"One of the most memorable, most excellent hotels I've ever stayed. The husband and wife owners, the Nishidas, are delightful! They made sure everything was perfect. It's a really different experience for an American to stay in a true Ryokan. I've stayed in a number of Relais and Chateau properties around the world and most have been excellent. Kanamean Nishitomiya surpasses them all. It is a calm, serene place with unparalleled service. It is located in the perfect place, a block from Nishiki market, and close to excellent shopping and public transportation. My suite was perfect. I travel with washcloths because most international places do not have them. Kanamean Nishitomiya's staff saw my washcloths and left me some so I didn't have to use mine. It's the only place I stayed in Japan that had washcloths. That's just one small example of how they noticed my wants and needs and provided, unasked. The Nishitas really wanted to cook for me. The hotel's restaurant is Michelin rated and I am well known for having the palate of a 4 year old--an extremely unadventurous eater. But I figured if anyone could make weird Japanese food good it would be the Nishitas. They asked about my food preferences--no tomatoes (allergic) and not much fish (a tall order for Japan whose diets include a lot of fish). They prepared an 11 course dinner, starring the most delicious beef, just for me! It was not only delicious, every dish was a work of art. Three hours later I thought the Nishitas were magicians. The Soba with duck was especially memorable. That meal is one of my favorite memories of Japan. Kanamean Nishitomiya is more than an excellent hotel or restaurant. it's a special experience of which I will cherish the memories."

"Kazuo and Kyoko are exceptional hosts, and their ryokan in Kyoto is truly amazing—intimate, authentic, and full of charm. We also dined at both of their restaurants, Kaname and Nishitomiya, and the food was outstanding. We highly recommend staying here when visiting Kyoto, and we will definitely be back!"

"We had a wonderful experience at Kanamean Nishitomiya. I really can't say enough about this place. The staff are very friendly and the service is excellent; the hotel is unique and warm; the room was beautiful and a really unique stay coming from the US; beds were very comfortable even having never slept on a futon before. We absolutely loved the cedar bath--it was huge and could fit both of us easily--we used it every night. Breakfasts were delicious and something we looked forward to. We had dinner at the restaurant and had a great experience. They seated us in a private room all to ourselves. This was probably one of the best meals we've ever had--each dish was very tasty and unlike many tasting menus we've experienced, we didn't leave uncomfortably full. It was really well-balanced for us. Overall the stay was refreshing; we would love to and plan to go back."

"An extraordinary and memorable experience! We had the Kashiwagi room, which was basically a one-bedroom apartment. It had a spacious and elegant sitting room (with a tokonoma alcove!) that was converted into a bedroom at night, a small office with a desk, a sitting room with an armchair, a small toilet room, and a large bathroom—literally just for bathing—with a huge onsen tub made of hinoki wood. This tub was filled with hot water when we arrived, and the staff explained that the hinoki had insulating properties that would keep it warm for a long time. An added bonus was that the wonderful fragrance of the wood permeated the area like incense! Just make sure not to use any soap in the onsen, we were told, because it could damage the wood—there was a separate shower area next to the tub for washing off, and the onsen was just for soaking. There were also lovely yet private views of little courtyard gardens from several of the different rooms. I loved that the TV was hidden away in a cabinet, totally unintrusive, yet available if, for some reason, you really need to watch TV in a space like this. I see some previous reviewers complain about "camping on the floor." In keeping with the old-fashioned Japanese aesthetic of the place, the sleeping arrangements consist of futons on the floor, and there is also a low sitting table with a choice of a low chair or a floor-height chair. If you have mobility issues or don't feel comfortable with Japanese-style furniture, maybe choose a more Western-style hotel! But if you want to experience a more traditional Japanese-style living and sleeping space, pretend you're in an Ozu movie and enjoy it. ;) We also had a wonderful kaiseki meal in a private dining room. The owner appears to be quite a wine connoisseur, and had an amazing cellar, which contributed to fabulous pairings! Lots of books on art, architecture, and haute cuisine, both in the room and the public areas, contributed to the overall ambiance of sophistication and elegants."