Ryokan Kyoraku
600-8149 Kyoto, Kyoto, Shimogyo-ku, Akezu-dori, Shichijyo, Kogawa-cho 231, Japan – Excellent location - show map
Excellent location — rated 9.5/10! (score from 182 reviews)
Real guests • Real stays • Real opinions
Exceptional Ryokan, very friendly and helpful staff, very clean and great facilities! Definitely going to stay again.
AustraliaIt was the perfect stay in Kyoto. A traditional, clean and comfortable ryokan super close to the station with a generous host. Really enjoyed my time in Kyoto and a lot is due to this accommodation. Thank you, will be back!
PortugalVery friendly and helpful staff. Great room with futon. Close to the main station.
GermanyRyokan Kyoraku is very well managed by a lovely family and you are made to feel a welcome guest. It is very convenient to Kyoto station, public transport, shopping, restaurants etc, yet it is in a very quiet street and you get very little noise. It is nice to waken to the gong from nearby Higashi-Honganji temple.
AustraliaGreat hosts and reception. The owner/staff was very helpful and went beyond the necessary when I had some queries about an attraction at Araishiyama (boat ride tour). He researched on the booking process online, called the boat tour to get accurate information before compiling and printing the information for my reference. Definitely did not expect that level of detail and assistance, but it is a testament to the level of service at this ryokan!
SingaporeEverything was perfect. The host are very helpful and very kind. They welcomed us and checked in our luggage while it was still morning. When we came back around 8PM our luggage were already in our rooms. The ryokan is located very close to Kyoto station (few minutes walk) and at the same time very quiet. It is also walking distance to the river and the Gion borrough. It has the great traditional look of a japanese ryokan that we enjoyed so much with the facility of an individual bathroom. Very comfortable.
FranceThis was my first time staying at a ryokan. The futon was more comfortable than I expected :) The location is excellent: central train station nearby, and plenty of options for food, drinks, and convenience stores. The service was exceptional, and the room was spotless. The staff is very kind and helpful. They speak some good enough English. Wi-Fi was fast and stable, with no issues. Overall great value for money!
JapanThis was a traditional and pretty ryokan. It was only 10 minutes' walk from Kyoto Station, and near the hotel was Kyoto Tower, a big temple, a Japanese garden, a sentoo (spa) and many restaurants. The staff was very friendly and helped me washing my clothes in the ryokan. The room is very pretty and handy. You also got a yukata (a summer kimono)!
FinlandExcellent Ryokan in good location, quiet side street but close to public transport. Customer service is amazing, room very nice, great shower / bathroom. I liked everything.
New ZealandVery close to the station and feels authentic. It is very traditional and staff is very nice. Also speaks good English, in case you are not very good with Japanese. Very helpful and I really enjoyed my stay. Highly recommend :)
United Kingdom
- What guests loved the most:
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Spencer
Australia
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Pedro
Portugal
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Fabian
Germany
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Robyn
Australia
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Jian
Singapore
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Jean-claude
France
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Mykyta
Japan
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Elisa
Finland
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Kleni
New Zealand
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Savickaite
United Kingdom
Categories:
Stay in the heart of Kyoto – Excellent location - show map
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Ryokan Kyoraku is centrally located just a 7-minute walk from JR Kyoto Station's north exit. It's a 3-minute walk from Higashi Hongan-ji temple. Free Wi-Fi is available in all rooms.
All rooms have air conditioning and an LCD TV, while some are fitted with an attached bathroom.
Kyoraku Ryokan has a cosy lobby overlooking a small Japanese garden. Walls are graced with Japanese art. There is a curfew at 23:00.
Ryokan Kyoraku is a 7-minute walk from Kyoto Tower.
No meals are served at the property. There are many restaurants and convenience stores within a short walk.
Please note that rooms are cleaned from 10:00 until 15:00. Guests cannot enter their room during this time.
This property is a ryokan, which is a type of traditional Japanese Inn. Learn more
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- What is a ryokan?
