From Denmark
June '14
Visit Seikiro homepage at http://www.seikirou.co.jp/english/index.html for more photos and reservations.

We started our trip in Japan in Osaka and the Hotel was our base for 5 days. Ultra friendly staff, clean room, great service! Even gave us farewell gifts, as well as advice on securing tickets on the Shinkansen down to Hiroshima and back up to Tokyo. Based in the entertainment sector of Osaka, very close to tourist spots, train stations, shopping and restaurants. All in all a great place, a welcome introduction to the great city of Osaka and will definitely stay there again!

From Australia
Jul. '14
Stayed at Kaneyoshi Ryokan, Namba Dotombori, Osaka.

We stayed here just for one night. It was an incredible experience. Highly recommended! We did some research about onsens and this was one of the few that allowed people with tattoos to their onsen. The staff was very nice and very accommodating. A free shuttle picked us up from the train station and we left our bags in the lobby while we checked out the monkey park (which is next door) and the bamboo forest. The kaizeki meal was really beautiful.. and very delicious. The hot mineral water felt great, and the complementary yuzu juice in the spa was a nice added touch. Breakfast was also great! Arashiyama is a very cute little town and its only about a 20 minute trip from Kyoto. We loved our stay!

From U.S.A.
Mar. '14
Stayed at Hanaikada, Kyoto Arashiyama Onsen.

A little hard to find but great location otherwise. Very friendly staff and the place itself is beautiful.

From Canada
Jul. '14
Stayed at Homeikan, Tokyo

This Ryokan was absolutely fantastic! from the spacious and traditional multi-room accommodation to the private onsen bathroom, it was by far the most traditional experience we had touring through Tokyo, Kyoto and Nagano. The staff were exceptionally attentive, hand-writing train timetables and dropping us off or picking us up at our convenience, so polite too and always with a smile and a bow.
Just 25 minutes from the snow monkeys, an easy walk too, and above the small village, which had a great Sake store that has been there for over a century.
Then there was the food which was faultless and delicious and presented in such amazing Japanese chests, delicate porcelain and individual steamers with so many interesting dishes for each meal.. we were so impressed! by far the best food we had over our 10 day stay.
I heartily recommend it to anyone it was a beautiful location, great to stay at and very good value with both our breakfast and dinner included in the cost. with the amount of food you barely needed lunch during the day too! Try it out it's absolutely brilliant!!

From Melbourne, Australia
May '14
Stayed at Jinpyokaku, Kanbayashi Onsen, Nagano.

Stayed for 4 nights with two small children. Located in center of Osaka. Getting there is not too difficullt with map and direction from kansai airport. Great dinning and sightseeing in center of Osaka which is all walking distance. You can do day trip to Kyoto(we did) or Kobe. Free wifi and public bath open till midnight which we used everyday after long day of walking and walking. So much eating and drinking options around ryokan. view of the river was great with cup of green tea. English speaking staff are very helpful and professional. Staff prepare your bed and clean up. Much better than typical tiny Japanese hotel rooms. Would recommend highly and return myself. Only thing was we had to pay for our children stay when reservation make it look like room rate included children but extra charge was not rediculous.

From South Korea
June '14
Stayed at Kaneyoshi Ryokan, Namba Dotombori, Osaka.

From Switzerland
June '14
Visit Seikiro homepage at http://www.seikirou.co.jp/english/index.html for more photos and reservations.

We loved our stay at Homeikan and can't recommend it highly enough. Here are a few things that we particularly enjoyed: - The amazing staff who were so friendly and nothing was too much trouble for them (they even drove our suitcases between buildings when we had to move rooms) - The traditional feel of the place - The complimentary yukata robes (which can also be bought as souvenirs/presents) - The comfortable futon beds - The traditional Japanese breakfast - The large luxurious baths.

From England
June '14
Stayed at Homeikan, Tokyo

The hotel is about 1km from SagaArashiyama JR station, which is about 15 minutes from Kyoto Station (Platform 33- Yes, its a huge station!). The hotel minibus picked us up from the station, but its an easy walk. The hotel staff speak just enough English to explain everything a foreign guest needs to know- about shoes, meals, bedding, the onsens, and local sightseeing. The staff is very respectful and very friendly. The very elderly man who welcomed us and took care of our shoes made me realise immediately that this is a business that cares for its staff. I felt very comfortable from then on. We arrived early, so they looked after our luggage whilst we went out sightseeing, then placed everything in our room ready for us. Similarly, we left late, after two nights, and they brought our bags down from the room, ready for our departure.
After being shown to our room, we were served Green tea (ocha) in the tea ceremony style, with the green tea powder, and the whisk etc. Dinner was magnificent. Our dinner on the second night was completely different to the first night- same with breakfast. I think most people must just stay one night, as at breakfast, most people were being served what we had on our first morning.
I found the thin futon on the tatami gave me a stiff back the next day, but of course, the massage chair and the onsen fixed that.
The whole place is spotlessly clean, but it is not smoke free- and the smell of cigarette smoke can waft through the public areas. The onsen on the roof is newer, and has a great view of the river and the town.
I think Hanaikada offers very good value for money- we paid more in Tokyo for such a meal alone- without accommodation and breakfast.

