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Kyoto Sawai

Property class: 2.5

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Photo gallery for Kyoto Sawai

A traditional Japanese building with a wooden exterior, a tiled entrance, and a sign indicating a restaurant. - Kyoto Sawai (Kyoto)
A traditional Japanese room with tatami flooring, a low wooden desk, a tatami mat with a circular design, and a wooden shelf with various items. - Kyoto Sawai (Kyoto)
A staircase with a handrail, leading to a landing with a view of a room. - Kyoto Sawai (Kyoto)
A room with tatami flooring, a low table, a futon, a window with a grid pattern, and a ceiling fan. - Kyoto Sawai (Kyoto)
A traditional Japanese-style room with tatami flooring, a low wooden ceiling, and sliding doors. - Kyoto Sawai (Kyoto)
Located close to Kenninji Temple and Yasui Konpiragu, Kyoto Sawai provides an art gallery on site and a shopping mall on site. Stay connected with free in-room WiFi.

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Breakfast available
  • Room service

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

View all photos for Shizu no Ma (Up to 4 Guests)

A traditional Japanese-style room with tatami flooring, a low wooden bed with white bedding, and shoji screens on the walls.

Shizu no Ma (Up to 4 Guests)

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(4 reviews)
  • 17 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 4 Twin Futons
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Miya no Ma - Middle (Up to 2 Guests)

A traditional Japanese-style room with tatami flooring, a low wooden bed with two pillows, and a shoji screen wall.

Miya no Ma - Middle (Up to 2 Guests)

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(2 reviews)
  • City view
  • 11 sq m
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Twin Futons and 2 Twin Beds
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Classic Room, Non Smoking, Private Bathroom

A traditional Japanese-style room with tatami mats, a low wooden ceiling, and a bed with a headboard.

Classic Room, Non Smoking, Private Bathroom

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(4 reviews)
  • 47 sq m
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 5
  • 2 Twin Beds and 3 Twin Futons
  • Free WiFi

About the neighborhood

Located in Kyoto, Kyoto Sawai is in the city center. Kenninji Temple and Yasui Konpiragu are notable landmarks, and travelers looking to shop may want to visit Nishiki Market. Yasaka Shrine and Kiyomizu Temple are two other places to visit that come recommended. Visit our Kyoto travel guide
View more Guest Houses in Kyoto
Map
4-320 Miyagawasuji, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto, 605-0801

What's nearby

  • A traditional Japanese garden with a view of autumn foliage, a stone lantern, and a wooden building.
    Kenninji Temple
    3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • A pedestrian street lined with traditional buildings, a no parking sign, and people walking.
    Gion Corner
    7 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • A traditional Japanese temple with red and white structures, surrounded by lush greenery and a crowd of visitors.
    Yasaka Shrine
    10 min walk - 0.6 miles
  • A bustling indoor market with various shops and stalls.
    Nishiki Market
    10 min walk - 0.6 miles
  • Yasui Konpiragu
    7 min walk - 0.4 miles

Getting around

  • Kiyomizu-gojo Station
    6 min walk
  • Sanjo Keihan Station
    15 min walk
  • Itami Airport (ITM)
    61 min drive

Restaurants

  • ろじうさぎ
    1 min walk
  • curry & tempura koisus
    2 min walk
  • 丹波くり・和栗専門 紗織
    5 min walk
  • 名月堂
    2 min walk
  • おやじ
    3 min walk

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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • In-room WiFi speed: 500+ Mbps (good for 6+ people or 10+ devices)

Parking and transportation

  • No onsite parking available

Food and drink

  • Daily continental breakfast available 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM for a fee: JPY 2,000 for adults and JPY 2,000 for children

Things to do

  • Art gallery
  • Shopping mall

Family friendly

  • Baby toys
  • Children's books
  • Children's toys
  • In-room microwave
  • Mini-fridge
  • Separate in-room dining area

Conveniences

  • Guidebooks
  • Limited-hour front desk

Guest services

  • Change of bedsheets (on request)
  • Change of towels on request
  • Housekeeping (on request)

Accessibility

  • No elevator

More

  • Genkan (entryway)
  • Smoking not allowed
  • Traditional architecture

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Down comforter
  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Shower
  • Toilet with electronic bidet
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Free bottled water
  • Limited room service
  • Microwave
  • Mini-fridge
  • Paper towels
  • Separate dining area

