Umekoji Kadensho Kyoto Review: Budget Ryokan Experience
Discover Umekoji Kadensho, a budget-friendly ryokan-style hotel in Kyoto offering private hot spring baths, complimentary night ramen, and modern comfort.
Loading...
Discover Umekoji Kadensho, a budget-friendly ryokan-style hotel in Kyoto offering private hot spring baths, complimentary night ramen, and modern comfort.
This post contains affiliate links, which help support this blog at no extra cost to you.
A Budget-Friendly Ryokan-Style Hotel in Kyoto
Kyoto Kadensho Umekoji
Private Onsen Baths & Late-Night Soba
📍 41-10 Sujakuuchihatacho, Shimogyo Ward,
Kyoto, 600-8843 Japan
🕑 Check-in: 3:00 PM / Check-out: 11:00 AM
✅ 4-Star / Hot Springs (Onsen) / Public Bath / Late-Night Ramen
Hi everyone! Welcome back to Moni’s Travel Diary.
Last September, I went on a 5-day, 4-night getaway focused entirely on exploring Kyoto!
And I'm so excited to share what was hands down the **absolute highlight of my Kyoto trip**—
this incredible ryokan-style hotel.
Seriously, being able to enjoy **private outdoor hot spring baths at this price point** is a game-changer!💛
I fell in love with this place so much that I spontaneously extended my stay
and ended up spending two wonderful nights here.
Since I spent two whole nights here,
I’m going to give you a super detailed review of
the rooms, the private baths, and all the amazing amenities!
📌 Table of Contents 01. Hotel Overview 02. Room Review 03. Amenities & Services 04. Final Thoughts ✔️ Stay Date: September 2025 ⓒ 2026. uow_diary All rights reserved Unauthorized modification, commercial use, or reproduction of this content is strictly prohibited. |
01. Hotel Overview
🏩 Kyoto Umekoji Kadensho
🏩 Kyoto Umekoji Kadensho
Kadensho is operated by the resort division of Dormy Inn,
one of Japan's most famous hospitality groups.
(Which means their booking system and guest services are incredibly streamlined!)
The exterior instantly gives off major traditional ryokan vibes!
It was actually much larger than I expected,
and since it's a newer build, it was absolutely spotless. Talk about a great first impression!🤭
A Modern Ryokan Hotel
Combining traditional charm with contemporary Western comfort,
Kadensho is a ryokan-style hotel designed for everyone to enjoy with ease.
They have two branches in Kyoto: Arashiyama and Umekoji.
The Kyoto Umekoji branch
is a modern property built in 2022.
Because of this, it feels incredibly fresh, clean, and beautifully maintained!
📍 Location
- 41-10 Sujakuuchihatacho,
Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8843 Japan
- Less than a 5-minute walk from Umekoji-Kyotonishi Station
It's just 10 minutes from Kyoto Station,
literally only one stop away!
Even though it's not right in the heart of Kyoto Station
or Kawaramachi (the main tourist hubs),
being just one stop away with the station right at the hotel's doorstep
meant I didn't find the location inconvenient at all.
Since it's so close to the station, it would be a fantastic place
to bring parents who love hot springs.
Just a quick heads-up: it's not a major tourist strip,
so dining options in the immediate area are limited.
I'd highly recommend grabbing dinner before heading back to the hotel!
📌 Pricing & Value
When choosing a place to stay,
the most important factor is always the price!
Ryokan-style hotels are typically on the pricier side,
and properties with private rentable baths often come with a hefty price tag.
But here, rates start in the ~$128 range,
making it excellent value for money!
(I actually booked it in the ~$64 to ~$127 range during the off-season last year!)
Check Lowest Rates for Jan '26 * Hotel rates fluctuate in real-time, so lock in a low price when you see it! | ||
Agoda | ~$146~ | |
Trip.com | ~$128~ | |
Klook | ~$126~ |
(Just a heads up!)
I booked one night on Trip.com just 3 days before my trip,
and ended up urgently adding another night on the very day of our arrival.
September (Off-peak) / Twin Room / 2 Nights / 2 People: Total ~$243
Peak seasons are cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons.
(Kyoto charges a local accommodation tax)
We had to pay the accommodation tax and hot spring tax directly at the property.
✔️We paid an extra 700 yen per night for 2 people.
📌 Check-in • Check-out
Check-in | From 3:00 PM
Check-out | Until 11:00 AM
There are plenty of staff members always on hand.
And yes, luggage storage is available!
Since it's a ryokan, you take off your shoes at the entrance.
Sometimes these shoe-free places can have a bit of a... smell,
but thankfully, there was absolutely no feet-odor issue here! (haha)
(A huge relief!)
