Ohanabo

From the moment we stepped foot in this property we were greeted by the exceptionally welcoming staff who were so friendly, immediately offering to help us with our luggage! They were an absolute delight to interact with and were so polite and such gracious hosts. We felt truly spoilt! We stayed four nights and would highly recommend getting the breakfast every morning which was so delicious and authentic. Our room was beautiful and the perfect mixture of traditional tatami mats yet with the comfort of a luxurious modern bathroom and heating. Another highlight is the public bath which was the perfect temperature. The whole property was beautiful and very clean. We will be returning and recommending to all our friends and family!!

Nothing. We loved everything!

Everything! Cleanliness is very important for me. I notice corners and counters and under chairs and if bathroom/toilet is clean or not. Never mind if place is old, as long as it's clean. And this place is obviously kept very clean. The A/C, another very important amenity that matters to post-menopausal women, worked well and I liked that we could control the temperature in the room ourselves. The age of the facility also gives it character. It feels like a real traditional Japanese inn! I love the simple yet tasteful decor. Also, other little details like the well-chosen toiletries mattered to me. I loved the delicate fragrance of the body soap and shampoo! And I can't say enough about the breakfast and dinner. So intricately prepared and beautifully laid out that it wowed us! Everyone served with a smile, especially Satoku-san annd Ayako-san, and, when we asked, patiently explained what the dishes were. Every little dish was exceptionally delicious, as well! On our last day, we were esp in a hurry to get to Kyoto station to catch our train to the airport. We didn't realize theres a super long line to claim paper tickets for our on-line reserved seats. So while I lined up to get the tickets, my son hurried back to the ryokan to fetch his brother and father and call a taxi. My son said Ayako-san happened to be leaving also and when he asked if she can help us call a taxi, she offered to drive them to the station herself! That's really going above and beyond what we expect from them! My son was just so amazed by her kindness and hospitality!

None. And not that I didn't like it but a family room with 2 bedrooms or just a division would have been perfect. But of course, we realize it's a very old building and it is what it is. I'm just happy they were able to accommodate the 4 of us so we could experience a ryokan. We all slept very well! The staff are just so helpful and attentive!

The minute we entered the ryokan, we were greeted with warm smiles and friendly greetings! The ladies who are managing the accommodation are ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL. When we moved to a hotel, someone from our group immediately said that they miss Ohanabo because of the staff there. That in itself already says a lot. The rooms are as advertised and quite comfortable! We even had free yukatas to use during our stay, such a pleasant surprise! The entire place has a charm that you truly only get with a ryokan. PLUS THE VIEW OF THE TEMPLE FROM OUR WINDOW WAS AMAZING. We also loved the public bath. Everything was clean. I would book Ohanabo a thousand times again. Highly recommended!

Nothing really. If you’re looking for an authentic ryokan experience, this is the place for you.

The hotel is in an excellent location, within walking distance to the train station and many points of interest. The staff were very pleasant and welcoming, and they went beyond to make sure my stay was as enjoyable as possible. I requested dinner and breakfast service, both of which were delightful.

There was nothing that I did not like because I set my expectations properly. This is a traditional hotel, so some modern amenities are not available such as in-unit bathrooms. Other items are period-appropriate, so you will not get the latest technology, but again, this is not a problem if you understand what you are reserving.

If you want to feel like you are visiting your doting Aunties in Kyoto, then a stay at Ohanabo is in order. The attentive and loving service by Ioka (sp?) and the staff was like nothing I’ve experienced in all my global travels, and I’ve been a few places. Everything was top notch, and the Japanese breakfast we opted into was nothing short of delicious, artful, and exceptional. A true and memorable top highlight of our Japan travels thus far. I even braved the shower and onsen (go in the late evening if you’re a little shy about being in the buff in front of others—I went and it was empty) and the water in the onsen—I kid you not—was the most perfect hot temperature ever). If you need modern-everything and shiny bells and whistles and are high-maintenance that way, then this little gem is likely not for you. If you want to experience a traditional Japanese Ryokan and feel a genuine connection to the culture and Japanese hospitality, then stay here and thank me later. A true joy!

