6 Selected Inns in Kyoto with Japanese History

Kyoto is a famous sightseeing area in Japan. Let me introduce 6 selected inns in Kyoto where you can feel Japanese history. They offer the best hospitality in Japan during your trip.

Check out our writers’ top Japan travel ideas!

This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

1. Sumiya Ryokan

Carol Lin/Flickr

Hidetsugu Tonomura/Flickr

Hidetsugu Tonomura/Flickr

"Sumiya Ryokan" was built at the beginning of the Taisho period. While located in the center of Kyoto, it is quiet and one of the three major inns in Kyoto. The rooms are made in Sukiya-zukuri of pure Japanese style, leaving the old structure at maximum. You can enjoy kaiseki cuisine using fresh Kyoto vegetables. In the evenings of the 7th and the 17th every month, a tea ceremony is held in the tea-ceremony room, and you can experience it.

Access: 10 minutes walk from Oike Station of Subway Karasuma Line, 5 minutes' walk from Shiyakusho Station of Subway Tozai Line, 10 minutes' walk from Karasuma Station of Hankyu Line, 10 minutes' walk from Sanjo Station of Keihan Line  

HP: www2.odn.ne.jp/sumiya/f_english.html

HP: www2.odn.ne.jp/sumiya/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 431, Shirakabe-cho, Sanjo-kudaru, Fuya-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi  (Google Map)

2. Tawaraya Ryokan


Mariemon/Wikimedia Commons
 

"Tawaraya Ryokan" is a long-established inn, and called one of "the big three" inns in Kyoto. It was founded more than 300 years ago, and is also famous for being the Steve Jobs' favorite inn. It offers wonderful meals, rooms and services, making you to feel as if you were staying in the condensed culture of Japanese aesthetics itself. It is an inn with perfection in everything, such as the bathtub using "Koyamaki (Sciadopitys verticillata)," the library, and the legless chair selected while refusing compromise, and fine dining, so you don't have to go to a famous restaurant nearby. It is also famous as the inn with no official website.

Access: From Kyoto Station, get on a subway bound for Kokusai Kaikan (Karasuma Line), and get off at Oike Station, and walk for 3 minutes

HP: No official website 

Address: 278, Naka-hakusancho, Aneko-ji Noboru, Fuyacho-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Prefecture (Google Map)

3. Aburaya Ryokan

 

 

"Aburaya Ryokan of Umino Kyoto Tango Okuine Onsen" was reopened in July 2014. It is located in Okuine of Ine-cho, which is famous as "Funaya-no Sato (village of ship's house)", and it is like a hiding place. The hot spring is Okuine Onsen of Tango, a famous hydrogen carbonate salt spring of Kakenagashi style. Ine-cho of Funaya-no Sato is a town to let time pass with sea. The place is rich in seafood, and the dishes using seasonal fish is delicious enough to taste the Japanese good culture.

Access: Get on Kankai bus at Amano Hashidate Station, about 45 minutes by bus *There is courtesy bus.  

HP: www.ine-aburaya.com/en/

HP: www.ine-aburaya.com/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 570, Tsumo, Ine-cho, Yosa-gun, Kyoto Prefecture (Google Map)

4. Arashiyama Onsen Togetsutei

Since its start in 1897, "Arashiyama Onsen Togetsutei" has been a long-established cuisine inn loved for 115 years. It is a perfect inn for exploring Sagano of the four seasons. From "Hekisenkaku," the room near the riverside, you can enjoy wonderful and beautiful natural landscape all to yourself. The dinner is the traditional Kyoto kaiseki cuisine made by experienced chefs. In addition to the public baths, it has a chartered bath. You can enjoy an extraordinary taste.

Access: 15 minutes' walk from JR Saga Arashiyama Station (There is a pick-up service, you need to make a reservation), 5 minutes' walk from Arashiyama Station of Hankyu and Keifuku Trains

HP: translate.google.co.jp/translate?hl=ja&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.togetsutei.co.jp%2F

HP: translate.google.com/translate?hl=zh-TW&sl=ja&tl=zh-TW&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.togetsutei.co.jp%2F (Chinese)

HP: www.togetsutei.co.jp/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 54-4, Nakao-shita-cho, Arashiyama, Nishigyo-ku, Kyoto-shi (Google Map)

5. Matsui Ryokan 

Celebrating the 81st anniversary of the its opening, "Matsui Honkan," a long-established inn was renewed. It has 27 rooms made in Sukiya-style where you can feel the Japanese culture and traditions from ancient times. The things from the ancient times mix well with new things, producing a cozy space. Kyo kaiseki cuisine made by the chef while refusing to compromise, and the public bath with sophisticated design will provide your trip with high quality.

Access: 8 minutes walk from Shijo Station of Subway Karasuma Line, 10 minutes from JR Kyoto Station by car 

HP: www.matsui-inn.com/en/

HP: www.matsui-inn.com/tw/ (Chinese)

HP: www.matsui-inn.com/ (Japanese Only)

Address: Rokkaku-sagaru, Yanagino-bamba dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi (Google Map)

6. Seikoro

Not Quite a Photographr/Flickr

It was founded in 1831, with history, and it has seen the changing of the times with the town. The name "Seikoro" means "a castle which stands on the banks of Kamo River in a fine weather." The guestrooms of the main building are authentic Japanese architecture of Sukiya-zukuri. The ceiling is foldup lacunar and Shoin-zukuri which is very formal, allowing you to enjoy Japanese taste. Koyamaki (Sciadopitys verticillata) of 400 years old is used for Koyamaki bathtub. And Kyo kaiseki cuisine with beautiful look will cure your fatigue, and make you feel each season of Kyoto. It also has some rooms where you can stay with your pets (small dogs only).

Access: At Kyoto Station, get on a bus bound for Kawaramachi Gojo, and walk 5 minutes from Kawaramachi Gojo

HP: ryokan.asia/seikoro/

HP: www.seikoro.com/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 467, Nishi-Tachibana-cho, 3-chome, Gojo-sagaru, Toiyamachi-dori, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Prefecture (Google Map)

Kansai Feature

The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.

tsunagu Japan Newsletter

Subscribe to our free newsletter and we'll show you the best Japan has to offer!

Subscribe Now!
Get your Japan discounts here!

About the author

tsunagu
tsunagu Japan
This is tsunagu Japan's official account.
  • Check out our writers’ top Japan travel ideas!

Restaurant Search

Sign up to our free newsletter to discover the best Japan has to offer.