The entrance needs revamp and good cleaning. It is pretty shabby. The owner can get the Front office and sitting space cleaned with couple of tables or Sofa so that guests can feel welcomed once they enter the Inn. With the kind of facade now it looks very unwelcoming.

The rooms are pretty clean. The luggage space is quite separate as the rooms have tatami mats. I had already read review about the entrance to the Inn being very clumsy and unorganized so I was prepared. I wanted to show rooms with tatami mats and typical Japanese style tea table and mini balcony to my kids hence I booked at the Inn for couple of nights. Overall good and comfortable. The tatami room was spacious and clean, if anyone has small kids they can play around without getting hurt. Pricewise okay. 10minutes walk to Kyoto station. Quiet area. One gets good teaching about some of the Japanese culture like changing shoes into house slippers at the entrance, plus rules of tatami, rules of bathroom etc....

Stayed in May 2025

Entrance of the building was really disorganized and dirty. Room also could have been cleaner. I also specifically booked a quadruple room so I was expecting a bed for my toddler but there was none. Towels changed everyday but floor was dirty and there was a smell in the room. Bed was very hard as well

Location was good, easy to reach rest of Kyoto

Stayed in April 2025

Poor facility

Good location

Stayed in April 2025

Not quite as close to the main train station as it appears on Google maps, though only ~15 walk, at least with luggage and children.

The owner/host is very kind and helpful, my daughter also was very taken with the Senegal Bush Baby which is the hotel's mascot. We also received a memento photograph of our stay. It's budget friendly but we enjoyed the tatami mats and futons.

Stayed in April 2025

The property was in a great location and the staff was very helpful anytime I needed anything.

Stayed in April 2025

The host was very kind and hospitable. It was a bit messy at the entrance but the rooms were clean. I decided to stay here because I wanted to experience sleeping on tatami flooring and sleep on mattresses on the floor. It did not help my back, if you are okay with sleeping on a mattress on the floor then I recommend coming to this place if you are on a budget. The Inn also has a cute mascot that the host will show you if the pet is awake. It was a nice experience.

Stayed in March 2025

Check in was from 3pm, no one was there couldn't check in until later. Left bags inside and went exploring anyway. Rear elevator is 'outside' and freezing cold going up / down at night n icy breeze under door, covered with towel to stop draft. Air con not super warm, but warmed up over time.

Good location. Large rooms with private bathroom. Enough space for suitcases outside of bedroom. Friendly staff, great photo upon arrival and given printout when checking out.

Stayed in March 2025

need a dryer service

tatami

Stayed in November 2024

We had a superb stay here. Lovely and very helpful owner.

Stayed in November 2024

The entrance and common area (which seems to be not in use) is very messy and puzzling. As if the real entrance is somewhere else but we can never find it. Very strange in a Murakami-esque way. But the owner/manager (the only person we encountered during our whole stay there) is kind and discreet, and we ended up adding 2 days to our stay.

We liked the no-frills traditional tatami room with futon - it was perfect for us. The bathroom and toilet were comfortable and clean. The location whilst not in a lively area is pretty ok - 10mns by foot to main station, 5mns by foot to convenience store/bus/subway.

Stayed in August 2024

Although its tatami room was unique, taking a rest at the hotel was slightly uncomfortable because of a lack of beds. However, I could enjoy my vacation in Kyoto thanks to the hotel.

The hotel is a little bit close to Kyoto station, which means you can not only walk to the hotel from the station if you have light luggage but also use the station comfortably to head to other attractions. Plus, its tatami room was quite impressive.

Stayed in June 2024

Common room was so messy.

Kind staff

Stayed in July 2024

Slightly poor hardware

Convenient transportation, very close to Jiujo Station.Spacious rooms

Stayed in July 2024

Nothing .

The hotel is located within a short walk from the train station and bus terminal. Bus stop is just opposite the hotel. which is handy at night. Use of the lounge area on the ground floor is great.

Stayed in July 2024

There was no hand soap in the room. The owner was very strict about cleanliness and when to wear shoes, slippers, etc., which is good for keeping the hotel clean, but made it a bit stressful at times. The breakfast room could use a bit of tidying.

Everything in the room was sparkly clean and well-maintained. We enjoyed sleeping on the tatami floor. Owner could speak English.

Stayed in June 2024

The biggest disappointment is that we had to pay twice for the additional futons for the kids. We chose to book for 4 adult visitors at a higher rate during booking at Booking.com because the listing stated that although children under 6 can stay for free, futons are not given for them. This way, we would have futons for everyone. However, because the reservation indicated that our group consisted of two adults and two children, we were asked to pay for additional futons for the kids once more when we arrived. So, we paid extra JPY20k again. Other than that, the space designated for luggage is very tiny, the heater is not a commercial model, drying takes approximately two hours. Futons need to be folded and unfolded every day for space. It is mandatory for visitors to use the slippers given at the ryokan entrance, which are shared by all patrons of the ryokan, a bit unhygienic.

Good wifi, very clean toilet and bathroom. My kids enjoy the small bathtub very much. Futon is comfortable, and they are on the floor so it is safe for kids as they wouldn't fall off from heights. When the futons are folded up, the tatami room is fairly roomy. Towels are changed daily. Have elevator, washing machine and heater. The location is convenient, too: 10 mins walk to kyoto station, a lot of yummy restaurants nearby, Lawson is just opposite of the road, has most of the things that we need. The host is a nice and friendly guy.

Stayed in June 2024

The owner of the ryokan was very welcoming and caring... he even took and printed a souvenir photo for us which we really appreciated!

Stayed in May 2024

The luggage weren't allowed to get on to the tatami, hence a bit difficult to open up all the luggage as we got 4 of us

Able to experience traditional tatami style of accomodation

Stayed in May 2024

Nothing. It was a great location and a great deal for my two grown children and me. Not luxurious, but clean, quiet, and friendly, which is all we needed.

Good location about a ten-minute walk from Kyoto Station. Room was clean, as was the private bathroom, and different because it had traditional floor mats and futons to sleep on. I found the futons comfortable to sleep on, but not everyone would. Seems like it used to be more of a hostel, since there was a big table that some groups used for eating, as well as a shared microwave and washing machine. And while there were no dolphins at Tabist Sparkling Dolphins Inn Kyoto, there are two turtles in the entrance room!

Stayed in May 2024

Would have preferred some more basic facilities but overall all was fine.

Excellent value for money and it was fun to stay at a cute minimalistic Japanese inn. Loved the tatami beds!

Stayed in May 2024

The owner was friendly and nice! So sweet of him to give us a photo as a momento :)

Stayed in May 2024

None.

Facilities and rooms were clean, change of towels available everyday. Staff and host were commendable and honest. They had found a sum of our money left in the room accidentally but they kept it and returned it to us when when we got back in the evening late. Host was courteous to prepare a stool for my mother to remove her shoes when we return from our site seeing every night.

Stayed in April 2024

Nothing significant in our stay. But I could picture some issues arising in the lobby if everyone checks in/checks out at the same time as it is just too tight. Fortunately for us we didn’t go through this.

japanese ryokan/tatami experience on a budget! great value for the experience. The guy who managed the accommodation and apparently also lives below is very helpful.

Stayed in March 2024

Reception is messy, not very good impression at first sight. And the futton is very thin and not very comfortable.

I like the location not too far from Kyoto station, restaurants, and convenience stores around. The room was clean and spacious enough to accommodate a family of four.

Stayed in April 2024