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating
  • Individual decor
  • Individual furnishings
  • Iron/ironing board on request

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: 10:00 PM
Early check-in subject to availability
Early check-in is available for a fee
Late check-in subject to availability
Late check-in fee: JPY 3000 for check-in between 10:00 PM and midnight
Minimum check-in age: 19

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Late check-out subject to availability
A late check-out fee will be charged

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions; front desk staffed during limited hours
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 24 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation
If you are planning to arrive after 10:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Children up to the age of 3 years can stay for free if using existing beds when occupying the parent or guardian's room

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 continental breakfast: approximately JPY 2000 for adults and JPY 2000 for children
  • Early check-in is available for a fee (subject to availability)
  • Late check-in fee: JPY 3000 for check-in between 10:00 PM and midnight
  • Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability)

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 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 cash
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a first aid kit, and window guards
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room

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 Kyoto Sawai pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

This property doesn't offer parking.

What time is check-in at Kyoto Sawai?

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: 10:00 PM. A fee applies for early check-in (subject to availability). Late check-in is available from 10:00 PM– midnight for a fee of JPY 3000.

What time is check-out at Kyoto Sawai?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM. Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability).

Where is Kyoto Sawai located?

Located in Gion, this guesthouse is within a 10-minute walk of Kenninji Temple and Yasui Konpiragu. Yasaka Shrine and Nishiki Market are also within 15 minutes. Sanjo Keihan Station is 15 minutes by foot and Gojo Station is 15 minutes.

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Reviews

Kyoto Sawai Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

9.2

Cleanliness

9.0

Location

9.4

Staff & service

9.0

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 93 out of 128 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 15 out of 128 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 10 out of 128 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 5 out of 128 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 5 out of 128 reviews

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

jacob

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It was a great experience and traditional place to stay at during our 3 night stay in Kyoto. The owner was very accommodating and friendly to our family! If we had any questions or needed anything, she would have helped! Vi would recommend to stay if for a night or two for a traditional stay in Kyoto! AC was also a blessing!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Ricardo

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Location was great and also the staff were very polite and respectful. Definitely would recommend to everyone.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Wendy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent location, quiet yet close to everything. Very clean, lovely host, friendly and spoke great English which helped us a lot. Beautiful old style traditional Japanese rooms with modern conveniences. Would highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Omar

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
True ryokan experience, which was very comfortable. Would definitely come back!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Gerard

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Definitely a great location. Over priced to for we got. Our room was in a maze of tiny hallways. Although clean, the room was a storage closet. Staff was kind, the inn keeper was okay.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Meghan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great central location to the Old Town in Gion and walkable to plenty of nearby temples. Also close to a train station for easy access to everything else. Staff is very kind and accommodating and gave us small gifts on our way out!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jian

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had a wonderful stay at this beautiful traditional Japanese ryokan located in a charming alleyway adorned with lovely red lanterns. The historic rooms are spacious, comfortable, and elegantly decorated, featuring stunning new bathrooms that added to the comfort. The host exemplified the true art of Japanese hospitality warm, friendly, and genuinely attentive. We truly appreciated the extra effort in setting up additional bedding for our family, preparing delicious matcha for us, accommodating our children so thoughtfully, and even providing a lovely souvenir as a memento of our stay. Thank you so much for making our visit so special. We highly recommend this hidden gem!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

John

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Lovely place, lovely staff!

Wonderful experience! The staff was super friendly and kind, we had a wonderful stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Kerri

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The room is cozy and comfortable, and we felt right at home. An electric kettle to make tea was an amazing touch. The surrounding area is beautiful and we had a great time exploring. Keiko is the most gracious and welcoming hostess, and we loved our stay at Sawai! We are already looking forward to returning to Kyoto in the future and staying here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Shaz

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Fantastic ryokan. Very affordable all things considered and the owners are incredibly friendly and helpful. The lodgings are wonderful, as they are both beautiful and comfortable. Couldn’t recommend more
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

John

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

True Edo period style hotel experience

Sawai is an authentic if no frills experience. However, you can’t beat the location, the look and feel of the place, and the wonderful staff. I will stay here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Hadji