From Australia
Apr. '14
Stayed at Hanaikada, Kyoto Arashiyama Onsen.

Little English but they do everything for make you happy, the ryokan it's nice, not too small and very clean, the water in bath is perfect, and the room is very traditional, is close to everywhere, a lot of young people walking every day, many restaurants, stores, bars, closed..by foot in 3 or 4 minutes you are in the middle of the action.

From U.S.A.
Apr. '14
Stayed at Kaneyoshi Ryokan, Namba Dotombori, Osaka.

From Hong Kong
May '14
Visit Seikiro homepage at http://www.seikirou.co.jp/english/index.html for more photos and reservations.

Very traditional and relaxing hostel. The staff really helped us to find whatever we needed. It is a bit of distance from Tokyo centre, but a great experience!

From Australia
Apr. '14
Stayed at Homeikan, Tokyo

Stayed here for a taste of Japanese style living. Rooms very big enough to move around and very clean. They will come in to make the mattresses after we left for dinner. Mattresses were actually very comfortable. Friendly staff at the front desk. But do make it back to hotel by 1am. As they will lock the front door.
Besides that everything else is just perfect. Location. Cleanliness. Comfort.

From Malaysia
Jul. '13
Stayed at Kaneyoshi Ryokan, Namba Dotombori, Osaka.

I wanted to have a traditional Kyoto style meal at a ryokan but most don't let you dine unless you are staying there. I chanced upon Hanaikada and they were happy to take my booking for lunch via email. The location is great, right next to the monkey park and near the Togetsu-kyo Bridge. Arashiyama is a must visit in Kyoto. We ordered a boiled tofu set and a seasonal set and the food was delicious and plentiful! The staff were very nice and accommodating and the food was very reasonably priced. I would highly recommend to anyone wanting a taste of Kyoto without the price tag.

From Australia
Nov. '13
Stayed at Hanaikada, Kyoto Arashiyama Onsen.

From Singapore
Mar. '14
Visit Seikiro homepage at http://www.seikirou.co.jp/english/index.html for more photos and reservations.

The Ryokan is a bit dated and some of the interior walls needed minor repair/painting. But the staff was extremely friendly and exceptionally helpful, the rooms were comfortable, and the value was exceptional. I have no reservations about recommending Yudanaka Seifu-so as a wonderful place to visit!

From U.S.A.
Mar. '14
Stayed at Seifu-so, Yudanaka Onsen, Nagano

We just returned from 2 weeks in Japan and Jinpyokaku was our favorite place that we stayed- and that includes the Shangri-La in Tokyo and Tawaraya in Kyoto! The inn is simple but lovely. The staff could not be nicer and the food was the best we had on our trip!

It is the ideal place to stay while seeing the snow monkeys. Go early in the day if can- fewer people. We were there with 2-3 feet of snow on the ground and it was magical. The onsen (hot springs) at Jinpyokaku is great-an indoor and outdoor pool for men as well as one for women.

Our room was enormous. We did have to adjust to sleeping on the floor but the futons are very comfortable and they came with a hot water bottle tucked in between the sheets. Nice!
Meals were held in our own private dining room with table and chairs- thankfully since sitting on the floor for long periods takes its toll.

Our only hesitation in writing this review is that we don't want it to change anything. It was perfect!

From U.S.A.
Feb. '14
Stayed at Jinpyokaku, Kanbayashi Onsen, Nagano.

Homeikan is our go-to inn in Tokyo. The staff is friendly and helpful. The traditional ryokan atmosphere and hospitality is fast disappearing from Tokyo, but Homeikan retains the hospitality and ambience of the relaxing ryokan experience. Be sure not to miss the hot bath when you stay there and give our greetings to the staff, especially the ever-cheerful Ms. Ito. - R. Meher

From U.S.A.
Feb. '14
Stayed at Homeikan, Tokyo

Thoroughly recommended, particularly if you are visiting Japan and want to stay at a ryokan - the 2-hour dinner and the breakfast were wonderful, and we had a room with a view out over the river by the bridge. It was only a short walk to the temples and other activities across the river, and also to the nearby Hankyu Arashiyama station.
One downside was our lack of Japanese - the staff were very helpful and friendly (and very sweet - when one or two staff came outside and waved us off it certainly felt very genuine) but it still felt like we could have heard more about the food and the ryokan. Also, as the weather was cold, the hot air heating cut in and out during the night which kept me awake - but didn't bother the rest of the family.
The onsen on the top floor was nice, with a view over the river (if you stand up...). The male and female segregated onsen were quite empty the night we stayed.

From Singapore
Dec. '13
Stayed at Hanaikada, Kyoto Arashiyama Onsen.

From Taiwan
Feb. '14
Visit Seikiro homepage at http://www.seikirou.co.jp/english/index.html for more photos and reservations.