logo
logo
logo

Yoshikawa Tempura: Traditional Ryokan in Kyoto

Yoshikawa is an authentic luxury ryokan, set on a quite side street, in the centre of Kyoto. Built more than a century ago in the Sukiya architectural style, this former residence of a wealthy merchant and now a deluxe ryokan is everything you imagine a traditional Japanese home to be. Kimono clad maids drift around discreetly, the beautifully landscaped garden features a koi carp filled pond and interiors strike the perfect balance between authentic simplicity and refined luxury.

Housed within an ancient Japanese sukiya-style building, Yoshikawa Ryokan features just nine tatami-style rooms. On your arrival, you will remove your shoes and slip into a pair of leather slippers that you will wear while indoors. Rooms are simply furnished to avoid distraction and focus on simpler things including the immaculate zen garden. Famous in Kyoto for its excellent tempura, breakfast and dinner are included in your overnight stay and served in your guest room. 

Situated in central Kyoto, Yoshikawa Ryokan is within walking distance of shopping districts, restaurants and near the Kyoto Imperial Palace and Nijo Castle. There are over 400 Shinto shrines in Kyoto of which the 8th-century Fushimi Inari is most famous for its 10,000 red and orange lacquered torii gates that line the 3km-long path up Mount Inari. One day, experience zen meditation or an elaborate tea ceremony or find peace while taking a stroll in the Arashiyama bamboo forest.
 

Amenities

  • icon24hr Room Service
  • iconConcierge
  • iconCribs/Infant Beds Available
  • iconGarden
  • iconMultilingual Staff
  • iconRestaurant
  • iconSafety Deposit Boxes
  • iconSpa/Sauna
  • iconWi-Fi Available

Stay Yoshikawa Ryokan features just nine Japanese style rooms. Each are traditionally decorated in the traditional style and are arranged around a pretty courtyard with a pond. Rooms have traditional tatami mat floors, paper shoji doors and comfortable futon beds which are discreetly tidied away each morning. All rooms have en-suite bathrooms with western style facilities and a traditional cedar wood Japanese bath.

ChildCare Families with children are welcome to stay at Yoshikawa Ryokan but there are no specific facilities available for children. A maximum of one child can share a room with their parents. Babysitting service can be arranged, on request. 

Dine Breakfast and kaiseki dinner are usually served in your private tatami mat rooms. But, Yoshikawa Ryokan also has a casual twelve-seat counter where guests can sit and watch as the tempura chefs labour over their cauldrons of hot oil. Popular amongst locals, Tempura is served as the last course of a kaiseki (multi-course) meal served with rice or chazuke style (hot tea over rice). The house dipping sauce is a closely guarded secret that's been handed down through generations.

Relax The whole purpose of staying here is to relax. Yoshikawa Ryokan is a place of serenity within urban chaos. It offers an elegant and peaceful atmosphere where you will enjoy a relaxing moment at the centre of Kyoto. There are no rough edges at Yoshikawa. There are almost no edges at all. But there is silence, peace, tranquillity. Once inside you will realise that the street is the outside world, and the ryokan is the serenity one seeks within.

Experience As in all traditional ryokans, Yoshikawa has no facilities one would expect from a hotel. But there is much to do in Kyoto which boasts several unmissable sites, including the Temple of the Golden Pavilion and the Kiyomizu-dera shrine, Kyoto’s most famous Buddhist temple. To the west is the 17th-century Nijo Castle, built by the founder of the Edo period and further afield is Arashiyama, bamboo forest and a world-class scenic spot.
 


 

Location Located at Matsushitacho, Nakagyo-ku in central Kyoto, close to the business district and central shopping district of Shijo-Kawaramachi, within walking distance from the Imperial Palace.

Getting there 12-hour International flight to Tokyo International Airport-Haneda, followed by a 2-hour Shinkansen (bullet train) journey to Kyoto. Yoshikawa is 15-minutes by car from the train station.

When to go You can visit Kyoto at any time of year, although the summer, from June to August, can be very hot and humid, and winter can be a little chilly. For the rest of Japan, Spring brings pleasant, warm days, and early April is a good time to view the cherry blossoms. Autumn brings dramatic foliage season, when the parks and green areas of the city mellow into varying hues of orange and red.
 

Destination

Honshu, Japan

Similar Hotels

newsletter image

ASIAN GEOGRAPHICAL NEWSLETTER

Please enter email address.

Privacy Policy.

Please check this box if you want to proceed.

