Yamadaya Ryokan — Local services in Kyoto

When my wife and I decided to visit Kyoto during the Lunar New Year season, we decided to stay at a traditional ryokan (旅馆) instead of a contemporary hotel. The Japanese hospitality profession is well known for custom-made personalized service, and staying at a five star chain hotel with hundreds of rooms would defeat the purpose of enjoying Japanese hospitality. We thus made arrangements to stay with the Yamadaya. This fine establishment did not disappoint.||||Upon entry, we were greeted by an elderly lady who runs this ryokan. Knowing that we were foreign tourists, she explained the location of the ryokan and offered helpful advice on how we may get to the major sites in the city (such as the Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion Monastery)). The professionalism of our host sets a high standard for the rest of the housekeeping and service staff. One major distinction between a ryokan and a hotel is that ryokans serve the meals en suite at pre-decided hours during the day. These are grand, multi-course meals involving multiple servers carrying trays of delicacies into our room, and the serving of these magnificent meals themselves is a display at the highest levels of Japanese service. For the first evening, we had a tofu-based kaiseki set, and for our second evening we had beef shabu-shabu. The beef that was served was among the most tender we have had. Given it was bleak winter season when we visited, the food also helped to keep our spirits high.||||Another major feature of ryokans is the shared public baths at the back. This is another quintessential Japanese experience a visitor should have. Given the small number of guests who were staying, my wife and I were allowed to take our baths at the same chamber. Normally, when there are others present, male and female guests would enter different chambers where they will take the bath with other guests of the same gender. This was also a unique experience that left a lasting impression upon us. ||||Given the high level of service, excellent food, traditional features such as en suite kaiseki meals and shared baths, and convenient location not far from the Kyoto station, I strongly recommend this respectable ryokan to any...

Our stay at Yamadaya Ryokan was a wonderful experience. As we were on our honeymoon, we treated ourselves to the superior room, which had an amazing view of the nearby temple. The room itself was beautiful - everything you would expect from a traditional ryokan with some lovely extra touches, such as the green tea and sweets that were waiting for us on arrival.||||The hotel staff were attentive and friendly without being imposing. The lady who greeted us spoke excellent English and was incredibly helpful, talking us through a map of Kyoto city and explaining the best ways to get to each of the landmarks we expressed an interest in. She then showed us around the hotel, including the public baths (which we highly recommend as an experience!) before taking us up to our room. She even offered to take some photos of us in front of the beautiful view before leaving us to settle in.||||Other pros include: ||excellent location - close to the main Kyoto station but far enough away to not feel overwhelmed by noise and traffic||free tea and water by the entrance to the public baths and excellent washing facilities in the baths (shampoo, conditioner, facial wash and body wash provided)||*the entire hotel was spotless and felt incredibly welcoming. We both felt very much at home||||Our only regret is that we only stayed...

I stayed at Yamadaya Ryokan in late March 2025 during my trip to Kyoto, and it was undoubtedly one of the highlights of my journey. The location was excellent, making it easy to explore the city while still offering a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle.

From the moment I arrived, the staff made me feel welcome and provided an authentic ryokan experience. My room was simply magnificent, with beautiful traditional elements like tatami flooring and a comfortable futon, creating a perfect balance of comfort and tradition.

One of the standout moments of my stay was the kaiseki dinner. The attention to detail and passion of the staff were evident in every dish, making it a truly unforgettable dining experience.

The onsen with a garden view was absolutely breathtaking. I had heard about the Japanese onsen culture before, but experiencing it firsthand was something else. After soaking in the warm waters, I felt completely refreshed and rejuvenated.

I highly recommend Yamadaya Ryokan to anyone looking for an authentic Japanese ryokan experience. If you're visiting Kyoto and want to immerse yourself in traditional Japanese hospitality, this is the...