02 Room Review & Stay Experience
4-Person Room & Standard Twin Room
📍 4-Person Room (Quad)
On our first night, they kindly upgraded our room,
so we got to stay in a spacious 4-person room!
It had a separate bedroom (with 2 beds),
a separate living room area in front of the beds to lounge in,
and as a train enthusiast, I absolutely loved the unique train track view from the window!
If you're traveling as a family, I highly recommend this room! 👍🏻
📍 Toilet / Bathroom
The toilet and shower room are separate,
and since the place only opened in 2022, everything was sparkling clean!
There's no bathtub in the room's bathroom,
but hey, they have public baths and private baths onsite anyway... 😋
(Maybe because everyone goes to the public bath,
the room shower is barely used and stays even cleaner! haha)
📍 Twin Room (2-Person)
The room we booked in a rush for our second night
(It was fully booked, so I kept refreshing
the booking site until I miraculously snagged one! 😭🙌)
The twin room wasn't as spacious
as some other Japanese hotel rooms,
but it was clean, cozy, and had that perfect blend
of modern comfort with a traditional ryokan vibe.
📍 Custom Pillow Bar / On Every Floor
They have 5 different types of pillows available on each floor,
so you can pick the perfect pillow to suit your sleeping style!
By the way, standard pillows are already provided in the room,
so you don't absolutely have to grab one.
But these custom pillows run out faster than the yukatas,
so if you're curious, grab yours as soon as you check in!
They're available on every floor.
📍 Massage Chairs / On Every Floor
There's a massage chair area on every guest room floor,
so make sure to try it out! (And yes, it's completely free!)
During my two-day stay, I rarely saw anyone using them,
or even coming by to check them out!
So, thanks to that, I treated myself to a massage every morning and evening 👍🏻👍🏻
03. Amenities • Services
Private Baths / Public Bath / Soba / Yukata
📌 Private Onsen Baths / 1st Floor
The absolute highlight of this hotel has to be the private onsen baths!!
Your own private hot spring experience ♨️ (Located on the 1st floor)
You can freely use any of the 5 different baths.
Baths #2 and #3 are the most popular because they use natural hot spring water,
and you can check if they are available by looking at the status lights outside.
(If the light is ON, it's currently occupied)
If the bath you want is occupied,
simply wait on the chairs provided in front of the door until it opens up.
Please note that there are no separate shower facilities inside the private baths,
so you'll need to shower in the public bath or your own room before heading over.
📌 Private Bath #1
Micro-bubbles spray from the tub,
making this a ceramic open-air bath where you can enjoy a silky-smooth soak!
(The descriptions of the private baths are referenced from the hotel website)
Aside from the natural hot springs (#2 & #3),
this was the most popular bath.
(The tub looks quite small in the photo,
but it easily fits two people!)
📌 Private Bath #2 (⭐️ Natural Hot Spring)
A natural hot spring bath set against stunning rock formations.
Since this area isn't famous for hot springs, the water quality isn't "mind-blowing,"
but the sheer satisfaction of enjoying an open-air style hot spring in complete privacy was off the charts!
Going to an onsen alone can get boring pretty quickly,
but here, you can chat and have fun with your travel companions.
✅ This is the most popular one, so if you see it open, run, don't walk!
📌 Private Bath #3 (⭐️ Natural Hot Spring)
A natural hot spring bath where you can soak in what looks like a hinoki (cypress) wood tub!
I loved this one so much, I think I went back more than twice!
📌 Private Baths #4 & #5
Baths #4 and #5 looked almost identical!
There was almost no wait for these two,
so they were perfect for a long, leisurely soak.
According to the website, they seem to use different types of wood (just my guess),
and one of the rooms appears to be larger!
(Apparently, it can comfortably fit 3 to 4 people.)
Here's a quick look at all 5 private baths!
📌 Large Public Bath / 1st Floor
3:00 PM – 10:00 AM the next day
Along with the private baths, there is also a large public bath.
The public bath features a spacious outdoor bath, natural hot springs, and a sauna,
so make sure to experience those as well!
I skipped my room's shower entirely and used the public bath instead.
(It's right near the private baths, making it super convenient to use before or after your soak!)
📍 Complimentary Yukata Service for Guests
Since popular colors and sizes can run out,
I highly recommend picking yours out as soon as you check in!
When visiting a Japanese ryokan, dressing up in a yukata
and taking photos is half the fun!
I always make sure to wear one, and I absolutely love it haha.
📌 Free Drink Zone / 1st Floor
At the lobby's Free Drink Zone,
you can enjoy a variety of teas and drinks,
so feel free to help yourself!
