Kawashima Ryokan

Style: Traditional Ryokan

Price Per Person:
¥7,000 ~ ¥15,000

Guest Rating:
 

Address (English)

207-2 Yanaginobaba Nishiru Ayanokoji-dori, Shimogyo-ku
Kyoto -shi

Address (Japanese)

京都府京都市下京区綾小路通柳馬場西入ル207-2

MAP & DIRECTIONS

GUEST REVIEWS

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Welcome to Kawashima Ryokan. This Traditional Ryokan is conveniently located near many of the best places to go sightseeing in Kyoto, including the historic Gion district and a number of old temples. This traditional ryokan has been in business since 1901, and it is currently in its third generation of family ownership. Traditional Japanese meals are served to guests at Kawashima Ryokan. Check-in time is after 15:00 and check-out time is before 10:00 am. English and French are spoken. There are 5 rooms at Kawashima Ryokan. They only have one bath "Family Bath" that guests use one (or small group) at a time.

Welcome to Kawashima Ryokan. This Traditional Ryokan is conveniently located near many of the best places to go sightseeing in Kyoto, including the historic Gion district and a number of old temples. This traditional ryokan has been in business since 1901, and it is currently in its third generation of family ownership. Traditional Japanese meals are served to guests at Kawashima Ryokan. Check-in time is after 15:00 and check-out time is before 10:00 am. English and French are spoken. There are 5 rooms at Kawashima Ryokan. They only have one bath "Family Bath" that guests use one (or small group) at a time.

Facilities

(click to expand)

GUEST ROOMS

  • Japanese Style Room with Private Bath and Toilet
  • Japanese Style Room with Private Toilet Only
  • Non-Smoking Rooms
  • Towels

HOT SPRINGS and BATHING FACILITIES

  • Shared Outdoor Hot Spring Bath (Same Gender Only)
  • Shared Indoor Hot Spring Bath (Same Gender Only)
  • Private Hot Spring Bath in Guest Room
  • Private Outdoor Hot Spring Bath (Attached to Guest Room)
  • "Family Bath" (Privately Reserved Hot Spring Bath)
  • Mixed Outdoor Hot Spring Bath

REGULAR BATHING FACILITIES

  • Shared Outdoor Bath (Same Gender Only)
  • Shared Indoor Bath (Same Gender Only)
  • Private Outdoor Bath (Attached to Guest Room)
  • "Family Bath" (Privately Reserved Bath)
  • Mixed Outdoor Bath (Both Genders)

MEALS

  • Dinner and Breakfast Plan Available
  • Breakfast Plan Only Available
  • No Meal Plan Available

SPECIAL MEAL REQUEST

  • Special Meal Request (e.g. No Pork)
  • Vegetarian Meals (with fish)
  • Vegetarian Meals (no fish but with fish broth)
  • Western-style Breakfast

DINING ARRANGEMENTS

  • Dinner Served in Guest Room
  • Breakfast Served in Guest Room

OTHER

  • English Ability of the Ryokan Staff/Owners:
    Good English Spoken
  • Internet Connection:
    Wifi Available
  • Internet Connection:
    Wifi Available
  • Parking:
    No Parking
  • Curfew Time:
    23:00
  • Pickup Service:
  • Single Guests:
  • Children under 12 Years allowed:
  • Pay with a Credit Card:
  • Shops and Restaurants Near Ryokan:

GUEST REVIEWS

Guest Photos:

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Ryokan Reviews:

  • Very enjoyable

    Richard

    Date of Review: February, 2020

    Month of Visit: February

    Country Of Reviewer: USA

    Atmosphere Rating - 5

    Food Rating - 5

    Staff Rating - 5

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 5

    This is the third time I have stayed in this ryokan. Very welcoming and comfortable, in a great central location. Traditional atmosphere. Excellent meals available. To stay here is to feel like you are really in Japan.
  • First time in Japan

