Kyoto Higashiyama Ward 4-star Hotels

This was by far our favorite hotel in our 2 weeks in Japan. They were very nice and helpful, let us check in early, and made luggage forwarding easy. Plus, the room had lots of great amenities, including a balcony and an incredible tub (the microbubbles were a life saver after a long day of walking!) The face masks were a nice bonus, since my skin did not take to Japan very well. And breakfast was amazing, and served in the room, every morning. On top of all that, the location is amazing: overlooking the river, extremely close to Pontocho, only a few blocks from a major train station.

We booked the hotel as we thought the location was great and the rooms looked fine. Service was good. They were accommodating to a room change request(especially during a busy season)- Thank you Miss Kyu! We also asked for air filter as the room was a little stuffy- Thank you Jay Tanaka! The rooms are clean, yet much tighter than normal(even compared to other Japanese hotel groups). The bathrooms were nice and updated and the sheets/covers/towels were high-end. I would not stay here if you are traveling with more than 2 people in a room, I think the suites even would be a challenge with suitcases unpacked. You cant get a better location, so close to the markets, pontocho alley, shopping, Gaesha watching, etc. and central location to all the temples. Everything is a 5-10 minute walk, except the temples(obviously). Would recommend for a solo traveler or young couple who likes boutique hotels, and plans on spending a lot of time site seeing nearby. We did not have drinks at the bar(weird hours) or have their breakfast(looked good though when walking past).

Earlier this month, I stayed at Gion Misen and loved the experience. There are many new hotels in the city but Gion Misen stands out and exceeded expectations. The location is superb, on quiet and historic Shimnomzen Street, nestled among beautifully preserved wooden machiya townhouses, antique shops, galleries, and small restaurants. The staff is kind and helpful. The included breakfast was ample and delicious, including good coffee! The beautifully designed, contemporary Japanese rooms have comfortable beds, plenty of electrical outlets and good lighting. Gion Misen is ideally situated for excursions to the beautiful surrounding neighborhoods and the heart of downtown Kyoto on foot and by short taxi rides to all corners of this magnificent city. Thank you for making me feel so welcome.

It is located near the bus stop, you can reach here within 20 minutes from Kyoto Station. It is 20 minute's walk to Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kamo-gawa river, 10 minute's walk to Kohdaiji-temple. You can walk also around Gion. This Ryokan has very traditional room. They explain about room and bring meals to the room. I had only breakfast, It was beautiful and delicious. The best thing I was happy that they brought us tee after we came here and come buck here. It makes us relaxed so much! The public bathroom is small. I think It is a little bit uncomfortable, if here is crowded. But you can also use the private bathroom in your room. 京都駅からバス20分ほどで、最寄りのバス停から近く、旅館の周辺に清水寺や祇園など観光地がたくさんあったので移動しやすい最高のロケーションでした。 朝食もたっぷりで、全て美味しかったです。また、旅館についた後にお茶を部屋に持ってきてくださり、そのお茶も美味しくとてもリラックスできました。 お風呂が小さめだったので、混雑している日は少し大変かもしれませんが、部屋にもお風呂があるので問題ないかと思います。

Really enjoyed the stay here at the Gion location. It’s situation right in the heart of the old town that exudes a Kyoto old charm atmosphere. It’s also within walking distance to Kiyomizu area and the popular Yasaka shrine. A 15min walk will bring you across the river to Shijo-dori where it’s lined with modern shopping malls, lots of eateries and the famous Nishiki market. Room is of good size, clean and funky looking. We took the one with a kitchenette which came in handy as we opted for their bread making breakfast which was really fun. Hotel staff knows little English but really friendly and helpful. There’s also some local activities organised by the hotel such as tea ceremony and local area walk that you can join to be immersed into the local culture here.

Seikoro is a full-service, first class traditional ryokan. However, there is a language/cultural barrier, so I think I would've enjoyed my experience even better if I understood everything. I think I could've been pampered even more. Also, I'm not used to being pampered in the first place. I always felt out of place when people try to help me. Anyways, on this visit, I tried to go with the flow as much as possible. I had certain expectations prior to this visit due to watching Japanese television dramas based in ryokan. From the moment I stepped out from my taxi to checking out, my experience was everything like I expected. The staff was very attentive. From forming a line and greeting me when I entered and the staff salutation when I left. They really made an effort on first and last impressions. The food was delicious. The in-room multi-course kaiseki banquet for dinner and Japanese breakfast were scrumptious. However, the dinner was probably the worse part of the experience. Each dish is presented in a specific order and timing. As a solo traveler, the slow pace was frustrating; therefore, I think it's best to have a meal companion. The pacing was expected and normal. The pacing is part of the full-service experience where your room attendant brings your meal one dish at a time. This is different from lower cost ryokans where the food is either brought to you all at once or you eat in a common dining hall. The ryokan has been in business (iirc) over a hundred years and it's run by the same family. The common areas feel like a family home and you are a guest in their home. I don't remember if there is a curfew. I walked around Gion until 10:00. When I returned, the front door was unlocked and a gentleman helped me with my shoes. I took a bath at about 10:30 and I didn't see anyone walking around. In summary, I wanted to experience a traditional ryokan and I believe I received what I wanted. Thank you.

