Ishibekoji MUAN — Hotel in Kyoto

The entire experience was fantastic from start to finish. The hosts treated us like old friends and welcomed us with a refreshing drink on the house - definitely recommend the ginger tea made fresh in house!! We chatted comfortably before the hosts showed us to our gorgeous room - the Hanami room. We were astounded by the room overall and the attention to detail. The room promoted the historic Kyoto feel with the samurai armor, the futons, and the living area whilst still incorporating a modern feel. The bathroom especially wowed us. With underfloor heating and that gorgeous bath.. seriously, take advantage of that bath!! We stayed in there for at least an hour and a half after experiencing what Kyoto had to offer. Then the hosts gave us some recommendations of what to do in the area and showed us the ins and outs of the hotel and then let us be. A perfect balance of hospitality and professionalism. The location itself is fantastic. Close to the historical Gion, the lively Kawaramachi, and easy to access lots of temples and shrines whilst not being out of the way. There’s a couple of convenience stores just 3-5 minutes from the hotel which boasted very well for the midnight munchies. Though, the hotel room has a mini bar with refreshments at a competitive price. Whilst Kyoto was great - as always - we couldn’t wait to settle down that night in our amazing room. Though we didn’t need any assistance during our stay, the staff were available 24/7 and all can speak English very well. I slept like a log and then woke up to the free coffee and tea in our room. I would stay again 100% and next time I hope to take advantage of the...

My partner and I dragged our heavy suitcases through the light Kyoto rain, and arrived relatively drenched to Ishibekoji MUAN. The concierge kindly asked if we’d need any towels to dry off. and then gently walked us through the walk in process. Afterwards, we asked for yakitori recommendations, and she generously gave us three wonderful options. There were two people that we encountered at the front desk, and both were so patient and incredibly helpful, particularly when setting up the same day luggage delivery service.

Now on to the hotel itself. This establishment is tucked away on a quiet street, and even though you’re close to the action, sandwiched between two or three major temples and the main street, it really does feel like you’ve stepped into another world.

It was hard not to relax. The heated tatami mats were so comfortable that after a long day of walking, I struggled to stay awake for the bath to automatically fill itself. But it’s a fight worth having because, that’s right, the bathroom has a tub that not only refills itself, but reheats itself. And it’s so convenient to have a powerful shower right next to the tub. No more walking past other naked people, getting lost down twisting hallways, etc

And after all that, the futon was one of the most luscious beds I had ever slept on. The mattress was firm yet supple, and the comforter was soft and plush.

I think it’s really hard to beat the heated floor, the wonderful bathroom, and the delightful sleeping quarters offered here. My stay here has become a benchmark for all other...

This place is INCREDIBLE! I have no other words for it other than the most pleasant stay I could ever imagine having at a traditional Japanese ryoken. We opted for daily traditional kaseki breakfasts that were served in our room with tea and coffee, would sit at the bar and chat with the staff and sample their great Japanese whiskey collection, enjoyed our beautiful spa-like bathroom with private onsen, heated floors, temperature controlled shower area, and beds so comfy, you couldn't help but fall asleep as soon as your head hit the pillow. The staff were incredibly amazing and very quick to handle any needs we had—and they were SO friendly! We had several great and long conversations with them that they felt like friends more than hotel staff. The location was great too because you were a short walk to several temples, popular tourist sites and great food but was secluded enough that you felt like you could relax and detox from the chaos of other large cities in Japan. This was one of the best experiences during our 12-day stay in Japan. I highly highly recommend.||One piece of information that might be helpful, the entrance can be difficult to find but the property will message specific instructions to show the taxi drivers so whether they know English or not, they'll be able to get you close to the entrance. Once dropped off, it's just a short walk to the entrance. But trust me, it's...