Kyoto's Hidden Gem: Sumiya Kiho-an Ryokan - Unforgettable Luxury Awaits!
Kyoto's Hidden Gem: Sumiya Kiho-an Ryokan - Unforgettable Luxury Awaits! (A Totally Honest Review)
Okay, folks, buckle up. Because I'm about to spill the tea on Sumiya Kiho-an Ryokan, this supposed "hidden gem" in Kyoto. And trust me, after my stay, I'm feeling ALL the things – from pure, unadulterated bliss to… well, let's just call it spirited contemplation about the price of a single tiny, exquisitely-crafted mochi.
First, the basics, for those who, like me, need a little prep talk before diving in. Accessibility? Yeah, they've got some things going on here. An elevator, which is a MUST for me since I'm not exactly a gazelle on the stairs after a good ramen run. They do claim to have facilities for disabled guests, but I'd recommend calling ahead to clarify specifics. Wheelchair accessibility is a big question mark. Let's just say this isn't a super modern, flat-floored kind of place, so make sure you double-check if that's crucial for your travel needs.
Internet? Crucial, baby. Especially when you need to Instagram the HELL out of every perfect vista. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Hallelujah. You also get Internet [LAN] if you're old-school or a serious work-from-hotel type. They also offer Wi-Fi in public areas, but honestly, you'll probably be too busy soaking up the atmosphere to care. Though I did post a killer selfie in the lobby. Don't judge.
Cleanliness and Safety: Okay, this is where Sumiya absolutely shines. This place is a fortress of hygiene! Seriously, it's practically a hospital in disguise. They clearly take cleanliness VERY seriously! Anti-viral cleaning products? Check. Daily disinfection in common areas? Check. Rooms sanitized between stays? Oh, you betcha. Staff trained in safety protocol? I saw them meticulously wiping down EVERYTHING. They even have Hand sanitizer stations EVERYWHERE. Hygiene certification? Probably, given the lengths they go to! They even have Individually-wrapped food options – which is a lifesaver when you're as paranoid about germs as I am. They also have Professional-grade sanitizing services. And let’s not forget the serious stuff: First aid kit, Doctor/nurse on call, Smoke alarms, Fire extinguisher, and Security [24-hour]. It feels like they've thought of everything to make you feel safe and protected. It’s seriously comforting.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: The Foodie’s Paradise (and the Budget-Conscious Traveler's Nightmare)
Okay, let's be real. The food at Sumiya is… legendary. The restaurants are exceptional. There are multiple restaurants, with Asian cuisine and International cuisine represented. Breakfast? You can do a Breakfast service, a Breakfast [buffet], or if you REALLY want to live the life, a glorious Breakfast in room. I opted for both. The buffet was sublime – think delicate pastries, fresh fruit, and the most perfect eggs you’ve ever seen. The in-room experience? Pure decadence.
They have a Bar obviously, and a Poolside bar. There's a Coffee/tea in restaurant to keep you caffeinated and a Coffee shop for those mid-morning cravings. Happy hour? Yes, please! They have A la carte in restaurant and Buffet in restaurant. But I'm here to tell you the truth. Be prepared to shell out for some food items. Alternative meal arrangement, in case you have dietary needs. Desserts in restaurant, are as exquisite as the rest of the menu—and yes, those mochi! Room 23 and The Bathroom Revelation
Seriously though, my room (23, if you must know) was phenomenal. Air conditioning that worked like a dream. Blackout curtains (essential for beating jet lag). A Desk that actually made me want to work (briefly). Free bottled water (a godsend after all that sightseeing). Hair dryer, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Mini bar, Refrigerator. But the bathroom? Oh, the bathroom.
Let me paint you a word picture. The Separate shower/bathtub. The soaking tub was so deep, I practically disappeared into the water. And the toiletries? Top-notch. Bathrobes, Slippers, the works. They seriously thought of everything. I could've easily spent a week just luxuriating in that tub, ignoring the ancient temples and pristine gardens. Maybe I should have.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: Spa Day, Anyone?
