"The Hoshinoya hotels — part ryokan, part luxury hotel — are all similar in their basic concept. But while the monumental Hoshinoya Tokyo stands in a skyscraper in the heart of the capital, Hoshinoya Kyoto could hardly be more different. It’s small, a mere 25 rooms, distributed among a collection of low-profile buildings. And despite its name, it’s set not in Kyoto proper, but a 15-minute ride up the river in a traditional wooden boat." - Tablet Hotels