Reviews of Inn Kawashima 2 stars

The location is perfect and owner and service were kind.

Wonderfull authentic Kyoto house ! Fusuma walls with Washi paper, tatamis and Futon beds. Lovely hosts.

The perfect private, peaceful ryokan experience.

Authentic Japanese-style inn. Room comfortable with air conditioning and fridge. Decent Japanese-style breakfast available for a reasonable price. Marvellous location, very central, with many tourist sites and a wide variety of restaurants in walking distance. Also close to a metro station for travel within the city. Excellent value overall.

Although the location seems pretty safe and crime in Japan is low in general, be aware that there's no lock on the rooms and no safe for valuables in the rooms. Also, the stairs to the upstairs rooms are very steep and narrow.

Quite possibly the best sleep I have had in Japan. Great location and right next door to a bakery

Great location, easy to walk to the sites and the subway.

The exact ryokan experience we were hoping to get in Kyoto. Beautiful, traditional building and rooms, absolutely incredible Japanese breakfast each morning, and comfortable futons. The hosts were incredibly accommodating for us and all our requests. Plus the location could not be beat for traveling Kyoto. Super clean and super quiet. We stayed 5 days and enjoyed every minute.

The shared shower can be difficult when the ryokan is busy, but we knew this going in and had minimal complaints.

This was a cute traditional style Ryokan in the heart of Kyoto. The room was spacious and the shared bathroom facilities were very clean. It wasn’t too busy either - The shower and bathroom were never occupied when I wanted to use them over our whole 5 day stay. The location is amazing, it’s right next to the city centre, Nishiki market, Pontocho alley and multiple stations to get around Kyoto.

We were on the ground floor, I would recommend requesting an upstairs room and/or bringing ear plugs Because the walls were washi paper and we were right near the stairwell, entry/exit and bathroom, I have to say it was occasionally quite noisy. I swear to god there was a herd of elephants staying above us one night 😂 and then they went out, but one of them left their alarm on and it kept going off late at night 🤔🤦‍♀️ Another night a group arrived home very late after partying, and another night there was a family with kids who hadn’t leant their “inside voices” yet 😂. The other nights, it was quiet and no issues. We had some really early mornings, tried to be quiet but probably annoyed some people too! All in all I think it really depends on the other guests, but if you are a light sleeper might be an issue for you. Could be solved with ear plugs or sleeping pills. Also the doors don’t lock. Personally I didn’t care but we could hear some of our neighbours complaining about it through the washi paper walls 😅

I really wanted to experience the traditional Japanese ryokan along with traditional breakfast and that’s exactly what it was. The tatami room with futon was very comfortable, and breakfast in the room was exactly right: grilled fish, an egg, vegetable of the day, homemade pickled vegetables, miso soup, rice and tea. Best way to start the day.

One night a family with a small child stayed, which was a bit noisy (thin walls) but such things can’t be avoided all the time.

Very close to both Nishiki market and the train station.

The staff were difficult to get a hold of and were not prepared to provide meals. If you want to partake in the meals, please notify them before your stay. By the time you check in, it may be too late for them to prepare, even a couple of days ahead.

Location was ideal , nice to stay in a traditional Inn. The dinner and breakfast service to the room was outstanding and a must try.

The shared bathroom down the stairs was a little awkward to get to in the middle of the night when trying to keep quiet and not disturb other guests. I did know this when booking the room , just a little tricky. Felt like i had to tiptoe around.

The location was great. The facility itself was very traditional style Japanese ryokan. I love everything about the atmosphere and the interior. The room, bathroom and restroom was clean. The host was very fluent in English. Since my room is right above the entrance, I could hear noises from outside a bit, but it didn't really bother me. The breakfast was great!

The shared bathroom and restroom were on the first floor. With the steep stairways, it was a little bit inconvenience.

Clean towels and a yukata were always available. The room had tea and snacks, with hot water delivered daily. Although the bed originally had only a blanket without a sheet, the owner quickly provided one upon request.

Unfortunately, the entire property is not suitable for taller guests—even with average height, we struggled with low ceilings and doorways. Most inconvenient were the very low mirrors, making personal care difficult, especially for taller women applying makeup. There was no privacy—only two sinks in a shared hallway for all guests, one shared unisex shower, and rooms that couldn’t be locked. The entrance was also always accessible. Although the space was generally clean, many surfaces in the room were dusty. We also missed having breakfast—despite a nearby bakery, there were few places to sit and eat in peace.

Clean, simple, and in a great location. Close to Nishiki Market and different subway stations. The bakery beside it is very good.

Not very comfortable. Mattress & pillows were thin. Overpriced for what you get.

Affordable ryokan with a very good location. The building is beautiful, the futon was very comfortable, even better than regular beds. They always have tea with a different cookie every day. The shared bathroom was always clean, and the shampoo/conditioner made my hair very soft, I wish I knew what brand it is. I liked how they provided new towels every day.

No room number, I was worried I would get into somebody's else room.

Perfect little spot in great location close to the areas to explore but still chill in the place. Japanese style, futon on the floor and shared bathroom facilities

It’s perfect place.

Good location, cleanliness is good, owner can speak English, can store luggage, the room will be tidied while you are out and the amenities are fantastic

N/A

I like the property and the service was good , but I didn’t like that the bathroom was downstairs. I enjoyed my stay.

I didn’t like to go go to the bathroom downstairs, but I understand that the hotels or houses used to be like that.

This tucked away piece of serenity is a great way to stay in a traditional Japanese ryokan in the heart of Kyoto. Staff were so friendly and polite and the room was a modest size. It was very peaceful and private and I wish I could have stayed longer.

Beautiful house and authentic ryokan experience. A lot of charm. And ideal location.