Service was excellent and hospitality was fantastic. Breakfast was perfectly served and balanced. The traditional baths were easy to use and very private. The bedding is also extremely plush for being on the floor. Also, unlimited tea and traditional snacks! Highly recommend for any foreign travelers.

Copy pasted from my own Expedia review: English traveller - We booked this hotel hoping for one amazing night. It by far exceeded our expectations. The staff was extremely friendly, the atmosphere was so peaceful and quiet. The bath was clean and relaxing, it's a shared bath but you reserve private times. If you stay here, get the breakfast. What a way to start the day. It was beautiful, it was delicious. With every penny

Amazing Service, Hot tubs were just a beautiful touch and welcome drink was delicious. Andy thank you for giving us such a great experience and giving us such a splendid tour. You can tell when staff love and are passionate about giving the upmost care and attention to details to their guests. Highly recommend will return on next trip

I wanted to cry when we left!! This was truly a beautiful experience. All of the staff were incredibly hospitable and kind, even with one of us arriving with some stomach issues and needing to cancel our breakfast. (When we did recover, the breakfast was excellent and carefully made by the owner. Very generous proportions, very tasty!) They were so sympathetic and took such good care of us - like being welcomed in by family. Both of the baths were absolutely gorgeous, and the garden is truly like an oasis in the city. We can’t recommend the “take” room enough with the beautiful woodwork inside. The library with sweets was also a treat. The location is also very accessible to the subway, with many cute shops within a ten minute walk. We sincerely hope to return the next time we come to Kyoto and hope to stay longer.

Our stay was OUTSTANDING. An elder lady welcomed us, offered a sweet treat and a drink and explained a few things about the place. She was super friendly and kind, knew a bit on English and Spanish and we were able to have a fun chat with her. We needed a place to have dinner and she even made a booking for us in a nearby place with authentic japanese cuisine in which they didn't know English neither the menu was in that language. She booked us a couple of seats at the counter so we could see how the chefs were preparing the meals without us telling her this (she definitely knew what we were looking for). They will book your slot for your private use of the bathroom (1hour; 30 mins per guest). The bathtub water was prepared with herbs and smelt wonderfully. It was exactly what you needed after long days of tourism in the hot japanese summer. The breakfast was also wonderful and very tasteful. A young lady explained to us that her mum cooked breakfast for us. We felt part of a family. We wanted to buy yukatas and we asked a young lad that was working on the night shift if they had any to sell. He rang someone and showed us a couple. The following morning a young lady offered to take us to a nearby family shop where to buy them. She even carried one of our bags! The ryokan was beautiful and both japanese gardens (we had a private one in our room) were a dream. You could see how they were looking after them with love, constantly watering the plants. Upstairs there was a little library where you could go for a cup of tea and have some japanese sweets. The shared bathrooms have toilettries and towels. There was a hair-dryer inside our room. The fridge in our room was refilled daily with water bottles and soft drinks. The futtons were very soft and comfortable to sleep in. They will provide you with a yukata and slippers to walk around the place. Although it didn't bother us, there was a curfew between 11pm until 7am. Arigato gozaimasu! We will come back =)

Toshiharu is one of those rare finds in your travels. It is a beautiful spot tucked away in a busy city that you can rest, and relax, and feel like your at home. The garden is elegant and beautiful, and I loved spending every night out there drinking tea discussing the day's events with my friend who joined me. The baths were also the perfect way to end each night before the next day's adventure. Most importantly, the staff who runs Toshiharu. They are some of the kindest, considerate people one could meet. They go above and beyond in every way for their guests to make sure they are both comfortable, and accommodated. I cannot recommend them enough! I can't wait to return, because I would definitely go again the next time I stay in Kyoto.

It was our first time to stay at japanese ryokan (japanese style traditional hotel) .Toshiharu Ryokan had made It a wonderful one ! The room is very clean and nice. The floor is made by japanese mat (tatami). The fragrant of the tatami itself is so relaxing. I never sleep on futon (japanese bed) before, so I thought I was going to have trouble sleeping. Turned out the futon is very comfortable. The blanket is very fluffy and warm. Oh, yes.. You can use the private onsen (japanese style bathub) by booking it in advance. The japanese tea they provided in the room was very good too. The staff is very kind and informative. They speak english well. Oh.. They also can provide vegetarian breakfast for my wife. The location is good. It is very near to karasuma gojo bus stop. The best part is the experience itself. I rarely find such ambience and tranquility nowadays. For me and my wife it was an unforgettable moment! Thank you Toshiharu Ryokan!! ありがとうございます!! ^_^

It's an experience rather than a normal stay at an hotel. You get to know traditional japanese housing. You can sleep on tatamis, have a private bath (with appointment), eat different kinds of traditional japanese breakfasts each morning and get to enjoy the house. You have to watch out for your head, since old japanese houses were build for smaller people. The staff speaks english well, their extraordinary friendliness and service was an highlight. We loved it there. A lovely experience. ❤️

One of the best hotel experiences I’ve ever had! Thank you so much to the Toshiharu team - their hospitality and kindness really felt like staying with family. Amazing breakfast in my room, beautiful private zen garden, the bath was to die for and the staff were all so unbelievably warm and welcoming. Cannot recommend enough! Thank you! :)

We had such a lovely visit here! The staff was so kind and helpful. It is a traditional Japanese “bed and breakfast“ and it was fun to get a traditional Japanese experience. I highly recommend a night here!

