Ryokan MOTONAGO offers a great location, putting you within a short 10-minute walk of Yasaka Shrine and Shijo Street. Free WiFi is an added perk, and guests looking to stay active can experience the nearby hiking/biking trails. Also, Kiyomizu Temple and Gion Corner are within a 15-minute walk. Fellow travellers say great things about the helpful staff. Public transportation is close by: Higashiyama Station is only 14 minutes on foot.
Languages
English, Japanese
At a glance
Hotel size
11 rooms
Arranged over 2 floors
Arriving/Leaving
Check-in start time: 4 PM; check-in end time: 7 PM
Check-out time is 10 AM
Restrictions related to your trip
Check COVID-19 restrictions
Special check-in instructions
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival
For more details, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation
Required at check-in
Credit card, debit card or cash deposit required for incidental charges
Government-issued photo ID may be required
Children
No cots (infant beds)
Pets
Pets not allowed
Internet
Free WiFi in public areas
Free WiFi in rooms
Other information
Smoke-free property
Property amenities
Food and drink
Local cuisine breakfast (surcharge) each morning 7:30 AM–8:30 AM
Tea service at check-in
Room service
Water dispenser
What to do
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Services
24-hour front desk
Concierge services
Free newspapers in reception
Luggage storage
Multilingual staff
Facilities
Safe-deposit box at front desk
Garden
Reception hall
Room amenities
Be entertained
LCD television
Digital TV channels
Home comfort
Climate-controlled air conditioning and heating
Dressing gowns and slippers
Iron/ironing board (on request)
Sleep well
Down duvet
Turndown service
Bed sheets provided
What to enjoy
Individually furnished and decorated
Freshen up
Free toiletries
Hairdryer
Towels
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Stay connected
Free WiFi
Smartphone with 4G data speed, limited free calls and limited data usage
Phone
Food and drink
In-room dining only
More
Daily housekeeping
In-room safe
Tatami (woven mat floors)
Guidebooks/recommendations
Local maps
Special features
Spa
Public bath/onsen services include an indoor public bath and a yukata (Japanese robe). The ryokan bathing area is open from 4:00 PM to midnight.
Fees & policies
Mandatory fees
You'll be asked to pay the following charges by the property at check-in or checkout. Fees may include applicable taxes:
A city tax may be collected at the property. The city tax ranges from JPY 200–1,000 per person, per night based on the nightly room rate. Please note that further exemptions may apply. For more details, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
Optional extras
Local cuisine breakfast is offered for an extra charge of approximately JPY 1650 per person
Pool, spa, & gym (if applicable)
Reservations are required for private bath/onsen and can be made by contacting the property before arrival at the number on the booking confirmation
Guests must contact this property in advance to reserve access to the public bath facility
Policies
The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare requires all international visitors to submit their passport number and nationality when registering at any lodging facility (inns, hotels, motels etc). Additionally, lodging proprietors are required to photocopy passports for all registering guests and keep the photocopy on file.
This property does not have lifts.
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited.
This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly).
This property accepts credit cards and cash.
Cashless transactions are available.
Please note that some properties do not permit guests with tattoos to use the on-site public bathing facilities.
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property. The policies listed are provided by the property.
Guests who wish to order dinner (surcharge) during their stay must contact the property at least 3 days prior to arrival.
Also known as
Motonago
Motonago Inn
Motonago Inn Kyoto
Motonago Kyoto
Motonago Hotel Kyoto
Ryokan MOTONAGO Kyoto
Ryokan MOTONAGO Kyoto
Ryokan MOTONAGO Ryokan
Ryokan MOTONAGO Ryokan Kyoto
Frequently asked questions
Are pets allowed at Ryokan MOTONAGO?
Sorry, pets aren't allowed.
What are the check-in and check-out times at Ryokan MOTONAGO?
Check-in start time: 4 PM; check-in end time: 7 PM. Check-out time is 10 AM.
What is there to do at Ryokan MOTONAGO and nearby?
