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For a traditional stay in Kyoto, the historical Toshiharu Ryokan is a wonderful experience. It is a beautiful Japanese inn my husband and I booked for two nights during our recent trip to Japan.
The traditional Kyoto home was built in 1909 during the Meiji era and opened as an inn in 1951. In addition, the Toshiharu Ryokan has been in the Michelin Guide numerous times since 2015.
“While main building and storehouse are designated as Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan, the surrounding wall is recognized by Kyoto City for its historical architectural design.”
– Toshiharu Ryokan
As we had never stayed at a ryokan before, we were not sure what to expect. We wanted to experience the traditional, Japanese culture and ryokan, yet still have modern conveniences. Therefore, as expected, it is not five-star, luxurious accommodations, yet provided an ideal mix that we were looking for, which provided a great, comfortable stay!
Location of Toshiharu Ryokan
Toshiharu Ryokan is located on a quiet street, off the main road. The location is walking distance to some major attractions that we visited, including:
- Nishiki Market: 15-minute walk
- Downtown Kawaramachi – shopping district: 17-min
- Pontocho – tourist attraction and dining area in a narrow alley: 24-minute walk
After a day of sightseeing, we took a taxi to Toshiharu Ryokan. Public transportation options are also easily accessible.
Our Arrival at Toshiharu Ryokan
Upon our arrival around 5pm, we were warmly welcomed by the staff at Toshiharu Ryokan. We removed our shoes at the entrance and slippers are provided.
Prior to Toshiharu Ryokan, we stayed at Hotel The Celestine Kyoto Gion (review of this luxury hotel coming soon). For convenience, we had booked the luggage delivery service between hotels at our hotel’s front desk, the night before. Therefore, our luggage was already in our room when we arrived.
Tip: we highly recommend the luggage shipping service during your stay in Japan! Hotels will confirm if available and pricing. The service enabled us to spend more time exploring!
We were shown to our beautiful room and welcomed with a delicious Japanese treat and warm matcha tea that we enjoyed. We sat at a “horigotatsu”, or sunken “kotatsu”, in our room. A kotatsu is a low table that has a heater underneath. It is covered with a heavy blanket to keep the heat in to warm your lower body.
The kotatsu in our room had a “pit” in the floor so you can sit with your legs hanging down, under the table. Since it was November, we really enjoyed this on our arrival and having it in our room during our stay!
The staff provided us some housekeeping information, such as booking breakfast and the amenities available. We toured the cozy yet elegant ryokan, including the upstairs area. Everything was well-maintained, clean, and decorated with care.
Accommodations
The five rooms each have their own unique features and décor. Rooms are located on the main floor and second floor.
We booked the Satsuki Room at Toshiharu Ryokan for two nights, several months in advance of our trip. November is a particularly busy time for visitors to Japan, therefore, we highly recommend booking your accommodations in Japan well in advance.
Satsuki Room
Overall, for us, the Satsuki Room, locked and accessible by key, was charming and comfortable. Notably, the Satsuki Room was our preferred room choice when we first discovered Toshiharu Ryokan!
Our room had Japanese traditional elements, including the following, and more:
- tatami – thick woven straw mats
- We slept on (surprisingly) comfortable on futons with pillows. The traditional Japanese mattresses are laid directly on the tatami flooring.
- shoji – sliding doors and panels made from wood, with translucent paper.
Satsuki Room highlights include:
- located on the main floor
- private garden
- private washroom – modern toilet, sink
- “horigotatsu” (sunken “kotatsu”)
- A “kotatsu” or low table, covered by a blanket and heated underneath. What is unique in this room is the sunken kotatsu where there is a recessed floor or pit, which enables your legs to hang down or stretch out.
- “zabuton” – large cushions for sitting on the floor.
- bottled water, tea, teapot
- hairdryer
- robes (yukata)
- we wore our yukata to and from the baths and around the ryokan
- safe
- free wi-fi
- a second, additional portable heater, and more!
In particular, a unique feature of this room included a stunning private garden. It was for our use only, accessible only once you unlocked the door to the Satsuki Room.
Glass sliding doors opened to this courtyard that provided an incredibly beautiful and relaxing ambiance from our room.
Another key element of the room is the private washroom located in the garden. It has a modern toilet and sink, and some open-air exposure. Other guests could not access the private washroom. To bathe, we used the shared bath/shower rooms outside our room.