It was such a great experience staying here as a solo traveller. I was treated to a traditional Japanese experience from the welcome tea, aesthetics and the greetings (いってらっしゃいませ and おかえりなさい) when leaving and returning for the day. I stayed in the Tsuki room which was upstairs and had a beautiful view of the front garden and a separate dining area within the room where you can choose to have breakfast. The room is beautifully decorated and the futon was comfortable and warm enough that I did not really need to turn on the heat pump. The bathrooms and toilets are all shared however they are kept very clean and the baths are cleaned in between uses. You have to reserve a 30-minute slot for the bath/shower. There is a traditional wooden tub where you can soak for a bit after taking a shower. The scent from the wood was very calming and a perfect way to end the night. It is located in a quiet residential area but is still accessible and is about a 3-minute walk from the nearest train station. Definitely recommend staying here if you are looking for a traditional Japanese experience in Kyoto 😊

Such a hidden gem Ryokan in the heart of Kyoto! Super convenient location and friendly and welcoming stuff, the Ryokan is built on a historical site: every room is unique and well decorated to take you back hundreds of years to the traditional Japanese life. The garden view is spectacular, and traditional bathtub is awesome, and the breakfast is so good! Highly recommend to anyone who will visit Kyoto and wanna try an authentic Ryokan experience!

One of the highlights of our Kyoto trip! The staff is so friendly and so welcoming. The ryokan itself is over 100 years old and is small but was our room the largest on our japan trip. The spa bathroom was luxurious. If you are looking for somewhere special that will wow you, stay at this place!!!

This ryokan is amazing. The staff are very kind and speak some English. The building and gardens are stunning. The bathrooms (though shared) are lovely and have an onsen feel them.

Wife and I visited towards the latter end of April this year, and the hospitality was phenomenal. We were greeted by Ro, who was very warm and friendly. He was also very funny and pleasant to converse with. All of the staff was really wonderful and it is definitely worth the experience if you are looking to have a traditional experience when it comes to hotels in Japan.

Me and my wife stayed in this ryokan three nights and it was PERFECT. The room, the breakfast, the baths, the staff, the atmosphere… it’s a beautiful experience that I recommend to everyone. And of course we will come back. Mariano and Jennifer

We stayed at Toshiharu for 2 nights. Our room was Kiku. When we arrived there, we were greeted warmly by the staff. The experience at Toshiharu was very special as the building is one of a kind. I really enjoyed the garden view from the room. Can’t really get tired of this kind of view. I felt that everything at Toshiharu is one of the best even the small things, such as the little bag they give you as a gift, the warm and cozy blanket, and the snacks at the library. Most of all, I’d like to say thank you to Okami-san for her hospitality. She helped us find great dining places nearby and called the restaurants to make reservations. She even came to see us at dinner on her way back home after work to check if we were doing okay. We were so moved by her thoughtfulness and kindness. She also speaks very good English. The breakfast was so good too! Arigato Gozaimasu :D

Fantastic experience all around. Well worth the money!! The traditional Japanese breakfast was delicious, home cooked by the owner and a highlight for both of us. Lovely and accommodating staff. Make sure to check out the library!

I had a very pleasant stay at Toshiharu as an American solo traveler. The location was a bit difficult to find, but once I did arrive, my stay was wonderful. The woman who helped me to my room was incredibly friendly and spoke great English. She also helped me make a reservation for the bath (the Western one was only available for solo travelers, she said the traditional one is only for couples or families). My room was small but completely adequate for only myself, and a great value for the price. In the morning, I had the Japanese breakfast they served and it was great (2300 yen if not included with room reservation). My only complaint is that the walls are paper-thin (literally, the window to the hallway in my room was just made of paper), so other guests were a bit disruptive late at night and early in the morning. Overall, I would definitely recommend this ryokan to travelers looking for the traditional Japanese experience!

We stayed a night at Toshiharu and had such an incredible experience! The ryokan is absolutely comfortable, peaceful and so tastefully done up. We had an obanzai breakfast prepared by Takako-san in the morning and it was so oishi!