If you somehow manage to tear yourself away from your plush digs, Sumiya offers a plethora of ways to unwind. Massage, Spa, Spa/sauna, Body scrub, Body wrap – the works. There's a Fitness center (I glanced at it, then went back to eating mochi), a Foot bath, and a Sauna. And the Swimming pool [outdoor] is simply stunning, with a Pool with view! Seriously, this place is designed for relaxation. You could easily spend a week just hopping from spa treatment to languid afternoon by the pool. I’m not complaining. My body definitely needed it after all the temples and endless exploration! (But if you want some energy, there is Gym/fitness also)
Services and Conveniences: Beyond the Basics
Sumiya's dedication to pampering isn't just about the pretty spaces. The Concierge was an absolute lifesaver. Daily housekeeping made me feel like royalty. They had Laundry service, and the Doorman was always ready with a smile. They also have a Gift/souvenir shop (perfect for last-minute gifts). And for those of you planning events, there are Meeting/banquet facilities and even Indoor venue for special events and Outdoor venue for special events.
The Quirks & The Imperfections (Because Perfection is Boring)
Okay, let's get real. This isn't a "cheap and cheerful" kind of place. It's luxury, plain and simple. You're going to feel the pinch in your wallet. But honestly, I sort of feel that the price (while hefty) is worth it.
Getting Around
Now, getting around outside of the hotel? They offer Airport transfer and Taxi service. They also have Car park [free of charge], which is a huge plus when you're exploring Kyoto. There is also Car park [on-site] which is super convenient.
For the Kids They offer Babysitting service, since the place is Family/child friendly, it would be a shame if they didn't. They also have Kids facilities and Kids meal, to make sure that the little ones also have a time of their lives.
Overall Impression: Worth the Splurge? Absolutely!
Look, Sumiya Kiho-an is a splurge. It’s a hefty one. But if you want to experience true Japanese luxury, to be coddled, to unwind in a world of pure elegance and to forget about all the mundane stuff of life, then this is the place. I left Sumiya feeling pampered, refreshed, and slightly broke. But also, completely and utterly in love with the magic of Kyoto. And isn’t that what travel’s all about?
My Final Verdict: 5 out of 5 stars (with a slight caveat: Bring your gold card!)
FLASH DEAL! (Because You Deserve It!)
Unforgettable Luxury Awaits at Sumiya Kiho-an!
Tired of searching for the perfect Kyoto escape? You've found it! Experience the ultimate in Japanese hospitality at Sumiya Kiho-an, a hidden gem that will redefine your travel experience.
Here's What You'll Get:
- Unrivaled Comfort: Luxurious, soundproof rooms with blackout curtains, so you can have a peaceful sleep.
- Culinary Indulgence: Experience the world of exquisite food with Asian and International cuisines in an excellent restaurant, plus a pool side bar, a coffee shop and more!
- Peaceful Relaxation: Rejuvenate with world-class spa treatments, outdoor pool with a view, and more.
- Impeccable Cleanliness and Safety: Rest easy knowing that every detail is in place to ensure your safety and comfort.
- Breathtaking Views: Be inspired as you step out of your room to see the beauty of Kyoto around you!
Book Your Stay NOW to enjoy a special 15% discount on all room bookings. And for a limited time, we're including a complimentary:
- Welcome amenity: A bottle of complimentary sake & a basket of local treats.
- Breakfast included: Indulge in a daily breakfast service, so you can focus all of your energy into relaxation!
Don't Miss Out! This offer is valid for a limited time and subject to availability. Visit our website
707 Hotel (Cheng Ho): Melaka's Hidden Gem? You WON'T Believe This!
Okay, buckle up buttercup, because this itinerary for Sumiya Kiho-an Ryokan in Kyoto is about to get REAL. Forget those sterile, perfect itineraries – this is a travel log penned by yours truly, a person who gets hangry, cries at cherry blossoms, and once forgot her passport at a gas station (true story).
