Hokkaikan Ohanabō

This was our second time staying at this wonderful ryokan. The location is a ten minute walk from Kyoto station so getting around the city is very convenient. Both of the rooms we’ve stayed in have been beautiful. But the staff and their service have been second to none. They are so friendly and helpful with everything from around the ryokan to around town. We saw same people working which really says something given that it’s been a couple of years. Lastly I want to highlight the food. Don’t sleep on it! Some of the best meals we’ve had in Japan.

Superb service, delicious food, traditional Japanese-style rooms with tatami floors. The hotel is located in a beautiful wood heritage building (ask about the stairs), so it's more boutique-type with a smaller amount of rooms. It's owned and ran by a warm and caring Japanese family that will adopt you as their own during your stay. You must try the breakfast at least once ( it's a lot of food, so have a light dinner the night before). There are comfy traditional clothes for you to wear during your stay made of beautiful fabric. The location of the hotel is also great, near bullet train station and major train station. There's a great Family Mart convenience store a block away. Noise travels due to the type of building but all guests were pretty respectful and quiet. Good size Japanese bath for a nice soak after walking all day

We only stayed for one night but this ryokan was great for getting a more traditional Japanese experience. A short walk from the train station and you enter a building straight out of history, with a temple across the road to boot. Breakfast and dinner are offered and are a must-try to get a sample of the authentic Kyoto flavors. We got the Seasonal Kyoto course (as pictured on their website) for dinner. Everything was delicious and the staff were attentive during their service. We were stuffed by the end of the meal. The biggest thing I want to highlight is the staff’s priority on providing only the most excellent hospitality. We were allowed to leave our luggage with them free of charge before checking in so we could freely enjoy our day. It was a rainy day when we checked out, and the staff noticed we didn’t have umbrellas. Not only did they cover our suitcases with some waterproof plastic, they provided us with umbrellas, when we were planning to just go buy some. That gesture tells you everything you need to know about this establishment and its staff.

We really loved our stay, in no small part to the amazing effort of those who work here. The room itself was incredible, and we slept like babies. We enjoyed the traditional theme of the hotel, and appreciated the staff helping us to immerse ourselves in the culture. The dinner was a whole experience in itself, and the food was amazing. We’ve never come across such friendly, welcoming people and will be sure to return on our next trip.

This place was absolutely fantastic and wonderful! It's only a short walk from Kyoto Station, making it a very convenient place if you need to stay near the train station so you can get around. The staffs were so sweet and hospitable. They even held my dinner for me even though I was late because I had gotten lost. They were very accommodating and helpful, even when I told them that my brother wouldn't join me until the next day after his climb on Mt. Fuji. Our room was so cute and comfortable. I love the design and the woodworking throughout the entire building. I can see the old, charming Taisho era designs of this ryokan. Dinner and breakfast were absolutely lovely and delicious. The staffs showed us all the different parts of their local food. And when I was going out for the day, the staffs were kind enough to give me some recommendations of places I should see while in Kyoto and Uji. Even when I asked if they could help me find some glasswares and health supplements as gifts, they did their best to help me find nearby stores thst sells them. Even the baths were gorgeous. After a long day of walking and exploring, relaxing in the onsen was just what I needed. Overall, this was my favorite place to stay during my entire Japan trip. It's not too far from the station, it has a beautiful and lovely architecture, the prices are very decent, and the staffs are all so wonderful. I think I would definitely like to come back here in the future if I were to visit Kyoto again!

An absolutely perfect Kyoto getaway! The hospitality from the owner was outstanding and created a wonderful, welcoming atmosphere. We were blown away by the incredible food, which was a feast for both the eyes and the palate. The onsen provided a peaceful and serene retreat, and the warm, friendly staff made our stay truly special.

The hospitality and warmth of the staff combined with the beauty of this ~120 year-old traditional Japanese inn easily make this a must-stay place in Kyoto. Every day, we were greeted with a “welcome home!” and a different type of Japanese biscuit to try in our room! I highly recommend booking one of the kaiseki meals- you’ll get to taste seasonal ingredients with exceptional presentation at a great price. Our stay at this inn was truly one of the highlights of our trip.

The warmth and care of the staff at Ohanabo cannot be topped. Amazing Japanese breakfast, beautiful traditional rooms, and eager assistance given whenever asked. Would highly recommend.

