yuzuya Ryokan | Gion | $470 | $759 | 9.5 (54) | Yuzu-scented shared bath | Ages 13 and up only. One guest found the room too small. | [See plans](https://www.trip.com/hotels/detail/?hotelId=706228&Allianceid=10673657&SID=335723130&trip_sub1=rj_kyoto_yuzuya) | | Hiiragiya Ryokan | Downtown, near Oike Street | $1,226* | $1,365* | 9.5 (66) | Two private wooden baths, plus a bath in your room | Some low reviews call the rooms small and old for the price. | [See plans](https://www.trip.com/hotels/detail/?hotelId=1636227&Allianceid=10673657&SID=335723130&trip_sub1=rj_kyoto_hiiragiya) | Lowest price on Tuesday, January 19, 2027, checked November 10, 2026. Scores are Trip.com guest ratings, with the number of reviews. *Seryo, Hanaikada and Hiiragiya had no rooms on January 19, so their prices are for Monday, January 18. January is a quiet month. Six of these eight had no rooms at all on December 1, in the autumn peak, so book early for autumn and cherry blossom season and expect to pay more. Prices may differ if Trip.com shows you member rates. Nishiyama Ryokan, a well-known central inn, wasn't taking January bookings on Trip.com when we checked, so it isn't in this table. ## Kyoto ryokan with a private onsen Guests describe natural hot-spring water at only two of these eight, Hanaikada and Seryo. Few inns in central Kyoto sit on a hot spring, so "private onsen" on a listing can mean a private tub of ordinary heated water. - **A private hot-spring bath.** Hanaikada's guests booked one for an extra fee, and a Trip.com guest had no trouble reserving it twice. Seryo, out in Ohara, has one too, and guests praise it. - **A private tub of ordinary water.** Hiiragiya has two wooden tubs filled from a well 60 metres down. At Urushitei, you reserve a tub by time slot, and the water is changed between guests. Another guest paid ¥500 for 40 minutes. - **A bath in your room.** Ryokufuso's room had its own bath and shower, for guests who'd rather skip the shared baths. Matsubaya sells rooms with either, so check the plan. **Tattoos:** shared baths in Japan often restrict them. One guest with tattoos had no problem using Urushitei's private tub. We couldn't confirm the current rule at each ryokan, so ask before you book. ## What guests wish they had known Seven things that caught guests out. - **Dinner isn't automatic.** Sawaya Honten, Urushitei and Matsubaya had no dinner plan on Trip.com when we checked, though Sawaya Honten offers meal packages directly. Where dinner is sold, it can double the bill: Ryokufuso goes from $174 to $373. - **You really do sleep on the floor.** Ryokufuso's guests dreaded it and then slept well all three nights. At Sawaya Honten, a couple found the futons thinner than they expected. A Hanaikada guest suggests a Western-style room if you're older. Sawaya Honten has rooms with beds too. - **Don't roll suitcases on tatami.** Staff carry bags at many ryokan, and wheels can damage the mats. Guests at Ryokufuso and Sawaya Honten both shipped their luggage ahead from Tokyo, and it was waiting in the room. - **Check-in has a window.** Seryo takes arrivals from 3 to 5 PM and asks you to email your arrival time two days ahead. Hanaikada closes check-in at 7 PM. Nobody is on duty at Matsubaya after 11 PM. - **Mornings end early.** Check-out is 10 AM at Sawaya Honten, Ryokufuso, Matsubaya, Seryo and Hanaikada. One Ryokufuso guest warns that breakfast ends at 9 AM and you lose it after that. - **Sound carries.** Paper doors don't block much. At Matsubaya, a guest complains of loud cleaners from 8:30 AM. - **English varies.