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Gion Ryokan Karaku

Property class: 3.5

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Photo gallery for Gion Ryokan Karaku

A traditional Japanese room with tatami flooring, shoji screens, and a view of a residential area. - Gion Ryokan Karaku (Kyoto)
A traditional Japanese building with multiple floors, a tiled roof, and a gated entrance. - Gion Ryokan Karaku (Kyoto)
A traditional Japanese-style room with tatami flooring, a low table with cushions, and large windows offering a view of a garden and mountains. - Gion Ryokan Karaku (Kyoto)
A traditional Japanese room with tatami flooring, a low table, and shoji screens. - Gion Ryokan Karaku (Kyoto)
A hotel room with two beds, a wall-mounted light fixture, and tatami flooring. - Gion Ryokan Karaku (Kyoto)
Close to Kiyomizu Temple and Nishiki Market, Gion Ryokan Karaku has plenty to offer. Stay connected with free in-room WiFi.

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Parking available
  • Housekeeping
  • 24/7 front desk

Off-peak, on budget: 30% or more off select hotels in our fall sale

Skip the crowds, keep the savings. AARP members save more after Labor Day. Book by Oct 7, 2026.

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 8 of 8 rooms

View all photos for Japanese-style Twin Bed Room

A hotel room with tatami flooring, a bed, a sofa, a small table with tea set, and a wall-mounted light.

Japanese-style Twin Bed Room

  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Double Futons

View all photos for Japanese-style Large Twin Bed Room

A room with tatami flooring, a bed, a table with tea set, and sliding doors.

Japanese-style Large Twin Bed Room

  • Sleeps 5
  • 5 Double Futons

View all photos for Japanese room, Non-smoking (Hollywood bed)

A room with two beds, a table with chairs, and a sliding door with a picture.

Japanese room, Non-smoking (Hollywood bed)

  • Sleeps 8
  • 2 Twin Beds and 1 Double Futon

View all photos for Standard Room, Non Smoking

A traditional Japanese room with tatami flooring, a low table, and shoji screens.

Standard Room, Non Smoking

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(9 reviews)
  • 35 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 6
  • 6 Twin Futons

View all photos for Superior Room, Non Smoking

A traditional Japanese-style room with tatami flooring, a low table with cushions, and sliding doors.

Superior Room, Non Smoking

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(14 reviews)
  • 30 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 4 Twin Futons

View all photos for Japanese Tatami Room with Twin Beds, Non Smoking

A hotel room with two beds, a small round table, and a large window.

Japanese Tatami Room with Twin Beds, Non Smoking

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
(9 reviews)
  • 25 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Beds

View all photos for Karaku Suite, Non Smoking

A room with a large window, a reflection of a building, and a wooden bench.

Karaku Suite, Non Smoking

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(4 reviews)
  • 40 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 4 Twin Futons

View all photos for Japanese Style Twin Room, Non Smoking

A traditional Japanese-style room with tatami flooring, a bed with white bedding, a table with a tea set, and sliding shoji doors.

Japanese Style Twin Room, Non Smoking

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)
  • 35 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 5
  • 2 Twin Beds and 3 Twin Futons

About the neighborhood

Located in Gion, a neighborhood in Kyoto, Gion Ryokan Karaku is in the entertainment district and near a metro station. Nishiki Market and Yasaka Shrine are notable landmarks, and travelers looking to shop may want to visit Shijo Street and Pontocho Alley. Kyoto Municipal Zoo and Kyoto Gyoen National Garden are also worth visiting. Visit our Kyoto travel guide
Map
499 Minamigawa Gionmachi,Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto, 605-0074

What's nearby

  • A traditional Japanese temple with red and white structures, surrounded by lush greenery and a crowd of visitors.
    Yasaka Shrine
    1 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • Cherry blossoms in full bloom against a backdrop of traditional Japanese architecture.
    Shijo Street
    3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • Traditional Japanese architecture with ornate lanterns and signage.
    Gion Corner
    4 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • A traditional Japanese garden with a view of autumn foliage, a stone lantern, and a wooden building.
    Kenninji Temple
    6 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • A stone pathway lined with cherry blossoms and traditional buildings.
    Gion Shirakawa Area
    7 min walk - 0.4 miles

Getting around

  • Gion-shijo Station
    10 min walk
  • Higashiyama Station
    13 min walk
  • Kansai Intl. Airport (KIX)
    110 min drive

Restaurants

  • ラ・ボンバンス祇園
    1 min walk
  • 京都勝牛 祇園八坂店
    2 min walk
  • 札幌かに家 京都店
    3 min walk
  • Hario Cafe Kyoto
    3 min walk
  • 長楽館
    3 min walk

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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Self parking on site (JPY 2,000 per day)

Food and drink

  • Daily Japanese breakfast available 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM for a fee: JPY 3,630 per person

Family friendly

  • In-room refrigerator

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Gift shop/newsstand
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk
  • Vending machine

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)

Spa

  • In-room massages
  • Yukata (Japanese robes)

Accessibility

  • No elevator

More

  • 1 building
  • 4 floors
  • Ballroom
  • Banquet hall
  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bathroom

  • Bidet
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shampoo
  • Shower/bathtub combination
  • Slippers
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • TV

Food and drink

  • Electric kettle
  • Refrigerator

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Desk
  • Heating
  • Safe

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3 PM; Check-in end time: 7:00 PM

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Children up to the age of 6 years can stay for free if using existing beds when occupying the parent or guardian's room
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Property payment types

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • A city tax may be collected at the property. The city tax ranges from JPY 100–10,000 per person, per night based on the nightly room rate. Please note that further exemptions may apply. For more details, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

  • Fee for Japanese breakfast: approximately JPY 3630 per person
  • Self parking fee: JPY 2000 per day

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards and cash
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare requires all international visitors to submit their passport number and nationality when registering at any lodging facility (inns, hotels, motels, etc. ); additionally, lodging proprietors are required to photocopy passports for all registering guests and keep the photocopy on file

Frequently asked questions

Is Gion Ryokan Karaku pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

Self parking is available for JPY 2000 per day.