- A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn. They usually feature public baths, multi-course dinners, communal spaces where guests can relax, and rooms with woven-straw flooring and futon mats. Like hotels, a range of ryokans (from budget to luxury) is available. What originated centuries ago as a free rest house for long-distance travellers has evolved into a popular destination for relaxation in therapeutic mineral springs.
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- What are the major differences between a ryokan and a hotel?
- Unlike a hotel, where the guest room is simply a place to turn in for the night, a ryokan is more than just an accommodation place to sleep. In Japan, many travellers journey long distances solely for the purpose of relaxing in a hot spring bath and feasting on a traditional multi-course dinner – thus making staying at a ryokan an experience in and of itself. These ryokans typically have Japanese-style rooms with woven-straw flooring and futon beds, instead of Western beds and carpeting. In addition, you remove your shoes at the entrance of the accommodation, or before you enter the room. Modern ryokan may serve buffet-style meals in a dining area, while a more traditional ryokan serves in-room dinners. Some ryokan rooms may come with a private bathroom, while others will only have a shared public bathroom.
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- What is a kaiseki meal?
- Kaiseki is the culinary highlight at a ryokan, embodied in beautifully presented dishes that delight both the palate and the eyes. Each of the 10 to 15 dishes that make up the multi-course Japanese dinner is prepared in such a way that highlights the unique textures, colours, and flavours of the featured seasonal ingredients and local specialties. Served most commonly at special restaurants and ryokan, a traditional kaiseki dinner usually consists of bite-sized appetizers, fresh sashimi (raw fish), soup, grilled fish or meat, a hot pot dish, rice with miso soup, and a small dessert.
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- What is a yukata?
- Yukata is a casual summer kimono typically made of light cotton. Many ryokans offer guests yukata robes during their stay. In some areas, it is common to see guests strolling through the neighbourhood in their yukata. The loose-fitting garment is perfect for relaxing and sleeping in.
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- How to wear a yukata
- First, put your arms through the sleeves like you would with a shirt. Take the right side of the yukata and wrap it across your body. Then take the left side and wrap it over the right, making sure that the robe is levelled at your ankle. Pinning the yukata closed on the right side, wrap the sash around your waist a couple of times and then tie a bow. Generally, the bow is tied around the waist for women, and the hips for men.
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- What is a Japanese hot spring (onsen)?
- Onsen (literally ‘hot spring’) is a term often used to refer to both the mineral-rich hot springs and the bathing facilities that house them. Whether the bath is public or private, gender-segregated or mixed, indoor or outdoor, soaking and unwinding in the soothing geothermal waters at an onsen is a millennia-old custom deeply embedded in Japanese culture.
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- Bathing procedures and etiquette
- At a public bath – onsen or not – guests are expected to shed all their clothes in their respective changing rooms before entering the bathing area. As a common courtesy, once inside the bathing area, guests should wash and rinse their bodies thoroughly before quietly stepping into the hot water. Whether you relax in solitude or converse softly with others is up to you, but guests should always be mindful of others. Wash towels are often used to cover one’s private areas while walking around. However, note that you must not put towels in the water.
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- Why are tattoos not allowed?
- While tattoos have become more popular among the youth of Japan, many Japanese people still associate them with outlaws and organized crime. Nowadays, not all businesses ban customers with tattoos, but you may still be refused admission to public baths and swimming pools. Small tattoos may be covered up using waterproof plasters, but keep in mind that each property has the final say on what’s acceptable.
This is our guests' favourite part of Kyoto, according to independent reviews.
Couples particularly like the location — they rated it 9.4 for a two-person trip.
Most popular facilities
Select topics to read reviews:
See what guests loved the most:
Spencer
Australia“Exceptional Ryokan, very friendly and helpful staff, very clean and great facilities! Definitely going to stay again.”- Pedro
Portugal“It was the perfect stay in Kyoto. A traditional, clean and comfortable ryokan super close to the station with a generous host. Really enjoyed my time in Kyoto and a lot is due to this accommodation. Thank you, will be back!” 
