Momijiya Honkan Takaosansou

Service was good as expected of a ryokan. Great food served at dinner and we had premium wagyu shabu shabu. Snacks and tea provided in the room was refreshing. Quiet and peaceful. Loved the private bath which we paid a reasonable fee. Overall very value for money.

staff were very friendly and overall experience is great.

I’m no expert by any means, but having had the opportunity to experience two ryokans this trip (first in Osaka, then Kyoto) with similar prices but vastly different quality, I feel compelled to compare and comment. Service: Generally felt rushed during our stay. Check-in was technically at 3pm but shuttle was at 4pm, so we did not arrive until 4:30. Similarly, check out was at 10am, but shuttle was at 9:20. At breakfast, there was a sign nudging you to pay before 10am as it gets busy then. For an experience that’s suppose to be relaxing, this took away from it. Room: In dire need of renovation. Room was visibly old and had a musty smell from the moment of walking in. There would be whiffs of piss when the AC wasn’t circulating air. In-room baths were stained and scary to look at, let alone use Bath: Public bath was tiny so naturally, everyone opts to pay extra to book a slot in one of the two private baths on the property. Depending on when you check in, you may not get a slot until the next morning. That said, the private bath had incredible views and was the highlight of this experience, for sure. Food: Mediocre at best compared our first experience, which we had in-room. Presentation was good, but flavors were just a bit off. Breakfast was better than dinner. All in all, our Osaka ryokan experience felt like luxury hotel with spa with authenticity while this felt more like a beat down budget hotel turned tourist trap.