In this video I take you with me to a “budget-friendly” ryokan experience just outside Kyoto—aka a traditional onsen inn tucked up in the mountains, surrounded by nature. Getting there was part of the adventure: I took a 50-minute bus from Kyoto (540 yen one way), and there’s also a shuttle option, but it’s still about a 15-minute walk if you don’t time it right. I was honestly running on like three hours of sleep (matcha + me = a problem), so this whole trip was meant to be a little detox from the world. I give you a mini ryokan tour, show what the communal onsen facilities are like, and walk through the self-service vibe—making my own futon bed, wearing the yukata, and following their helpful instructions (which were kind of interesting in different languages). Dinner was miso nabe hot pot, and it was so filling I skipped the onsen that night and just leaned into the cozy, calm energy. At the end I share my honest review: one night with meals included was $166 USD, which was one of the cheaper options I found booking about three weeks out (Japan books up fast). The building is older and the walls are thin, but it felt homey, traditional, and genuinely tranquil—very different from a more luxurious hot spring resort experience.