Rakucho Ryokan

On my first trip to Kyoto, I found this Ryokan just right. The host was exceptionally helpful and suggested a lot of good places to eat nearby. I'd love to return and stay here again.

The owner was friendly and helpful, and the room felt authentic while giving us enough space. The renovation is nicely done, with the comforts we needed, including several showers and toilets, a kitchen corner, and a washer and dryer. It's outside downtown in a pretty quiet area, with a lovely river full of birds nearby. Transit still makes it easy to get around, and we'd happily stay here again.

It's a quiet spot with transit nearby, and the owner was so welcoming and helpful. The rooms feel authentic and look out around a lovely garden. The shared toilets and showers are clean and modern, and there's basic kitchen equipment and laundry. The building is a bit noisy, as you'd expect from its construction, but I thought the experience was worth it. I'd stay again if I return to Kyoto.

I was nervous about sharing a bath and toilet with strangers, but it turned out to be no problem at all. There are four lockable bathrooms, each with a shower, plus three toilets, and I never found them all occupied. They were spotless. There's also a small onsen a few minutes away, where I went almost every evening to shower. The house isn't fully soundproofed, so you can hear outside sounds and other rooms. The other guests were considerate, though, and kept quiet at night. With earplugs in, I couldn't hear anything. My room had tatami mats, a futon, and a view of a small Japanese garden. The Ryokan is in a quiet residential area with a few shops and restaurants. It's a little outside the city center, but nearby subway and bus stops make getting around easy. I liked staying away from the tourist crowds and getting a more authentic feel. The place exceeded my expectations.