Ranzan

Nice traditional ryokan hotel in a great part of Kyoto. My only issue is they make you check out at 10AM and charge 2, 200 yen per hour which is more than double the industry rate of 1, 000 yen per hour if you stay longer. I know Kyoto has a lot of tourists but this is very hostile to your guests. There are other ways to make money besides forcing people out of the room early. It comes off as anti-human and leaves us with a bad energy.

There were mixed reviews, I am very satisfied with their amenities, foods (got half boarding), service, quietness, old but clean. It wasn't expensive either and even guests were courteous. I would highly recommend it.

The location is perfect, ample car parking and right on the river.
The river, the bamboo forest and the monkey sanctuary are all in easy walking distance. All of them are very crowded so it is wonderful to get away from it all in the peace and quiet of the Ranzan. All staff were very pleasant and helpful. The beds were a little hard for us. The room was fine but the bathroom was a bit dated.

Immerse yourself into Japan with this lodging. Kyoto Ranzan Arashiyama does this through artfully arranged meals of the highest standards. Added is yakata, traditional robe and jacket, plus slippers, that allow one the option of dining and wandering about looking like a Japanese noble. (Half the Japanese guests wore yakata. ) Add this hotel backs on Todai-ji Temple (I was there most mornings) with its famous gardens). Up into the temple grounds and a right takes you to the shopping street less than 1 km. Walk. Left out of the hotel and you are immediately on the awe-inspiring river. Rent a rowboat, take a motorboat up the gorge, a brisk walk up to a vista point magnet for Japanese photographers. OH! The hotel is costly BUT in-town dinner runs $40/person. A real breakfast $30/person. The full-board meal plan should help reason the expense.

Nice hotel with decent rooms located on the outskirts, nice and quiet location yet still within walking distance of places you want to be. We made use of the public baths on site, which is a perfect way to relax at the end of the day. If you're looking for a nice quiet stay, I would recommend.

Love the hotel because of its cozy room. And staffs are nice. The most important of all is that it is very close to the Togetsukyo bridge, really convenient!

This was our best stay in Japan! The staff was so friendly and accomodating. The lady desk clerk took our luggage to our room and showed us how to use the lights and keys etc. The meals were delicious and meticulous. The onsen was so relaxing. The next day we asked for a taxi because we didn't want to drag around 2 suitcases each, and none were available. After waiting for 20 minutes to see if they can locate one, we decided to walk. The young man who checked us in the day before and checked us out, trying to find us a taxi and answered our questions about the Naked Sakura Festival, came running out after us and gave us 2 tickets to the Naked Sakura Festival as an accomodation for not finding us a taxi. Wow! That's customer service! I couldn't read his name tag, I'm so sorry but he was a young handsome slim man.