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.

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.

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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.

This was one of the best experiences we’ve had in a while. We really enjoyed our stay at Kikokuso. The Ryokan was beautiful with a cute garden with Kois. The room was confortable and cosy. It was our first time sleeping on futons but we slept really well. The breakfasts (traditional Japanese breakfasts) were amazing. We also had shabu shabu diner on the second night and it was de-li-cious! The family hot bath was just perfect after a long day of walk in Kyoto. Finally, the family that runs the inn was just the nicest people you could ever meet. We will definitely come back the next time we come to Kyoto!!

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The ryokan is owned and run by a lovely couple. The breakfast was delicious and the hospitality was exceptional. I booked this place because I wanted to experience sleeping on a traditional Japanese bedding on tatami. The house itself has been passed down for generations and is absolutely beautiful.

A few things to note. I knew ahead of time and I did not mind these things. However, you might. 1. Since this is a house, you will be occupying a room and be 1 out of 3 guests staying there per night. This means there is no restroom in your room. You share one with the other guests in the house. This means walking out of your room and going to the shared house toilet. It wasn't an issue for us, and I never ran into anyone in the restroom. 2. Since there is no restroom in the room, naturally there is no shower. Each guest will need to book a time to use the shower room that has a small onsen bath. The host will explain everything during check in, but if you aren't comfortable with these things, you should find another place.

For me personally futon was comfortable and it was a beautiful traditional house exactly like on the photos. There is also a personal family bath that you can enjoy. Maybe 2 stations to Kyoto station so close to that but slightly farther to other famous spots. Kind owner and cook, his wife did all the intro and they called me a cab in the end.

Strict rules. I didnt like that whenever I went to bath or breakfast, someone entered the room (but as I was told by my Japanese friend, this is normal for Ryokan) it would be nice if they mentioned that in the intro though. Also slightly overpriced breakfast.

The couple who run the Ryokan are amazing and give a 5* hospitality. It's a gorgeous place really close to some nice spots.

I usually shower at night and in the morning especially when it's so warm but I could only book the ofuro (which is the same as the shower room) once during my stay so I had an evening slot so that I could get up early to explore the next day. Felt a bit grubby by the end of the day not having showered in the morning! But I'd still return knowing this because the overall experience was so good.