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Ryokan Sawaya Honten

Property class: 3

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Photo gallery for Ryokan Sawaya Honten

Superior Twin Room | In-room safe, individually decorated, desk, iron/ironing board - Ryokan Sawaya Honten (Kyoto)
Exterior - Ryokan Sawaya Honten (Kyoto)
Spa - Ryokan Sawaya Honten (Kyoto)
Superior Twin Room | In-room safe, individually decorated, desk, iron/ironing board - Ryokan Sawaya Honten (Kyoto)
Superior Twin Room | View from room - Ryokan Sawaya Honten (Kyoto)
Ryokan Sawaya Honten offers an authentic Japanese experience near Kyoto University and the Imperial Palace. Guests can relax in the Japanese garden or indoor public bath after exploring the city. The property features free WiFi and a highly praised staff.

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Laundry

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 14 of 14 rooms

View all photos for Superior Triple Room

Superior Triple Room | In-room safe, individually decorated, desk, iron/ironing board

Superior Triple Room

  • Garden view
  • 22 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 3 Twin Futons

View all photos for Superior Twin Room

Superior Twin Room | In-room safe, individually decorated, desk, iron/ironing board

Superior Twin Room

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • Garden view
  • 18 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Futons

View all photos for Superior Quadruple Room

Superior Quadruple Room | In-room safe, individually decorated, desk, iron/ironing board

Superior Quadruple Room

  • 29 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 4 Twin Futons

View all photos for Standard Twin Room

Standard Twin Room | In-room safe, individually decorated, desk, iron/ironing board

Standard Twin Room

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(8 reviews)
  • 18 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Futons

View all photos for Economy Twin Room

Economy Twin Room | In-room safe, individually decorated, desk, iron/ironing board

Economy Twin Room

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)
  • 18 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Futons

View all photos for Standard Quadruple Room

Standard Quadruple Room | In-room safe, individually decorated, desk, iron/ironing board

Standard Quadruple Room

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(6 reviews)
  • 24 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 4 Twin Futons

View all photos for Economy Quadruple Room

Economy Quadruple Room | In-room safe, individually decorated, desk, iron/ironing board

Economy Quadruple Room

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

View all photos for Standard Twin Room

In-room safe, individually decorated, desk, iron/ironing board

Standard Twin Room

  • Sleeps 2

View all photos for Standard Quadruple Room

Bathroom | Combined shower/tub, free toiletries, hair dryer, slippers

Standard Quadruple Room

  • Sleeps 4

View all photos for Superior Quadruple Room

Bathroom | Combined shower/tub, free toiletries, hair dryer, slippers

Superior Quadruple Room

  • Sleeps 4

View all photos for Superior Triple Room

Bathroom | Combined shower/tub, free toiletries, hair dryer, slippers

Superior Triple Room

  • Sleeps 3

View all photos for Superior Twin Room

In-room safe, individually decorated, desk, iron/ironing board

Superior Twin Room

  • Sleeps 2

View all photos for Economy Twin

In-room safe, individually decorated, desk, iron/ironing board

Economy Twin

  • Sleeps 2

View all photos for Economy Quadruple Room

Bathroom | Combined shower/tub, free toiletries, hair dryer, slippers

Economy Quadruple Room

  • Sleeps 4

About the neighborhood

Located in Sakyo Ward, a neighborhood in Kyoto, Ryokan Sawaya Honten is near a train station. Heian Shrine and Kyoto Imperial Palace are notable landmarks, and travelers looking to shop may want to visit Kawaramachi Street. Kyoto University and Ginkaku-ji Temple are two other places to visit that come recommended. Visit our Kyoto travel guide
Map
25 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto, 606-8397

What's nearby

  • 京都市四条河原町交差点の夜の景観。
    Kawaramachi Street
    10 min walk - 0.6 miles
  • Heian Shrine
    Heian Shrine
    10 min walk - 0.6 miles
  • The clock tower of Kyoto University
    Kyoto University
    15 min walk - 0.8 miles
  • Inside the Imperial Palace courtyard in Kyoto, Japan
    Kyoto Imperial Palace
    8 min drive - 0.8 miles
  • Kyoto International Exhibition Hall
    9 min walk - 0.5 miles