The hotel was as new, modern, clean and clean. Excellent facilities. Breakfast was typical Japanese/Eastern, but varied and complete (worked from 7 to 9 hours). The room was spacious enough, good for the Japanese standards, the bathroom was a little tight, the location was excellent, just next to Kiyomizu Gojo train station and 15min walk from the Gojo metro station. The old Gion neighborhood was 5min walk and the moving streets of Kawaramachi about 20. We felt that we were in the perfect place to meet Kyoto for the first time. The only reason for the location is that it is even sticked to one of the most important and most moving streets of the city, because the noise of cars and buses is constant overnight and day.

This wonderful place is nothing like the rustic version we stayed at in Yudenaka. It is more like an upscale boutiqe hotel. Only 3 floors, but very well kept. Our room was one of the largest we experienced during the 2 weeks we were in Japan. We chose to decline the meal package as we expected we would be out during the dinner time, and did not want to commit to breakfast, as my wife is a very fussy eater. A public bath for men and a bath for women is located in the basement. Exceptionally clean and properly set up in the shower area and bath area,. I chose to take advantage of the bath each evening. It is so incredibly relaxing. The bath is not heated by thermal springs but whatever they use to heat the building. The front desk staff could not be more helpful during our stay. When a snowstorm hit Kyoto, it meant the shipping company that we chose to forward our large suitcases was no longer viable since the company cancelled all trips that day. When we got up the next morning we discovered that the taxi cab companies were not answering the phones that morning(due to snow and ice). The front desk looked at my wife and I with 4 suitcases, my cane and walker and somehow just knew that we couldnt possibly get to the Kyoto station using public transit. The tall, thin gentleman behind the desk, went outside and ran at his fastest speed, 3 blocks to find a idle taxi, ran back to us, still checking out, took all of our luggage outside to the waiting taxi, assisted with the loading, ensuring that we were safely inside and on our way before he went back inside, hopefully to have a well earned cup of tea. The service is outstanding, the meal to my eyes looked incredible. The rooms have ample space for luggage, fully stocked bathrooms, Yukatas for wearing to the bath and 2 bottles of water daily. They also include a small refrigerator. If I should be so fortunate to visit Japan again in my lifetime, this will be my must stay hotel. THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH CHION-IN WAJUN KAIKAN!!! EXCELLENT STAFF AND OUTSTANING SERVICE. THANK YOU SO MJCH FOR HELPING MAKE THIS DREAM VACATION SO SPECIAL!!!

Located in Kyoto (Higashiyama Ward), TASSEL HOTEL Sanjo Shirakawa is within a 10-minute walk of Shijo Street and Yasaka Shrine. This hotel is 0.7 mi (1.1 km) from Kawaramachi Street and 0.5 mi (0.8 km) from Heian Shrine.Make use of convenient amenities, which include complimentary wireless internet access and concierge services.Featured amenities include express check-in, express check-out, and a 24-hour front desk.Make yourself at home in one of the 20 guestrooms featuring refrigerators and flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and satellite programming is available for your entertainment. Private bathrooms have complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include safes and electric kettles, and housekeeping is provided daily.

Being in Gion is to be transported back in old Kyoto. There are a lot of small, quaint structures with narrow paved streets. Lots of famous temples, shrines, eateries and souvenirs shopping (omiyage). Went with a friend, our highlights all within walking distance (20 min max): * Shrines and temples galore - visit early or late to avoid rush hour * Geisha watching * Nanaya kimono rental (there’s a ton of other rental places too) Dressed up for the afternoon. Got great photo ops along the streets and on a rickshaw rental. * Kasagi-ya for traditional sweets (ohagi) and tea in a old wooden shop atmosphere * Ghibli Studio fans, there are two shops within easy walking distance If you want to be in the thick of Gion, Ryokan Karaku is a wonderful place to stay. It’s four stories with elevator access and a very professional staff. You can confidently walk around and drop off goodies as you shop or need to take a break. Breakfast and kaiseki dinners were included in our rate, although next time I’d opt out of it so I can try other places. The staff called for taxi service whenever we needed and they were there in 5-10min (although they like to plan ahead when possible, we were mostly spontaneous). There weren’t mobs of people being that Japan has recently opened up and we went shortly after Golden Week). It was a great, memorable stay!