Japanese Inn Yoshimizu

This is in the park. Its hard to get to and a bit of a walk (with luggage get a taxi). But I liked the peaceful remoteness of it - it felt more authentic. Nice rykan. Had hot springs too - I dont think they were real - but felt pretty good.

Took a taxi from Kyoto station -- about 1500 yen; that's the only reasonable way with luggage. Very pleased to see the location nestled on the side of a mountain. Employee Mr. Takahashi was extremely accommodating and gave us the key info that an all you can eat buffet of vegetarian cooking is available at Obanzai -- highly recommended. Good for Japanese speakers; staff seem to have limited English. Bath was clean and lovely. My only complaint, which is substantial, is with the mattress in the futon. This was very thin and I spent much of the night trying to find a part of the body insensitive to hard floors...no luck. So ask for a better mattress before you go. February the bookings are light, but I'm sure they are full up in warmer times of year. Bkfst was toast and hard boiled egg, soup and coffee. Hiking path up Higashiyama just behind the inn. Very memorable.

staff friendly and helpful, simple and nice breakfast, perfect location up in the mountain behind yasaka shrine with walking distance to gion.

It made a real difference to our stay in Kyoto that we welcomed so warmly. Our Japanese is non-existent and we were grateful for an explanation in English of how Yoshimizu works and what to expect. Breakfast is a wonderful experience by the heat of the stove and the baths are a great way to end the day.

Unwisely broke my strict 'no kaitenzushi after 3pm' rule and became desperately ill with food poisoning shortly after arriving in Kyoto, so got to know the hotel very well :( But it was a very picturesque place in which to convalesce for a couple of days, and the staff were very understanding, also helping us to make (and then cancel) reservations for local restaurants. The ryokan itself is beautiful, and beautifully located up a hill in Maruyama Park, though it does make taxis something of a necessity. The continental breakfast was simple but effective. My only complaint is that the doorframes were so low I kept smashing my head against them on the way to the bathroom (every time...) and I'm only 5'10. Would hate to ruin the decor, but perhaps a sign wouldn't go amiss!

I really liked this place, it is right next to a really pretty park with shrines and is very quiet. My room was very simple, but had a pad to sleep on the floor. Wish my girlfriend was with me because it is pretty romantic. My room had a garden outside, which was very pretty. They made me breakfast when i work up, eggs, yogurt, miso soup. It was great! It's also close (10 min walk) to Gion district, which has lots of nice shops and restaurants. I recommend this to anyone, especially couples!

It is a little awkward when you first arrive, but the staff are all very helpful. The breakfast is so cute and delicious too. It would be helpful if there was an English translation for the heater remote :)The inn is beautiful and it was a very cool experience to stay in a "real" Japanese house instead of a plain old hotel.

Loved my stay here. Location was fantastic. Near enough to the main tourist sites in Kyoto but far enough away to feel secluded.

If you're looking for a wonderful and traditional Japanese experience, then Yoshimizu Ryokan is perfect! The location is beautiful as it is situated in the park close to the Gion district, but still only a 10 minute walk to the main streets and attractions. The Ryokan also has bicycles available for guests use which was a great way to get around and see the city. The Ryokan is super cosy, clean and very comfortable. Probably the nicest aspect though are the staff at Yoshimizu who were super accommodating and kind. Breakfast was also great too. During our travels around Japan this was hands down the best place we stayed. I would stay there again without hesitation... highly recommended!!!

First off, the location is ideal - you walk through a shrine to get to your ryokan every day. It's located at the edge of a forrest, which is great for hiking or jogging. The rooms are comfortable, though you are sleeping on a mat on the floor, so the mild discomfort is part of the experience. The staff were extremely friendly. We had a fresh pot of green tea and hot water in our room when we returned back every day. The breakfast went beyond our expectations of toast and coffee we'd had at a previous ryokan (vegetable soup, homemade apple jam, yogurt with fresh fruit). Communicating in English a bit difficult with staff but not a detractor from the experience. We stayed in two different rooms - first a smaller room downstairs, then the suite upstairs which has its own bathroom and is quite impressive. The shared hot baths are beautiful and add to the relaxing atmosphere. I'd definitely go back again!