    Teera

    Month of Visit: May

    Country Of Reviewer: United States

    Atmosphere Rating - 4

    Food Rating - 4

    Staff Rating - 5

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 4

    I enjoyed my stay. The host and hostess were very nice. I asked for lactose free food and was accommodated. Location was great and place was quiet.
  • Location, Location, Location

    Matthew

    Date of Review: April, 2019

    Month of Visit: April

    Country Of Reviewer: USA

    Atmosphere Rating - 3

    Food Rating - 5

    Staff Rating - 5

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 4

    While I liked this place, I am offering an honest review based on my general experiences at 5 other traditional (not modern) ryokan across Japan. I would probably stay here again, but being objective is more helpful to future guests. The location of this Ryokan is the highlight. Easy walks to subway lines and important bus routes. We also walked to various sights, though that is a bit longer (45mins). The owners were pretty hands off. Not much info on check in. However they helped with birthday dinner reservations without us even asking, and it proved very helpful. Our room was quite large with 2 separate rooms! Compared to other ryokan, while the rooms were larger, the property in general was quite simple, less spacious and less attractive. Visiting in warmer weather however may have increased our enjoyment of the space/garden/balcony. We visited in April and it was cool at night. The in-room heating unit did a wonderful job. A night time trip to the shared courtyard bathrooms however, was a bit cold. Compared to other ryokan, the bathrooms were the least impressive part. The single bathtub was un-attractive but totally functional. The toilets were cramped and there was a little odor issue. The shared sinks on the hall were quite good, but, on the main hallway and in the open. The price was high compared to other ryokan of this quality elsewhere in Japan, but we were in Kyoto during blossom season - and that obviously is a factor. Lastly we did not have any food, but there is no option to not rate that category so we gave a 5.
  • Yes, just yes

    Julianne

    Month of Visit: April

    Country Of Reviewer: USA

    Atmosphere Rating - 5

    Food Rating - 5

    Staff Rating - 5

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 5

    I had the pleasure of staying here for a few nights during cherry blossom season. The building was charming, the accommodations comfortable, the owners extremely kind (plus they had an adorable daughter!), the breakfast amazing, and the location (right near Nishiki Market) perfect. I can't wait to stay here again someday!
  • Lovely stay

    Amelia

    Date of Review: March, 2019

    Month of Visit: March

    Country Of Reviewer:

    Atmosphere Rating - 5

    Food Rating - 5

    Staff Rating - 5

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 5

    Thankful for the lovely room for a one night's stay for one person. I had both dinner and breakfast served and it was absolutely delicious and well put together. The guesthouse was located away from the main road but also close enough to plenty of resturants and shops. Room was also clean with enough space to walk around. Do take note that bathrooms are located on the first floor so u will have to use the stairs to use the bathrooms. Also that the walls are relatively thin so u can hear others. Keep that in mind so that u can also be a considerate guest towards others.
  • First Ryokan experience – good!

    Baz

    Month of Visit: October

    Country Of Reviewer: UK

    Atmosphere Rating - 4

    Food Rating - 4

    Staff Rating - 4

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 4

    We were looking to experience the basic, traditional accommodation of a Ryokan in Kyoto and this proved to be perfect. Well-located for transport, sightseeing and restaurants (see other reviews), the owner spoke good English, was helpful in providing information and maps and served my first Japanese breakfast. Our first floor room was clean, the beds on the floor more comfortable than at first sight although the rice-filled pillows took a little getting used to. No problems with access to communal washing facilities. The room, although private, is very much a shared space – the walls are very thin – and consideration for other guests is necessary. Overall, I found it a positive introduction and insight into a small part of Japanese culture. Arigatou gozaimashita!
  • Excellent ryokan - great location