N/A — Perfection.

Wonderfully welcoming ryokan. Traditional and warm and incredibly friendly. Location is great right by a beautiful shrine and also walking distance to the Kyoto main station. The owner really made this magical though. She taught our kids to do origami (not one session but multiple). She personally cooked us dinner one night. She even drove us to her favorite temple after dinner because there was a special light show and she didn’t want us to miss it. She personally guided us around the shrine. Her joy was contagious. We’ll never forget this wonderful stay.

Nothing

First, the ryokan is in a great location, it is about a five minute walk from Kyoto Station and visible from the main street right away. When we checked in we were greeted very kindly and everything was explained to us in English. We asked if we could leave our bags before we could check in and theynot only let us do so but when we came later in the day they had already moved all of our luggage into our room. We made a reservation with the kaiseki dinner and the breakfast. The kaiseki dinner was served in our room and it was amazing. They bring in each course of the dinner and explain what it is. Everything tasted amazing. The onsen in the ryokan is also very clean, albeit it was a little smaller than I expected. This wasn't a big issue though as not many people were using the onsen at the same time, but it seemed like the onsen wouldn't be able to fit more than 6 people at a time. I only ran into one other group in the onsen during my stay, which I was surprised about as the next day in the food hall I saw that there were several groups staying in the ryokan. Breakfast is served in the food hall and it is also amazing. The room itself was quite spacious. The room we booked had a community space which was spacious and then a separate bedroom. The beds were very comfortable and everything was very neat and clean. I will definitely stay here again the next time I consider staying at a ryokan. Definitely recommend getting the kaiseki dinner and breakfast if you are going to stay at Ohanabo!

The bathroom in the bedroom was a tad bit tiny, but it isn't a big issue as we mostly used the ryokan for washing ourselves. Maybe the bathroom in another type of room might be bigger.

Incredible hospitality, dinner & breakfast, and atmosphere. The staff were incredibly welcoming and warm. The location is very convenient to the train station as well. The receptionist spoke excellent English. The stay here and the kaiseki dinner was the highlight of our time in Kyoto.

There was nothing to dislike. The stay at Ohanbo exceeded all of our expectations. I would only suggest that travelers research what a Ryokan is before committing, as it is a special type of lodging & experience that may not suit everyone (i.e. public bath, sleeping on futons on the ground, etc.).

Ohanabo fulfilled every dream we had for staying in a Japanese ryokan. The traditional room was well-appointed and soothing. The kaiseki dinner and the breakfast were extraordinary. The common bath was squeaky clean and convenient. The kindness and attention of the staff (including the birthday song and cake for the birthday guest) were exceptional. The location within walking distance of the station and directly across the street from the grand Higashi Honganji Temple was ideal and still quiet. Oh, and we loved our beautiful robes so much we bought them to take home! If you are lucky enough to find the Ohanabo available for your ryokan experience, book it fast and be sure to book the dinner when you do. A limited number of these multi-course meals that can be served on any evening. Staying in a ryokan without the kaiseki dinner leaves at least half the delight unexperienced. Yes, it's a splurge, but it's a splurge that produces a night no ordinary hotel will ever provide.

Genuine hospitality. Food is amazing. (Santa strawberry for the Christmas dessert was VERY creative). The young gentleman during breakfast service even remembered what kind of coffee we preferred. Given it was a full house when we stayed, for him to remember the minor detail was extremely impressive. We very much appreciate his kindness (and coffee) on an early morning (after a late night out in Gion). The landlady definition has a gift in hospitality. Under her excellent leadership, this ryokan lives up to its long tradition of soothing weary travelers soul. Despite being first time staying at this place, oddly, I felt very much at home in this Ryokan. When I a visit Kyoto again for Autumn leaves, I will def stay again.