Sowaka

“Convenient, Beautiful Room and Outstanding Hospitality”

This charming, welcoming and well-managed hotel is in the upper section of the Gion district. Its convenient to everything but just enough outside the throngs to be peaceful. We stayed in the new section which was beautifully appointed including a wooden soaking bath and a small private garden area… more

This charming, welcoming and well-managed hotel is in the upper section of the Gion district. Its convenient to everything but just enough outside the throngs to be peaceful. We stayed in the new section which was beautifully appointed including a wooden soaking bath and a small private garden area. The staff at Sowaka is outstanding. The property is owned by an emerging hotel group and they have assembled an amazing team. Everyone speaks excellent English and they anticipate every need. We felt like warmly welcomed guests in a private home. They made our stay effortless. We highly recommend the breakfast and the in-room massage offerings. Also, a special shoutout to the front desk and housekeeping for make sure everything was perfect. If you have time, visit the four seat bar for a whiskey tasting.

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“A gem in the heart of Gion”

This small, boutique luxury hotel sits in the heart of Kyoto’s Gion District, right next to Yasaka-Jinja Shrine and within walking distance of Kiyomizu-dera. We stayed in Unit 111, a two-story suite at the front of the property. Its entrance opens directly onto the street beside the hotel’s main do… more

This small, boutique luxury hotel sits in the heart of Kyoto’s Gion District, right next to Yasaka-Jinja Shrine and within walking distance of Kiyomizu-dera. We stayed in Unit 111, a two-story suite at the front of the property. Its entrance opens directly onto the street beside the hotel’s main door—which made coming and going a bit amusing, as we often caught the curious glances of passersby. The rooms were clean, comfortable, and felt more spacious than the 34 sqm listed on the website. The cypress wood bathtub was a standout feature, with a lovely natural fragrance. Because the suite sits along the street, the first floor can be a bit noisy during the day, but it becomes quiet at night. The bedroom on the second floor is very peaceful. The only inconvenience is that the bathroom is on the first floor, which may not be ideal for those who need to get up frequently at night. Breakfast was included, with a choice of Western or Japanese options. We chose the Japanese breakfast throughout our stay and enjoyed it very much. Service was excellent, friendly, attentive, and genuinely helpful. We loved the hotel’s convenience; exploring the temples and small streets of Gion was easy, and whenever we felt tired, we simply returned to our room for a rest and a cup of tea (the hotel provides a kettle and a generous selection of tea bags). Overall, we truly enjoyed our stay.

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“Lovely but Expensive”

This modern ryokan balances charm/authenticity with modern comforts in the perfect location. It is in historic Gion near several key sights, but not on a main street so a little quieter. A couple nearby bus stops allowed us to easily explore the city. We had the suite (204) which was very spacious … more

This modern ryokan balances charm/authenticity with modern comforts in the perfect location. It is in historic Gion near several key sights, but not on a main street so a little quieter. A couple nearby bus stops allowed us to easily explore the city. We had the suite (204) which was very spacious for my family of 3 (with teenage son) and had all the modern touches throughout (dimmable lights, heated bathroom floors, electronic shades, etc). The breakfast was bountiful and very good. Service is definitely the standout here, with everyone very welcoming and attentive. My only issue is the price. Although I don't have any major complaints, Sowaka is very expensive for what you get (to be fair I think Kyoto is expensive in general and we visited during peak cherry blossoms).

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