We would like the experience of staying in a ryokan one night in Kyoto. We want one in the luxury category, but would rather not spend $800 for the night at the Tawaraya or Hiiragiya. Are there others as nice as these but less expensive. And how does one make a reservation at a ryokan...fax? <BR>Thanks.

I would like to know as well for my coming trip early next year. Hopefully, those with hot spring.

Ebs, <BR> <BR>If you say $800 is that for four persons or two? I thought the going rate was about $200 per person per night including 2 meals. There are many in Kyoto that charge that rate, but I am not familiar with the Tawaraya or Hiiragiya (but I know they are the high end). $200 a person a night seems expensive, but if you figure in the cost of the elegant meals and presentation, it is not too extravagant ($400 seems extravagant). A fax is a good way to make reservations. <BR> <BR>As for natural hot spring, you need geothermal heat (i.e. a volcano). There is no volcano in Kyoto, and no hot springs in town (there may be some in the outlying areas). For natural hot springs there are many areas: Izu peninsula, Hakone (near Mt Fugi) and others. We stayed in a hot spring Ryokan in Hakone and it was $200. per person, per night, but a very memorable experience.

Leo, <BR>Thanks for your info. Does the ryokan you stayed in Hakone have the view of Mt Fugi? Might I have the name or website of the ryokan? THanks again.

Ricky, Congratulations on your upcoming trip to Japan. I may be able to offer some advice. Last April, we stayed in the Hotel Gimmond in Kyoto. It was a nice western style hotel with BIG rooms and BIG closets, and nice window shades that kept out the morning sun. We stayed at this hotel out of default, as we couldn’t get any other place. Both April and October are very popular months in Kyoto, so make your reservations soon if you are going then. Also be sure to attend a nighttime temple illuminations which are only held in October and April. <BR> We stayed in the Ryokan Shigetsu in Asakusa. It had small rooms, and tiny closets, but the owner was very kind. Asakusa is a magical place as well. We only stayed at one traditional Ryokan, "Taiseiken" in Miyanashita Hakone (they have a web site given below). It was a traditional hot spring hotel. It cost about 20.000Y per person last April, but the food was fantastic. The dinner would have easily cost 15.000Y in a restaurant, but I would never have ordered that much food. There were 22 different dishes, some we liked and others we didn’t, but it was fun to try all the different exotic tastes. The rest of our time in Japan we ate very cheaply and never paid more than 4.000Y for a meal. So the Ryokan in Hakone was a wonderful experience, and I would say the food was much better than any restaurant we experienced, or would even try to experience, because we are so cheap. It was a wonderful splurge. I can’t say if the food is that good in every Ryokan, but in our case it was. <BR>http://www.taiseikan.co.jp/eg-main.htm <BR> <BR>The hotel does not have a view of Mt. Fuji, that is very difficult to see, because it usually has clouds around it. However, we did see it on our visit on a clear early morning. <BR>In fact this hot spring hotel is at the bottom of a narrow valley, and has been visited by humans (and wildlife) for thousands of years <BR>If you email the Hakone visitors center <BR>[email protected] <BR>They will send a map and informations about the area. There are numerous resort towns (Miyanishita is just one) all connected by narrow gauge railways and buses to easily get around. Have fun.

I stayed at 2 real ryokans in Kyoto - Ryokan Chiyosuzu and Ryokan Kusunoki. The first one cost us $250-300 per person per day, while the second was around $350 per person per day. That included 2 meals that are brought into your room, tax and tip. I prefer Chiyosuzu, even though Kusunoki served lobster and other expensive sea food. There was also someone in Chiyosuzu who could speak English. I thought those rates were high, but my Japanese friend did not consider them expensive. If you're interested, I'll try to dig up their addresses; email me. <BR> <BR>I also used a ryokan in Tokyo for $80 per room per day for 2. This is no where like a traditional ryokan, but the price is right after splurging in Kyoto.

i saw your posting on fodors regarding a ryokan in kyoto. we are going on 4/13...wondering how you made out...and if you have any recommendations or "don'ts"

Hi smartin...you might do better to post this as a new question...We stayed at sumiya Ryokan in Kyoto in October. It was about $285 per person per night. there is quite a high tax on Kyokans as well (10%?) so you should be prepared for that as well. We loved Sumiya. It is right around the corner from Hiiragiya and Tawaraya. There are very old rooms with beautiful gardens outside, and also newer rooms in the upstairs back. The food is incredible..Classic kaiseki meals. You can choose a western breakfast if you want as well. We were disappointed to have the newer room at first, but they offerred to switch us to an old one and gave us a tour. Once in the rooms though, we realized they are really authentic shogi doors, and the rooms were COLD! The newer rooms are heated, insulated and bigger, so we stayed put. (Being from Hawaii, we are really babies about cold...) We had a wonderful private bath with a cedar furo, adnour room maid Hiromi spoke decent English and was really helpful. <BR><BR>The location is great...right on the Teramachi malls, but not noisy. I would definitely recommend for a ryokan splurge.

Are ryokans suitable for older children? Do they charge the same as for adults? Are there any "family" type accommodations? Thanks for any help!

