“Perfect stay”

Shin and the other hosts at Kyonoyado Gekkoan were incredibly attentive and accommodating. The room was stunning, the food was incredible, and we left feeling so rejuvenated.

My sister and I had an incredible time staying in this gorgeous property. We were very well looked after by the staff and could not have had a better experience. Would 100% recommend!

“Steeped in history but with flawless, state-of-the-art facilities. The outstanding concierge service made our stay unfor”

It beautifully balances rich history and cultural heritage with top-tier, modern amenities. The exceptional concierge team truly went above and beyond to ensure we were well looked after. Definitely a highlight of our trip.

Friendly staff Exceptional facilities Perfect location

“Thoughtful and personal stay”

From the moment we arrived at Kyonoyado Gekkoan, our experience was nothing short of extraordinary. Shohei, the concierge, made our stay truly unforgettable through his remarkable attention to detail, professionalism, and genuine warmth. Every interaction felt thoughtful and personal. His recommendations for exploring Kyoto were insightful and perfectly suited to us, and he consistently went above and beyond to ensure everything about our stay was seamless and meaningful. We were especially impressed when we had questions about a cultural ritual. Shohei took the time to research it for us and returned incredibly quickly with a clear, thoughtful, and beautifully explained answer. It was not only helpful, but deeply enriched our understanding and appreciation of the experience. His assistant was also incredibly kind and welcoming, adding to the overall sense of care and hospitality that defined our stay. Beyond the exceptional service, the ryokan itself is of the highest quality. The room was immaculate and serene, blending traditional elegance with comfort. The onsen was peaceful and rejuvenating, the art throughout the property was refined and inspiring, and the garden offered a tranquil beauty that made it feel like a hidden sanctuary. What made everything truly special was the genuine kindness behind every interaction. We never felt like just guests, we felt sincerely cared for. Quite simply, Shohei and his team created an experience that was both luxurious and deeply personal. We left with lasting memories and immense gratitude.

“Wonderful place with amazing hosts”

I'd give 20 out of 10 if it was possible for this place and it's staff. Shohei and Shin epitomise Japan's hospitality and wonderful helpful nature. The place itself is cosy, it's comfortable, it's traditional but has modern amenities. By far the best place we have stopped during our Japan trip. A short walk from the tram to take you to Arashiyama and a short walk from Nijo station to take you towards Kyoto and Gion stations. The hosts Shohei and Shin are possibly the nicest people we have ever met. They provided hot water bottles are night and refreshments everyday. They helped us tweak our itinerary as they offer to build itineraries for guests who don't have one. Most importantly, we had previously struggled to book a connecting bus to Mt Fuji for the last half of our trip. 15 minutes after asking for advice, they rang the bus company, made a reservation and printed out instructions for us. Without this we would have really struggled with our onward travels. Truly a wonderful stay with amazing hosts. It exceeded all our expectations and made our Kyoto stay so memorable. Thank you so much.

“A memorable, luxurious stay in a traditional Japanese Ryokan, a total treat , Thankyou for having us ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”

Our Concierge Shin and his staff provided an outstanding service . The Gekkoan was traditional and perfectly functional and luxuriously comfortable.

“This accommodation is nothing short of extraordinary”

This accommodation is nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment we arrived, we knew we were experiencing something truly rare. Shohei is an exceptional concierge whose warmth, grace, and attention to detail are beyond anything we have encountered before. He personally met us on both arrival and departure and cared for us throughout our stay with such genuine kindness and thoughtfulness. The accommodation itself is immaculate to a level that feels almost unreal, spotless, quiet and beautifully maintained. The beds were incredibly comfortable, and despite visiting Kyoto during a very cold winter, our room was always perfectly warm and inviting. Each evening, Shohei placed hot water bottles into our beds a thoughtful and luxurious touch that made us feel completely cared for. Breakfast was exquisite, beautifully prepared, delicious, and an absolute highlight of each morning. The bathroom was equally impressive, a beautiful bath that stayed at the perfect set temperature the whole time you were in it. The bathroom was also stocked with high-end products and everything one could possibly need at the highest standard. My daughter and I were constantly in awe of how fortunate we were to stay here and be treated with such extraordinary hospitality. This experience was truly once in a lifetime and will forever remain our most memorable stay. Nothing will ever compare, and we sincerely hope to return one day to see Shohei and his remarkable team.