What time is check-in at Gion Ryokan Karaku?

Check-in start time: 3 PM; Check-in end time: 7:00 PM. After-hours check-in is not available.

What time is check-out at Gion Ryokan Karaku?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Gion Ryokan Karaku located?

Located in Gion, this ryokan is within a 5-minute walk of Yasaka Shrine and Shijo Street. Kiyomizu Temple and Pontocho Alley are also within 15 minutes. Higashiyama Station is 13 minutes by foot and Sanjo Keihan Station is 15 minutes.

Can I cancel my reservation for free and receive a full refund?

Yes, this property offers free cancellation on select room rates, because flexibility matters! Please refer to the property cancellation policy on our site for more details about any exclusions or requirements.

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Reviews

Gion Ryokan Karaku Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

9.6

Cleanliness

9.4

Location

9.6

Staff & service

9.2

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 275 out of 373 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 63 out of 373 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 24 out of 373 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 9 out of 373 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 373 reviews

Reviews

Verified review

8/10 Good

Ibrahim

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent ryokan with a wonderful breakfast. The staff were incredibly helpful, friendly, and always available for any request. The breakfast was traditional Japanese and served as a multi-course meal with a great variety of dishes. We really enjoyed our stay and would definitely recommend this place. The location is fantastic, right in the heart of Gion, with many of the main attractions within walking distance.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Matthew

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A pleasant and authentic experience. Room was clean, well stocked and very comfortable. Staff courteous and helpful. Breakfast a particular highlight, multiple courses of classic Japanese food.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very convenient to main sites nearby or bus. Clean, great breakfast...great. it's a ryokan so it's not western standard for accommodations. But good hot water, cooling and easy place to stay. Not a ton of amenities in hotel, but nice staff.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Pofen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location and excellent staff and services!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Pedram

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Clean, spacious nice hotel in a great location
Stayed 4 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Kim

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wonderfully located in the heart of the Gion District. Quint, quiet and clean. The Dinner was above and beyond expectations. Culinary experience for sure. So much history all around. Just step out the door and you are there.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jan Thea

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff very accommodating. Rooms was clean and beautiful. Very close to the historic district.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Deborah

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location for visiting Gion.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Yiming

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location, walking distance to many attractions which means you can get there early before crowds. The staffs are very friendly and helpful. Not sure about the dinner, but traditional Japanese breakfast is awesome.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wonderful place to stay in a great location in Kyoto Gion. Room was clean and very comfortable and staff was amazing. Highly recommend
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

CECILIA

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
The breakfast is a culinary delight with all sorts of samples from Kyoto. The hotel is in a great spot with all sorts of shops, temples and shrines all in walking distance.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Daniel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great hosts very friendly
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Exceptional location (truly, the best area to be if you want to feel the charm and beauty of Kyoto)), incredibly warm and attentive staff, excellent breakfast. Rooms are not very fancy, but they are comfortable and spotless and showers are excellent. We would absolutely stay there again and highly recommend.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Grace

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The highlight of this place is the location, the bath, the food and the service. The breakfast was by far my favourite meal. We brought our 7 and 3 year old and we all enjoyed the food. We didn’t have dinner as we knew we would be a bit jet lagged when we got there. The rooms were clean and the bath had a beautiful view. The kids in particular enjoyed the bath after a long day out and about. The staff was extremely kind and hospitable. Lastly the location made it so easy to walk around. There’s a mix of old versus new in the area. I found it quite pleasant. Summer can be very hot so I would recommend going during cooler weather to take advantage of the location.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Khan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice big tatami room, perfect for family with very young children.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Hilary

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very friendly staff, room lovely, fab location.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Rob

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Cool experience. Great quiet location. Close to everything
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Yan

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean and nice traditional Japanese style; Close to many attractions with walk distence, pefect for first time Kyoto travellers!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Angel

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Clean room, staff, location
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jason

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wonderful from start to finish. Great staff who were very attentive and couldn’t do enough to help. From the kaiseki dinner to traditional Japanese breakfast they were always on hand to help. Lovely traditional rooms and having a Yukata in the room to wear was a really nice touch. A wonderful unique stay in a fantastic location in Gion.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Richard

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Amazing breakfast! Staff was very friendly, and very accommodating. Room was quite hot though. We were informed our room had only a heater (which we obviously turned off) and evenings were very warm.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Virginia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Would highly recommend this property and Guin as a location to stay while in Kyoto. Quite a bit to see and learn in walking distance, the staff was very helpful, the view from the room of the temple bell tower and bath was amazing.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jordan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This was a very nice stay. The room was beautiful, exactly what we were looking for. The bathroom was very nice and clean. We loved the sub room! Staff was very kind and helpful. The hotel was in the center of the gion district which was very convenient for some of the attractions we wanted to see. We only stayed for 2 nights but truly wish we could've stayed longer. I would definitely come back here.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Sierra

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This place is beautiful! If you’re looking for an awesome spot in central Kyoto within walking distance to some major locations, look no further. We loved everything about this stay. Clean rooms, great service, and a traditional vibe. Thank you for a wonderful stay in Kyoto!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

sandra

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
It is a nice hotel. Stay very friendly.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2025