With a stay at SOWAKA in Kyoto (Gion), you'll be within a 5-minute walk of Maruyama Park and Kodai-ji Temple. .This luxury hotel is 0.7 mi (1.1 km) from Kawaramachi Street and 0.9 mi (1.5 km) from Kiyomizu Temple.
What's nearby
Kawaramachi Street - 13 min walk - 1.1 km
Kiyomizu Temple - 13 min walk - 1.2 km
Nishiki Market - 16 min walk - 1.4 km
Heian Shrine - 2 min drive - 1.9 km
Kyoto Tower - 4 min drive - 3.5 km
Getting around
Gion-shijo Station - 9 min walk
Higashiyama Station - 12 min walk
Itami Airport (ITM) - 56 min drive
Restaurants
にしぶち飯店 - 1 min walk
牛カツ京都勝牛祇園八坂店 - 1 min walk
札幌かに家京都店 - 1 min walk
ジュヴァンセル祇園店 - 1 min walk
Swing-By合同会社 - 1 min walk
About this property
SOWAKA
Luxury hotel with spa services and a 24-hour front desk
SOWAKA offers 23 accommodations with tablet computers and safes. Each accommodation is individually furnished and decorated. Beds feature down comforters and premium bedding. This Kyoto hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Refrigerators and minibars are provided. Bathrooms include separate bathtubs and showers with deep soaking bathtubs and rainfall showerheads. Bathrooms are also outfitted with bathrobes, slippers, and bidets. Additionally, rooms include complimentary bottled water and hair dryers. A nightly turndown service is provided and housekeeping is offered daily.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
Guests can pamper themselves by indulging in the onsite spa services. Services include deep-tissue massages and massages.
Treat yourself to a stay in one of the 23 individually decorated guestrooms, featuring heated floors. Your bed comes with down comforters and premium bedding. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and tablet computers are provided for your entertainment. Private bathrooms with separate bathtubs and showers feature deep soaking bathtubs and rainfall showerheads.
Pamper yourself with onsite massages or enjoy recreation amenities such as bicycles to rent. Additional amenities at this hotel include complimentary wireless internet access and concierge services.
Enjoy a meal at the restaurant, or stay in and take advantage of the hotel's room service (during limited hours). Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at the bar/lounge. Continental breakfasts are available daily from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM for a fee.
Featured amenities include complimentary newspapers in the lobby, dry cleaning/laundry services, and a 24-hour front desk.
Continental breakfasts are available for a surcharge and are served each morning between 7:30 AM and 9:00 AM.
SOWAKA has a restaurant on site.
Room service (during limited hours) is available.
Languages
English, Japanese
Property amenities
Internet
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Parking and transport
No on-site parking available
Food and drink
Daily continental breakfast available 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM for a fee: JPY 6,000 per person
A bar/lounge
A restaurant
Things to do
Bicycle rentals
Family friendly
In-room refrigerator
Laundry facilities
Conveniences
24-hour front desk
Free newspapers in lobby
Laundry facilities
Luggage storage
Safe at front desk
Guest services
Concierge services
Dry cleaning/laundry service
Housekeeping (daily)
Turndown service
Outdoors
Garden
Terrace
Spa
Deep-tissue massages
Accessibility
No lift
Room amenities
Bedroom
Down comforter
Premium bedding
Bathroom
Bidet
Deep soaking bathtub
Dressing gowns
Free toiletries
Hair dryer
Private bathroom
Rainfall showerhead
Separate bathtub and shower
Shampoo
Slippers
Toilet paper
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Towels provided
Entertainment
Tablet computer
Food and drink
Electric kettle
Free bottled water
Limited room service
Minibar
Refrigerator
More
Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
Heated floor
Heating
Individual decor
Individual furnishings
Safe
Policies
Check-in
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 10:00 PM
Early check-in subject to availability
Early check-in is available for a fee
Late check-in subject to availability
Check-out
Check-out before 11:00 AM
Special check-in instructions
Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions; front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property ahead of time using the information on the booking confirmation
If you are planning to arrive after 6:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
Access methods
Staffed front desk
Pets
Pets not allowed (service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees)
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Cribs (infant beds) are not available
Payment types
Important information
Fees
You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:
A city tax may be collected at the property. The city tax ranges from JPY 200-1,000 per person, per night based on the nightly room rate. Please note that further exemptions may apply. For more details, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
We have included all charges provided to us by the property.