** Hanaikada's staff are described as fluent, and Yuzuya explained the facilities in English. At Sawaya Honten, a mix-up over delivered luggage came down to limited English. ## Watch guests stay at each ryokan These are guests' own videos, from the lowest price to the highest. Bad reviews are a small share where we could count them: 5 of 787 at Ryokufuso, 2 of 287 at Sawaya Honten and 1 of 174 at Seryo. We still include them, because they show what goes wrong when something does. ### Ryokan Sawaya Honten Sakyo, near Heian Shrine · $109 with breakfast, for two One couple said it felt like walking into someone's home. Video by [ABritTravels](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDtVG4ewNVA) on YouTube. This small family-run inn staffs the desk from 6 AM to 11 PM. There's hot water for tea on every floor, and a wash costs ¥300 in the coin laundry. **Skip it if** stairs are hard for you. There are stairs throughout, and everything is on or near the floor. One low review calls it noisy for the price. [Check dates and prices on Trip.com](https://www.trip.com/hotels/detail/?hotelId=706205&Allianceid=10673657&SID=335723130&trip_sub1=rj_kyoto_sawaya) ### Kyomachiya Ryokan Sakura Urushitei Downtown, near Shijo · $109 room only, for two One solo guest liked it enough to come back on a second trip, at a little over $100 a night. Video by [Margaret R](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM8G_PRJgb4) on YouTube. The guest says this isn't sponsored. They arrived around 5 PM and every bath slot was taken, so reserve early. Breakfast costs extra, and they count it among the best food of the trip. **Skip it if** you need space. Low reviews mention small rooms, dim decor and stairs, and some rooms have a shower only. [Check dates and prices on Trip.com](https://www.trip.com/hotels/detail/?hotelId=2510627&Allianceid=10673657&SID=335723130&trip_sub1=rj_kyoto_urushitei) ### Ryokan Ryokufuso Near Kyoto Station · $174 with breakfast, for two A couple had the shared baths almost to themselves for three nights in cherry blossom season. Video by [SK Travel Guide](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97tkR-85MPA) on YouTube. Their room had an enclosed balcony with real chairs, a welcome break from sitting on the floor. Meals are booked separately. **Skip it if** you want to walk to the sights. The couple's one real complaint was the long bus ride. A low review warns of a 15-minute walk from the station with luggage, and another calls it a city hotel marketed as a ryokan. [Check dates and prices on Trip.com](https://www.trip.com/hotels/detail/?hotelId=706404&Allianceid=10673657&SID=335723130&trip_sub1=rj_kyoto_ryokufuso) ### Matsubaya Ryokan Near Kyoto Station · $178 with breakfast, for two The most practical base here for trains, about 10 minutes on foot from Kyoto Station. Video by [Best Hotel Review Channel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBWPWbaAVVE) on YouTube. The guest we watched paid $212 with breakfast for a 12 m² room, and warns that the walk is a chore with luggage. Breakfast is by time slot. **Skip it if** you're a light sleeper. They found the room dim and the doors far from soundproof, and said one or two nights would be enough. [Check dates and prices on Trip.com](https://www.trip.com/hotels/detail/?hotelId=2195077&Allianceid=10673657&SID=335723130&trip_sub1=rj_kyoto_matsubaya) ### Japanese Ryokan Seryo Ohara, north of the city · $421* with dinner and breakfast, for two Nine rooms next to Sanzen-in Temple, for people who want quiet more than sightseeing. Video by [Paers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afByBZ1lGYI) on YouTube. Kaiseki dinner and breakfast are what guests praise most, along with the staff. One vlogger's title puts their stay at $1,200 a night, far above the January price here, so dates matter. There's a free shuttle from the bus station, and one guest took a taxi with luggage. **Skip it if** you want to be in the city. It's about 14 km out, and the shared baths fit only about four people. In the single bad review, a guest left early because of a strong musty smell in the room. [Check dates and prices on Trip.com](https://www.trip.com/hotels/detail/?hotelId=5521865&Allianceid=10673657&SID=335723130&trip_sub1=rj_kyoto_seryo) ### Hanaikada Arashiyama · $439* with dinner and breakfast, for two One couple got a 12-course dinner in their room and a sunrise over the river. Video by [Wandering the World](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef0U_OiAEec) on YouTube. Thirteen rooms sit beside Togetsukyo Bridge, a short walk from the bamboo grove. That couple paid about $400 with tax in cherry blossom season. The free