The sweet matcha latte is absolutely delicious,
so if you're a fan, you must try it! 🍵
(I think I had it... about 5 times? 😝)
📍 Welcome Lounge
16:00~21:00
Dango served from 18:00 to 19:00
Located right opposite the entrance of the public bath on the 1st floor, the Welcome Lounge
is where you can enjoy drinks, alcohol, and dango (sweet rice dumplings).
Make sure to stop by for a drink if you have some time!
More than anything, the space itself was so beautiful... ✨🍵
Personally, the dango was...
not necessarily something you have to go out of your way to try...
📍 Free Space / 1st Floor
Yonaki Soba: 21:30~23:00
Ice Cream: 15:00~24:00
Yakult (Yogurt Drink): 06:00~10:00
The late-night ramen (soba) was much better than I expected,
so I finished the whole bowl two nights in a row!
It's the perfect treat before or after a soak in the hot spring 😚
As a side note, breakfast and dinner (Kaiseki) at the hotel
are available for an extra charge.
But since I was on a budget-friendly trip...
I didn't opt for them. 😭
(Reviews suggest the dinner has a better reputation than breakfast!)
Kyoto Umekoji Kadensho Overall Review ⭐ 5.0
Pros
➰ Incredible value—enjoy a ryokan-style hotel in the ~$130 range
(Especially considering how expensive accommodation usually is in Kyoto)
➰ Free use of private family baths (reservable baths)
➰ Great location, just a 5-minute walk to the nearest train station
➰ Excellent amenities and facilities
Cons
➰ Not located right next to Kyoto's main tourist attractions
(While it's only one stop away from Kyoto Station,
you can't walk to the major tourist sites)
➰ The standard twin rooms are on the smaller side
➰ It's not a super high-end luxury resort or ryokan
(It’s not one of those ultra-luxury places that cost ~$640 a night)
Recommended For
➰ Travelers looking for a budget-friendly ryokan-style hotel in Kyoto
➰ Travelers who want to enjoy hot springs in a private setting
➰ A great place to stay with couples, partners, or parents
✔️ Click here to view Umekoji Kadensho Hotel on Agoda
The absolutely wonderful ryokan-style hotel, Umekoji Kadensho 🏩💛
I visited during some incredibly hot weather,
so soaking in the hot springs was a bit of a sweaty challenge,
but visiting during the colder months like right now would be absolute heaven! ㅠㅠ✨
Next time, I'm planning to visit during the autumn foliage season
and bring my family along for another stay ~🍂🍁
Wishing you all a wonderful and safe trip to Kyoto! 👋🏻
Among the 5 private baths on the 1st floor, baths No. 2 and No. 3 use natural hot spring water. These two are the most popular, so we recommend using them right away if they are available.
You just need to travel one stop by train from Kyoto Station and get off at Umekoji-Kyotonishi Station. The hotel is conveniently located within a 5-minute walk from the station.
Yes, the Kyoto accommodation tax and hot spring tax must be paid additionally on-site. In the author's case, a total of 700 JPY was paid for two people per night.
The late-night Yonaki Soba is available every day from 21:30 to 23:00 in the 1st-floor free space. It is perfect for a light meal before or after enjoying the hot spring.
The private baths do not require separate reservations. You can simply check availability by the light at the entrance and enter freely. If the light is on, the bath is already in use, and you will need to wait on the chair in front of the door.
Make your 2026 Kyoto trip unforgettable with a kimono rental! Learn how to book, compare prices, and snag the most beautiful designs near Kiyomizu-dera.
Searching for a kid-friendly spot in Kyoto? Niku Shokudo offers generous portions of their famous King Kong Rice in a lively, authentic setting. Discover this local favorite!
Discover Hokuto Kyoto, an affordable sukiyaki lunch spot near Nishiki Market. Enjoy an authentic individual hot pot set for around ~$8, perfect for solo diners or groups.
Discover Malebranche, a Kyoto Takashimaya department store dessert shop where locals line up for exquisite cream sandwiches. Their classic fresh cream sando boasts a rich, clean milky flavor. Perfect for hotel treats, but popular items sell out fast in the evenings.
Discover Kyotogotengo, a must-try gyukatsu spot in Kyoto's vibrant Kawaramachi district. Perfect after exploring Nishiki Market, this restaurant offers incredible wagyu dishes!
Unwind at Sway Coffee Roastery, a serene spot discovered on the walk from Kiyomizu-dera to Yasaka Shrine. Enjoy a crisp espresso and charming Kyoto alley views from the second floor. Remember your card – it's cashless!