Optional extras
Fee for continental breakfast: approximately JPY 6000 per person
Early check-in is available for a fee (subject to availability)
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards and cash
Up to 2 dogs are permitted in 111:Superior Casita Room, Pet-friendly, Queen Bed(Main). There is no charge for 1 dog in the room; the listed pet fee is charged only if there is an additional dog in the room.
We should mention
This property does not have elevators
The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare requires all international visitors to submit their passport number and nationality when registering at any lodging facility (inns, hotels, motels, etc. ); additionally, lodging proprietors are required to photocopy passports for all registering guests and keep the photocopy on file
Property is also known as
SOWAKA Hotel Kyoto
SOWAKA Hotel
SOWAKA Kyoto
SOWAKA Hotel
SOWAKA Kyoto
SOWAKA Hotel Kyoto
Luxury hotel SOWAKA
SOWAKA Reviews
Reviews
9.6
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
It was a truly wonderful stay with a very welcoming and warm team.
My room was a real delight, and the kaiseki dinner was simply exquisite.
I thoroughly enjoyed my two nights at Sowaka and only wished I could have extended my stay.
One of the best hotel stays I’ve ever had! This was truly a luxury experience. The staff and house keeping were so thoughtful and attentive to our every need. The property was super clean and had a beautiful lobby, bar and restaurant. I would love to stay here again one day.
The hotel, the staff, the service, the location and the food options within the hotel are all excellent. Wendy and the team went over and above to make us feel welcome. All the team have excellent knowledge of Kyoto and the local area. All their recommendations were excellent! Highly recommend Sowaka if you want the perfect stay in Kyoto with a personalised service from a top class boutique hotel.
Everything was amazing. The staff, the service, the smell of the old cedar wood, the room! It is the perfect balance of old Japanese ryokan but with modern comforts. Every evening, they left a little gift during turn down, a Japanese sweet, a little local craft, such a nice touch. The location could not be better. Loved it!
The best hotel and the best service I have ever been experienced! The breakfast’s taste surprised me with a very friendly price. Every staff there are very thoughtful!
This stay is so much more than I expected. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. Hotel itself is quiet, zen and beautiful. Room is extremely clean and full of small surprises. I can’t recommend this hotel enough! Will definitely come back if I have the chance!
Luya
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024
10/10 Excellent
PATTY
8 June 2024
Best staff and service Food was wonderful
Anything I needed, they did and were so happy to please
I would recommend this to anyone who wants a smaller inn right in the heart of Gion
My room was spacious and had a beautiful garden Big yes on Sowaza!!!
The staff and management did everything to make my stay comfortable, enjoyable and memorable!
I have been to many hotels in kyoto. This one definitely stands out.
A unique, tranquil small hotel, that offers total commitment to anyone staying here. Food is exceptional and lots of it. Set within walking distance of several major temples and sites, and easy walking distance to several popular shopping areas, It is even very easy to visit the popular Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) no 12 bus takes you directly there.Not the cheapest, but in my opinion worth every penny. I for one have never been looked after so well and quite emotional about leaving such a friendly enviroment.I would happily recommend Luxury hotel SOWAKA to anyone. All I can say is thankyou to all at Luxury hotel SOWAKA for such a wonderful stay while in Japan.
We stayed in a beautiful suite in the old part of this lovely hotel, which was a restaurant long ago. Our rooms looked out on an internal garden. We enjoyed two breakfasts and a wonderful dinner in the restaurant. One highlight was the traditional Japanese wooden tub in the bath--and of course, a lovely Toto toilet with heated seat, as are present throughout Japan.
Wonderful traditional hotel with excellent service. Rooms are large and comfortable.
Clay
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
10/10 Excellent
Christopher
23 July 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
This hotel was just amazing. The location, design, uniqueness, rooms and especially the staff were top notch. We couldn’t recommend it enough. They went out of their way to make sure we had an enjoyable stay. We can’t recommend this hotel enough.
My husband and I stayed here on our honeymoon and it was amazing! The hospitality and attention to detail in service will not be beat. And the hotel grounds itself are beautifully traditional. If we return to Kyoto, we will absolutely stay here again