Watazen Ryokan - Established In 1830 - Kyoto

Staying at this ryokan was an lovely experience! We loved being only a 2-minute walk from Nishiki Market, where we enjoyed local delicacies. The kaiseki dinner was a highlight for our family of four, and the warm onsen was a perfect way to unwind after a day of exploring.

In my wife's opinion, the room felt a bit cramped for our big family.

The rooms are incredibly comfortable and beautiful, with central heating, a private safe, and multi-channel television.

I appreciated this hotel and could n't recommend more it to anyone. Overall had memorable stay on my vacation. I got particularly good room with Japanese decor. There where an electric kettle and a refrigerator in the room too.

Our stay at Watazen Ryokan was lovely, especially the warm tea ceremony welcome and the comfort of the futons. It felt like stepping into a traditional Japanese home.

The best located ryokan I was able to find - very close to Kyoto center (and still at location that itself is very quiet). Generally you get everything you would expect from ryokan; they have also nice public bath in basement. Incidentally it turned out to be the same place I stayed ~5 years ago. Then it was the only ryokan I was able to locate in internet; as it seems now they are already quite heavy catering for foreigners, whilst they still are ok, some of the charm of the place seems to be lost.

Checking in/out times (10am and 4pm)! Although in Japan these are not great in general, these are probably the worst I have seen. I wonder what these 6 hours they need for (especially if one have seen how these folks can manage to clean within 5 min a shinkansen train for the next trip)? Breakfast should be requested at least day in advance (so, I didn't get it)! In previous occasion it was included and served in room (although this was when I learned thta there is nothing more nasty to eat than tofu, it was still a worthwhile experience :) Rather pricey - almost double I had to pay during previous stay.

Beautiful Onsen, delicious breakfast.

Dinner had to be ordered in one day.

A Cozy Introduction to Traditional Japan

Staying in this ryokan was a one-of-a-kind experience. The kaiseki dinner was beautifully presented and utterly delicious, while the public baths provided the perfect relaxation after a day of exploring Kyoto. The staff were warm and cute. It might take some time to adjust to sleeping on a traditional futon, which could feel uncomfortable at first.

I felt at home. Friendly and very profissional staff. Very good location. Easy to find, coming from Kyoto Station.

feel warm when you come to hotel. nearly shopping area you can walk

bathroom too small

Staying for 3 nights in a Japanese-style room was a delight. The location made it easy to explore the city, just minutes from nearby attractions. Dinner was an exquisite dining experience, beautifully presented and deliciously flavorful, while the onsen provided a perfect way to relax. The only downside was the small size of the room, but it still worked for our family. Highly recommend for a traditional Japanese experience.

Watazen was very centrally located, great for connections, shopping and relaxation. Free basic continental breakfast included, japanese at extra charge. Staff were polite, helpful and spoke English. Free internet connection and communal bathing facility, although i also had a bath in my room. I would stay there again and warmly recommend it.

The location was ideal, just a short walk to Nishiki Market and Honno-ji Temple. The decor was authentic, and the staff was super thoughtful. The breakfast was a highlight, and we enjoyed our cozy Japanese-style room. Just keep in mind that the futons take a little getting used to if you're a side sleeper.

The only downside was the futon, which took a bit of getting used to and was tough on my hips at first. But overall, it was still a great experience.

Friendly helpful staff. Large rooms,old style but well maintained.Excellent japanese breakfast. Great location in the old city area of Gion goodrestaurants and shopping nearby , but peaceful quiet area.

The strip lighting in the bedrroom was out of character.

The staff was very pleasant and eager to help. The authentic Japanese experience was memorable and the location was fantastic being so close to the market and all other necessities.

The check-in time is quite late in the day (4:00) and not sure why that is when there is very little in the room?? However staff was willing to take luggage and store it until check in.

This ryokan far exceeded my previous experiences in kyoto. The staff were attentive, and the kaiseki dinner was an lovely culinary highlight.

the common bath could be bigger.