    Elen

    Month of Visit: October

    Country Of Reviewer: UK

    Atmosphere Rating - 5

    Food Rating - 5

    Staff Rating - 5

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 5

    This was a lovely ryokan with atmosphere and in a good location. We stayed as a group and booked three rooms. All rooms were a good size especially the biggest room which had a separate sleeping area. The lady that greeted us was warm and welcoming and helped us plan our day of sightseeing with suggestions for what to do. The staff all spoke very good English. We arrived early and the ryokan looked after our bags for us. The shared bathroom was immaculately clean and the bath hot. We didn’t have the chance to eat there as we ate out in the local area. You’re spoilt for choice with excellent local restaurants and a cafe across the road. A really lovely place to stay. Our 9 year old daughter had a brilliant time there too. We’d definitely go back.
  • Beautiful & Convenient

    Andrew

    Month of Visit: October

    Country Of Reviewer: Canada

    Atmosphere Rating - 5

    Food Rating - 3

    Staff Rating - 3

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 5

    Stayed for 1 night and really enjoyed it. The rooms are beautiful, and we were impressed to arrive to hot tea and a cookie. Great walkable location a couple blocks from the subway, a couple shrines, and a good night life area.
  • Not for children

    Karin

    Month of Visit: September

    Country Of Reviewer:

    Atmosphere Rating - 4

    Food Rating - 5

    Staff Rating - 2

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 5

    The room was lovely. The location was great. I would not recommend staying here if you have children or want to have a conversation with the host. We were greeted by an unfriendly woman upon arrival and then completely ignored the entire stay, except for one afternoon (it was raining and 2:30 pm), our children were laughing in the room and the same unfriendly woman stood outside our door and said: “silence please.” They immediately stopped laughing and we were very uncomfortable. The host never talked to us except to ask us to pay the bill. If you don’t have children and/or don’t want to have a conversation with the host it might be ok.
  • A LITTLE SLICE OF JAPANESE HEAVEN

    Judith

    Date of Review: June, 2018

    Month of Visit: May

    Country Of Reviewer: USA

    Atmosphere Rating - 5

    Food Rating - 5

    Staff Rating - 5

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 5

    When I looked through the Japanese Guest House choices of ryokan in Kyoto, I looked at the choices, read all the guest reviews, then made my decision: INN KAWASHIMA. What I was hoping for was a small, quiet, friendly 7 night stay in a Traditional Japanese Ryokan. INN KAWASHIMA WAS EXACTLY WHAT I HOPED FOR...AND MORE! 120 years owned by the same family, I found the owners to be extremely approachable, friendly, and helpful. They both speak excellent English and they have furnished this Ryokan with authentic décor and lots of pride: tatami mat bedrooms with comfortable futons, lacquer tables, floor chairs with cushions, daily fresh towels and yakata. I ordered 2 dinners and 3 breakfasts that were beautifully presented in my room and were delicious to the eye and the stomach! The Japanese attention to detail is lovely! The shared bathrooms, sink, and bath worked out fine amongst all the guests. The interior garden is peaceful and beautiful and I made friends with the gold fish. I love the old neighborhood where it is located. Ample access to subway, buses, taxis, family owned small shops and proximity to larger business and shopping streets. I highly recommend this ryokan if you want to stay in a traditional Japanese home.
  • First time in Japan

    Greer

    Month of Visit: June

    Country Of Reviewer: United States

    Atmosphere Rating - 4

    Food Rating - 2

    Staff Rating - 4

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 3

    As with most ryokans, they are 'hidden' 2-3 blocks off of main avenues with easy access to subway. I had 4 nights in Kyoto but had to move from the first ryokan to this one due to booking. No toilet in this room, quite similar in other regards to the first Kyoto ryokan but this was $20 more per night. I thought that a bit strange. I did not eat there so have no experience one way or 'tother.
  • Quiet stay in a great location

    Ron

    Month of Visit: May

    Country Of Reviewer: England

    Atmosphere Rating - 5

    Food Rating - 5

    Staff Rating - 5

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 5

    This is an excellent traditional inn, just off the heart of the shopping district in Kyoto. Good facilities, comfortable rooms, friendly staff, tasty breakfast (Y1400 extra), and a lovely little garden in the centre. Just be warned that the steps up to the second floor are very steep, especially for those carrying heavy luggage. One block from the main shopping strip and five minute walk from Gion and the geisha district. Lots of buses within walking distance and subways are also close by.
  • Great Location!

