Ishihara Station (Kyoto) × Accommodation With À La Carte DiningHighly rated for dining at Hotel·Ryokan

I realized upon arrival that I had stayed here once for work about 25 years ago. Perhaps it has been renovated since then, because the Room doesn’t feel dated at all. Oh—there is a card key, but it’s not the type that turns the power on when inserted (though it does have an auto-lock). The charging connectors support various types, giving me the impression they’ve tried to accommodate guests’ detailed needs as much as possible. The welcome drink was made with a single-cup machine, so I could enjoy a delicious coffee. The rental bicycles are also great value: 500 yen for 1 night and 2 days, and you can use them until check-out. It was very helpful since I needed to go out at night. A helmet is included as well.

It was great to be able to use the Onsen multiple times during my stay.

This beautifully renovated traditional house, once a pawnshop, offers Rooms with distinct character. Rather than aiming for full occupancy, they intentionally operate only up to 2 of the 4 Rooms at a time, which makes for a truly peaceful stay. By chance there were no other guests during our visit, so it felt like having the place to ourselves and we were able to relax in quiet comfort. They also kindly helped us with an unusual request to receive registered mail, which was greatly appreciated. Next time, I’d love to stay in a different Room.

The breakfast-free Plan was reasonably priced for what it offered. However, I was surprised when a foreign housekeeping staff member knocked and entered the Room while I was getting ready to leave before checkout the next morning. They left immediately after noticing someone was inside, but I briefly felt unsafe. I would like them to make sure checkout has been confirmed before entering.