Nazuna Kyōto Tsubaki St.

I had a fantastic stay at Nazuna Kyoto. From the minute you step into the lobby the design and service of the hotel speaks for itself, you feel a sense of calm immediately. This continues into the private street lined with bungalows (rooms). The standout of the experience is the private onsen in every room. It’s an extremely relaxing experience and amazing after a long day of exploration. I highly recommend a stay at this fantastic hotel.

The only room available when we booked was the “[Deluxe] HANA-Hana - No Semi-Open-air Bath,” and I unfortunately found out why. It’s not a quality room. In fairness to them, I didn’t pay close enough attention to the name of the room (specifically the “no open-air bath” part) because the photos on the booking site we used showed it as having the same onsen style as all the other rooms, but that wasn’t what we got. You will rarely see any photos of Room 10 on their site because the “onsen” for this particular room is a glorified bathtub – which would’ve been fine if we weren’t paying over $650 USD a night. We also had a bug problem. The carpet was coming up in places, which allowed ants to come in, and there appeared to be some type of droppings in our window sill (see photo). The room was also hard to navigate because the space around the bed was SO tight. The refrigerator and phone to reach the front desk are both upstairs in a small second floor “living area” which was very inconvenient if you just wanted to grab a quick drink during the night. The staff spoke limited English and relied on translator apps at times. The location was quiet, and I quickly realized being a little closer to Gion and other attractions probably would’ve been more convenient. The bright spot of our stay was food and drinks. The western breakfast was excellent, and the complimentary egg sandwiches along with a stocked refrigerator were both nice touches. They provide additional drinks and snacks from 6 to 9 pm, which was also great, however the lounge area was so small, some guests had to stand while enjoying their drinks because there weren’t enough seats. Overall, our stay in this particular room was NOT worth what we paid. There were likely better accommodations available in Kyoto for that price.

Over the past three weeks, my wife and I have stayed at several hotels across different cities in Japan, yet Nazuna Kyoto truly stands out as a unique and unforgettable experience. The attention to detail and the exceptional hospitality of all the staff were remarkable — every service felt personalized and sincere. The rooms are beautifully designed, and the food and complimentary offerings are thoughtfully prepared to enhance every moment of our stay. It’s a highly recommended experience that perfectly captures the spirit of Japanese hospitality. Special thanks to all the staff for their kindness, professionalism, and genuine care — you made our stay truly memorable. Additional sweet from the staff at our last night dinner 🌹

Highly recommend if you're looking to spoil someone/yourself. Nazuna Kyoto Tsubaki St. is a stunning stay that blends traditional Kyoto charm with modern comfort. The serene machiya-style design and lantern-lit walkways create a beautiful, calming vibe (great photo opportunities). Our room was cozy yet felt spacious, with thoughtful touches like sleepwear and a private bath. Everything was spotless and felt luxurious, from the ambience to the quality bedding. Breakfast is offered in either Japanese or Western style (I recommend getting the Japanese set) and was incredibly fresh and delicious. There’s also a relaxing upstairs lounge near reception with snacks and light refreshments— perfect for chilling before heading out or unwinding before heading upstairs to bed. The townhouse is two stories, so if you’re travelling with heavy luggage or have mobility issues, going upstairs to the sleeping area might be slightly inconvenient. However, there’s plenty of room downstairs in the small lounge area to store luggage. The staff were warm, attentive, and spoke excellent English. The location is convenient yet tucked away enough to feel peaceful. Although the stay is on the pricier side, the experience and service definitely justifies it. A perfect mix of tradition and quiet luxury — highly recommend.

My husband and I originally booked a 2 night stay but ended up being able to extend and do 3 nights by making an additional single night booking. The service when we first got here was amazing, they kept our bag for us so we could explore Kyoto and helped us ship the luggage to our next destination. The room was exactly as pictured and then semi open outdoor bath is exactly what we needed. As someone with a bunch of tattoos it was the perfect place to enjoy a hot bath without worrying. The breakfast was amazing and I would highly recommend if you’re looking for a luxury stay in Kyoto.