    Allison

    Date of Review: May, 2018

    Month of Visit: May

    Country Of Reviewer: United States

    Atmosphere Rating - 5

    Food Rating - 5

    Staff Rating - 5

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 5

    Kawashima Ryokan was a wonderful stay. Perfectly located in central Kyoto. We were greeted by one of the innkeepers and her children. The little indoor garden (nakaniwa) is a precious relief in the morning or afternoon with its lush greenness and cute goldfish. Yes, there is one toilet for women and one for men as well as a changing room, shower, deep tub and two sinks for the entire place, but we never had to wait. When we went up to our room it was large and well appointed with enough space for us and our things. The tatami mats were real! Typically many mats are now synthetic. There's nothing like the feel of real soft mats. There was hot water, Genmaicha, and two treats waiting for our arrival. They also had a very good air conditioner for the room, but we did turn it off during the day when we were not there. It cooled the room quickly. It was surprisingly quiet, even though we had a large family staying next to us. We could walk to all of the important spots (Temple, shopping, restaurants, Gion, Nishiki Market, et) in downtown as well as easily get a subway, bus or train to anywhere. Our host was very nice and friendly. He speaks English very well and was helpful. He's got a great sense of humor and we appreciated it! I'd recommend this to anyone. I only wish I had opted for one of the meals - the cooking smelled lovely!
  • Worth the experience!

    Claire

    Month of Visit: December

    Country Of Reviewer:

    Atmosphere Rating - 5

    Food Rating - 5

    Staff Rating - 5

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 5

    Beautiful traditional ryokan with delicious Kaiseiki dinner! Host was charming and had a perfect command of English. Was a memorable experience to stay in a ryokan, enjoying the peace and quiet of Kyoto.
  • quiet jewel close to busy Kyoto

    Benoit

    Date of Review: November, 2017

    Month of Visit: October

    Country Of Reviewer: France

    Atmosphere Rating - 5

    Food Rating - 4

    Staff Rating - 5

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 5

    Kawashima ryokan was a delicate surprise. Although the bath and general facilities are not large, the owner speaks perfect English, which was not required but definitely helpful :) Kawashima is close to amenities such as metro, train, cleaner. The little garden in the middle gives an eery sentiment of otherworldliness at night, and you can walk from it to a lot of daytime sights in Kyoto, and definitely walk back from many a nighttime leisure and eating spots in Kyoto. Definitely recommended and would go back again.
  • Authentic athmosphere, helpful host, perfectly situated

    Zenon

    Month of Visit: September

    Country Of Reviewer: Switzerland

    Atmosphere Rating - 5

    Food Rating - 5

    Staff Rating - 5

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 5

    In the busy center of Kyoto you would not expect such a quiet and traditional japanese home with every thing you need. Everything is close by: Nikishi-food-market, post-office, laundry, high class restaurant, izakaya-shops, famous temple with a 600 year old ginko tree, train-subway-bus-stations... Just perfect, with a very nice and helpful hostfamily.
  • Nice moment but expensive

    Johanna

    Date of Review: September, 2017

    Month of Visit: August

    Country Of Reviewer: France

    Atmosphere Rating - 5

    Food Rating - 5

    Staff Rating - 5

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 5

    It was our last night in Kyoto and I wanted to sleep in a beautiful traditional ryokan after a shukubo and a guesthouse in a traditional japanese home. The ryokan was little, but our rooms was perfect, with TV and yukata(the air-conditionning was very noisy ...). Futon were really confortable and the breakfast was delicious. The perfect japanese breakfast according to me. Bathroom with the bath is really nice too. However, after our nights in the traditional japanese home and the temple, that night was not as exceptionnal as we thought ... But everything was really nice. Thanks to the hostess.
  • Complete Japanese Experience

