Kyoto's Top 10 Ryokan: Stay at a Hot Spring Inn With an Open-Air Bath

Kyoto's Best Ryokan Inns

Japanese Ryokan Seryo. Picture courtesy of Booking.com

In Kyoto there are many different types of traditional ryokan accommodation.

These include famous, long-established spots such as Tawaraya Ryokan, Sumiya Ryokan, and Hiiragiya―collectively known as Kyoto's Big Three (Kyoto Gosanke)―as well as luxury ryokans all the way to casual, reasonably-priced ryokans.

Now are you familiar with the differences between a ryokan and hotel?

One big difference is whether or not meals are included. Unlike a hotel, ryokans usually provide two meals with a one-night's stay. For that reason, many ryokans offer delicious gournet cuisine focusing on locally gathered, seasonal ingredients.

Japanese Ryokan Seryo. Picture courtesy of Booking.com

Also, many ryokans have Japanese-style guest rooms. These feature tatami flooring, futon beds, and en suite open-air baths (rotemburo). So, if you'd like to experience Japan's unique culture, we would highly recommend a ryokan!

In this article we will introduce Kyoto's best 10 hot spring inns, divided into three categories: famous ryokans, luxury ryokans, and reasonably-priced ryokans.

10 Excellent Ryokan Inns in Kyoto

Famous Ryokans in Kyoto
1. Seikoro Ryokan
2. Yamabana Heihachi Tea House Inn
3. Japanese Ryokan Seryo
4. Genmyoan
Luxury Ryokans in Kyoto
5. Ryokan Genhouin
6. Yuzuya Ryokan
7. Nazuna Kyoto Gosho
8. Kyoto Nanzenji Ryokan Yachiyo
Reasonably-Priced Ryokans in Kyoto
9. Kyonoyado Gekkoan
10. Matsubaya Ryokan

1. Seikoro Ryokan

Picture courtesy of Booking.com

Seikoro Ryokan is a famous, long-standing ryokan that was established in 1831. It features a retro atmosphere with a mix of Japanese and Western-style furnishings.

Meals can be served in the guest room or in a private room, so we recommend this ryokan for couples and families who want to enjoy a leisurely meal in privacy.

Picture courtesy of Booking.com

Seikoro Ryokan is a rare kind of inn because it also offers a kimono-wearing experience.

Guests can try on a traditional Junihitoe, or 12-layered kimono. This formal attire was worn by aristocratic women during the Heian Period. It costs 5,000 yen per person and includes two commemorative photos (For ryokan guests only). The total time required is about 40 minutes.

Seikoro Ryokan is about seven minutes by car from Kyoto Station. So it's also handy for sightseeing. Kyoto National Museum and Shichijo Station are just 10 minutes away on foot, and Sanjusangendo Temple and Kiyomizudera Temple are five minutes away by car.

Location	Just 3 minutes on foot from Kiyomizu-Gojo Station
Recommended Features	12-layered kimono (Junihitoe) experience. Guest room dining and private dining available. Pet-friendly rooms available (subject to conditions such as small indoor dogs only).
Check-in / out	15:00 - 19:00 / 7:30 - 10:30

2. Yamabana Heihachi Tea House Inn

Picture courtesy of Booking.com

Guests at Yamabana Heihachi Tea House Inn can stay at a famous, long-standing ryotei restaurant with a history of some 440 years.

The ryokan is known for their barley rice and grated yam soup seasoned with a secret dashi stock, as well as their kaiseki cuisine using tilefish (Guji).

Another attractive feature is the variety of distinct gourmet dishes from each season.
In the summer there's sweetfish (ayu) kaiseki cuisine and conger eel (hamo) kaiseki. Then autumn offers matsutake mushroom kaiseki and the winter features hot pot dishes.

Guests can enjoy all these special dishes in the comfort of their own room!

Picture courtesy of Booking.com

Another ryokan specialty is their highly unique Japanese-style sauna, kamaburo. The temperature is set lower than a typical sauna, usually about 55-60°C. Guests place a mat on the floor and then lie down on a ceramic pillow (see above photo).

