Hotel Utano Kyoto — Hotel in Kyoto

We stayed at Utano Besho for one night during our honeymoon in Kyoto and were really looking forward to the full ryokan experience, especially the highly praised dinner. We booked our stay months in advance, but unfortunately, we only learned that the restaurant would be closed just one night of the month — and it happened to be the night we were staying there. We only found out when WE asked about the dinner during our honeymoon a week prior to arriving but it was too late to make any alternative accommodations.

If we had been informed at the time of booking or atleast a month later after booking or arrival, we absolutely would have adjusted our schedule to stay on a night when dinner was available — it’s a major part of why people choose this property. We even asked if we could return for dinner the following evening, but were told “no, since we would no longer be guests.” For a hotel of this caliber, that response was disappointing and surprising.

While the property itself is beautiful and serene, this experience really diminished what could have been an unforgettable stay. We also had to spend extra time and money finding alternative dinner plans.

Besides the dinner mishap, everything else...

Style. Unique historical house, architecturally built as a Japanese and a Western house, designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property

Setting. Showa era mansion, built 1939, where Emperor Uda spent his final years

Explore. A quieter side of West Kyoto, no crowds, at a totally different tempo

Rooms. 10 rooms, life lengthening hot spring bath drawn from Kiyomizu onsen in every room. I was in room 楓, super comfortable with a little outdoor space

@ the hotel A food focused, lovely hidden gem of a hotel with lots of exquisite details. Attracts a local crowd, lots of families with young children, but super well behaved (even the baby was calm). Gelato Shop opened to the public

Food & drinks dinner was such a delight with fresh ingredients from Awaji island, and breakfast included all my favorite comfort food, would come back another season just to eat

Prices. USD495 room and breakfast only, dinner was...

Exquisite hotel - only 10 rooms, really high end decoration and impeccable service. Strongly recommend the Japanese style rooms with private onsen and private garden. Their cosmetics selection is thoughtful as well. The only cons are the location (off the beaten track) and the fact that the name does not appear in Google with Latin characters (provided this feedback to hotel staff as well). Recommended for the Japanese luxurious...