What kind of onsen ryokan is Kyo Yunohana Resort Suisen?
In early May, a beautiful, freshly green month, we decided to enjoy a hot spring in Kyoto. We, a couple living in Tokyo, took the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station around 10:00 a.m. and arrived at Kyoto Station around noon. As it was a weekend, Kyoto station was crowded with many tourists. Then we had lunch on the 11th floor of Isetan in Kyoto Station and boarded the JR Sanin Honsen Line, which took about 30 minutes to arrive at Kameoka Station. We got off at Kameoka Station, went through the ticket gate, turned right, and down the stairs to find a white shuttle bus waiting for us. After a 15-minute bus ride, we arrived at a luxury onsen ryokan nestled in the green Kyoto countryside. Kyoto station was very crowded, but once here, it was quiet and surrounded by nature.
To get straight to the point, it was the perfect place for us who wanted to enjoy a private outdoor hot spring bath in a tranquil place with a beautiful view of nature. It is more than 30 minutes from Kyoto station, but it was a wonderful setting.
At the entrance, there was an elegant white noren curtain with hydrangea flowers painted on it. Upon entering through the noren curtain, one was greeted by a magnificent sukiya-style architecture. The floor was covered with tatami mats, and the alcove was decorated with dynamic hydrangea arrangements. To the left was a box garden with a lantern and stones. We took off our shoes here and proceeded to a lobby lounge with modern sofas and tables tastefully arranged. The view of the well-kept Japanese garden from here was also beautiful. The trees in the garden glistened in the fresh sunlight and swayed in the breeze. Then if we listened carefully, we could hear the sound of a stream flowing nearby. A staff member quickly showed us to a sofa by the window. The view from here of the artfully pruned pine trees was impressive. The lobby lounge is small, but as a small ryokan with only 13 rooms, it is probably large enough. After a short wait, we were offered carefully prepared matcha tea, cherry-red steamed buns, and oshibori. We checked in here and were then escorted to our room by a staff member.
This time we stayed in a room on the second floor, which was renovated in 2021. All rooms in this ryokan have private hot spring outdoor baths. As we entered the room and proceeded through a latticed door entrance, we found a living room and bedroom on the right and a bathroom on the left. The interior and furniture were arranged in relaxing colors that harmonized the beauty of the Japanese and Western-style rooms. The bedroom also had a television set inlaid in the ceiling. The room we stayed in was the perfect size for two people.
Then we walked out onto a balcony with comfortable chairs and a table. The view of the beautiful, straight cedar forest, the freshly green and vividly colored maple trees, and the quaint Japanese hut in the garden were also impressive. Then, to the left of the balcony, there was a private outdoor hot spring bath. The sound of the warbling of the bush warblers coming from somewhere and the sound of the hot spring water being poured into an onsen made us feel very comfortable. We immediately decided to grab a bottle of beer from the mini-bar and relax on the balcony. Sake, beer, grape juice, apple juice, etc. prepared in the mini-bar were available free of charge.
After relaxing on the balcony for a while, we decided to change into yukatas and go to communal hot spring baths. From the exit on the first floor, exit to the Japanese garden, turn right, go forward, and you will find them on your right. In front of the communal hot spring bath, there were free vegetable juice, milk, orange juice, etc. available. The communal baths were smaller, but there did not seem to be many guests using them, as all the rooms had private hot spring outdoor baths. Then guests needed to bring their own towels, which were provided in their guest rooms, when using the communal baths. There were indoor and outddoor baths. There were six types of shampoo available.
After this we decided to go to a private family outdoor bath in the Japanese garden. This private family bath was charged and cost JPY2,200 for 50 minutes. We booked it at 4:30 p.m. when we checked in. We crossed a stone bridge over a stream, and went up a few stone steps to a hut that looked like a tea ceremony house. Entering through a grass-colored noren curtained entrance, we found a comfortable room with tasteful rattan chairs. On a table was a pot of cold water. There was also a mini-bar with ice cream. Then, although there was no indoor bath, there was a dynamic stone outdoor hot spring bath. It was the most luxurious hot spring bath we could have enjoyed while gazing at the beautiful moss and fresh greenery. We would recommend using this private family bath in the daytime when it is bright. There is a charge for this service, but it is well worth it. Also, since there is no indoor bath, it is recommended to warm yourself in the indoor bath of the communal bath before using it during the cold season.
