My wife and I stayed at the Gion Hatanaka earlier this November and had one of the most remarkable experiences we had ever had. We checked in early and left our bags with the front desk to take a walk around Kyoto- the Hatanaka is in a great location, in front of the Yasaka Shrine and a pleasant distance away... more

We wanted to stay at this ryokan partly because of the great reviews, but what sold us was the photos of the entrance on their website. It was really that beautiful in person. As you step from the front gate toward the lobby it was tranquil and inviting. Even our Kyoto friend who took us for check-in quipped how beautiful... more

LOVED THIS RYOKAN! Service is amazing, breakfast and dinner is served in the room. The true traditional Japanese way. AMAZING. I drool just thinking about it. They change the dinner settings to bed settings, its modern so you get air mattress instead of the wooden floor. It was so peaceful, we were always whispering. The hot tub is not my... more

I stayed here during a three-week trip through Japan. I shared a room with my husband and younger sister. My stay here was wonderful. I cannot think of a place I’ve stayed with better service or better food. We arrived early and left our bags with the manager. After returning from an outing in Kyoto, we were introduced to our... more

In short, our time at Gion Hatanaka was one of the best travel experiences of our lives thus far. Background: My wife and I stayed here with our two young children (5 and 2) for 5 days in October 2008. This was our Kyoto base, after 6 days in Tokyo. It was our first trip to Japan--so I suppose you... more

The ryokan is a little larger than I expected. It is in a relatively modern building (not the typical wooden house). Overall, you are not going to get the "step back in time" old ryokan feel. However, service is very traditional and the staff is extremely attentive and polite. Rooms are very spacious, with nice view, with modern bathroom (with... more