Higashiyama Shikikaboku

This was a very special hotel with an incredibly welcoming staff. It offered a perfect blend of luxury and traditional Japanese accommodations. We loved the comfortable rooms, the great location, the bento-style breakfasts, and the outdoor onsen on the top floor. The concierge was extremely helpful in setting up some dinner reservations and arranging a great half day private tour of Kyoto.

Absolutely perfection. We liked everything.

Higashiyama Shikikaboku is truly a gem in Kyoto. This was our second stay, and if we could come back annually, we absolutely would. The property is gorgeous—a boutique hotel with high-end finishes, thoughtful amenities and a luxurious vibe. What sets this hotel apart is the staff. Their hospitality is exceptional, and they consistently go out of their way to ensure guests feel welcomed and cared for. During my husband’s birthday trip, they provided wonderful recommendations for restaurants and experiences and even surprised Patrick with special touches that made the day unforgettable.The open-air bath is incredible—perfect after exploring Kyoto and its neighboring sights. Transportation is effortless as well, with both the subway and a bus stop located right outside the door. We also love the delicious and healthy breakfast! Our room was spacious, beautifully designed and equipped with everything we needed for a comfortable stay. The combination of impeccable staff, ideal location and true luxury keeps us returning to Higashiyama Shikikaboku. We can’t wait for the day we get to come back for our third visit.

We love everything - it is our favorite place in Kyoto!

This is one of the best hotel we’ve been , the staffs are super nice and the bed is extremely cozy :) we also love the open air bathtub specially it is perfect at this time of the year thank you so much we had a really great stay ✨❤️

Extremely pleasant staff - really here to help and doing their best 24/7

Very nice and minimalist property so very small with limited common areas. Location is perfect and the breakfast super tasty (local vegetables)

The staff hospitality was wonderful, they were kind and attentive. The breakfast service was terrific with lovely variety and very well prepared.

It would be nice to have a lighted cosmetic mirror as the lighting in the bathrooms is a bit challenging. And the design of the rooms doesn't allow one to put clothing away in drawers, so also challenging for a long stay.

Perfect hotel. The hotel itself is located near the main temple complex of Kyoto and close to all the restraunts and other touristy things. The staff are incredibly friendly and always greet you with a smile when leaving or coming back. The room was incredible with a good size bath and a nice zen garden on the balcony. It even comes with a mini fridge full of complementary drinks which is restocked when your room is cleaned.

Only negative is how they only rate themselves as a 3 star hotel on google. Definetly fitting of a 4-5 star rating

Wonderful staff, great location, impeccable design and so clean

The location and staff helpfulness- also the open air onsen was wonderful.

Three rooms but no usable drawers ok for a couple of nights but wouldn’t be comfortable for longer stay

The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. The rooms are functional and the bed was very comfortable. They offered breakfast tailored to specific dietary requirements. The location was great - walking distance to many temples and the old town.

Great service, location, quality of rooms and facilities

The location of this hotel is absolutely perfect! It is right next to an underground station and it's walking distance from Gion and a bunch of other temples. On top of that it's situated in really nice area. That makes it great for exploring around and shopping for gifts. The hotel has a very Japanese feel, which contributes to the overall positive cultural experience in Kyoto. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful.

In booking.com this hotel is listed as 5 star, and it's priced as such, but if you cross check tripadvisor and Google, you can find out its actually 3 star! For a 3 star hotel it's amazing, for 5 star, it doesn't really match expectations in terms of amenities, size and services.The biggest issue we had is that beds were not comfortable, after 5 nights there both me and my partner had back ache. Other than that, the room is really small, we barely fit ourselves and our luggage.

This is by far the best city hotel I have ever stayed in in my life, and that means a lot since I’m an airline Pilot/Captain since 2010. Interior design - the hotel has a beautiful tranquil traditional Japanese style interior with the dining/breakfast area on the ground floor and the reception area on the first floor. The check-in process is private and unique with welcome drinks, hot towels and even a handwritten welcome note in the room including your name. The room is beautiful with similar styling, comfortable beds and a tatami room to eat/drink/relax. The bathroom is fully equipped with high end finishes and all amenities your can think of, plus the always enjoyable Japanese toilet!On the top floor of the hotel is the semi outdoor Spa/Onsen area, where you can enjoy 45 mins of quality time with views of Kyoto’s Gion district.Staff and service - the hotel staff and their hospitality was of the highest level I have ever experienced. They were extremely helpful throughout the entire stay. From gathering dining options in Kyoto and arranging reservations, to assisting with tickets for Osaka’s Nintendo World, to advising on things to do throughout the area, how to get there and get the best experiences! Every evening/night when we arrived back from a day out, the staff asked at what time we would want our breakfast to be served the next morning so they could prepare it accordingly! They set a standard that every hotel around the world should take notes from!The breakfast was served fresh every morning by the chef, consisting of a mixed variety of healthy fresh vegetables, salmon or chicken, boiled eggs, fresh juice, a selection of bread and Japanese tea.The location is perfect next to Kyoto’s Gion district with all sightseeing and dining at walking distance. There’s multiple subway stations at walking distance and a bike rental shop nearby.

The breakfast was almost perfect but could be a little bit less focused on vegetables, with more bread/pastries/oatmeal (carbs) options.

It’s a beautiful property with great private semi outdoor bath, all high end fittings and amenities, lovely tea and coffee supplied.

It’s on a busy main road and room fronted onto road with bare cement balcony…noisy at night. Staff extremely helpful and attentive but perhaps a bit too much so?? Some seemed newer and a bit nervous…no one told us about the bar and it never seemed open…

The staff were amazing! Thank you so much for a kind reception. The breakfast was exactly what we needed after not feeling so great after being in Japan for a week or so. Very grateful for my stay here I wish we booked it for the majority of our Kyoto stay as we chose to stay in two different areas.

The baths were sublime after a day of sightseeing. The most comfortable beds I’ve ever slept on in a hotel! The staff was extremely helpful and courteous. It’s located a few steps from the subway. And The Green Door coffee around the corner was a great way to start the day.

Location and Staff

The room was bit small and the switch for the toilet was awkward.

This was by far our favorite place that we stayed at in Japan. It was a beautiful, quaint, serene ryokan with an incredibly friendly and helpful staff that felt like family during our stay there. We were served an exquisite breakfast every morning, they were even able to accommodate my request for gluten free. The onsen was so relaxing after a long day of walking. The location was fantastic. I can't recommend this place enough! 100/10. Nana san, Hiro san, and the entire staff made our experience so memorable.

Truly there was nothing we disliked. It was incredible.

Exceptional botique hotel exeprience. Welcoming staff went above and beyond. The private outdoor hot tub is lovely.

Our stay was exceptional! The hotel staff were helpful, kind and hospitable. The hotel is gorgeous and our room was well-equipped for a tranquil and comfortable stay. We loved the onsen, breakfast was delicious, toiletries were high-end, bed was comfortable and the location was great. We will definitely stay here in the future!

We liked everything.

Location, open air bath and staff

Noise of plumbing