Staying at Toshiharu Ryokan was an experience of a lifetime - the staff were kind and gracious, the Machiya was beautiful and historic, and the amenities (e.g., Onsen, snacks, tea, coffee, toiletries) all gave a unique atmosphere of Kyoto. The breakfast was also far beyond what my wife and I expected and was one of our favorite meals of our entire 2 week trip. We will plan to stay again when we are back in Kyoto - hopefully very soon!

We came here for 2 nights on our honeymoon and were absolutely blown away. The staff are the kindest and most thoughtful people you will ever meet, and far exceeded our already high expectations. The inn itself is an incredibly peaceful place to be. With only 5 rooms, we hardly ever saw or noticed other guests. Although there aren't public baths, it's not a big deal at all to just reserve one of the 2 private baths. Breakfast was excellent both days, and was available I believe from 7am-9am, although that may be slightly off. This might not be the flashiest or most luxurious ryoken, but its charm and hospitality more than make up for it. Being at Toshiharu felt like being welcomed into a family home, and the staff truly went above and beyond to make our stay special. We definitely intend on returning when we have the chance.

Amazing traditional homestay experience - highly recommended! My family stayed here a few days. Some of the staff speak English well, enough that we felt very well looked after. They are so helpful and polite, and the place is incredibly clean. We had a traditional breakfast, which was quite a culinary experience. I don’t know if they advertise it but this place has multiple Michelin Awards!

Most of the staff speaks English. They are very kind, helpful and explains the hotel well. Highly recommend if you can find a room! Book in advance.

This is an incredible ryokan! I stayed here with my fiancé and I will absolutely be returning the next time I visit Kyoto. The hosts are the sweetest and nicest people in the world, the building and gardens are stunningly beautiful, and the breakfast was delicious! Additionally, we made a reservation for the bathroom and the bath was so lovely after a long day out exploring Kyoto. This is an experience you won’t want to miss. If you’re a foreigner to Japan like I am and are not aware of the customs that accompany staying in a ryokan, PLEASE do your research ahead of time and be aware of what you are supposed to do and not do! This place is too special to be disrespectful. I can’t wait to come back.

The most amazing place I’ve ever stayed in my life. The property is beautiful beyond imagination, the breakfast is 5-stars, and above all, the kindness and hospitality of our hosts is unmatched. They even noticed when we were leaving that there was a drizzle and gave us umbrellas! If you are not Japanese, please make sure you thoroughly research how to properly stay in and be respectful in a ryokan before you arrive. The hosts are wonderful and deserve your respect. Do not ruin this wonderful place and give us “foreigners” a bad name 😊.

Great experience in a ryokan in Kyoto. There is a curfew at midnight till 7am -bath time should be booked. Everything there sets you back in the old Kyoto. Charming little central garden.

It seems like real authentic japanese house. I highly recommend if you’re looking for ryokan near here. Adjacent to the station, excellent service and food. When I visited there it was raining, so its water dropping sound on the house and its garden made me more emotional. If I have a chance to visit Kyoto again, I would stay here.

Stayed here for 2 nights before moving on to Osaka and what an experience. The accommodation requires you to share bathrooms with other guests through a booking system, reminiscing about めぞん一刻 which I had watched when I was younger. One of the evenings, my girlfriend and I booked the same slot for shower (different bathrooms). I finished my bath first and went back to the room. Another guest decided to beat the booking system and went into my bathroom. The girlfriend was of course oblivious to this and she thought I was still in the bath. Wanting to give me a scare, she stood outside in the cold only to scare the other guest. It was hilarious. If you are staying here, the breakfast is a must have. It hits all the right notes especially on cold mornings.

I stayed here for 4 nights, it was awesome experience with super traditional Japanese experience, very warm hospitality, convient transportation, and so close yet so quiet. I loved everything and would highly recommend to any one for leisure and whoever wants to experience the traditional way of living. By the way the garden is so nice too. I am so happy with my choice, tied of normal hotel and will come back one more time.

Easily the best Hotel I have ever stayed in. Staying at a Ryokan has been on my bucket list for years. After having paid quite some money for the room my expectations were high. But never did I expect how amazing the experience would be: The room was just beautiful, straight out of a anime or traditional video game like Fatal Frams or Shenmue. The beds are soft and comfy, the garden view just beautiful, the Japanese was so tasty and big. But what made the stay really special was the amazing staff/family. Everyone was so so incredibly nice, made us feel at home, made us great tea and Wagashi, carried our luggage, always had a smile on their faces. The Japanese breakfast was sooo delicious and they brought so much food, with dishes varying from day to day. Just book this Ryokan, you will certainly not regret it ;) The Hotel itself is really close to two subway stations, but we just walked everywhere as it is so close to many attractions. Thanks for making my Ryokan dream come true ;) Alice from Hamburg