Have fun with nearby activities such as hiking and mountain climbing. Ryokan MOTONAGO also has a garden.
What's the area around Ryokan MOTONAGO like?
Ryokan MOTONAGO is in Higashiyama Ward, a short 11-minute walk from Kiyomizu Temple and 15 minutes' walk from Kawaramachi Street.
Ryokan MOTONAGO Reviews
Reviews
9.4
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
9.6/10
Cleanliness
9.6/10
Staff & service
9.4/10
Amenities
9.0/10
Property conditions & facilities
9.6/10
Eco-friendliness
Reviews
4/10 Fair
2 Aug 2024
Ashby
Ashby, 1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
18 July 2024
Maureen
Maureen, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
1 July 2024
Exactly the traditional ryokan experience we were looking for. Kind and attentive staff tended to our every need. The accommodations are clean, comfortable, and quiet with the beautiful smell of cedar permeating the ryokan. Scheduling the bath was done at check in. The shower and bath were fantastic. Very relaxing. Dinner was a phenomenal experience. What a wonderful way to try new preparations and flavors we would typically not know to order. The whole broiled fish was a favorite, along with the one pot course. Skillfully prepared and presented. We chose the traditional Japanese breakfast to round out a traditional Japanese experience and despite it being a very different breakfast than what we would typically have, we loved it! One night was sufficient for us but well worth it. We would gladly come back again!!
Jessica
Jessica, 1-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
29 June 2024
Olga
Olga, 4-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
27 Nov 2023
Overall experience was great. Service was very good and staff were excellent. I did not think the quality of the dinner was great and the pillows were not very comfortable to me, but loved the experience other than that.
Wayne
Wayne, 1-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review
8/10 Very good
3 Nov 2023
It was very authentic, which is what we wanted
Nigel
Nigel, 1-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
27 Aug 2023
Staff were very friendly and helpful. Breakfast and dinner were delicious, with very generous portions.
Margaret
Margaret, 2-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
17 Aug 2023
Verified traveller
1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
26 July 2023
A family reunion trip of 10 with 8 adult children and spouses. It was their first time to Japan and staying at Motonago couldn’t have been more perfect. Truly we felt treated by the staff, the location, the food, the authentic courtesies like we experienced the absolute best of traditional Japan. Several party members were moved to tears. Highly recommend staying here
Kelly
Kelly, 3-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
17 July 2023
Motonago was the highlight of our time in Kyoto. Small, intimate ryokan located near major temples and shopping. The services was excellent, our room and property quiet, and the meals were delicious.
The bath requires prior reservations, which the staff made easy, and it was delightful.
Tim
Tim, 1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
22 June 2023
The ryokan was elegantly beautiful in its simplicity. The food was delicious and artfully arranged. The staff was helpful and very friendly. I would definitely recommend this place to others!
Janet
Janet, 1-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
21 June 2023
Our first time in Japan we wanted to try a ryokan and this one did not disappoint. the most fabulous thing about it was the thoroughly attentive and kind staff who went out of our way to make our stay comfortable and really treated us like royalty. They even held our bags all day.
Adriana
Adriana, 1-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
23 Apr 2023
Very clean, service is on point, close to attractions, and comfy beds. Would def come back.
Wai
Wai, 1-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
25 Mar 2023
I'd never stayed at a traditional ryokan before, and this definitely exceeded my expectations! The multi-course dinner was beautifully presented and delicious (though it's a set menu with a lot of fish, so you might not enjoy it if you don't like fish or seafood). Breakfast was equally good. Both were served in a room with a view of a beautiful little Japanese garden.
The room was very spacious - it was divided into three chambers (which was great because my husband and I were staying with a friend, and she moved her futon to the third chamber to avoid my husband's snoring, haha). There was also a space in the middle with a table where we were served tea when we first arrived.
The bath was delightful as well - it's similar to a mini onsen, but you get your own personal time to soak in the hot bath after showing.
The staff were all lovely and catered to our every need. I think we would have been able to manage without speaking Japanese, since everybody spoke some English, but my friend speaks Japanese pretty well, so she made it much easier. Overall it was a very cool stay and I'd highly recommend it!
