This was the only ryokan I could find with room in Kyoto at the end of July. I was very suspicious of it as it had an advert on google. However although the ryokan room was lacking in character and rather dull, it was a decent size. The communal bathrooms were fine, and mostly empty. Free internet was provided. The ryokan hotel was well located in central Kyoto near an excellent set of restaurants including a very good French one with an English menu. The owners were very friendly and allowed us to practice our Japanese

The hotel staff is nice and the hotel is in a central location however, the rooms were not in very good shape. The bathroom smelled strongly of chemical cleaning agents and was incredibly tiny. I'm 5'6" and 120 lbs and I had a lot of difficulty moving around in the shower and sink area. Our entire room reminded me of an inside cabin of a cruise ship. Although the lobby area looks nice, the elevator is old and the hallway needs new carpeting and paint. We paid $100+ USD per person so that turned out to over $200 a night --way over priced for what we got. Unfortunately we were in Kyoto over the Japanese Thanksgiving weekend so this was our only option. Wouldn't recommend.

Hotel Nishiyama provided great access to the heart of Kyoto for my wife & I while on vacation early April 2005. We stayed in a Japanese style room with comfortable and warm bedding.

The hotel includes a bath for men and women in the basement. Each bath looks out to water cascading down from the gardens on main level. This was the Kyoto of days past, stirring the guest to slow down and rejuvenate in the hot water.

Kyoto of the future can be found atop the hotel where a washer/dryer is available for use by hotel patrons, which is just barely kept out of the rain by a slight overhang. Views of the surrounding buildings with misc electronics reminded me I'm in Japan in the 21st century.

Walking to the Gion District takes probably 20+ minutes, but is entertaining as you can travel along the Kamo River, or some of the shopping/resturant lined streets that parallel the river. The hotel is no more than 5 minutes from the subway station at the City Office (Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station). The costs seemed high for the hotel though at 37,800 Yen for 2 nights, even with the free laundry - but we were also paying for a good location. Internet service is free in the lobby with 2 computers for use.

This hotel is an excellent value for the yen-conscious American whose US dollar is so weak and buys little in this beautiful country. We stayed in a Japanese style room for 4 - a beautiful two-room suite on the top floor, with our own small garden, sliding paper-panel doors, and private bath and toilet. Meals are extra, and we bought breakfast two mornings. They were extraordinary for the price, and absolutely delicious. My children had western breakfasts and we adults had Japanese breakfasts. We should have bought the kaiseki Japanese feast, but at the time, we thought it was pricey. However, when we ventured out to the restaurants in the surrounding area, we realized what a great value (and probably better meal) the hotel's dinner offered.

The staff were great - typical excellent Japanese service without being intrusive. They had some English-speaking staff who were patient and kind.

Best of all is the location - on a narrow quiet street among homes and cafes, but two blocks is the main drag, large shopping areas and banks. Pefect for being in both worlds of wonderful Kyoto. I would definitely return!