Kanamean Nishitomiya

From beginning to end our experience felt intimate and curated for our family experience. We had two different rooms- both beautifully appointed with wooden hot bath and shower area, special space for dining and hang out space onlooking the gardens. We enjoyed a masterful dinner with the most gracious hosts who have a spectacular wine cellar offering. The location is on point near markets and hip shopping and bars and restaurants. What a wonderful way to celebrate Japanese culture in luxury!!

I really liked the experience at this place. The hotel looks authentic and very cosy. Me and my family intentionally wanted to stay in a Japanese small hotel to sleep on futons, eat Japanese breakfast, take baths in ofuro tubs, walking barefoot in the building, etc. The food was fresh, the service was perfect, even unexpectedly complaisant in some ways, everyone was very attentive to our needs, provided fresh pajamas and kimonos daily. Extremely recommended to stay! The only thing concerned us is that my husband bumped his head a few times because he is 6’2’’ tall but the doorways are perfect for shorter people. So watch your head and enjoy the stay!

Stunning ryokan in the heart of Kyoto. From the moment we arrived we were treated to the most attentive service. Both restaurants are delicious, the menus varied daily. I highly recommend the breakfast as well if you have the time. It is a feast! The bathtub and lounge areas both overlooked tranquil gardens. I will be back!

This is the only relais and châteaux in Kyoto. My Kyoto visit becomes truly a unique experience because of it. We stayed for two nights and the hospitality we received was exceeding and beyond. We happened to book two different rooms, and pleasantly surprised, it gave very different feeling. Both me and my wife loved it. In addition, its breakfast was really good. The only regret we had was not booking their dinner after tried their breakfast. Next time, we will definitely try it when we visit Kyoto again. If you are a fan of R&C, you can’t miss this one. I highly recommend it.

Had a wonderful two night stay at Kanamean Nishitomiya. It was a highly premium experience that felt uniquely homey at the same time. We felt like we were guests at someone's beautiful home. The location was excellent, in midst of one of the most action-packed areas in Kyoto, yet still peaceful. Both the kaiseki and teppanyaki dinners were exquisitely prepared, and the wine & sake suggestions were spot on. Service was excellent all around. Highly recommended for anyone wishing to experience a premium Japanese inn experience with word-class cuisine and a personal touch.

We had a wonderful experience at Kanamean Nishitomiya. I really can't say enough about this place. The staff are very friendly and the service is excellent; the hotel is unique and warm; the room was beautiful and a really unique stay coming from the US; beds were very comfortable even having never slept on a futon before. We absolutely loved the cedar bath--it was huge and could fit both of us easily--we used it every night. Breakfasts were delicious and something we looked forward to.||||We had dinner at the restaurant and had a great experience. They seated us in a private room all to ourselves. This was probably one of the best meals we've ever had--each dish was very tasty and unlike many tasting menus we've experienced, we didn't leave uncomfortably full. It was really well-balanced for us. ||||Overall the stay was refreshing; we would love to and plan to go back.

A wonderful dining experience with Chef Kazuo Nishida and his wife, Kyoko. Their warm hospitality and thoughtful guidance made the evening unforgettable. The meal was a beautifully curated journey of creative dishes, with wine and sake pairings that complemented each course perfectly. They made my birthday dinner truly special.

An extraordinary and memorable experience! We had the Kashiwagi room, which was basically a one-bedroom apartment. It had a spacious and elegant sitting room (with a tokonoma alcove!) that was converted into a bedroom at night, a small office with a desk, a sitting room with an armchair, a small toilet room, and a large bathroom—literally just for bathing—with a huge onsen tub made of hinoki wood. This tub was filled with hot water when we arrived, and the staff explained that the hinoki had insulating properties that would keep it warm for a long time. An added bonus was that the wonderful fragrance of the wood permeated the area like incense! Just make sure not to use any soap in the onsen, we were told, because it could damage the wood—there was a separate shower area next to the tub for washing off, and the onsen was just for soaking. There were also lovely yet private views of little courtyard gardens from several of the different rooms. I loved that the TV was hidden away in a cabinet, totally unintrusive, yet available if, for some reason, you really need to watch TV in a space like this. ||I see some previous reviewers complain about "camping on the floor." In keeping with the old-fashioned Japanese aesthetic of the place, the sleeping arrangements consist of futons on the floor, and there is also a low sitting table with a choice of a low chair or a floor-height chair. If you have mobility issues or don't feel comfortable with Japanese-style furniture, maybe choose a more Western-style hotel! But if you want to experience a more traditional Japanese-style living and sleeping space, pretend you're in an Ozu movie and enjoy it. ;)||We also had a wonderful kaiseki meal in a private dining room. The owner appears to be quite a wine connoisseur, and had an amazing cellar, which contributed to fabulous pairings! Lots of books on art, architecture, and haute cuisine, both in the room and the public areas, contributed to the overall ambiance of sophistication and elegants.

Staying in a ryokan is a unique experience for most westerners. The downside is that you really should stay in the ryo-kan (i.e. don't go outside) to maximize your value; you need to arrive on time, and the ryokan is not a 24-hour establishment like a hotel; you need to get back and get to bed on time. We picked this ryokan because it had a Michelin star at one time. The food (presentation especially) is still excellent, though if you are not used to Japanese food, you are not likely to enjoy it. We got the impression that the owner had forgotten that we are coming. If you setup your stay many weeks in advance, send a reminder email before you depart for your trip. The service was otherwise impeccable. When you arrive, you will be invited to have a bath in your room, and there is a small cooler with complimentary beers and snacks there. There was some confusion: the items in the mini-fridge are not free, despite the lack of a price list! The value of this ryokan is much less than what you would get in other parts of Japan. It is the location in Kyoto that supports this price. If you just want a ryokan experience and will be in other parts of Japan, I suggest that you look there; the value will likely be better.