Karen
Karen, 1-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
8 Mar 2023
True Ryokan experience
Ryokan Motonago was a perfect place for us to spend our first night in Kyoto. Location is excellent in the Gion area,it’s a charming neighborhood of winding streets and shops. we could walk to the Yasaka Shrine and Kiyomizu Temple. We opted for the Kaiseki dinner and found it a great experience. We ate in our room sitting on the floor, and slept on futons they prepared after dinner. For bathing you make an appointment to use the communal bath. It’s a room with showers and a large tub- you clean off at the shower then can have a soak. It’s private to your party.
The staff were very friendly and helpful. We took a taxi there from Kyoto station, which was good because not sure we would have found it on our own. In front are sliding wooden slotted doors and he had to show us we could just open them and go in.
One night was perfect for us. We moved to a western style hotel for the rest of our stay
Verified traveller
1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
7 Nov 2022
It was very cozy and the service was exceptional.
I wasn't very familiar with Ryokan etiquette, but they were very helpful in answering my questions.
The staff was also very accommodating!
All in all a very neat experience.
あらゆる点でこの場所をお勧めします
優れたサービス
Dyson
Dyson, 1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review
8/10 Very good
5 Dec 2019
Verified traveller
1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
7 Oct 2019
Amazing Ryokan Experience
This small Ryokan is located in the Gion area of Kyoto. Housed inside a very old wooden inn, a single host family runs the establishment. Check in opens kind of late, but the staff were nice enough to allow us to check in a few hours early to drop off our bags, made our trip so much easier. The location itself is a little difficult to find at first, but it is very centrally located within the Gion/neighboring districts with easy access to two of Kyoto's biggest temples. After a long day of exploring, we returned to the ryokan and were immediately greeted and taken care of by the wonderful staff. From the get go they were friendly and went out of their way to accommodate us in our room. The evening began with green tea and establishing a reservation for the private onsen downstairs. The room itself was spacious and filled with personality. From the artwork on the walls, to the meticulously arranged flower setting, to even the small origami left on our bed mats, every detail was exquisite. Although we did not opt for dinner, we did request the japanese breakfast option. All I can say is that it was spectacular. The hostess set the table and brought out a big spread of traditional food and even went as far as to help us with actual serving etiquete and the ideal combinations for plates. I would definitely reccomend purchasing the meals whenever possible. When we finally checked out, the staff helped us with our bags and even took our pictures outside. Wholeheartedly reccomend!
Dyllian
Dyllian, 1-night romance trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
15 Sept 2019
A great example of Japanese hospitality. We only stayed one night, but I felt spoiled from the time we arrived to when we left.
The staff are all so courteous and try to fulfil your every wish. When we checked out, they called a taxi for us and wanted to take a picture of us in from of the ryokan before the taxi arrived. The staff will remain with you until the taxi arrives and even help you into the car!
I can’t say enough great things about this experience. All the food is wonderful as well. If they give you a choice of continental breakfast or Japanese style, go Japanese, because why wouldn’t you!!!
A.Lee
A.Lee, 1-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
1 Sept 2019
Verified traveller
2-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review
8/10 Very good
30 Aug 2019
The staff are super friendly. Wonderful traditional Japanese experience. You’ll have to reserve the onsen/shower room, but it’s worth it! Super relaxing!
Tracy
Tracy, 2-night family trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
25 July 2019
Our stay at Motonago was great, from the service to the food, we tried the breakfast, and the dinner, which is kaiseki style, and it was all amazing. It made our stay in Kyoto unforgettable.
Verified traveller
3-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review
8/10 Very good
8 July 2019
Verified traveller
3-night romance trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
7 Jan 2019
Ning
Ning, 1-night romance trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
16 Dec 2018
Incredible ryokan experience in Kyoto! So close to Gion!
Beautiful, hospitable hosts who went out of their way to make us feel welcome! Delicious breakfast. Private onsen was just amazing.
Would definitely recommend!