Amazing ryokan with amazing service! The semi open air bath was a huge draw for us and was very much needed after a day's worth of exploring Kyoto. Everything about the room was cozy and had everything we needed. Hanako was very thorough with the check-in walkthrough, providing us with all the instructions needed in order to make the most of our hotel experience. She was also very kind with helping set up our massage appointment!

From the moment I arrived, the staff made me feel so welcomed and taken care of. The traditional townhouse design blended beautifully with modern comforts, creating such a unique and relaxing atmosphere. My room was spacious, serene, and filled with character. The private bath was a highlight, and very unique. The attention to detail, from the decor to the amenities is incredible.

This is our first trip as a couple to Kyoto and we booked a 6 night stay at Nazuna Kyoto Tsubaki St. This property is a completely renovated street from a traditional Kyoto style of architecture similar to what you would find in the Gion district of Kyoto. We booked the “TAKE” room with the twin beds on the second floor a small fridge (fully stocked with beer, cider, sparkling water, whatever you want really), kettle for making coffee and tea and a small with a sink. There was a TV as well but we really didn’t watch much. On the first floor you walk into a small sitting area with a coffee table and futon style couch, where you doff your shoes and put on the provided slippers in true Japanese style. You are immediately hit with a pleasant fragrance as you enter (cedar?) with a bamboo wrapped wall and ceiling. Most of the lighting is dimmable inside with backlit wall lighting on both floors and outdoor lighting around the tub. There really isn’t a view from the room, but you don’t miss it as the furnishings and overall accoutrement both inside and out was pleasing to the eye. From the sitting area you can see the deep outdoor bath for two through a large picture window (there is a screen for privacy). This outdoor area is accessible via the walk-in shower with either an overhead rain shower fixture or hand held spray. The tub is operated via push button from the vanity area of the bathroom and you can set the temperature as high as you can stand it (about 113 deg. Fahrenheit) and twenty minutes later a hot bath for two. I can’t tell you how nice it is to soak your tired body in a hot bath after walking all over creation. It’s your own private onsen. All bath products are complimentary and include bath salts for the tub, shampoo, body soap, hair conditioner and in the vanity area, lotion, facial wash and what I think was a hyaluronic based face treatment. Toiletries also include a toothbrush, toothpaste, razor and bamboo comb. Japanese style pajamas are also provided which were fantastic to get into after soaking in the hot tub after a long day of climbing and walking! The toilet is on the first floor, so if you are in your late 50’s this means a late night trip down steep steps to the toilet. The staff are especially friendly and delightful to engage with (especially Misaki S.!). They are very accommodating and really try to make your stay as enjoyable as possible. Misaki created a care package with essentials to help us weather the heat with a thoughtful note written on stationary with explanations of the various items….very nice! Several of the staff knew English which was great as we do not speak Japanese other than the normal pleasantries. We did not elect to make a reservation at the restaurant until after arrival, but did enjoy a wonderful meal in true Ryokan fashion wearing our pajamas. The server was very informed and did a great job explaining each course. There are complimentary drinks (coffee, tea all day, beer and wine in the late afternoon evening) that are provided in the lounge with snacks, some crafted in-house (the sugary rice treats were fantastic). As far as location goes Tsubaki street is a 15 minute cab ride from Kyoto Station (we rode the Shinkansen in from Tokyo) and is also a short 10 minute walk to Omiya Train station where you can take a 5 minute train ride (Hankyu-Kyoto line) to the Kawaramachi market, there you will find Nishiki market, the sprawling covered malls of Teramachi and Shinyogoku, as well as Gion after crossing the bridge over the Kamo River. That same train in the opposite direction will get you to Osaka. There are a ton of transfers to subways and other train lines so you can pretty much get anywhere you need to go by train or cab. If you want a Japanese Ryokan experience near the heart of Kyoto, this is the place, 5 stars all the way, we would recommend