Nazuna Kyoto Gosho

Nazuna Kyoto Gosho, a Michelin Key Selected property in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, consistently receives high praise for its blend of traditional Japanese aesthetics and modern luxury, offering a truly immersive and tranquil experience.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

Nazuna Kyoto Gosho garners an overwhelmingly positive sentiment, with guests frequently describing their stays as "amazing," "exceptional," and "unforgettable." It holds impressive overall ratings, with a 9.2/10 on Booking.com and a 9.6/10 from verified reviews on Power Traveller. The property is celebrated for its ability to provide a peaceful and indulgent retreat, often feeling like a "home away from home" in the heart of Kyoto.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently highlight several standout features:

• Service & Staff: The staff's attentiveness, friendliness, and exceptional hospitality are frequently lauded. Many guests appreciate the professional, respectful, and engaging nature of the team, often mentioning personalized touches like little notes and gifts.
• Design & Ambiance: The ryokan's design, a modern reinterpretation of a traditional machiya (townhouse), is a major draw. It beautifully blends old and new, retaining historical elements like high ceilings and original fittings while incorporating contemporary interiors themed around traditional Japanese sweets. The secluded vibe and tastefully spare refurbished aesthetics create a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere.
• Amenities: Private outdoor or semi-open-air baths are a significant highlight, allowing guests to relax in complete privacy and often overlooking a beautiful garden. The "Irori Lounge" offering complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and snacks is also a cherished amenity. Free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour front desk, and room service are also appreciated.

3. Room Quality

The rooms at Nazuna Kyoto Gosho are consistently described as wonderful, spacious, and spotlessly clean, seamlessly combining outdoor and indoor elements. They feature traditional Japanese furnishings and layout, often with a mix of Ryokan-style and Western comforts, including comfortable beds and heated floors. Luxury rooms often boast private gardens and open-air or semi-open-air baths, providing a tranquil retreat. Deluxe rooms come with spacious indoor bathtubs. Amenities are noted as more than adequate, sometimes including Dyson hair dryers and high-quality toiletries. The room design, such as the Kashiwa Mochi room with its outdoor garden and private bath separating the bedroom from the living room, leaves a lasting impression.

4. Dining Experience

The dining experience, particularly breakfast, receives widespread acclaim.

• Breakfast: Guests rave about the traditional Japanese breakfast, describing it as delicious, beautifully prepared, and a luxurious multi-course experience. It often features seasonal vegetables slowly roasted over a traditional hearth and Kyoto-style "obanzai" dishes, with a choice of beef or fish. The presentation is frequently called stunning, and guests often leave feeling full. It's an experience many guests recommend booking ahead.
• Dinner: While less frequently mentioned than breakfast, some guests have booked private Sukiyaki experiences with their own chef, which were described as intimate and delicious. However, some feedback indicates that dinner can be expensive and occasionally bland, with limited complimentary beverages.
• Irori Lounge: The complimentary Japanese sweets and beverages in the "Irori Lounge" are a welcome touch upon check-in and throughout the stay.

5. Service & Staff

The service at Nazuna Kyoto Gosho is consistently rated as exceptional, with staff scores often reaching 9.6/10 or 9.9/10. Guests describe the staff as "unbelievable friendly and nice," "uniformly helpful," "gracious," and "attentive." They are praised for being professional, respectful, engaging, and highly accommodating, especially for English speakers, and for providing excellent sightseeing recommendations.

6. Location & Accessibility

Nazuna Kyoto Gosho is situated in a residential Kyoto neighborhood, providing a quiet atmosphere, yet offering convenient access to key attractions.

• Neighborhood: It's located within easy walking distance of the Imperial Palace and Nijō Castle. The Kyoto International Manga Museum is also nearby.
• Transport: The ryokan is only a five-minute walk from a metro station (Marutamachi Station), making it easy to get downtown and explore the city. Osaka Itami Airport is approximately 49.2km away.
• Parking: Guests should note there is no parking available on-site.

7. Value & Pricing

Nazuna Kyoto Gosho is considered a luxury property, and its pricing reflects this.

• Price Range: Room prices can start from around S$602 (approximately $478 - $716 USD) per night, with some bookings reaching $500-$700 USD depending on the room type and booking platform. The average room rate in the past month was around 98,033.64 JPY, significantly higher than Kyoto's city average.
• Value Perception: While the price is high, many guests feel it is "worth every penny" for the unparalleled luxury, exceptional experience, and high-quality amenities and service. However, the "value for money" rating is sometimes slightly lower (8.3/10 or 8.8/10) compared to other categories, indicating that some guests find it expensive, even for the quality.

8. Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, some recurring minor criticisms and complaints include:

• Dinner & Onsen Pricing: Some guests felt that the dinner was expensive and occasionally bland, and the onsen experience (if requiring an extra fee for private access) was not always perceived as good value.
• Lack of Turndown Service: A few guests noted the absence of turndown service.
• Limited Complimentary Amenities: While generous, some guests felt that the complimentary amenities, especially beverages, were not extensive, with coffee being described as bitter.
• Massage Quality: One guest had a negative experience with an in-room massage, finding it to be light pressing rather than a proper massage.
• Room Temperature & Design Quirks: In one instance, a guest mentioned the bedroom being cold at times and the toilet rooms lacking air conditioning, which could be warm in humid summers. Taller guests also noted hitting their heads on lower door frames, a common feature in traditional Japanese architecture.
• Staff Training: One review mentioned a feeling that staff were mainly part-time students and lacked some training, with food also seemingly prepared by the same staff.

Sources

1. booking.com
2. booking.com
3. powertraveller.com
4. agoda.com
5. hotel-weekend.com
6. ikyu.com
7. michelin.com
8. kyotohotelspage.com
9. agoda.com
10. trip.com
11. expedia.com
12. kayak.com