When we returned to our room from the private family bath, we were starting to get hungry. We headed to a dining room on the first floor. Dinner was served at 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, or 19:30, and we chose 17:30. At the entrance to the dining room was a gold folding screen-like painting depicting Japan over 1,000 years ago. After pulling open a beautiful lattice door, we entered and were shown to our private dining room by a staff member. The alcove called tokonoma in the private dining room was decorated with lovely Japanese dolls, and outside the small window, a box garden had been created, and the ceiling was made of bamboo. It was a quaint little Japanese-style room with a cozy ambience. Then we were very satisfied with the refined Kyoto Kaiseki cuisine, all of which were impressive in taste. Kyoto beef steak was especially exquisite.
After dinner, we sat at a counter by the window in the lobby lounge and enjoyed Haagen-Dazs ice cream while gazing at the illuminated Japanese garden. The artistically lit pine trees and the wave patterns on the sand in the dry landscape garden created a particularly majestic setting. The black mini-bar in the lobby lounge had six kinds of ice cream (vanilla, green tea, red bean, caramel, chocolate, and chocolate cookie) and beverages such as coffee, black bean tea, english tea, green tea, and orange juice. They were always available free of charge.
When we returned to our room, rice balls called onigiri for the midnight snack had been prepared. We took out a bottle of local sake from the mini-bar in the room and sat on the balcony eating onigiri while admiring the Japanese garden lit up with lights. Unfortunately, the sky was covered with clouds and we did not see the moon, but the illuminated Japanese garden looked elegant and mystical. Listening carefully, we could hear the chirping of bellbirds and korogi somewhere in the distance and the sound of water slowly flowing down the creek. The summer season may be just around the corner. we were very happy to be able to feel the changing seasons in the ancient capital of Kyoto.
The next morning around 6:00 a.m., we were awakened by the cries of a civet. In Kyoto City and Kameoka City, they seem to act from midnight to early morning. I heard that they live in the attics of houses, temples, and shrines, and residents are annoyed.
We made coffee in the coffee machine in our room and sat on the balcony enjoying the aroma of the coffee as we watched the dawn break. The Japanese garden from the balcony was enveloped in a divine atmosphere in the morning sun. The straight cedar forest was bathed in the soft morning sunlight, and birds were happily flitting about.
Before breakfast, I decided to enjoy the private onsen on the balcony. The morning sun streamed in through the grating next to the stone bathtub, and as I watched the surface of the steamy hot spring water shimmer and sway, I found the time spent soaking in the hot spring and simply relaxing, not thinking about anything else, to be most luxurious.
Then, we decided it was time to get hungry, so we went to the dining room. The staff took us to the same room where we had dinner last night. Breakfast was served at 7:30, 8:00, 8:30, or 9:00, so we decided to start at 7:30. Breakfast was also Japanese, but each dish was carefully prepared. After breakfast, I again enjoyed the private onsen while admiring the beautiful fresh greenery that could be seen from the balcony. Then, before 11:00, we checked out of the ryokan at the lobby lounge. At this time, we were given matcha cookies as a souvenir. After this, the staff took us to Kameoka Station by shuttle bus. Since we were planning to visit the Arashiyama area, we took the JR Sanin Honsen Line from Kameoka Station and got off at Saga-Arashiyama Station. The trip takes 10 minutes.
If I were to dare to raise a drawback, it is the inconvenient location as it takes more than 30 minutes from Kyoto Station, but if you plan to go sightseeing to the Arashiyama area like we did, this is the perfect luxury onsen ryokan. Also, children under 6 years old are not allowed to stay. This ryokan is not suitable for those with small children.