Day 1: Zen and the Art of Trying Not to Jet Lag
- 6:00 AM (Local Time) - Arrival at Kansai International Airport (KIX): Ugh. Bleary-eyed, hair resembling a bird's nest, fuelled solely by airport coffee that tasted vaguely of despair. Note to self: pack more emergency chocolate. The immigration lady was actually nice though! Maybe the Jet Lag Gods will be merciful.
- 7:30 AM - Train to Kyoto Station: Okay, figuring out the train situation was an adventure. Turns out understanding Japanese train signage at 7:30 AM when you're running on 3 hours of sleep is…challenging. Ended up asking a very patient (and fashionable!) Japanese woman for help. She even walked me to the correct platform. Bless her.
- 9:00 AM - Kyoto Station and onward transit to Ryokan: Kyoto Station is INSANE. It’s a futuristic steel and glass cathedral. And I had to navigate it with rolling luggage and the vague dread that I'd forgotten something (yep, chapstick, I had). Finally managed to get a cab. Breathe.
- 10:00 AM - Check-in at Sumiya Kiho-an: The Ryokan. Sigh Suddenly, the pre-trip anxiety melted away. This place is… otherwordly. It’s like stepping into a hushed, elegant dream. The smell of tatami mats and sandalwood is intoxicating. The welcome tea ceremony? Flawless. I nearly cried. Seriously.
- 11:00 AM - The Room: Our room. OH. My. GOD. It's a freaking sanctuary. A private onsen (hot spring bath) on the balcony? A view of a meticulously manicured garden? I may never leave this room. I'm already plotting ways to hoard the little toiletries.
- 1:00 PM - Lunch at the Ryokan (Kai-seki): The food. Okay. The food is an EXPERIENCE. Miniature works of art that you almost feel bad eating. Almost. I’m pretty sure each course had a story. And the sake? Don’t even get me started. I think I had about five different types. (Don’t judge my jet lag-induced bravery). It was ridiculously good.
- 3:00 PM - Onsen! (Naked Time!): The private onsen on my balcony! I sank into the hot water, and all the travel grime and stress just… evaporated. Pure bliss. Except… that small rogue leaf that got stuck in my… well, you get the picture. Humbling. But mostly bliss.
- 6:00 PM - Wander the grounds, get mildly lost: The garden is beautiful. I got lost for a good twenty minutes. It's designed to be that way, of course, but I'm pretty sure a small child could have led me back to the main house. Stumbled upon a tiny shrine, and the urge to take a photo of it was really strong, but a lot of places here seem like they want you to just… experience them. I'm still not sure I like being told what to do, but I get it.
- 7:00 PM - Dinner (Kai-seki, again!): Okay, round two of amazing food. Each dish was a delicate dance of flavors and textures. They called the chef out at the end, and I swear, he looked as stunned as I felt! I gave him a big thumbs-up and probably over-enthusiastically exclaimed my appreciation. Very professional. I think I made up for it in tip.
- 9:00 PM - Stargazing from the balcony (attempted): Tried looking at the stars. Between the sake, the hot water, and the food coma, I think I fell asleep for a bit and woke up under the duvet like a cocoon, I gave up and crashed, dreaming of moss gardens and tiny pickled vegetables.
- 11:00 PM - Sound asleep (probably drooling).
Day 2: Temples, Teahouses, and the Truth About Walking
- 8:00 AM - Breakfast at the Ryokan: The most elegant breakfast I've ever had. Tiny, perfectly formed portions of everything imaginable. I feel like I should be eating with chopsticks. Seriously. And it was so beautiful. Why can't I do breakfast at home like this?!
- 9:00 AM - Taxi to Kiyomizu-dera Temple: Ah, Kiyomizu-dera. Famous, crowded, absolutely gorgeous. I walked past the entrance, saw the lines, and almost turned around. Then, I took a deep breath and joined the throngs. The views of Kyoto from the wooden stage are spectacular. Even the crowds couldn't completely ruin it. But the gift shops…oh, the gift shops. I bought a fan. Don't ask me why.