“A truly nice experience”

Everything was great spotless clean and the staff was amazing

“An authentic but elevated ryokan experience”

On arrival, the staff explained the features of this stunning ryokan, from the tatami floor and unique artwork to the private onsen. All the features have been deliberately chosen to demonstrate the best examples of what Japan represents. Whilst obviously beautiful in appearance, you’d likely not realise the significance at a glance, which is why the stories behind them were so interesting to hear. They also didn’t hesitate to accommodate extra requests such as making a restaurant booking for us and handle luggage forwarding. Finally, the fruit dish as part of the welcome to the accommodation and the breakfast the next morning were delicious. Thank you to Shin, Shohei and the team for making our stay so special.

“Highly recommend Kyonoyado Gekkoan. Would go back in a second.”

The suite was fantastic; extremely beautiful with lots of art and rich finishes. The services was outstanding. The location is in a quiet neighborhood away from the tourist center of town. So much nicer.

We had the most wonderful stay at this historic ryokan. Shohei devoted so much time to explaining the history of the place and sharing thoughtful recommendations for exploring Kyoto. The ryokan itself was extraordinary—every detail carefully considered, preserving its historical charm while seamlessly integrating modern comforts. The garden was beautiful, and we loved relaxing in the bath each evening after returning from our adventures. On our last night, we enjoyed a kaiseki dinner prepared by a Michelin-starred restaurant—an unforgettable experience we would highly recommend. During the dinner, we were also given a gift of beautifully crafted chopsticks, a gesture we will always treasure. Each day, a special local treat awaited us, adding to the sense of care and attention that made our stay so memorable. Shohei, we cannot thank you enough for your kindness, your patience in answering all of our questions, and the warmth of your hospitality. Through your eyes, we truly fell in love with Kyoto.

“We would have spent 10 days in Japan visiting various hotels but we will cherish our stay in kyoto”

Shin and his team were excellent hosts. Shin went above and beyond. Even gave us an iteanrry to see all of the site in east and west Kyoto. He was easily contactable and even called taxis for us.

“A very clean and well-located hotel with friendly staff, thoughtful evening touches like tea and surprises, helpful tips”

We truly enjoyed our stay at this hotel. Everything was very clean and well-maintained, from the rooms to the common areas. One of the highlights were the lovely evening surprises – each night, there was something special served with dinner, along with freshly prepared tea. The location was great – quiet yet conveniently situated. The staff were always so friendly, courteous, and incredibly helpful. We especially appreciated the daily weather updates for the coming days, accompanied by a kind greeting – such a thoughtful touch! Whenever we had questions, the team was readily available and provided us with excellent local tips that really enhanced our experience. We would absolutely recommend this hotel and would love to come back!

“It was absolutely perfect and an unforgettable experience :-)”

“Great place”

Host (Shohei) could not have been nicer. Gave us a whatsapp number for questions and also helped to book us dinner at a BBQ place. The place is lovely and spacious. Bathroom, bath and shower are great with great pressure. Little garden is lovely. Beds very comfy. Spotlessly clean. Would definitely stay again

“A unique experience in a wonderful Ryokan with super-attentive, yet discreet, hosts.”

We loved the fact that it was a real historic Japanese Ryokan, in amazing condition, well organized, super-clean. We took the room with Western-style beds, which were super comfortable. The vegetarian Japanese traditional breakfast was incredible. The host was very attentive and wonderfully informative, polite and helpful in every respect, while remaining discreet - thank you so much, Shohei! Easily 5-star quality accommodation.

It is a very nice traditional acclamation in a quite area. We enjoyed the attention to detail in the place. Also the bath (fills up with the touch of the button!) and bathing amenities provided are amazing. Staff were very helpful. You could tell they love Kyoto and made us feel very welcome.

“Beautiful and relaxing”

It was stunningly beautiful with a careful balance between luxury and homeliness that made us feel so welcome and comfortable. Exactly what we needed to feel relaxed after each day of exploring Kyoto. The Shojin Ryori breakfast was great and gave us plenty of energy for our adventures, we missed it after we left. Shin, Shohei and Emi went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and helped us to plan our itinerary, with some recommendations for some quieter but culturally important shrines. We highly recommend Gekkoan to anyone wishing to visit Kyoto, you won’t regret it.

“Luxurious experience”

Shin & the team went above & beyond to provide an unforgettable experience in this traditional Kyoto Ryokan townhouse. Very comfortable bed in a split-level apartment, complete with private stone onsen, zen garden, tatami mat flooring in the living / dining room, plus all the mod cons. Original artwork and complimentary skincare was a bonus. We splurged & opted for traditional kaiseki dinner & breakfast which was brought into our room fresh from the off-site kitchen (veg options available). Unfortunately our budget only allowed us to stay for one night, but would have loved to stay longer.