As the other reviewers have mentioned, Rikiya is not the Four Seasons, but it gives you an authentic ryokan experience. You feel like you've stepped back into time, especially given that the building is on a cherry blossom-lined walkway filled with geisha impersonators. The criticism about Rikiya is valid, although with the caveat that most hotels in Japan charge by... More

What more do I need to say, other than what you read in the title. The first thing you notice when you walk in is the damp mildew smell. Within 10 minutes of arriving and sitting down to have a cup of tea (which they provided upon arrival, standard at Ryokan's), my wife froze up and pointed at the biggest... More

The location of this ryokan is in an excellent location. In the heart of the old charming part of kyoto. The ryokan is a bit old, but seemed pretty clean. It is run by two older ladies who speka very little english, so communicating can be hard. But they are very sweet ladies and always greeted us when we arrived... More

We were given the largest room that we had seen yet in Japan! It had to have been 4oo sq feet and was broken into a "bedroom", "living room" and then each a separate room for the bathroom sink, toilet and bath. Pros: The staff is incredibly friendly and provides directions to shopping, food, temples… you name it. They are... More

My sister and I stayed at this ryokan for 5 nights in May, in the midst of the 'Golden Week', which meant that Kyoto was packed with tourists and most ryokans charged peak rates. We chose this ryokan for its location, as well as the hopes of experiencing a traditional ryokan stay with the fantastic Japanese hospitality that one hears... More

My husband and I stayed for two nights at this ryokan and we pretty much enjoyed our stay. I can't say enough about the location though. If you are going to stay in Kyoto you must pick a ryokan in southern higashiyama. Rikiya is a good choice since it is right in the middle of the most tourist attractive street.... More

My friend and I made a night stop in Kyoto in Oct 2009 while visiting Japan, and I think we picked the wrong day to stop-over because most of the hotel rooms and ryokans in town were fully-booked. We managed to find an available room in Rikiya, although we read reviews that the food wasn't great so we passed on... More

We wanted to stay at a traditional ryokan but couldn't afford the fancy ones with meals included. Rikiya was a good compromise. Our room was quite spacious with a living area separate from the sleeping area (futons on the floor) and a private bathroom with shower. The tiny bathroom and low doorways required some careful manuvering but overall everything was... More

It was a last minute booking during the cherry blossom period for us. Fortunately we managed to get this although the budget flew to the high side almost busted our wallets, but this is so far the best places I've been in Japan. Kyoto is a must go location and Ryokan is a must for those who want to experience... More