Arashiyama Benkei

The staff were polite and helpful, though some spoke very little English, so a translation app is useful. I was amazed by the ryokan and would love to come back. Its traditional interior was very well maintained. We booked one of the pricier options on the main website, which included dinner and breakfast, though I think there are plans without meals too. The private bath was outside the shower area, and soaking there in the hot water with a breeze was incredibly relaxing. Dinner was a traditional Japanese course, beautifully presented and delicious. If authentic Japanese food isn't usually your thing, you might enjoy it less, but I'd still suggest trying it for the experience. Breakfast offered Japanese and Western choices. The Western one looked pretty underwhelming beside the wonderful Japanese breakfast.

The cost may seem high, but after our one-night stay I felt the place was worth it. Service was lovely, and the 13-course dinner was beautiful to look at as well as delicious. We enjoyed a view of a small, pretty garden. Breakfast was great too, with a calming view of the water. We had an incredible stay and will probably come back sometime.

We spent four nights here, and the location is in the best part of Kyoto. The hotel itself is stunning, the service was outstanding, and dinners were five to seven course meals. It's expensive, but for us it was worth the price. An incredible stay all around, and I'd highly recommend it.

The ryokan makes an effort to help guests who don't speak Japanese, with multilingual staff at reception and an English translation on the dinner menu. We stayed in late December 2017. A river and bridge are just outside, and the traditional room still had modern conveniences. The food, especially the traditional Kyoto cuisine, was the best part. Location, room and service were all great.