Reviews for Japan Family-run, Friendly and Cheap Inn

My daughter and I spent three nights in this ryokan, the first and only on the our week trip. Compared to some, this is not pretty from the outside. However, the rooms work well and despite having no English of note, the staff are very friendly and try hard to help you. The breakfast was very interesting and worth a sample, at least for one go. The ryokan is very near the main train station and this means that you can get around Kyoto easily on public transport. The Wi-Fi was a little patchy but if you are on floor three (as we were) you can often pick it up in your room - which avoids you having to go to the lobby. I did use the onsen once for the experience - nice and relaxing if slightly underwhelming.
(The review has originally been posted on Tripadvisor and its page will open by clicking the hotel name.)

From UK
Apr. ‘13
Stayed at Ryokan Wakamiya , Kyoto City

Central location, very easy to get around by walking and mass transit. Very close to Kyoto Station. Nice customer service and affordable ryokan experience. The rooms were clean and futon bedding was soft and comfortable. The onsen hot water baths on the top floor are a neat touch. I only wish the food had be more affordable so we could have given it a try. This is a great budget option.
(The review has originally been posted on Tripadvisor and its page will open by clicking the hotel name.)

From Singapore
Oct. ‘09
Stayed at Ryokan Wakamiya , Kyoto City

entral location, very easy to get around by walking and mass transit. Very close to Kyoto Station. Nice customer service and affordable ryokan experience. The rooms were clean and futon bedding was soft and comfortable. The onsen hot water baths on the top floor are a neat touch. I only wish the food had be more affordable so we could have given it a try. This is a great budget option.

(The review has originally been posted on Tripadvisor and its page will open by clicking the hotel name.)

From USA
Sep. ‘12
Stayed at Ryokan Wakamiya , Kyoto City

This hotel with tatami rooms is not bad, it’s close to Kyoto main train station (but quite far from the city center) and the owners are really kind (but they barely speak a few words of English). The hotel and the rooms look are pretty ugly and not so clean, expecially the ensuite bathroom. There is a public bath for relaxing, but is really small and worn-out. Anyhow, the hotel staff does its best to please you and in the end this could be a good choice if you need a hotel near the station and if you have a low budget.

(The review has originally been posted on Tripadvisor and its page will open by clicking the hotel name.)

From Italy
Jul ‘12
Stayed at Ryokan Wakamiya , Kyoto City

We do enjoy staying in Wakamiya. It takes5-8 mins walk from the inn to Kyoto station. There are some restaurant and convienience store nearby. You can sleep well here as it’s quite quiet in the night. Staffs are caring and helpfeul, they prepare you a hot towel and snacks when you’re back. Free wifi and a computer is available at the lobby.

(The review has originally been posted on Tripadvisor and its page will open by clicking the hotel name.)

From Hong Kong
Jul ‘11
Stayed at Ryokan Wakamiya , Kyoto City

The ryokan is very functional, has everything you would expect (including wireless internet, no laundry though). If there was air-con in the room we could not work out how to use it, but opening the window did the trick for us. Didn’t use the onsen. The staff were very helpful. Easy access to the station, if you take the subway (underground walkway) from the station almost all the way to the end (away from the station) using the exit Higashi Hongan-ji temple and then walk along the side (not the front) of the temple, the ryokan is a few blocks down. There is a big sign saying Wakamiya out the front. I wouldn’t say its the best place we stayed in Japan at but was certainly very good. Functional ryokan in good location.

(The review has originally been posted on Tripadvisor and its page will open by clicking the hotel name.)

From UK
Apr ‘10
Stayed at Ryokan Wakamiya , Kyoto City

We felt looked after at this little Ryokan. It was not beautiful but the staff were caring, the beds were made up and the linen was lovely. The lady took us up to our room and made us green tea when we arrived. There was always hot water available in the room. The bedding was put away each day and the room was set out with the table, a tea tray and something to eat. We did not have meals here but the Kyoto station is only 5 minutes walk and is an amazing place. There are lots of eateries along the road from the Ryokan which were laways full of Japanese and the station was great for food, lots of restaurants on the top floor. There was a hot bath on the top floor of the ryokan which I soaked in alone! There was free internet connection but it was very slow, good for emails to keep in touch with home.

(The review has originally been posted on Tripadvisor and its page will open by clicking the hotel name.)

Jun ‘09
Stayed at Ryokan Wakamiya , Kyoto City

After staying in conventional hotels for our two weeks in Japan, we decided to do the traditional Ryokan while in Kyoto for our last two days. We did the Breakfast and Dinner plan. You have the option of booking the room only, room and breakfast, or bed, breakfast and dinner. You have a choice of three traditional Japanese dinners. We did one night with the hot pot, and one with a more varied, traditional meal. Every meal was absolutely spectacular. Beautiful fresh fish, vegetables, meats, soups, rices and anything you could imagine was served at each meal, truly authentic, at the low table, in a private mat room. They waited on us like royalty, and couldn’t possibly have missed a detail. The trays that they brought out with food just kept getting stuffed with more beautiful dishes than the last. We chose this Ryokan based on the recommendation of our son and his wife, who have stayed and brought guests here before. The service and food was amazing.

The location, near the train station, was ideal in that you didn’t have to go very far to get around, but was situated in a rather commercial location. The other Ryokans that we looked at were probably in more picturesque locations, but they were twice the price. While you were out of your room, they would move the low tea table and bring out the futon type sleeping pads. The bathroom was truly ingenius, but tiny and no more than one person can be in at once. There is a traditional community bath as well. Everything was authentic.

Some parts of the room were a little worn - like the cracked hanging light, and dust on some of the decorations, but you can’t beat the price, service, and food for a truly Japanese stay.

(The review has originally been posted on Tripadvisor and its page will open by clicking the hotel name.)

Jun ‘09
Stayed at Ryokan Wakamiya , Kyoto City

1【Character/Facilities】 Very nice Ryokan, nice house keeping lovely gave a good welcome. 2【Room/Amenities】 Felt safe, bath was lovely( a bit noisy though). Room was great a bit stuffy, and maybe wont be good to have beds our all the time for tired travellers. 3【 Location/Local Attractions】 Place quite easy to find.Enjpyed doing walks in Kyoto-give were to Nara. 4 【Staff】 The staff are lovey + very helpful!

M.E.
From UK
Aug. ‘10
Stayed at Ryokan Wakamiya , Kyoto City

Ryokan Wakamiya is welcoming, clean, safe, with wonderful service. It is easy to find from the near station with helpful other services.　The tea snack and public bath are memorable highlight. Charges for meal services was not clear.

T.H.
From USA
Aug. ‘10
Stayed at Ryokan Wakamiya , Kyoto City