Yamabana Heihachi Tea House Inn is located about 23 minutes north of Kyoto Station by car. Also, Shimogamo Shrine is about seven minutes away by car from the ryokan. On foot it takes seven minutes to reach Takaragaike Station where you can hop on the Eizan Electric Railway Main Line heading for Mt. Hiei.

*Please note that those under the age of 18 are not permitted to stay here.

Location	Just 5 minutes on foot from Shugakuin Station (Eizan Electric Railway)
Recommended Features	Guest Room dining is possible. Special room plans where guests can enjoy a traditional Japanese sauna (kamaburo) all to themselves.
Check-in / out	16:00 / 10:00

3. Japanese Ryokan Seryo

Picture courtesy of Booking.com

Japanese Ryokan Seryo is a famous ryokan located in the nature-rich Ohara area, about 40 minutes by car from Kyoto Station.

This gourmet inn has been listed in the Michelin Guide (Kyoto-Osaka) for nine straight years. So we highly recommend it for visitors wanting to enjoy Kyoto-style cuisine.

Diners here will discover a taste that's uniquely Japanese. The menu includes a domestic Japanese black beef shabu-shabu course and also a botan-nabe course (winter only)―a traditional hotpot dish featuring wild boar meat from Hyogo Prefecture's Tanba Sasayama area. Shabu-shabu and vegetarian cuisine can also be reserved upon request.

Picture courtesy of Booking.com

In addition to a large natural hot spring bath, some of the elegant Japanese-style guest rooms also come equipped with an open-air bath.

The local area is home to many historic temples. Sanzenin Temple, known as a famous spot for hydrangeas and autumn leaves, is just two minutes away on foot.

It's also good to know that a complimentary shuttle bus operates between the nearby Ohara bus stop and the ryokan (prior reservations required).

*Please note that those under the age of 18 are not permitted to stay here.

Location	About 10 minutes on foot from Ohara bus stop (Kyoto Bus). Also a free shuttle bus from the bus stop.
Recommended Features	Some guest rooms come equipped with open-air baths. On-site there's a large hot spring bath. Vegetarian meals are available upon request. Complimentary shuttle bus.
Check-in / out	15:00 - 17:00 / 10:00

4. Genmyoan

Picture courtesy of Booking.com

Genmyoan was built on a mountain and is a ryokan with a spectacular view. Visitors here are treated to a stunning panorama of Amanohashidate―one of Japan's Top Three Most Scenic Spots (Nihon-sankei).

Amanohashidate, likened to a dragon flying in the sky, can be seen from guest rooms and the large common bath. Genmyoan is perfect for guests who want to get a close-up look at Amanohashidate, and for those wanting an open-air bath with ocean views.

Picture courtesy of Booking.com

Genmyoan has 12 guest rooms―all with an ocean view! Of those, eight rooms offer views of Amanohashidate from the en suite baths. One guest room has an open-air bath and three rooms have a semi open-air bath.

Genmyoan is conveniently located just one minute on foot from Amanohashidate Viewland's Chairlift / Monorail Base Station. Even Amanohashidate Hot Springs and Amanohashidate Shrine are only a five-minute walk away. Also, it's 15 minutes on foot to the nearest station, Amanohashidate Station, and there's also a free shuttle bus.

Location	About 15 minutes on foot from Amanohashidate (free shuttle bus from the station).
Recommended Features	Guest rooms with open-air baths, semi open-air baths, and baths with good views are available.
Check-in / out	15:00-19:00 / 10:00

5. Ryokan Genhouin

Picture courtesy of Booking.com

Ryokan Genhouin is a luxury ryokan that's ideal for visitors with an interest in traditional Japanese culture.

It was built in 1920 and its structure features a pure style of Japanese architecture.

It formerly served as the residence for the Yamashina family starting from the Heian Period (794-1185). The Yamashina family is a distinguished family that has served the Emperor for generations. They are professionals in emondo (The Art of Dressing), which is clothing design for aristocrats and samurai.

