Vegan Minshuku Sanbiki Neko

My girlfriend and I stayed here for 5 nights on our trip to Japan and loved it! We’re vegetarians and knew it would be difficult to find vegetarian/vegan options on our trip, so staying somewhere where we got to have delicious, filling, homemade vegan food every morning was absolutely priceless. Craig and Helen were amazing hosts, the cats were very sweet, and the house was beautiful. The location is in a quiet neighborhood and required some walking to nearby stations or bus stops, which can be a little inconvenient at times, but it was great to experience a real neighborhood in Kyoto. We would absolutely recommend!

My wife and I loved our 4 night stay! We had a total of 16 nights in Japan and can easily say that this was our favorite hotel.
The rooms are clean and cozy and have great AC. We had great sleep and this had a lot to do with the pilows.
Very comfy!Craig and Helen were excellent hosts.
Not only did they provide a delectable breakfast but they also knew all the amazing vegan eateries around the city, so do take their recommendations.
We cannot give their breakfast enough praise!
Some days we had an early start and missed the breakfast time but they were kind enough to put it in a bento box for us to enjoy later.
We will definitely be back on our next trip. We think anyone would enjoy this place but if you are vegan it is a MUST!

Vegan Minshuku Sanbeki Neko was the best hotel we ever stayed at! On the first night my husband left his wallet in a cab and they went out of their way to help coordinate with Rachel(owner of another local hotel Imakumano Terrace who helped us translate) and the police. We got the wallet back the very next day! The breakfasts are filling, flavorful, and come with amazing presentation. The rooms are beautiful and traditional, but with all the modern amenities you'd expect from a Japanese hotel such as a wonderful bathtub and toilet with bidet functions. The neighborhood is quiet and serene...your walks back to your room at night will feel like something out of a drama! Best of all, it's conveniently located. You can easily get to Fushimi Inari or Gion. All in all, we'd stay again in a heartbeat and highly recommend to all who want to see Kyoto!

Craig & Helen Addams deserve 10 stars for their stellar b&b Vegan Minshuku Sanbiki Neko, greatly enjoyed on my 10-day stay for autumn leaf-color season. Splendid hosts, they exude cheerful good humor, kindness, generosity, and expertise on Kyoto, Japan, and other topics. And with their charming Aussie English, language is no barrier, unlike at many lodgings in Japan.

Exemplars of Buddha’s teachings on right livelihood, they’ve created a real home away from home for travelers yearning for a more ethical-/eco-friendly place. Most graciously, the Addams offer their five upstairs private rooms at much lower prices than anywhere in Kyoto for such high quality. It’s a blend of traditional Japanese ryokan with a modern Japanese hotel’s amenities: attractive rooms with futon, pillow, and bedding for either cold or hot season, a low bamboo swivel chair, tatami mats (6 or 8 mats, depending on room-size), a Zen-styled tokonoma alcove, and shoji screens for a small balcony (behind sliding glass doors & bug-proof screen). For this solo traveler, it felt very spacious.

You also have: 1) en suite bathroom with deep tub-shower (a private onsen!), bidet-equipped toilet (heated seat in cold season), and vegan foam-soap, shampoo & conditioner; 2) amply shelved cabinet-closet to hide luggage & stuff for a tidy Zen room; 3) remote-controlled AC/heater, 4 electric outlets, 3 lights (main one has 3 brightness levels). Downstairs the dining area is also a tea room/ mini-library/ entertainment space. Next to the stairwell is a cozy cushioned nook with window. A clothes-washer is available. Everything in the rooms and common areas feels very new, pristine and immaculate.

Craig’s rotating, several-item breakfasts, served 8-9 AM daily, are (as reviewers proclaim) really delicious and nutritious for extensive sightseeing, like my daily 10 hours walking, hiking and taking photos at many Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, and scenic gardens near and far. On the 3 days I left much earlier than 8 AM, Craig made Bento-box versions, and, for nominal charge, let me lunch on his massive falafel wraps filled with veggies & spices (and, toward the end of my visit, his tasty mushroom-walnut pastry rolls, only occasionally offered since the Addams retired their pandemic-era take-out food segment). They know many vegan or veg-friendly eateries around Kyoto, like Rika’s new vegan café Ku-Kai, just 0.4 mile away.