    Dorthe

    Month of Visit: July

    Country Of Reviewer: Denmark

    Atmosphere Rating - 5

    Food Rating - 5

    Staff Rating - 5

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 5

    Kawashima Ryokan provided the Complete Japanese Experience that we were looking for, with unforgettable dinner and breakfast served in the room, Yukata to war after bath, sitting and sleeping on the tatami mats. Nice arrangements for a big group of 6 people, with sliding doors between sitting and sleeping area. Perfectly airconditioned in the hot Kyoto summer. The host could even help us with cold beer for the dinner as we forgot to buy them ourselves before arriving. I warmly recommend treating yourself with a stay at this Ryokan.
  • OK

    Michael

    Month of Visit: June

    Country Of Reviewer: Australia

    Atmosphere Rating - 4

    Food Rating - 1

    Staff Rating - 5

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 4

    Kawashima Ryokan has a great location in central Kyoto. There is a Sake Bar across the street directly opposite the room I was in which became a little rowdy around 11.00- 11.30pm on a Friday night, but then went quiet afterwards. Like most of Japan I find the cities to be very quiet considering their density and size. My room was large and roomy, but I really think that most Ryokans, not necessarily just Kawashima, could make an effort to provide at least a stool (Japanese style of course) to augment moments whereby people of an older generation might need a stool to put on socks or similar situations. Also some kind of open clothes rack (timber) to hang clothes would be appreciated. My main disappointment with this ryokan was that the mens toilet smelt badly at times, mainly due to lack of ventilation being an internal room. This was a bit off putting and offensive. So thats my negative comments out of the way. Overall though I was happy with my stay at Kawashima considering my above comments, great location, friendly English speaking owner clean and tidy.
  • Excellent experience

    Richard

    Month of Visit: May

    Country Of Reviewer: USA

    Atmosphere Rating - 5

    Food Rating - 5

    Staff Rating - 5

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 5

    We were very pleased with our ten day stay. Quiet, peaceful, and very well located. Excellent meals, adequate space, good air conditioning when we needed it. Very gracious and helpful host. We would definitely stay there again.
  • Beautiful place to stay

    Month of Visit: February

    Country Of Reviewer: Australia

    Atmosphere Rating - 5

    Food Rating - 5

    Staff Rating - 5

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 5

    This ryokan was a wonderful place to stay. The food was great, the host very hospitable and organised a traditional breakfast for us even though we hadn't included it through our booking. There were beautiful design features all throughout, and a great location, right near the station and main street attractions. One thing I would do is print a map to get there though! We exited from the wrong exit at the station and it took a while to find (despite being only 3 mins away). It was a fantastic stay, would love to stay again.
  • Great and quiet home

    Month of Visit: March

    Country Of Reviewer: USA

    Atmosphere Rating - 4

    Food Rating - 4

    Staff Rating - 4

    Location Rating - 4

    Room Rating - 5

    The guest house was easy to find and centrally located in Kyoto. Just a few blocks away are lovely stores and the famous Nishiki market. The host was kind and provided a great traditional japanese breakfast for both days of our stay. He also helped me book a reservation at Kikunoi which was mighty helpful. The one thing that I found missing was there wasn't exactly an onsen or sento setup. There is a bath in the washroom, but it's not really the same as a full on bathhouse-like setup. Also, the room and house in general was kind of cold. Other than that it was a wonderful stay and I would recommend it again.
  • Pleasant stay and hospitable hosts

    Month of Visit: April

    Country Of Reviewer: Philippines

    Atmosphere Rating - 5

    Food Rating - 3

    Staff Rating - 5

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 4

    This ryokan is very quiet, which helped make our stay relaxing and peaceful. The room we had was spacious enough for my husband and I. The location is near bus and train stations, and shopping areas. It is also a good 15-min walk to Gion. There were only a few rooms so it was manageable to share the toilet and bath with the other guests. The hosts were really helpful and friendly. When we arrived, we asked for directions and which transportation (train or bus) to take. We were given an area map and we marked our target destinations. They were more than willing to answer all our queries during our stay. We stayed at the second floor and the stairs had very small steps so carrying our luggages was quite a challenge. Overall, we had a nice stay at this place and would recommend it to others.
  • Perfect Stay

    Month of Visit: May

    Country Of Reviewer: U.S.