What Others Say

Here is a small selection of the kind words our clients have said us recently.

what other says

A FAMILY FROM PETERSFIELD (WEST SUSSEX)

“I would like to thank Asian Geographical Expeditions staff for organising a perfect holiday for my family to Dubai, Sri Lanka and the Maldives…”

Maldives, Sri Lanka, UAE
what other says

A HONEYMOON COUPLE FROM DERBY

“We are grateful for the exceptional planning and care taken by Asian Geographical Expeditions to ensure our holiday was perfect.”

Maldives, Sri Lanka
what other says

A COUPLE FROM SHEFFIELD – WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

“… organised by Asian Geographical Expeditions following a recommendation from a close friend. He wasn’t wrong! Asian Geographical Expeditions immediately showed us their professionalism, care and attention to our wishes.”

what other says

A COUPLE FROM KENT

“Thank you for suggesting the helicopter ride to Everest Base Camp and breakfast with a view of Mt Everest—a truly spectacular moment.”

Bhutan, Nepal
what other says

A COUPLE FROM ESSEX

“The history and cultural specialists also deserve a mention for the way they illuminated the heritage of the places we visited, as does the Buddhist scholar with his apparently boundless knowledge.”

Bhutan, Nepal, Thailand
what other says

A SMALL GROUP FROM SURREY

“We were very impressed to learn that its CEO had led some amazing first-ever expeditions … Clearly, he’s still an ace at organising expeditions.”

Bhutan, Nepal, Tibet
what other says

A COUPLE FROM LEICESTER

“Tibet was a revelation … it surely was a blessing to travel back to the region after 50 years … Thank you, Asian Geographical Expeditions, for making this possible.”

Bhutan, India, Nepal, Tibet
what other says

A FAMILY GROUP FROM SOMERSET

"Everything went smoothly, and we want to thank our friendly guides and driver who shared their personal stories and the rich histories of their countries. That is the AGE difference."

Maldives, Sri Lanka
what other says

A FAMILY FROM KINGSTON UPON HULL

"A heartfelt thank you to all the staff at Asian Geographical Expeditions who made this super trip possible."

Maldives, Sri Lanka, UAE
what other says

A HONEYMOON COUPLE FROM CARDIFF

"… we had a stress-free trip, ‘hands-free’, enabling us to enjoy the sights and rich cultures of Dubai and Oman ."

Oman, UAE
what other says

A COUPLE FROM TYNESIDE

"The meticulous care, support and guidance provided by Asian Geographical Expeditions made the trip extra-special."

UAE
what other says

FRIENDS FROM LONDON

"The itinerary was as we expected... the Asian Geographical Expeditions did a fantastic job, going the extra mile to ensure we had the best holiday ever.”

Uzbekistan
what other says

A COUPLE FROM BRISTOL

"The attention to detail shone through every aspect of our journey … we gained a deep understanding of a region that remains enigmatic to many. Thanks for a remarkable travel experience!"

Azerbaijan, Georgia
what other says

A COUPLE FROM SHEFFIELD

"I am deeply grateful to the entire team at Asian Geographical Expeditions for their dedication and hard work in crafting such a memorable holiday."

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia
what other says

A FAMILY FROM BRADFORD

"The guides were exceptional—they clearly loved sharing their knowledge and insights into the local culture and history."

Armenia, Georgia
what other says

GROUP OF FRIENDS FROM OXFORDSHIRE

"We were really impressed with the immaculate organisation ... The Asian Geographical Expeditions team kept in communication during the tour, ensuring that each of our members was comfortable."

Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
what other says

A COUPLE FROM BUXTON

"The detailed itinerary and thoughtful pre-trip information removed all stress from our travels, which went off without a hitch, allowing us to dive deep into the stunning landscapes and rich cultures of Central Asia."

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan
what other says

TWO COUPLES FROM GLASGOW

"The hospitality was truly remarkable... we are immensely grateful to the team for their efforts and look forward to our next adventure with Asian Geographical Expeditions."

what other says

TWO COUPLES FROM HERTFORDSHIRE

"Every detail of our trip was superbly executed... (and) the exceptional attentiveness of the guides added a feeling of luxury and comfort that was much appreciated."

Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan
what other says

A COUPLE FROM PETERBOROUGH

"The guides were not only knowledgeable but also truly passionate about sharing their rich cultural histories, which added a personal touch that was deeply appreciated."

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia
what other says

A COUPLE FROM BIRMINGHAM

"Every aspect of the trip, from guides to accommodation and the well-planned itinerary ... was seamlessly orchestrated. We will always recommend Asian Geographical Expeditions for anyone looking to explore Central Asia in unparalleled depth and comfort."

Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
icon
icon