Gion Ryokan Karaku

A quaint hybrid ryokan right in the midst of the old quarter. Easy access to most touristy places, though a bit of a walk from the nearest train stop.

My family and I were extremely comfortable at this ryokan. The location was excellent; situated in a beautiful charming street of Kyoto, walking distance to shops and restaurants. The room is exactly what I wanted and expected from a ryokan. However, it was the staff that made our stay exceptional! We were greeted when we walked in. The front office staff approached us, asked us to sit in the lobby, where we handled the check-in transactions. I’ve never checked into a hotel while sitting comfortably. He continued to walk us to our room and explained where everything was. Extremely polite and personable. We added the breakfast to our stay and I’m so glad we did! The food was superb, a traditional Japanese meal. The presentation, the quality and the flavors were all to die for. The staff that was waiting on us were very attentive, polite and considerate. They explained what every dish was and how to enjoy it. When we checked out, they were equally as attentive and accommodating. The staff and stay over exceeded my expectations. I will return and refer my family and friends here (who are due to travel soon). Thank you Gion Ryokan Karaku!

It was a very good experience. We really enjoyed our time there. The location is excellent. The Japanese dinner was very good — I definitely recommend it. The only thing I would mention is about breakfast: it was a traditional Japanese breakfast, which is great for the experience, but I would have appreciated a second option — something simpler like coffee with bread, or coffee and eggs — for those who aren’t used to Japanese breakfasts. Still, for the overall experience, it was wonderful. Sleeping in a ryokan was also a very special and memorable experience.

Our stay at Gion Ryokan Karaku was truly special and enriched our visit to old Kyoto. The location in the heart of the Gion district made it easy to explore the city’s historic streets, temples, and traditional culture, adding to the authenticity of our experience. One highlight of our stay was the Japanese breakfast, which was simply delightful—beautifully presented and full of flavour. I loved the blended Japanese rice, and always asked for seconds. We also truly appreciated that the ryokan catered for vegetarians, ensuring that everyone in our family could enjoy a wonderful meal. The warm hospitality and serene ambiance of the ryokan made our time there relaxing and memorable. We highly recommend it to anyone looking for a traditional yet comfortable stay in Kyoto. We would love to return one day!

Excellent location in Old quarter of Kyoto within walking distance of Kiyomizudera temple and just behind Yasaka shrine. Lots of lovely cafes surround the ryokan and a very scenic neighbourhood. Very spacious room for Japanese standards, was the largest room during our stay in Japan. Very helpful and welcoming staff and really enjoyed the traditional style with modern amenities. All in all an excellent stay. If we're slightly cheaper we would have stayed for more than 2 nights as was the best room we had during our holiday.