- 10:30 AM - Wander through Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka: These streets are charming, lined with traditional wooden buildings and craft shops. I bought some mochi (delicious). I did the touristy thing, and the urge to instagram everything was strong. Then I walked an hour down to
- 11:30 AM - Tea Ceremony at… somewhere!: I found a hidden gem of a teahouse and sat, attempting to understand the meaning of the ritual while sipping the most delicious matcha tea of my life. It tasted of jade and sunshine. I tried to get a photo, but the vibe was so zen.
- 1:00 PM - Lunch at a random noodle shop: Got completely lost. Found a tiny noodle shop with a grumpy looking old woman who served the best udon noodles ever! A total contrast from the fancy stuff at the Ryokan, but so good.
- 2:00 PM - Walked the Philosopher's Path: The Philosopher’s Path is supposed to be this tranquil walk along a canal. I walked it. And walked it. And walked it. Felt like I saw all of the buildings from the outside. It was pretty, sure. But mostly, I walked. Maybe I picked the wrong season, or maybe I'm just not that deep. I think it's the walking.
- 4:00 PM - Gion District: Wandering around the Gion district, hoping to see a Geisha (maiko) was a whole different experience. I saw one! (Maybe two? Was I jet lagged again?). It was a fleeting glimpse, but magical. The cobblestone streets and traditional wooden machiya houses are stunning. I was tempted into buying a ridiculously expensive silk scarf. I resisted, but it took a lot of willpower.
- 6:00 PM - Back to the Ryokan, collapsing on the futon: My feet. MY FEET!
- 7:30 PM - Dinner at the Ryokan (Kai-seki; this time… I think I remembered chopsticks): Tonight's chef had different food. Every course was a new world. The waitress remembered my preference for the sake, and I loved it. It wasn't the same chef from yesterday, it was a different chef's masterpiece. Wow.
- 9:00 PM - Bathing: The onsen. All by my lonesome. I can't believe how nice this is. It seemed like the bath wanted me to stay there forever.
- 10:00 PM - Passed out watching TV: Just a little something, before falling into a deep sleep.
Day 3: Farewell… For Now
- 8:00 AM - Breakfast, with a side of Existential Dread: The last breakfast. So much good food. I’m going to miss it.
- 9:00 AM - Check Out. (The hardest part.) They brought my bags down, as always. The staff's smiles and quiet reverence felt… bittersweet. Leaving this place felt like leaving a cozy cocoon.
- 10:00 AM - Quick Bus ride to the Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion): Okay. Holy crap. Kinkaku-ji is… breathtaking. The golden reflections on the pond are just… wow. I spent way too long staring at it. Nearly got run over by a bus.
- 11:00 AM - Headed back to Kyoto Station and train to the Airport:
- 1:00 PM - Get onboard the airplane: Farewell Japan! And, bye-bye, Sumiya Kiho-an. I'll be back. That's a promise. (And I'm bringing more chocolate next time). My mind is still processing what I have seen. More later!
Postscript:
- The Truth About Perfection: Sumiya Kiho-an is almost perfect. A small flaw with the internet, being the only thing that would make it less than perfect, but that wasn't really why I came, so it's okay.
- The Emotional Fallout: I'm leaving Japan with
Why is this whole "FAQ" thing even happening? Isn't that a bit...structured?
Alright, alright, I hear you. FAQs, generally speaking, are supposed to be all clean lines and logical answers. And I'm, shall we say, *not* known for my clean lines. Look, I figured, if I’m going to wrestle with the existential dread of, well, *gestures vaguely at everything*, I might as well get some answers. Plus, you know those internet bots will love it. So, here we are. Consider this a therapy session...for everyone.
So, like, what are we even *talking* about? What's the *topic*, man?
