Beniya — Hotel in Kyoto

Although I haven’t dined or stayed at Beniya, I feel compelled to leave a glowing review for its incredibly kind owners, who helped us in a very challenging situation.

While in Kyoto, we rented a car and unfortunately ended up with a minor scratch on the door. When returning the car, the rental company required us to file a police report at the location of the incident—even though it was already 7 PM.

Adding to the stress, our cell phones were out of signal range, and international calling was disabled. Thankfully, the lady at Beniya came to our rescue. She welcomed us warmly, assisted us by calling the insurance company (as we don’t speak Japanese), and even offered us tea while providing comfort. Recognizing the urgency, she also contacted the police promptly, knowing it would take time for them to arrive.

Her kindness and quick thinking made all the difference. I am truly grateful and plan to visit Beniya the next time...

Kifune Beniya is both a ryokan and restaurant on the Kibune River. During the summer (May 7-September 30 in 2024), they offer Kawadoko dining. This is where platforms are built over the water of the running stream, and the diners sit at low tables, on tatami mats, with cool water running underneath and waterfalls almost within touching distance. We escaped the heat of the city in early September 2024, to have a kaiseki set lunch at Beniya. We highly recommend this amazing experience and the Beniya food and service. Even if you miss the kawadoko season, it would still be worth eating in the dining room with views of the river. The traffic congestion at this time is dreadful, so either catch public transport, or go early and use one of Beniya's 30 car parks. The staff of Beniya will offer to drive you back to the train station. We parked down the hill a bit and walked to the restaurant and got a lift...

After several visits from Australia to Japan, the most memorable moments there are still the accidental encounters.

We tend not to follow 'guide books' preferring instead to search the maps for interesting geography and so it was that we 'accidentally' encountered Beniya, built over a headwater stream of Kyoto's Kuma River.

On a previous trip, we had taken the scenic narrow gauge railway to stay overnight at Kurama Onsen but the map showed that it was possible to alight one stop early, walk up the road through Kibune, climb over the mountain pass to Kurama via an ancient trail which travels down through the Temple then return to Kyoto by train.

It was May so quite warm as we approached Kibune on foot so the anticipation of a traditional lunch served immediately above a refreshing mountain stream was too enticing to ignore. Expensive? Probably. Worth...