For most persons, wonderful sacred & cultural sites are within easy walking distance (too many to name here with Google word-limit). A few posters wish the B&B, located on a narrow lane in a quiet residential area, was closer to public transport. The solution: a free Uber account efficiently summons MK taxis (Japan’s most reliable taxi firm) to a spot in front of non-vegan Suigetsu noodle shop and red Coca-Cola vending machine a 1-minute walk west (90 meters) down the lane. For 500–1,000 yen ($3.40 - $6.80 USD at current rates), and you already save so much more by staying here at Vegan Minshuku, you can quickly taxi to dozens of regional Higashiyama attractions or transport hubs—the latter include a bus-stop downhill at Imakumano shrine on Higashioji street, or Tofukuji Station for JR and Keihan train lines, or a bit further, bustling Kyoto Station (9-12 minute ride, ~1400 yen). To beat the crowds over at Kyoto’s Arashiyama, an Uber taxi met me pre-dawn at 6:20 and got me to Togetsukyo bridge in just 26 minutes for Y5,200/$35. For only Y1,640 I could taxi to Kyoto Station, hop a JR Sagano (San-in) train (Y240) and walk the last 10 minutes, but wanted to get there ASAP.

After long hours sightseeing, you can get an Uber taxi directly home from anywhere in Kyoto or, to save money, take easy public transport to a nearby hub like Keihan line’s Shichijo Station or earlier mentioned train or bus stations, then summon an Uber MK taxi for the remaining ride up to Vegan Minshuku. Uber has it in their GPS guidance system, so MK taxi drivers know all the routes to get you back to that spot just 90 meters away from the Addams’ lovely home-sweet-home for us.

I lived in Japan for four years in the past and this is the best hotel I've ever stayed at. I loved everything: my room (spacious and clean), their breakfast (different each day, filling, and yummy), the hosts' behavior and warmth, the convenient position. I was also able to do my remote work in the kitchen (absolutely lovely, super clean, and peaceful). The hosts even saved me a couple of times: they prepared a take-away meal for me when I didn't know where and how to get vegan food in the place I was going to visit. What else can I say? Excellent 100/100. I'll come back! :)

We've had a great stay at the vegan minshuku sanbiki neko. The food was gorgeous and the hosts Craig and Helen were kind and easy to talk to. Their furry boss Zoey was a real charmer.
We strongly recommend staying there if you get to visit Kyoto. We are definitely looking to return some day :^)

My wife and I really enjoyed our stay here at Vegan Minshuku Sanbiki Neko. For a vegan traveling to Kyoto, this is the perfect place. Owners Helen and Craig were excellent hosts and the included breakfasts were not only delicious and satisfying, but they cooked an entirely different meal every morning. They even made accommodations for my wife's gluten-free diet. It is a peaceful haven and being cat lovers, the bonus of 6 beautiful cats inside the hotel was very welcome. If/when we return to Kyoto, this will be our first choice. Kudos to Helen and Craig for a great idea and turning it into reality.
- Gloria & Daniel W. ~ Miami, FL USA

I could not recommend this place enough!

Hosted by the lovely Helen and Craig, this place feels like a warm hug when you’re away from home. I felt extremely welcomed, and thoroughly enjoyed the company of these two. The breakfast every morning was delicious (at times better than some of the restaurant options). The room was very clean, the added amenities were very useful, and the location takes you right into a cozy anime setup.

Every time I’m back in Kyoto, I will only be staying here :)

We recently spent 5 nights at this amazing vegan minshuku, the place itself is beautifully appointed in a lovely quiet street, while being close to public transport and interesting local attractions. Such stylish traditional rooms with oh so comfortable futons on tatami mats, plenty of room for luggage and split systems for comfortable sleeping. The breakfasts were outstanding with lots of Japanese influence, and so filling, such a great start to the busy days!
The hosts couldn’t have been more helpful and friendly, and so knowledgeable about everything Kyoto, including where to get the best vegan food on your travels.
An absolutely delightful find, couldn’t fault a single thing, we would highly recommend staying here to anyone…… you don’t have to be vegan 😉☺

A Japanese B&B, owned by the wonderful couple Craig and Helen. A newly built, but traditional place, with attention to detail, vegan food – and cats! We truly enjoyed the outstanding hospitality of Helen and Craig (they’re from Australia but fell in love with Japan and moved there about six years ago).

💤 The futons! So comfy. Best sleep I had in Japan.
🥟 The home cooked breakfast! So tasty!
🐈‍⬛ The cats! Especially the king, Zoe.

The only very minor flaw was that the location is in a residential area where not much is happening. To find some action you have to walk quite a bit to the station or go by bus.

However, the quiet surroundings can of course also be a plus, depending on your preference. It is really close to some excellent hiking!

We loved our stay nonetheless and would definitely recommend it, especially if you're a vegan or vegetarian. Yes, it is a bit pricey, but given the excellent attention to detail that the owners have paid, both in their house and the building materials and in the breakfast, well, then it isn't that expensive after all.

The communication from the hosts was great, we were able to check in early and we got a ride with Craig to the train station on the morning of our departure. Helen even got us some vegan cream to have with our strawberries. That is hospitality very close to perfection! (And the best hospitably by far that we encountered while staying in Japan for 25 days...)