This review was started ages ago and now that I'm contemplating another visit, it reminded me to get this posted! The women here are amazing. They went above and beyond to making my last Kyoto visit the best ever. From making sure there was dinner waiting for us after a long climb that took a lot longer than expected to recommending a fabulous place for a 2 hour massage that cost only ¥6800. Not only did they help me ship things ahead, they also created a box for two Fuji climbing sticks going to Haneda. And the dinner....oh.mi.gawd. It was more fantastic than I remembered from 6 years ago! There's so much food and each bite a wonderful taste treat. Having breakfast with them isn't a bad idea either!

Very enjoyable stay at a ryokan. My first time here. Completely relaxing. Very close to the station. Across from a huge temple-hard to miss. Easy to walk to. Room had a private bathroom and shower. The futons are very comfortable. The staff was very hospitable and friendly. Very accomadating.

When in Japan, you must stay at a ryokan. If possible, stay at one in Kyoto. The experience is something that can only be found in Japan and during your stay, you can experience architecture, culture, cuisine and hospitality all in one shot. Hokkaikan Ohanabo is an excellent choice. When first stepping into the inn, I was greeted by a worker who sat us down and served us tea and senbei while she prepared the room. The guest room is built in the traditional style with tatami mats and sliding doors. Thin wooden screens separated the guest rooms. After a long day walking around Kyoto, we dropped our bags in our rooms, were shown to the public bath and were given beautiful yukata to wear. The public bath was warm and relaxing, possibly to mimic an onsen. When we returned, a worker had a traditional dinner, called kaiseki, prepared in our room. We sat on cushions and ate as multiple dishes were brought to the room. We were served various vegetables, soup, fish and a thin slice of Kobe beef. At the end we were given fruits for dessert. The kaiseki was delicious and incredibly satisfying. Possibly one of the best experiences I've ever had. We slept on futon with thick blankets to keep us warm. The bedding was on the ground, but very soft and comfortable. The only reason I may have had trouble sleeping is due to the thin walls separating me and the other guests. Some Westerners, not familiar with ryokan set-up, slammed the sliding doors in the middle of the night and would stomp loudly in the hallway. Apart from that, the experience was very pleasant. In the morning we were served a breakfast kaiseki with fish, soup and tofu dishes. Very healthy and delicious! From what I gathered, Hokkaikan Ohanabo is a middle-of-the-pack ryokan. It is a fairly authentic inn with a traditional design and structure, but isn't exorbitantly priced. Definitely not a place to spend your entire vacation, but certainly worth a night's stay or two, Hokkaikan Ohanabo is very close to the train station and has excellent food, service, and hospitality.

We stayed here as our first ryokan during the recent trip to Japan. It is right across from the Higashi Honganji temple. We had the kaiseki dinner served in our room and the Japanese breakfast the next morning in the common room. The people here are very warm, helpful and welcoming. The place is conveniently located very close to the Kyoto station and is a very relaxing place to stay after a day of visiting the temples around Kyoto. There is a public bathroom downstairs which was very clean. We went a couple of times and no one else was there either time. You will need to tell the hotel what time you would like the in-room kaiseki to be served and what time you would like breakfast to be prepared (and if you want the Japanese or Western version). This ryokan feels more like a traditional ryokan instead of one built like a modern hotel. We really enjoyed our stay, particularly because the people were so warm and welcoming. If you have never stayed at a ryokan, you should try it at least once in your life as it is a very different experience. You should also opt to get the in-room kaiseki (additional charge) as part of that experience. They bring in several courses, and the kaiseki here (while not as extensive as dedicated kaiseki restaurant) was very good and flavorful. Before dinner, you should venture to try the public bathroom since it is a unique experience. They offer a yukata (Japanese robe) in your room that you can wear around the ryokan and to the public bathroom. Our room had a toilet and shower/bathtub. There was also an area right outside the door that had an electric kettle to make hot drinks. After dinner, we went to visit some of the temples/shrines at night. After we came back, the staff had converted the sitting area to a sleeping area by bringing out the futons and putting a small lamp near the futons. The next morning, breakfast is served in a common dining area. They will ask if you want the room converted back and have the futons removed. All in all, it was a great experience and a great place to stay and dine in the Kyoto area. I'm guessing that the menu doesn't change much from day to day, so if you are staying for more than a night, then elect to get the in-room kaiseki one time but consider trying one of the other multiple dedicated kaiseki restaurants around Kyoto on the other nights.

Cannot say enough good things about this place . First hotel I stayed at in Japan , and the service and attention to detail is impressive. The staff is incredibly nice and I would recommend this to anyone staying near Kyoto station.