The ryokan premises are adorned with court costumes and traditional textiles, so guests will definitely get a feel for traditional Japanese aesthetics.

Picture courtesy of Booking.com

Beautiful strolling gardens nearby include the Heian Shrine Gardens that were designed by Ogawa Jihei, a seventh-generation master gardener who has worked on many gardens.

Two buildings (four buildings in total), the main building and the annex with the garden, now serve as part of the ryokan. So guests can have a precious experience staying in a cultural property. The hot spring bath can be reserved for private use. Please note that only breakfast is served.

The ryokan also has great access―it's only eight minutes on foot to Heian Shrine, and about 11 minutes away from Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art.

*Please note that children under the age of 12 are not permitted to stay here.

Location	Just 3 minutes on foot from Okazaki Jinja-mae bus stop (City Bus).
Recommended Features	Vegetarian Breakfast available. Stay in a historic mansion.
Check-in / out	16:00 - 22:00 / 7:30 - 10:30

6. Yuzuya Ryokan

Picture courtesy of Booking.com

Yuzuya Ryokan is a Japanese-style auberge (inn) that's managed by a restaurant.

Just as the name suggests, this is a unique ryokan with a yuzu (citrus fruit) theme. It's perfect for visitors who like Japanese cuisine and yuzu fruit.

In the guest room baths there are lots of fragrant smelling yuzu floating on top. The ryokan likes to change these different varieties depending on the season―spring and summer feature green yuzu and fall and winter have yellow yuzu.

At Isshin kyo, a Japanese-style restaurant on the first floor, guests can savor a variety of seasonal ingredients. Here there are aromatic yuzu dishes such as yuzu hotpot and yuzu rice porridge.

Picture courtesy of Booking.com

At Isshin kyo they can also arrange Kyoto-esque banquets for you, complete with geisha apprentices called maiko and full-fledged geisha known as geigi (additional fee).

Another attractive feature of Yuzuya Ryokan is its handy location.

The ryokan is adjacent to the popular Yasaka Shrine. Then it's only a ten-minute walk to Chion-in Temple, Choraku-ji Temple, and Gion-Shijo Station. Also, Kenninji Temple is five minutes away by car. From the ryokan you can explore many sightseeing spots on foot!

Location	About 10 minutes on foot from Shijo Station.
Recommended Features	Yuzu cuisine and yuzu hot spring baths. Banquets with maiko and geiko are possible. Great access to major sightseeing attractions.
Check-in / out	15:00 - 18:00 / 8:00 - 11:00

7. Nazuna Kyoto Gosho

Picture courtesy of Booking.com

Nazuna Kyoto Gosho is a luxury ryokan with just seven guest rooms. Here you can have an overnight stay that feels just like you're living in a traditional Kyoto home.

The building is a renovated Kyoto machiya (traditional wooden townhouse) and features a modern interior with a mix of Japanese and Western styles. Visitors can also choose a room with an open-air bath.

In the guest-only lounge you can enjoy complimentary alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, as well as light snacks, from the morning until the evening!

Picture courtesy of Booking.com

In addition, guests here can experience Japanese culture through various activities.

There's a kimono-wearing experience (4,400 yen and up) and also a bath―converted from a storehouse―where you can appreciate works of art (3,000 yen and up). These experiences are not available anywhere else.

The ryokan also has a convenient location. On foot it's only seven minutes to Kyoto Gyoen National Garden and 15 minutes to Nijo-jo Castle.

*Please note that children under the age of 13 are not permitted to stay here.

Location	About 15 minutes from Kyoto Station.
Recommended Features	Guest rooms come with an open-air bath. Kimono-wearing experience and storehouse bath experience. Free alcoholic beverage, soft drink, and snack service.
Check-in / out	15:00 - 21:00 / 11:00

8. Kyoto Nanzenji Ryokan Yachiyo

Picture courtesy of Booking.com

Kyoto Nanzenji Ryokan Yachiyo is a Ryotei Ryokan that's perfect for the whole family.

This ryokan is located along the approach to Kyoto's famous sightseeing spot, Nanzenji Temple. They also manage the long-established ryotei restaurant, Nanzenji Yachiyo, so you can be sure that the cusine here is also tasty!

