Kyoto Machiya Ryokan Cinq

Little to No English speaking staff.

It was a great location, and probably the biggest bed we had during our trip. We had a great dinner there, and the staff was very nice and accommodating.

This is the second time I've stayed at this Ryokan - it's tiny, but as with so many things in Japan, it's super-clean and well-looked after. You can come and go as you please - you simply get a code for the front door and for your room. The ensuite bathroom is modern and the shower pressure is great. Location - perfect, I could walk everywhere or take the bus to the Golden Temple and other further away sites from a bus-stop that was barely 10 minutes walk away. The little restaurant/bar downstairs is a nice place to have a night-cap. The person at the desk who checked me in was kind enough to carry my (heavy) suitcase up the stairs to my room. Note - this is a Ryokan and in this case there is no daily housekeeping service. There are plenty of towels, so if it's a short stay of a few days, this is not a problem.

The round mats in the bedroom and bathroom - everything is nice and clean, except for these. On both occasions I've been there, I've rolled them up against the wall. The music from the bar downstairs can be heard in the bedrooms but this does not go on for much longer than 21:30-ish.