Julie- Ryokans are the ultimate in family accomodations...usually they just put bigger groups in bigger rooms. If you want separate rooms (as we did in Shigetsu Ryokan in Tokyo) you will need to ask. Many times it is exactly the same, or less, for 2 doubles as one 4 person room.<BR>That said, our children have stayed in budget ryokans, but never in a really nice one, primarily because of the per person charge, and usually child rates stop at 7 at most 11 years old. In addition, the big draw to a nice ryokan is the food. If your children don't like japanese food, and eat a lot, you are wasting your money. You would be better off choosing a "Japanese style" room in a hotel. You all get the futons on the floor without the food. With kids, it is a lot more fun to go buy food in the basement of the department stores, then bring it back to your room and eat. There are so many familiar and adventurous take-out options, the whole family will be happy! Even the supermarkets sell a lot of take-out food.

Thanks LCUY, for your comments. Is there any way to get a traditional ryokan at a discounted price?!! My kids love Japanese food (and service) so it would be a real treat for them to stay in one. In my research, I've found just as you say - that one room for 4 is just as expensive as, if not more than 2 rooms for 2! Do they ever discount for off-season? Thanks.

Also, can you recommend any hotels with "Japanese style" rooms? Thanks again.

In kyoto, we like Kyoto Central Inn. the reception area is dull, and the hallways are duller, but the japanese rooms are nice. It is also in a perfect location- Right across the street from Takashimaya and Hankyu department stores, and on top of a small subway stop. No meals are included, but it is comfortable and quiet. The rooms are quite large and clean, with a nice bath. Best of all it is near the biggest intersection of all the bus lines, and at the entrance to the Teramachi malls. Your kids will love it as there are recycled clothing stores and cheap jewelry stores mixed right in with the very authentic craft shops, pachinko parlors, restaraunts, high end kimono and clothing shops, and Japanese snack shops. I love the "circular" sushi bar about a block up from the hotel--100 yen per plate.<BR>A cheaper version of a ryokan is a Minshuku. Can't give you the names of any, but many are just a slightly less fancy ryokan, with great food. Also, in smaller towns, such as Takayama, the "Inns" are often what we think of as a ryokan, and have the great location, good food, and tradional feel without being quite as pricey. <BR>To tell the truth, any place with japan style room and meals is going to give you the experience (without the pampering of course). <BR>Which towns will you be visiting? I'm at my office, but can look up names of other places when I get home.

I stayed at Hiiragiya and the room we got was about $1100/night (for both of us together). We stayed 2 nights and were glad we did. If you're going to splurge on a ryokan, you must stay at one for 2 nights to really get the "feeling" for the place. We were served on hand and foot by the same woman the whole time. She even took us down the hall to meet a REAL geisha. I felt like I was meeting the Queen of England; it was a bit bizarre, but a treat nonetheless. We appeared to be the only non-Asians at the place at the time, but I felt we were treated extremely well (better be for that price, huh?) I doubt I would stay there again, but only because I'd like to have some money saved for retirement! I highly recommend this place; it was a once in a lifetime experience for me!

In Kyoto last year I stayed at the ryokan Kinmata. It is 200 years old and located on a quiet street in the center of town - close to everything. Cost was about $200 per person (ryokans almost always charge per person and not per room) including breakfast and dinner. All the staff were incredibly friendly and spoke English. The owner (and chef) even served the final dish of my dinner and chatted with me a bit. Kinmata is definitely first class and very beautiful. It was featured in the book "Old Kyoto : A Guide to Traditional Shops, Restaurants, and Inns" (highly recommended reading).

Stayed at Three Sister's Inn in Kyoto recently-primarily due to lack of other accomondation available since high season in Kyoto.<BR>Not a recommended stay since they described themselves as a "traditional Japanese Inn" when in fact the decor and feel of the entire Inn appeared to have been remains from the late '60s and early 70s. Very tacky and unbelievably expensive considering meals had to be paid for separately. Location not central and rather inconvenient.

We took a train from Kyoto to Kibune (45 minutes?) and stayed at the Hiroya last December. It's built along a little stream in a quiet village. It's our first time at a ryokan, and we were really impressed with their service and hospitality. But then again, it wasn't the peak season then.<BR><BR>The manager Shimada san speaks some English (and learning), and is very helpful. He'll pick you up at the train station and he even volunteered to drive us to the nearby (10 mins) Kurama onsen. You can hike from Kibune to Kurama too. I believe it takes 30 mins or so. The mountains are really charming and there's a cable car near Kurama.<BR><BR>The Kurama onsen is also a ryokan, but Hiroya feels so much more traditional. The hotspring at Kurama is nice - but actually it's only heated spring water rather than naturally hot water.<BR><BR>We had the wild boar hot pot for dinner at Hiroya which was quite fun. Guests can also use their private stone hot tubs. We would really love to go back in the summer while ryokans there serve meals on platforms built right on the river!<BR><BR>http://www.ryokan.or.jp/kyoto/sakyou/hiroya/english.htm<BR><BR>(if you ever go, please tell Shimada san the Chinese couple last December said hi!