The menu consists of six different meal courses. In addition to a course featuring yudofu (simmered tofu)―a Nanzenji Temple specialty―and Kyoto cuisine, there's also a vegetarian Kyoto cuisine course and a course consisting mainly of sushi and tempura.

Meals can be served in your guest room which is great for families with small children.

Picture courtesy of Booking.com

Another attractive feature is the Japanese garden.

Guest rooms in the main building offer outstanding views of the garden that was designed by Ogawa Jihei, one of Japan's leading gardeners.

We especially recommend the room with the garden view open-air bath, allowing you to gaze out at the beautiful scenery as you soak in the tub.

Location	Just 5 minutes on foot from Keage Station (Tozai Subway Line)
Recommended Features	Guest rooms with open-air baths available. Vegetarian-style kaiseki cuisine available. Guest room dining is possible. Special room plans where children can stay for free.
Check-in / out	15:00 - 22:00 / 7:00 - 11:00

9. Kyonoyado Gekkoan

Picture courtesy of Booking.com

Kyonoyado Gekkoan is a ryokan in a traditional Kyoto townhouse where you can reserve one entire building for a relatively reasonable price.

There are two separate buildings: the East-Garden Suite and the West-Luxury Suite. Each suite is appealing because of its own unique interior!

Picture courtesy of Booking.com

The East-Garden Suite was renovated by preserving as much of its 100-year-old building as possible. It feels just like you're living in a traditional townhouse.

The West-Luxury Suite has a space that combines both traditional and modern. The interior was designed by ceramic artists and gold-leaf craftsmen.

Nijo-jo Castle, Shinsen-en Garden, and Mibu-dera Temple are all within a 20-minute walk, so this spot is great for sightseeing.

Also, if you take advantage of a service that sends your luggage directly to the ryokan from Kyoto Station, you can even do some unencumbered sightseeing before your check-in (special fee)!

*Please note that children under the age of 9 are not permitted to stay here.

Location	About 7 minutes on foot from Nijo Station.
Recommended Features	Entire building can be reserved for exclusive use. Front desk can look after your luggage up until check-in. Vegetarian and continental breakfast available.
Check-in / out	15:00 - 20:00 / 11:00

10. Matsubaya Ryokan

Picture courtesy of Booking.com

Matsubaya Ryokan is a long-standing ryokan that was established in 1884.

A one-night stay costs a reasonable 5,900 yen and up (per person), making this spot an attractive accommodation option. There are also room plans that don't include meals, so this is perfect for those who like the freedom of traveling as they please!

The ryokan has easy access to sightseeing and shopping spots. Higashi Honganji Temple is the closest sightseeing attraction and is just three minutes away on foot. It's also only about a 12-minute walk to Kyoto Station, and if you take a cab, Kiyomizudera Temple is just ten minutes away.

Picture courtesy of Booking.com

Guest rooms are generally Japanese-style with tatami flooring and futon beds, but rooms with western-style beds are also available.

The ryokan doesn't have a hot spring, but there's a bath for one to two people that can be enjoyed privately (reservations required)!

Location	Just 5 minutes on foot from Gojo Station (Subway Line)
Recommended Features	Private hot spring bath available. Some rooms have western-style beds. Cribs available on request.
Check-in / out	15:00 - 23:00 / 10:00

Find the Best Ryokan for Your Kyoto Trip!
Families Will Enjoy the En Suite Open-Air Bath!

In this article we introduced ryokan according to three categories: Famous, luxury, and reasonably-priced. Our recommendations differ depending on the number of people in your party and also on your budget.

For example, even travelers with small children can have a worry-free stay and enjoyable bath time if they stay in a ryokan featuring rooms with an open-air bath, a ryokan where the bath can be reserved for privacy, and a ryokan where meals are served in the guest rooms.

The special characteristics of each ryokan are summarized in the recommended features section of the article, so please feel free to use this when searching for a ryokan!

Nazuna Kyoto Gosho. Main image courtesy of Booking.com