Kaikoan

We spent two nights here for the cherry blossom season. Traditional Japanese house setting tucked away from the city but still within walking distance to places like Keage Incline, Nanzen temple and Gion areas. Staffs were super friendly and kind. There's coin parking just abt 50m from the ryokan. Good way to experience a Japanese house but maybe not suitable if you're travelling with elderly as the bedroom is upstairs and the staircase was narrow and steep.

The host was one of the nicest people we have met! She was so attentive and helpful. The room/townhouse was great, a perfect, more traditional stay in the heart of Kyoto. The location is walking distance to just about everything.

The stairs may be a bit tricky for some.

Great location, felt very traditional. Futon beds were very comfortable. We are large and the house definitely felt small, but that's to be expected for a traditional house. Host very helpful.

The kitchen needed some basic staples (such as salt!) for basic cooking.

Host was lovely, super welcoming and very responsive, made sure we were comfortable and explained everything patiently. The property itself was quite charming and generally very quiet. Very peaceful. The kotatsu was also a comfortable bonus!

Toilet was a bit cramped, I’m not very tall myself but it was still a bit difficult to sit and stand because of the limited space. Also, the only reason I wouldn’t recommend this as a romantic getaway was that our room had two single beds. Other guesthouses may be structured differently, so just make sure you pick a room with a double bed if that’s what you’re looking for.

An authentic house in a great quiet area, close enough to the train station. The interior is well thought out, preserving the atmosphere of the historical past of this area. It has everything you need for a comfortable stay, plus a few nice extras. Our house had an outdoor bathtub and a vinyl record player, which was a nice touch to feel even more relaxed. The host was very kind and helpful, recommended us places for dinner and even made reservations for us. I would definitely stay there again.

The host was amazing!

Kaikoan was a fabulous discovery. Tucked down a narrow lane it reveals itself like a secret which makes arriving there super special. Saved from the wreckers ball, this 150 year old townhouse is one of 5 adjoining residences that have been restored to meet modern requirements without destroying the historic integrity of the building. The beds are super comfortable although up very steep stairs which meant we didn’t even attempt to take our luggage up. There was also a choice of pillows which was great. The staff are very friendly and helpful and add a lot to the enjoyment of staying here. The location is in a quiet local neighbourhood but close to many attractions, good restaurants and public transport. We would highly recommend staying here if you want to experience authentic Kyoto.

We could only just fit through the low entrance but there was the possibility to open a larger door so it wasn't really an issue. Being a taller person it was hard to squeeze into the outdoor bathtub.