The rooms were really nice. We would have like some reading lamps by the beds and perhaps yet another pillow to prop behind you while reading, but as we (sadly) only stayed two nights this was no big issue.

We loved our stay here. Absolutely love Craig and Helen. Food every morning and of course the Cats put the cherry on top. Great place to stay even if you’re not vegan!

If you are a vegan, vegetarian, or have similar dietary restrictions, I highly recommend staying at Vegan Minshuku Sanbiki Neko. The two owners are friendly and helpful. The room was quiet, spacious, and very comfortable with an AC/heater, and the bathroom has a tub/shower combo. The daily breakfasts are Japanese inspired recipes and are absolutely delicious and filling. I enjoyed hanging out with one of their cats. If you are a larger party or traveling with friends, there is a larger communal room for meals, reading, or games, with a mini-fridge, microwave, and hot water heater available for guest use. If you are a native English speaker, it's a welcome relief to be able to speak English and have your requests/needs easily understood.
In my opinion, the only drawback is the location: it's difficult for a taxi to find, and a ~30min walk from the closest train station (Kyoto station). However, honestly, the walk is refreshing because you'll end up walking a LOT in japan no matter what you do, and once you've traced the route once, it's pretty easy to navigate.
Overall, I highly enjoyed my time in Vegan Minshuku!

This place is AMAZING! Helen and Craig are wonderful hosts and go above and beyond to make your stay as easy and lovely as possible. Breakfast is delicious and is different every morning- on one of the days, Helen packed us a bento box for our delicious dumplings that Craig had hand made for breakfast that we did not finish! If you are vegan, please support this business as you will not be disappointed - we need places like this! The rooms are traditional and cosy, and the shower is amazing! They have super cute cats too that may come in and say good morning! The accommodation is a lovely short walk to the station. We loved the walk and being able to take in our surroundings. Thanks Helen and Craig!
The room was really cozy and comfortable. Really great location not far from the station.

A beautiful vegan bnb in Kyoto. Ideally located at about 20 min walk from Kyoto station and close to some of the major attractions.

I stayed here for a night, the hosts are incredible and friendly people. They let me park my bags before check in, gave really helpful tips during my stay, even packed the breakfast for me, which i missed during the regular hours.

Thank you so much for your hospitality, look forward to visiting again.

As a vegan cat lover, it was the perfect stay! Craig & Helen were very inviting & accommodating hosts. The location is in a less touristy area, which is perfect for getting a quiet night’s rest. It was a nice walk to & from the station, but you can always call a taxi/Uber if you don’t want to walk or have your luggage with you.
The breakfast was tasty & filling! Craig & Helen were kind enough to let me check in early & store my luggage for a bit after I checked out, and also helped with my bags & a ride to the train station! They also have lots of recommendations for places to see & vegan-friendly restaurants. (Engine Ramen was amazing!) Lovely hosts & lovely stay. Can’t recommend it enough, wish I could’ve stayed a few more nights!

I recently stayed for four days at Vegan Minshuku Sanbiki Neko and had a wonderful time! The business has bounced back after the covid-related hiatus and is as good as ever. My traditional Japanese bedroom was beautiful, with a very comfortable futon and an immaculate ensuite bathroom too. Helen and Craig are great hosts, very welcoming and providing expert advice on the highlights of Kyoto.

Amazing place to stay in Kyoto especially if you are vegan.

Rooms were very comfortable.

The breakfasts were a perfect start to the day. Craig and Helen were very helpful with suggesting places to go in and around Kyoto.

Craig and Helen were such amazing and attentive hosts! The breakfasts were some of the best food we had during our two week trip, the room was very comfortable, and the house was very cozy and beautiful. It's also in a nice quiet area, which was a plus for us.

The food there is absolutely incredible. We missed the first day's breakfast because we had to leave early, but then we wished we didn't. The host there is very friendly. One person in our group had a number of food allergies. The host did everything possible to accommodate that. Also we had to leave early on our last day. The host made sure to give us our breakfast in takeaway boxes. That was highly appreciated. In conclusion I highly recommended this place. Perhaps the only slightly negative thing about this place is its location. In terms of public transportation, the closest bus stop is 5-8 minutes away, but the good thing is that it's only 8-10 minutes away from Kyoto main station by Uber. Now, even if you use Uber, the last part is a tiny road, where it's hard for large cars to enter, so for all the Uber cars we ordered, we had to walk the last bit. Overall our experience was great! Thank you very much!

I cannot express in words how grateful I am for the hospitality, wonderful conversations, and delicious breakfasts during my stay at Vegan Minshuku Sanbiki Neko. I found this lovely place by pure chance and what attracted me was the care Helen and Craig (the owners) put into all that they do and how accepting they are of anyone that walks through their door. This BNB felt like home. What more can I say?