Okay, good question. The "topic," as it were, is... well, *everything and nothing*. It's about the stuff that keeps you up at 3 AM, staring at the ceiling fan, convinced it's judging your life choices. It's about pizza, it's about heartbreak, and it's about the weird joy of finding a matching sock in the laundry. It’s the stuff you *think* about, and the stuff you *should* think about but *don’t* because, oh god, the dishes.
But seriously, what *specific* things fall under this umbrella? Like, give me *something* concrete! (Also, have you eaten? You sound a bit...hyper)
Okay, point taken. I’ll try to focus. Think of it as a mix of:
- **The Mundane Magic:** Why do I love that one old, threadbare t-shirt so much?
- **The Existential Dread:** What's the point of this whole charade? (Just kidding...mostly.)
- **The Tiny Triumphs:** Did I *really* just fold a fitted sheet perfectly? (Spoiler Alert: No. I may have given up)
- **The Big Messy Feelings:** Love. Loss. Coffee. More coffee.
What’s the hardest part of, you know, *doing* this? Sharing your…stuff?
Hands down, the hardest part is the vulnerability. Putting yourself out there, warts and all – and trust me, I've got *plenty* of warts – is terrifying. It's like standing naked in a crowded marketplace, hoping nobody throws tomatoes. It's like, “Okay, world, here's my brain. It's a bit of a disaster zone, but hey, at least it's *mine*.”
What if someone disagrees with you? What if they think this whole thing is utter garbage?
Look, let's be real, not everyone is going to love this. Probably *most* people won't. That’s just *life*. If you think it's garbage, that's fine! I’ll probably be curled up on my couch, eating chips and thinking about the universe, anyway. Seriously, you're welcome to it. You can't please everyone and you shouldn’t really *try*. The goal isn't to win a popularity contest; it's to be, you know, *honest*. I’d rather have a few people “get it” than a ton of people politely nodding and thinking, "What a weirdo."
Okay, but what about *advice*? Are we going to get any of that helpful stuff?
Woah, hold your horses there, partner! I'm pretty much the last person you should take advice from. I trip over my own feet, forget where I put my keys (again!), and once microwaved a spoon. But, sure, if you *really* want my take on something, I'll try. Just… don’t sue me if it’s terrible advice. I'm mostly here to *commiserate*, not to be your life coach. "Be yourself,” is a classic. Also, remember to breathe. And drink water. Because, you know, hydration. The real key to life.
What's the weirdest thing you've ever, well, *experienced*?
Oh, man. Choosing just one? Okay, here it goes… This one time, I was backpacking through Europe (trying to "find myself" – a cliche, I know). I was in Rome, and I was convinced that the pigeons were basically sentient beings, judging my life choices. Then, I ate a pizza (because obviously), and it was *so good* that I began to cry. Not just a little sniffle, I’m talking full-on ugly crying. Turns out, I was just really jet-lagged and, let's be honest, missing my cat back home (his name is Mittens, don't laugh). But now, I can't eat pizza in Rome without tearing up a bit. It's a whole thing. The pigeons probably still judge me, though.
What are your goals here? Like, what are you *trying* to achieve? Are you trying to "inspire" people?
Okay, real talk? I don't have any grand, lofty goals. I'm not trying to save the world, or even change your mind about anything (unless you’re firmly against pizza. Then, yes, I'm going to change your mind and we’ll have words. Delicious, cheesy words). Honestly? I'm hoping to find *connection*. To maybe make you feel a little less alone in this giant, confusing, wonderful, infuriating, and often smelly, world. If I can make someone laugh, or think "Me too!" then, success! If one person doesn't feel as alone anymore, then, yeah, I think that’s enough.
What’s the deal with the couch, anyway? You mentioned it earlier…
Ah, yes. The couch. My safe space. My kingdom! My… well, it's just a couch. But it's where I do my best thinking (or, you know, staring blankly at the ceiling, contemplating the meaning of life). It’s seen some things. It's been the site of epic movie marathons, countless existential crises, and way too many spilled cups of coffee. It’s kind of the central hub of my existence. I love it. I hate it. I don’t know what I wouldStay While You Wander
