Kyoto Watazen Ryokan

Great way to experience traditional Japanese living No raised bed for seniors

Loved the historic property and rooms

Staff are friendly & helpful. The breakfast food was superb and catered for vegetarian diet. The public bath.

They cannot accommodate all rooms for dinner, so even though we tried to book 7 days in advance for just one dinner there from our 5 nights, it was not possible. Apparently you have to book months in advance to eat at your own hotel.

The staff was excellent, very friendly and helpful - excellent service. The welcome tea was so special. The breakfast was delicious.

This is a must do when visiting Kyoto. They made our entire experience so memorable. Be sure to add on the traditional dinner and breakfast.

Lovely unique experience

When you enter the quiet lobby, bowing through the curtains in front of the entrance, it feels like you are transported into a world of tranquility and beauty. The service is fantastic and the food excellent. The quarters are spacious and spotless, an a wonderful unique experience for us as Americans. I highly recommend

This ryokan offers an accessible authentic experience guided by a friendly staff and most amenities we are used to find in modern hotels. The location is exceptional. The restaurant seems to be excellent but we weren’t able to access it as it was already fully booked (for breakfast and dinner). I understand it’s preferable to book in advance. But our family prefers going with the flow when travelling :)

Staying at Watazen Ryokan is an experience in itself. Our room felt like a traditional Japanese home with tatami floors and sliding doors. The experience felt very bespoke; from the breakfast, to the welcome tea and snacks, the turn down (lay mattresses) and turn up (set tables and chairs) service, cold water and day snacks, and the attentive staff. We availed of the breakfast option and we highly recommend other guests take advantage of it. it was like eating a high end meal that was different each day. The place was very close to attractions like the Nishiki market and shopping streets, bakeries and restaurants, and the Samurai museum. Finally, the best asset of the Ryokan is the staff. Everyone was attentive and helpful. For example, in the morning service the man helping us remembered that our young sons liked the seaweed and rice seasoning and brought us extra packets. The bathroom was one the smaller side, but functional and at par with what to expect in Japan. The mattress was thin. they have enough mattress in the room that if you double it up it will be more comfortable for side sleepers.

Wonderful old ryokan. We stayed in a traditional room and loved it. Tatami mats were very comfortable. Thoroughly enjoyed the kaiseki dinner for our family of 4 (we have a 9 YO & 11 YO). I also loved the onsen on the bottom level. Location is ideal for exploring Kyoto. The receptionist that helped us wasn't the most friendly. Interacted w/ him a few times during our stay, and it always seemed like we were an inconvenience w/ him. The rest of the staff there, valet, waitresses, cleaning staff were all extremely friendly.

Personal touch

Our family of 5 enjoyed our stay at Watazen Ryokan. The facilities are very nice. Simple but nice and relaxing. We liked the traditional rooms with the tatami mat floors and futon bedding. Each room had slippers for your use while staying at the Ryokan. Each room also had an instant water heater for tea or if you brought instant coffee. Everyday the staff would make and put away our beds and give us a new and different Japanese treat everyday. There is a public onsen downstairs and along with washers and driers for use (you need to pay). You could also have breakfast or dinner for an additional cost, but we did not do. The ryokan is in a great location. Shinkyogoku shopping street and Nishiki Market is just around the corner and we highly recommend Weekenders Coffee! Probably the best coffee we've had. Also tons of restaurants close by and very easy to get to the subway for further travel. The ryokan also has a lending room as you walk in the lobby. Here you can take a toothbrush, razor, face wash, etc to use and they have other items you may borrow during your stay or you can buy and take home if you like (robes, reusable bag for shopping, etc). The staff was very professional and friendly. I think the futon was a bit too uncomfortable for me and my husband. We slept on other futons in other places and were more comfortable on those. Thas was my only complain.

The location was very convenient, just a block from the Nishiki Market and a few blocks from the subway station and bus stops along Shijo-Dori. We arrived several hours before check-in, but the staff were happy to store our luggage so that we could do some sightseeing in the early afternoon. Check-in went very smoothly. My Japanese speaking abilities are very limited, but the staff was extremely accommodating and did a first rate job with communicating in English. Our room comfortably fit a family of three. The private restroom was perfect. The meals were exceptional! Kaiseki dinner the first night, then shabu shabu on the second night. Menu was extensive and the food was delicious. The friendly staff did a great job explaining the menu in English. The bath house in the basement was clean and a pleasure to use, with helpful "how to take a bath" instructions in English. As for breakfast, the common dining area was very comfortable. The menu was extensive and the food was delicious. On check-out, the staff was happy to keep our luggage while we did some final sightseeing in the morning. We picked up our luggage at noon and easily made our way to Kyoto Station for our Shinkansen departure. Nothing noteworthy comes to mind. The only minor downside was that there was a surprisingly large amount of food provided for the shabu shabu. I felt bad that my family could only finish half of it.

The location, the hospitality, the welcome, the staff, our meals were all wonderful. Very attentive staff, available amenities, good communication (we are non-Japanese speaking), assistance with luggage holding and forwarding, available onsen. A really special stay in beautiful Kyoto. Loved it all! Thank you!

Location and quality service in the facility. Breakfast is a refresh experience to start the day. Dinner is a must try. Nil

Welcoming staff, selection of yukatas and other amenities on check-in; luggage reaching rooms before we did; tea and macarons served in room with orientation; dining was exceptional keisei and beef sukiyaki; wonderful onsen; excellent sleep on futon covered tatami. No complaints at all!

The facility is very well located. The room is very spacious and all the facilities are extremely clean. The staff is super welcoming and friendly. Was so happy and hope to be back at this Ryokan in the future. Loved the public baths downstairs, as well. I liked everything.

The first and foremost item to mention is the superlative staff. The level of service is fantastic, and they are extremely courteous and solicitous of their guests. The facility itself is lovely, and the traditional charm of a historic ryokan is a real treat. No complaints!

Great friendly staff, accessible location, lovely welcome tea ceremony and delicious traditional Japanese breakfast. Front staff were attentive and made great recommendations.