Fabian
Germany“Very friendly and helpful staff. Great room with futon. Close to the main station.”
RobynAustralia“Ryokan Kyoraku is very well managed by a lovely family and you are made to feel a welcome guest. It is very convenient to Kyoto station, public transport, shopping, restaurants etc, yet it is in a very quiet street and you get very little noise....”
Jian
Singapore“Great hosts and reception. The owner/staff was very helpful and went beyond the necessary when I had some queries about an attraction at Araishiyama (boat ride tour). He researched on the booking process online, called the boat tour to get...”- Jean-claude
France“Everything was perfect. The host are very helpful and very kind. They welcomed us and checked in our luggage while it was still morning. When we came back around 8PM our luggage were already in our rooms. The ryokan is located very close to...” 
Mykyta
Japan“This was my first time staying at a ryokan. The futon was more comfortable than I expected :) The location is excellent: central train station nearby, and plenty of options for food, drinks, and convenience stores. The service was exceptional,...”- Elisa
Finland“This was a traditional and pretty ryokan. It was only 10 minutes' walk from Kyoto Station, and near the hotel was Kyoto Tower, a big temple, a Japanese garden, a sentoo (spa) and many restaurants. The staff was very friendly and helped me washing...” 
Kleni
New Zealand“Excellent Ryokan in good location, quiet side street but close to public transport. Customer service is amazing, room very nice, great shower / bathroom. I liked everything.”- Savickaite
United Kingdom“Very close to the station and feels authentic. It is very traditional and staff is very nice. Also speaks good English, in case you are not very good with Japanese. Very helpful and I really enjoyed my stay. Highly recommend :)”
Host Information
Cancellation/
prepayment
Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodation type. Please enter the dates of your stay and check the conditions of your required room.
Curfew
Entry to the property will be closed between the hours of 23:00 and 07:00
Children and beds
Child policies
Children are not allowed.
Cot and extra bed policies
Cots and extra beds are not available at this property.
Age restriction
The minimum age for check-in is 18
Ryokan Kyoraku accepts these cards and reserves the right to temporarily hold an amount prior to arrival.
Smoking
Smoking is not allowed.
Parties
Parties/events are not allowed
Quiet hours
Guests must be quiet between 15:00 and 10:00.
Pets
Pets are not allowed.
The fine print
The hotel has a curfew at 23:00. Guests cannot enter or leave the hotel after this time.
Rooms are cleaned from 10:00 until 15:00. Guests cannot enter their room during this time.
The full amount of the reservation must be paid at check-in via credit card or cash (in Japanese Yen).
Please note that the maximum occupancy of the room cannot be exceeded under any circumstances.
Please note only staying guests are permitted entry into the guest room floor. Staying guests who lead non-staying persons into the guest room floor or any guest room will be immediately evicted from the property.
The name on the credit card used for the booking should correspond to the guest staying at the property. For reservations made by a third party, you will need to complete an authorisation form and present a copy of the person's ID and credit card.
Food & beverage services at this property may be limited or unavailable due to Coronavirus (COVID-19).
An accommodation tax per person per night is not included in the price and needs to be paid at the property.
This property will not accommodate hen, stag or similar parties.
Please inform Ryokan Kyoraku in advance of your expected arrival time. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly with the contact details provided in your confirmation.
FAQs about Ryokan Kyoraku
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Ryokan Kyoraku offers the following activities / services (charges may apply):
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The prices at Ryokan Kyoraku may vary depending on your stay (e.g. dates you select, hotel's policy etc.). See the prices by entering your dates.
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From the nearest airport, you can get to Ryokan Kyoraku by:
- Train 1h 30min
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Room options at Ryokan Kyoraku include:
- Twin
- Triple
- Single
- Family
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Check-in at Ryokan Kyoraku is from 15:00, and check-out is until 10:00.
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Ryokan Kyoraku is 0.9 miles from the centre of Kyoto.
