An authentic experience. Sleeping on mats, eating on the ground, rice paper walls, divine breakfast, first-rate location in charming streets with numerous bars and restaurants. Close to transport. But better suited to a couple of nights just for the experience. Then you might prefer the comfort of a hotel. If you have kids it can be pretty stressful to get... More

My husband and I stayed at Inn Kawashima for two nights during our trip to Kyoto. I was very excited to stay in a ryokan, having an amazing experience at another in Nikko a couple of months earlier. I have to say, I was a little disappointed, although Inn Kawashima does have some really good attributes. First of all, the... More

Close to public transport, in an area full of shops and cafes and restaurants, this is a great place to stay in Kyoto and experience the comforts of a traditional Japanese inn. The owner speaks English, which is always a help, and she's very friendly and helpful. My room was small but well-appointed, and the street isn't noisy as there's... More

My teenaged son and I stayed here three nights on our first trip to Kyoto. Great location: close to bright lights and depatos, old streets of Gion, and easy-to-use subway system, but feels a world apart. Hospitable owners took extra steps for us to feel comfortable, for example helping me print out boarding passes and loaning us awesome umbrellas when... More

Cozy, family-run ryokan tucked away on a quiet street but still a stone's throw from the main shopping area and the subway station, so the location is fantastic. There are also some cute little cafes and restaurants along the same street. If you're the sort who needs cable TV and a private bathroom in your hotel, then don't bother staying... More

A brother and sister team run this third generation inn in Kyoto - they are very helpful. The rooms are spacious and you can let the fresh air into the upstairs ones. The location is great - close to main shopping area and a short walk to Gion. The narrow street which houses Kawashima also has lots of little cafes... More

A little hard to find at first but when you finally spot it, you heave a sigh of relief and ask yourself, "why didn't I see it initially?". The entrance is pretty enough to stand out from rows and rows of less conspicuous shops. It's located at the back of kyoto's best shopping paradise - shijo street. They gave us... More

My first stay was in November 2010 and I had a single room. This time I traveled with a friend and was able to experience Kawashima's 2-occupant rooms. It was easily the most spacious room we had on our travels through Japan, having relied on business hotels elsewhere. Its sleeping area was larger than a single-occupant room and it had... More

The inn was a bit difficult to find at first (I walked), as I wasn't really expecting such a lovely, peaceful place to be tucked inside such a busy street. The room was beautifully decorated, and sleeping on the mats made me feel as if I were stepping back in time. The Japanese breakfast was quite different from what I... More