Then, this ryokan is not completely accessible, but there were few steps. There are only a few steps at the entrance, room entrances, and bathhouse entrances, so I would think that people with limited mobility would be able to stay here comfortably. Also, all rooms have private hot spring outdoor baths, so once you are in your room, you will hardly need to move around. All in all, although it is a small ryokan, the service, hospitality, food, and facilities were like those of a five-star hotel.
Check Availability and Pricing for the onsen ryokan on Agoda
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Is the location easy to access?
Free shuttle service is available from Kameoka Station at 13:30, 14:30, 15:30, 16:30, or 17:30. You need to book it in advance. When we took the shuttle bus from the station, it was full.
Where is the best accommodation for anniversaries in Kyoto?
If you are looking for a good place for a special occasion, the property is one of the best. The staff arranges flowers and cakes to celebrate an anniversary at additional charges if you request in advance.
Rooms I would recommend?
If you are staying with a family, a larger room on the third floor would be good.
How about toiletries & in-room amenities?
All of the amenities are taken care of including enough toiletries, bathrobes, pajamas, samue outfits, yukatas, Japanese sweets, English tea bags, a green tea set, a complimentary mini-bar including beer and wine, and a coffee machine with capsules, etc. There were L’Occitane bath amenities and POLA skincare products in the bathroom. There were colorful yukatas and pillows of different materials to choose from. You can travel light. Also, a DVD player, a Blu-ray player, and a humidifier were placed in our room. Room service is not available. Free Wifi reception was good in our room.
Then complimentary organic coffee, tea, snacks, Japanese sweets, and Häagen-Dazs ice cream were available in the lobby. It couldn’t be better.
In the lobby, I saw a few people spending time quietly reading while drinking coffee, or bringing their computers to work.
How about In-house Facilities?
There are wonderful communal hot springs. They are open from 5:00-10:00, 14:00-24:00.
Also, there is an amazing private family outdoor hot spring bath. It costs JPY2,200 for 50min. You need to book it when you check in. This is open from 7:00-9:50, 14:00-21:50. The private family bath surrounded by the greenery of the trees was splendid. It is definitely worth experiencing.
Then this is not a perfect universal design, but there are fewer steps. Wheelchairs are also available for borrowing. It is best to let the staff know in advance so they can arrange a room near the elevator.
Then there is no convenience store within walking distance. You might want to buy your necessities before coming here.
There is a spa treatment shop on 1F. You need to make an appoitment in advance.
How about meals?
Kyoto-style kaiseki food for dinner and breakfast was wonderful. If you are a gourmet, you will be happy. We felt the consensus and ingenuity of the chef, and the ingredients and utensils were carefully selected, so we were able to enjoy a delicious and enjoyable moment of bliss.
All food is served in a private room in the dining area.
Please note that inform the staff when you book a room with meals if you have any food allergies or dietary needs. They probably wouldn’t be able to prepare alternative food if you request on that day.
Then, as far as I know, there is no restaurant around the property. You may want to book a room including meals.
Have a nice trip! Welcome to receive any questions about Kyo Yunohana Resort Suisen from the below space. Check Availability and Pricing for the onsen ryokan on Agoda
Info about Kyo Yunohana Resort Suisen
| Style | Modern Ryokan |
|---|---|
| Check-in and out times |
14:00/11:00 |
| Estimated Price | 70,000 JPY for 2 adults per room |
| Contact E-mail | info@kyoto-suisen.com |
| Internet Connection | Free wifi in the ryokan |
| Facility Information | Wheelchairs are available Pets are not allowed The free parking lot is available |
| Location | Kyo Yunohana Resort Suisen’s MAP |
| Access | Free shuttle service from Kameoka Station |
| Address and TEL | 6-3 Inoshiri Ashinoyama Hiedano-Cho Kameoka City Kyoto Tel +81-771-22-7575 |
| Official Homepage | Kyo Yunohana Resort Suisen’s HP |
*All information above is as of the date that I posted on my blog.
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