Getting around

  • Jingu-marutamachi Station
    6 min walk
  • Higashiyama Station
    16 min walk
  • Kansai Intl. Airport (KIX)
    111 min drive

Restaurants

  • タリーズコーヒー
    6 min walk
  • アラシのキッチン
    4 min walk
  • Basement base
    2 min walk
  • からふね屋珈琲店熊野店
    3 min walk
  • 第一旭熊野店
    2 min walk

About this property

Ryokan Sawaya Honten

Ryokan near Heian Shrine
Located close to Kyoto University and Kyoto Imperial Palace, Ryokan Sawaya Honten provides an indoor public bath (no minerals), a Japanese garden, and laundry facilities. Stay connected with free in-room WiFi.
Other perks at this ryokan include:
  • Breakfast (surcharge), smoke-free premises, and a TV in the lobby
  • Guest reviews give top marks for the helpful staff
Room features
All guestrooms are individually decorated, and have comforts such as air conditioning, in addition to thoughtful touches like free WiFi and safes.
More conveniences in all rooms include:
  • Bathrooms with toilets with electronic bidets and shower/tub combinations
  • Flat-screen TVs with digital channels
  • Refrigerators, heating, and limited housekeeping

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Property amenities

Internet

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

Parking and transportation

  • No onsite parking available

Food and drink

  • Daily breakfast available 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM for a fee

Things to do

  • TV in common areas

Conveniences

  • Guidebooks
  • Laundry facilities
  • Limited-hour front desk

Guest services

  • Change of towels on request
  • Housekeeping (weekly)

Outdoors

  • Japanese garden

Spa

  • Public bath open from 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM
  • Public indoor bath (no minerals)
  • Separate men/women areas in public bath
  • Yukata (Japanese robes)

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Handrails in stairways
  • No elevator
  • Well-lit path to entrance

More

  • 2 floors
  • Genkan (entryway)
  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

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

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV with digital channels

Food and drink

  • Free bottled water
  • Refrigerator
  • Restaurant dining guides

More

  • Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
  • Desk
  • Electrical adapters
  • Fusuma (room partition)
  • Heating (climate-controlled)
  • Individual decor
  • Iron/ironing board on request
  • Safe
  • Tatami (woven mat) flooring
  • Tokonoma (alcove)
  • Window screens

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: 9:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 15

Check-out

Check-out before 10 AM

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 6:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in
For any questions, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Breakfast is available to guests booked in breakfast rates only and cannot be requested after check-in.
Luggage storage after check-out is only available until 3 PM.

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children 12 and younger are not allowed at this property; All guests older than 12 are welcome
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.

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
Minimum Spring Break check-in age is 15 years old
Guests must contact this property in advance to reserve access to the public bathing facility
This property accepts credit cards and cash
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a smoke detector
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property
Japanese futons are provided based on the number of adults in the reservation.

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
Children 12 years old and younger are not permitted at this property
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
A car is not required for transportation to and from this property
Guests with tattoos are welcome to use the onsite public bathing facilities

Property is also known as

Ryokan Sawaya
Ryokan Sawaya Honten
Ryokan Sawaya Honten Kyoto
Sawaya Honten
Sawaya Honten Kyoto
Sawaya Honten Ryokan
Sawaya Ryokan
Sawaya Honten Hotel Kyoto
Ryokan Sawaya Honten Kyoto
Ryokan Sawaya Honten Ryokan
Ryokan Sawaya Honten Ryokan Kyoto

Frequently asked questions

Is Ryokan Sawaya Honten pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

Ryokan Sawaya Honten doesn't offer parking.

What time is check-in at Ryokan Sawaya Honten?

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: 9:00 PM. After-hours check-in is not available.

What time is check-out at Ryokan Sawaya Honten?

Check-out is at 10 AM.

Where is Ryokan Sawaya Honten located?