    Atmosphere Rating - 5

    Food Rating - 5

    Staff Rating - 5

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 5

    Outstanding. Surprisingly large rooms, quiet street, great location. Very warm hosts, who are at the ready to help with anything. I felt like we were sharing their home, probably because we were. There's no down-side here: ample affordable parking all over the neighborhood, short walk to all the sights, very comfortable accommodations. (Note: We ate outside of the ryokan, so I can't comment on the food, so I gave it a "5".)
  • Real Japan

    Month of Visit: July

    Country Of Reviewer: Australia

    Atmosphere Rating - 4

    Food Rating - 5

    Staff Rating - 4

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 4

    Totally lived up to our expectations. We were delighted to offer our children a traditional authentic Ryokan stay. The wonderful food was beyond compare, surpassing many of the 5 Star dining experiences. Our host spoke perfect English, though remained reclusive. We found him approachable, extremely courteous and accommodating.
  • A perfect stay in a central location of Kyoto

    Month of Visit: June

    Country Of Reviewer: Canada

    Atmosphere Rating - 5

    Food Rating - 5

    Staff Rating - 5

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 5

    Although it is not easy to spot from the street, this ryokan is absolutely stellar. The decor is authentic, the breakfast is delicious, the beds are very comfortable, and the staff is both friendly and accommodating. We were even able to leave our bags safely with the staff for the day after we checked out in order to keep visiting this beautiful city. Recommended 100%
  • Excellent Stay: Good For Small Families

    Month of Visit: August

    Country Of Reviewer: Singapore

    Atmosphere Rating - 5

    Food Rating - 5

    Staff Rating - 5

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 5

    The owner was very considerate and quick to cater to our needs. We booked the wrong dates and turned up a week early but we were still treated to a lovely ryokan experience. We had a 9 month old baby and the owner drew a bath for our baby that was ready to go when we came back from sightseeing in the evening. The food was delicious and healthy and the location fabulous.
  • Lovely sweet little place; kind and helpful proprietor

    Month of Visit: August

    Country Of Reviewer: USA

    Atmosphere Rating - 5

    Food Rating - 4

    Staff Rating - 5

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 5

    Just three rooms in this guest house, and two overlook a beautiful little garden. Ours was one of these two, on a floor by itself, spacious and pretty. Also worth noting: not only does the owner speak excellent English, but he was very kind and helpful, offering to move us downstairs when we arrived (my mother had an injured foot) and helping me to find vegan food in the vicinity. While the food at the inn is not vegetarian, I have it on good authority that it was delicious :) I will certainly be recommending the Inn Kawashima to anyone I know who plans to visit Kyoto, and hope to stay there again myself some day.
  • Great

    Month of Visit: August

    Country Of Reviewer: The Netherlands

    Atmosphere Rating - 5

    Food Rating - 4

    Staff Rating - 5

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 5

    In the hussle and bussle of such a large city, this ryokan offers everything you need to relax and unwind the city-impressions. It was clean, the food was wonderful, the staff very friendly, the room was good as was the bathroom. Shijo street is closeby, but you don't hear anything of that. The neighborhood quiet and lively at the same time. The owner speaks very good english.
  • Lovely Stay!

    Month of Visit: August

    Country Of Reviewer: Brazil

    Atmosphere Rating - 5

    Food Rating - 5

    Staff Rating - 5

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 5

    This was my first time staying in a ryoukan and it was an utter delight. Our room (i shared one with a friend) was on the seconds floor, spacious, very clean (the place was always fresh, and our kimonos and towels got changed everyday without fault, along with complementary tea and cookies) and had a relaxing view of the small, beautiful garden inside the place. The bathroom was well equiped and also very clean, both me and friend didn't have a single problem sharing it with the other guests. The location is also very convenient, because both Shijo Street (a lively shopping distric kind of street) and the subway are extremely near, and yet while inside the ryoukan you dont get to hear any noise, so it's very relaxing and perfect for getting a good night's sleep after a busy day. Last but not least , the owner speaks very good english and is very helpful. He gave us directions and suggestions almost daily . In short: i would definitely recommend this Ryoukan to anyone who wants to stay in Kyoto :)
  • Traditional Hospitality and Great Location