station pick-up helps with luggage. **Skip it if** you're travelling with children, who aren't accepted. Guests also call the building a bit dated, and one mentions noisy ventilation and a small bath. [Check dates and prices on Trip.com](https://www.trip.com/hotels/detail/?hotelId=2507110&Allianceid=10673657&SID=335723130&trip_sub1=rj_kyoto_hanaikada) ### Yuzuya Ryokan Gion · $470 with breakfast, for two Whole yuzu float in the bath in winter, in a century-old townhouse beside Yasaka Shrine. Video by [LIVE JAPAN](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0Q6rwmiGzg) on YouTube. LIVE JAPAN earns from booking links, so expect a positive view. It has eight rooms, and the video says it's been in the Michelin Guide for 14 years. A Trip.com guest says to take the dinner plan if you can. Guests can pick fish or chicken for breakfast and one of three time slots. **Skip it if** you have children under 13, who aren't accepted. One low review says the room is too small and the breakfast looks better than it tastes. [Check dates and prices on Trip.com](https://www.trip.com/hotels/detail/?hotelId=706228&Allianceid=10673657&SID=335723130&trip_sub1=rj_kyoto_yuzuya) ### Hiiragiya Ryokan Downtown, near Oike Street · $1,226* with breakfast, for two Founded in 1818, and long used by writers and visiting celebrities. Video by [YouBoston Travel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNHYyUxxN4c) on YouTube. The guests we watched took the corner room in the new wing, with a free minibar. The main building has a lift. Dinner and breakfast come to your room. **Skip it if** you're paying for space. One returning guest found the room smaller than on a visit nine years earlier, and another wrote that the room was old and cramped and not worth the money. [Check dates and prices on Trip.com](https://www.trip.com/hotels/detail/?hotelId=1636227&Allianceid=10673657&SID=335723130&trip_sub1=rj_kyoto_hiiragiya) ## Which area of Kyoto to stay in - **Gion and Higashiyama** put old streets and temples within walking distance. Yuzuya is here. - **Downtown**, around Shijo and Oike, is closest to restaurants and Nishiki Market, which suits a room without dinner. Urushitei and Hiiragiya are here. - **Near Kyoto Station** is easiest on arrival but further from the sights. Matsubaya and Ryokufuso are here. - **Arashiyama** is about 7 km west of the centre, by the river and the bamboo grove. It's quieter once the day visitors leave. - **Ohara** is countryside to the north. Plan on staying put for the evening. ## Common questions ### Are ryokan in Kyoto expensive? They range widely. The eight here run from $109 to $1,365 for two in January, and more in peak season. ### Do ryokan have private bathrooms? Many rooms do, but not all. Check the room type, because the same inn can sell rooms with a bath, with a shower only, or with shared facilities. ### Is it better to stay near Kyoto Station? It's easier with luggage, but you'll ride more buses. If you're in Kyoto for the temples and old streets, Gion or downtown saves time. ### What's the difference between a ryokan and an onsen? A ryokan is a traditional inn. An onsen is a natural hot-spring bath. Some ryokan have one, and many in central Kyoto don't. ### Which ones suit couples or families? The couples in our videos stayed at Sawaya Honten, Ryokufuso and Hanaikada. With children, check the policy first: Hanaikada doesn't accept them, and Yuzuya takes ages 13 and up. ### Which ryokan: Kyoto or Hakone? Choose Kyoto for the setting and the city around you. If a hot spring is the point of the stay, [Hakone ryokan](https://ryokanjapan.net/hakone-ryokan) are built around them. ## Our sources Guest videos credited above. Guest reviews from Trip.com and from booking guests over the last 24 months. Prices, check-in times and child policies are from Trip.com. Prices and rules change, so confirm with the ryokan before you book. Last checked November 10, 2026. --- Page: https://ryokanjapan.net/kyoto-ryokan Last updated: 2026-11-10 We earn a commission if you book through our Trip.com links, at no extra cost to you. No ryokan pays to appear here.