Best Ryokan for families in Kyoto

Staying in a Ryokan is a great choice for families visiting Kyoto. You can all sleep in the same room and have a truly authentic Japanese experience. Here are our top picks for family-friendly Ryokans in Kyoto, ranging from luxury to mid-range to budget.

If you are traveling with a family in Japan, you will quickly discover that hotels can be very inflexible. Few hotels have rooms for more than four people. A Ryokan is a great choice for families because they usually allow two adults and up to three or four children to stay in the same room. In fact, a good Ryokan also serves meals in the room, which means you don’t have to worry about your children’s behavior in a restaurant.

Best luxury Kyoto Ryokan for families

If you want a truly Japanese experience, it is worth spending a night or two in a luxury Ryokan. These places look like the Ryokans of your imagination: traditional wooden buildings, beautifully decorated rooms, beautiful wooden baths, and stunning gardens. And they have the service and food to match.

Gion Hatanaka

Located in the heart of Gion, just a short walk from Maruyama-koen Park (where your kids can play), this beautiful Ryokan is our top pick for a family-friendly Ryokan in Kyoto. The Ryokan does everything extremely well and does it in style. Their own online booking site can be a bit tricky, but booking through this link on Booking.com is much easier.

Seikoro
While definitely on the pricier side, this Ryokan is well worth it for the fantastic rooms and communal areas, as well as the delicious food. It’s a great choice for a first memorable night in Kyoto.
:: Check availability, rates and guest reviews for Seikoro on Booking.com

Garden Ryokan Yachiyo
This comfortable Ryokan is just a stone’s throw away from the Nanzen-ji Temple and within walking distance of the Okazaki Park and Kyoto Zoo. The spacious rooms are ideal for families and they also serve a wide variety of food to please picky young eaters.
:: Check availability, rates and guest reviews on Booking.com

Best mid-range Ryokan in Kyoto for families

A middle-class Ryokan is a great choice for families. They are less extravagantly decorated, which means you can relax more in the room and the prices are much more reasonable than luxury places.

Ryokan Izuyasu
This classic wooden Ryokan in traditional style is a beautiful place to stay a bit north of Kyoto Station. They do not accept children under 7 and that’s probably for the best, as parents with younger children may worry about the potential for damage to the room. Meals are served in the rooms and the experience is fully Japanese. Highly recommended.
:: Check availability, rates and guest reviews on Booking.com

Nishiyama Ryokan
This large hotel-like Ryokan is located just north of the center of Kyoto and is a great choice for families. It’s within walking distance of the Kyoto Imperial Palace Park, which is a great place for children to play. There are also plenty of family-friendly restaurants in the area.
:: Check availability, rates and guest reviews on Booking.com

Hirashin Ryokan
This hotel is located in the center of the city and close to the Misayama-koen Park and numerous family-friendly restaurants. This Ryokan offers comfortable hotel-style rooms for families.
:: Check availability, rates and guest reviews on Booking.com

Best Budget Kyoto Ryokan for families

If you’re on a tight budget, you can’t expect to stay in a beautiful traditional Ryokan. But you can certainly enjoy the main advantage of a Ryokan: the ability for everyone to stay in one room. Here are two great choices:

Ryokan Shimizu
A short walk north of Kyoto Station, this lovely little Ryokan is very popular with foreign travelers. You have to book well in advance to secure a room here, which should tell you something about the quality of this place. They have many returning guests.
:: Check availability, rates and guest reviews on Booking.com

Matsubaya Ryokan
This hotel-style Ryokan is located within walking distance of Kyoto Station and offers simple, well-maintained rooms that are great for families on a budget.
:: Check availability, rates and guest reviews on Booking.com

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