    Month of Visit: September

    Country Of Reviewer: USA

    Atmosphere Rating - 4

    Food Rating - 5

    Staff Rating - 5

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 4

    My husband and I spent two nights here as part of our honeymoon. It was both of our first times staying in a traditional ryokan, and I'd say it's definitely an experience everyone going to Japan should have at least once. I slept better than expected on the futons on the tatami mats. I think the house coat kimonos they give you are called uppawari, and it was fun to wear those while walking around in the provided slippers. The ryokan is beautifully designed, and there is a pretty little zen garden in the middle, which can be viewed from one of the second floor rooms. The first night we were there, we were in a room that faced the street, so there was noise from the cafe below and the traffic going by. Although I slept through the night, we requested to be moved to a room further from the street, since we get enough traffic noise at home in L.A. The room where we slept the second night was much bigger and even had two rooms- one for sleeping and the other a living room. Megumi was one of the innkeepers, and she was very kind, giving us directions to places we wanted to go, and bringing us breakfast at the scheduled time. I would recommend you order a Japanese-style breakfast if you stay here. It really adds to the atmosphere and the experience. Access to the bathroom and toilet was not a problem, even though they were shared with other guests. I should probably mention that I got a LOT of mosquito bites while we were staying here, so if you're going in early fall or in the summer, you might want to have some bug spray or something. Just for variety, I might try another place next time, but I would recommend Kawashima to other travelers for sure.
  • Great Place to Stay

    Month of Visit: November

    Country Of Reviewer: Singapore

    Atmosphere Rating - 4

    Food Rating - 3

    Staff Rating - 5

    Location Rating - 4

    Room Rating - 4

    Stay with a travelling companion for 4 nights. This is a family-run ryokan. The host is able speaks English thus it's easy for check-in and to request for things. This ryokan is great as a base to explore Kyoto as it is located near 2 subway lines which goes from North to South and East to West. Bathroom, toilet is shared among guest and the host family members, bathroom door can be locked. Recommendation is to use the bathroom during late afternoon so as not to be waiting too long for a bath. The guest rooms are located on the 2nd level and you would have to take the stairs to get there, 2 rooms are facing the small street. We were assigned one of the rooms which was directly facing a café/bar across the street, it might get a little noisy at night as the patrons bid goodbye, it won't last long, so fine for us. The room is big enough for us. Flask are refilled daily and Teacups and pots are changed daily with new snacks everyday. Overall this is a good place to make as a base to travel in Kyoto. I will want to come by again, especially that they support solo travellers.
  • Lovely place in the heart of Kyoto

    Month of Visit: December

    Country Of Reviewer: Finland

    Atmosphere Rating - 5

    Food Rating - 5

    Staff Rating - 5

    Location Rating - 5

    Room Rating - 3

    Kawashima Ryokan has a great location on a quiet side street in central Kyoto, near a metro station, huge semi-outdoor market and the Pontotcho nighlife area. It's a traditional Ryokan with paperthin walls and only one bathroom for the whole facility. Noise from the streets however wasn't a problem at all, since there's very little traffic. The only problem is the indoor temperature. It's freezing cold in December. There's a heater in every room, but once you turn it off, the place gets cold very quickly, since there's hardly any insulation. Therefore you have to keep it running through the whole night, which is quite annoying. So keep that in mind if you're coming here in the winter. The food was excellent, both the breakfast and dinner. While only two toilets and one bathroom might be a problem on a busier time of the year, we didn't actually have any problems at all with this. There were other's there but it seemed they were on a different showering rythym than us... The guy running the place was very helpful and spoke very good english as well.