We read some reviews that noted noise because it is by the entrance and also by the reception desk. However, we were not bothered by the room’s location and also understand that it is a historic, older home.
Other rooms at Toshiharu Ryokan:
- Kikunoma (Between the Chrysanthemums):
- First floor of the main house
- Capacity: 1-3 people
- Largest room in the inn
- Tsukinoma (During the month):
- Second floor of the main house
- Capacity: 1-2 people
- Takenoma (Between the Bamboo):
- Second floor of the main house
- Capacity: 1-3 people
- Aoi no Ma:
- Dozo second floor – this room is a former storehouse, located in a separate area separated by a courtyard.
- the storehouse is renovated and “designated as a nationally registered cultural property.”
As home was built in the Meiji era, it has a traditional interior and design, beautifully well kept.
Lastly, there was always someone available at the ryokan if needed at the front desk. All the people at the ryokan were so kind and provided excellent customer service throughout our stay. Everyone we met who worked there spoke some English and were always willing to assist us!
Shared Amenities
Courtyard & Garden
There is a lovely courtyard and garden in the middle of the ryokan that everyone can enjoy. It is well-maintained and adds to the ambiance and beauty of the ryokan.
Bathing Rooms
- The bathing rooms were always clean and prepared for the guest(s). There were also two shower heads in each bathing room in addition to the tub.
- Towels, toothbrushes, shavers, and more, are available to guests.
- Couples can use the room together.
Toilet Rooms:
- There are toilet rooms both on the main floor and second floor.
- “modern” western toilets are shared but do not need to be booked.
- If there are slippers at the foot of the door, outside of the toilet room, it is (likely) in use. When in doubt, knock to confirm.
Cafeteria
- located on the main floor.
- breakfast was served in this room that also had refreshments always available, such as tea and coffee.
Library
- located on the second floor.
- guests can relax in this cozy room. We always had the library to ourselves when we used it daily.
- Refreshments such as coffee, tea, and delicious individually wrapped Japanese treats were always available.
- Be sure to look at the book “Machiya: The Traditional Townhouses of Kyoto” which includes Toshiharu Ryokan in it’s pages.
Breakfast
We highly recommend booking your stay at Toshiharu Ryokan with breakfast like we did. My husband and I agreed that our two breakfasts during our stay were amazing!
Breakfast was booked the night before, at a time we selected. It was served in the “cafeteria” room which had tables and offered coffee and tea when not used for breakfast.
We were served a delicious “Kyoto-style obanzai breakfast” that felt thoughtfully prepared each morning. It included a variety of dishes including proteins (e.g. fish, tofu, seafood), vegetables, and fresh seasonal ingredients. White rice was also served with each breakfast.
Toshiharu Ryokan: Conclusion
When planning our first trip to Japan and our time in Kyoto, we knew we had to stay at a ryokan. Toshiharu Ryokan was a wonderfully memorable, unique stay, that we feel fortunate to have experienced in Kyoto!
The historic building was charming, and the friendly staff were amazing. We can highly recommend staying at the Toshiharu Ryokan to experience the traditional Japanese lifestyle, provided with warm hospitality!
Enjoy Japan!
For availability on Booking.com and more reviews:
Address:
326 Benzaitencho Suwamachi-Matsubara-sagaru
Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto 600-8428
Additional Information
- check-in after 4:00 pm
- check-out set at 10:30 am
- stairs to second floor
- no elevator
- lunch and dinner are not available at the ryokan.
Additional Information: Popular Tours
For popular tours in the area, explore the tours below with hundreds of positive reviews:
- Kyoto 1-day bus tour:
- air-conditioned bus
- Highlights include Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Sagano Bamboo Forest, and Kinkaku-ji Temple.
- Bike Tour Exploring North Kyoto plus Lunch
- Private Kyoto Tour with a Local, Highlights & Hidden Gems
- personalized
- 3, 5, 7 or 8 hours with your private guide
Other Accommodations:
For other accommodations in Kyoto, explore Booking.com here, or the map below:
Booking.comThis article is based on a self-funded hotel stay. The views and opinions expressed in this article are from personal experience(s). Our content and this article is informational only, not facts, and cannot be construed as professional advice. We always give our honest opinions on topics, experiences or products, made in good faith. Any product or service claims, made by the product or service, should be verified with the manufacturer or provider in question. There may be potential errors on our website, for example due to changes and unintentional mistakes. Thank you.
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