Kyoto Sawai

Keiko made our mornings special by preparing fresh, delicious meals herself and bringing them to our room. She was kind and accommodating throughout. The house was clean and full of charm, with traditional Japanese rooms, tatami mats, and futons. This was the highlight of our group’s Kyoto trip. Thank you, Keiko, for such a wonderful stay and great service.

The owners were lovely, and the street was charming. We even got lucky and saw geisha walking by. The building is around 130 years old, with small rooms that were perfectly adequate for two. The stairs are steep and narrow, but they add to the experience. Facilities are shared, though during our visit we were the only guests on our floor. It’s a good base for exploring gion and the surrounding area, rather than somewhere to spend all day. I’d stay again.

The location is superb, and the inn feels like a trip back in time. We stayed for 10 days and couldn’t have been happier. The owners are a lovely couple who treated us like family. Diego and Marta. We’ll always come back when we’re in Kyoto.

The inn’s owners and staff were polite and helpful, and for the price it was decent. It’s around a 5-10 minute walk from one of the train lines, and could be a nice way to try a traditional sleeping setup for a night. At night, the lanterns make the traditional-looking street especially beautiful. We thought we saw either a geisha or a maiko passing by, and were disappointed to have missed her. A few things to be ready for: getting to your room might mean going through a very narrow hallway, though some are normal-sized. And the stairs have tiny steps. Wear grippy socks or be careful about slipping. I fell down them, though I didn’t break anything.