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Excellent Stay

Our stay at Sawai was superb Keiko the owner welcomed us with traditional matcha tea at homemade sweets it was delicious. The bed was so comfortable and the experience in a traditional Japanese Inn or Ryokan was something I was looking forward to in this trip in Kyoto. The place was easy to find and navigate. Closed to downtown but,away from hustle and bustle.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

David

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This is a very picturesque traditional family run hotel in a 160 year old Kyoto house. It’s quite an experience to enjoy Gion area - close to all shopping and the famous Geisha area of old Kyoto. Highly recommended.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Ruixin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Everything was amazing. The owner is so lovely and greeted me the moment I arrived. She also made delightful breakfast for me each morning, even at like 6:30am when I tried to get to the tourist spots early. The house is amazing, an old tea house in the heart of Gion. There are a lot of stairs and narrow alleyways tho, so keep that in mind. Next time I'm in Kyoto I'm 100% coming back to the Kyoto Sawai
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Raul

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Great Japanese style guesthouse experience. Not a hotel more like a guesthouse, staying with a family. The people running the place are super warm. No breakfast. It was quiet but since I was with my kids I felt like I was disturbing the rest of the guests or owners. They live there. I still recommend it.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Kathleen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great experience in Kyoto

This was an excellent Ryokan - down a quiet street across the river from a busy area in Kyoto. The hostess and her family made us feel welcome and provided the type of experience we were looking for in Kyoto. The bathrooms were up to date and well stocked, the tatami and beds comfortable for all of us to sleep in. Would highly recommend this as a traditional stay while in Kyoto!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jihad

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Experience the past with the comfort of the future

We were looking for a slice of old Japan after a week in Tokyo. I can say that that desire was thoroughly fulfilled. Our room was like one straight out of the pass, but their were enough modern renovations to make it feel comfortable. We didn't explore the immediate area to much but with just a short train ride to access Fushimi inari I think it's a great place to stay. The staff are also very friendly and helpful. My friends bag was broken in transit by a delivery company and they handled all the talks themselves on our behalf and we ended up getting a 3000 yen compensation. It's a great hub to explore a lot of kansai and a great way to experience old Japan.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Lindsey

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
My family of 4 (2 adults, 2 teenagers) stayed here for 4 nights and we loved it. The host and staff were so kind and thoughtful and very accomodating. Pros: * Good sized room * Clean * Staff are so kind and helpful * Beds were large * Traditional appeal. Not only is it an old tea house, geishas in training live next door * The location is close to shopping and transportation options. * It's on a very quiet street - no car traffic. Cons: * Our room was a little cluttered with extra furniture that didn't need to be there. * As previous reviewers have said, the hallways are comically tiny, so getting your oversized luggage into the room will be a challenge or pack light. The location is near coin laundry.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Jasmin

Liked: Property conditions & facilities
The owner of the property was kind and seemed like a lovely woman but the other staff didn't really seem to know what was going on. The check in, while early which we absolutely appreciated, was basically us getting the keys and giving our passports. No explanation of amenities or the room itself. I noticed they offered tours of the building with sweets and tea but we didn't get any tour. The room itself was spacious and very comfortable. The self filling tub and shower room was the highlight and we made sure to maximize our use! We were supposed to get a VIP 4500 yen drink credit but we were told it just consisted of coffee or matcha tea at night and I'm unsure if we received that full value over two nights. I understand that Kyoto is pricey, especially in the area of this guesthouse, but I feel like we overpayed for what we got. Overall, it was an average stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Teoman

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice building. 160 years old geisha house. Worth experiencing a japanese style bedroom with tatami and futon. Owners are very kind and helpful.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Colin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This was the best stay on our trip to Japan, the beautiful 160yr old building was so authentic, on a classic Kyoto old charming street, the hosts were kind and our bags were already in our room when we arrived!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Justin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Amazing!! Wonderful hosts. Intimate experience. Felt right at home. I will definitely be back.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Meylin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great traditional home to stay in. Near bus stops. Kyoto station is about 30 min walk. We enjoyed our stayed and I would definitely recommend it.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Melanie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
A lovely stay in a historic tea house. Friendly staff and owner.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Amanda

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It was lovely, would stay again
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023