Located in Sakyo Ward, this ryokan is within a 15-minute walk of Heian Shrine and Kawaramachi Street. Kyoto University and Kyoto Imperial Palace are also within 1 mi (2 km). Higashiyama Station is 16 minutes by foot and Sanjo Keihan Station is 17 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

Ryokan Sawaya Honten Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

9.8

Cleanliness

8.0

Location

9.4

Staff & service

9.6

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 379 out of 523 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 114 out of 523 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 23 out of 523 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 3 out of 523 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 4 out of 523 reviews

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Marlar

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Amazing staff that go above and beyond, very clean and well maintained accommodation, great location as well. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here and would absolutely stay again.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gerryl

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff were so kind and traditional Japanese breakfast was amazing. They were also accommodating for my friend who is vegetarian
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Vera

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Everything was just wonderful. The breakfast was homemade and very delicious. Staff excellent and very helpful, room great, AC worked very good. I really enjoyed this place and definitely returned.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Frankie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The facilities are spotless and comfortable. Really quite a fine. If the there is any negatives, it would be the proximity to a line to get to Kyoto Station. Easy bus line to Gion. I would book again.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sarah Murphy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This was a beautiful, well-run hotel. The rooms are spacious, clean and comfortable, the staff were very friendly and the Japanese breakfast was incredible. I highly recommend it. Note that though the hotel is only a 15min walk to many of the touristy sites, the area is very residential and we were turned away from several of the nearby restaurants who didn’t want foreigners there. We had to walk back to the tourist areas for dinner. This was the one negative of our stay. However, that is out of the hotel’s control.
Photo of room
Outside of hotel
Breakfast 1
Breakfast 2
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jyoti

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This was the best stay for us in Japan. Very spacious and squeaky clean. There were so many amenities present and location is also supreme. We loved our stay here and will definitely recommend
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Solimar

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excelente service. Breakfast was superb. Highly recommend if you want to have the Ryokan experience.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nola

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had a very pleasant stay here. The property was clean and a great experience.
Coin washer/dryer in common area
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Yutong

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The room is very clean and tiny. I love the Japanese style environment. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. Excellent service.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Diego

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Amazing facilities and very friendly staff
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Phoebe

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A wonderful, peaceful place to stay! Even our economy room was large and comfortable, and the public baths were immaculately clean. Even though it is not in the more “popular” areas of Kyoto, we found it very easy to navigate transit and found some great nearby restaurants and temples to visit.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Julian

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Really quiet, great location staff are friendly willing to help you
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Amanda

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

Loved this traditional ryokan

Loved everything about this traditional ryokan. Comfortable, clean rooms and relaxing public onsen as well as really nice bathtubs in the rooms. There was the most serene koi poi out my window. Easy location to all the Kyoto sights and close to the train as well.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gabrielle

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
We loved our stay at ryokan sawaya honten. The traditional Japanese breakfast was very nice and we also enjoyed the peaceful public bath.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mary

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent ryokan with all the amenities you need.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nancie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice ryokan with great breakfast. Staff is very welcoming. Enjoyed our stay!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Adeline

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful, clean, and unique traditional hotel that smells nice. Wonderful and helpful staff. Breakfast is delicious and nice.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kyle

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great authentic Ryokan. Bus stops were close which made it easy to get around, lots of good restaurants close by with an amazing bakery. The hot bath was a great way to relax after a long day of exploring the city. Would highly reccomend staying here if youre travelling to Kyoto!
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nilufer

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It's a small little place that is unique and features little things that make it special - a koi fish feature, spacious rooms in traditional Japanese style. Comfortable and most of all the service was great.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

RICARDO

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Amazing experience, the room was pristine and the hospitality incredible.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Karina

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I really enjoyed my stay here at Ryokan Sawaya Honton. For me i wanted an authentic older style accomadation, and this place delivered. They do have washing machines and dryers, so you can do yourself when it suits. Its clean and quiet, and on a relatively quiet street. The best was the public bath at the end of the day it was so lovely to soak in the hot tub. Tattoos ok. I highly recommend this great establishment for long or shorter stays. Thank you Ryokan 🙏😊👌
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tuoc

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very nice place to stay. We loved the traditional Japanese beds! What a wonderful experience with excellent service!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

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

Great Ryokan. We enjoyed our stay.

Our stay was great. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The hotel is in a good stay and gives a great experience in the traditional hotels by having futons to sleep on and having the communal bath.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Katrine

Liked: Amenities
Beautiful traditional Inn. Easy communication with staff in English. Beautiful running water feature with Koi ourside sliding doors in room. Beautiful and wonderful all around. Would 100% book again!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Harjit

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Staff was very helpful
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024