Back in 2004 two nights in a traditional japanese inn, a ryokan got cancelled at the last moment.
Six years later the reservation of a room in one proved trickier than that of a conventional hotel, but succeeded on a fourth try.
Spent two nights at Ishicho, a rather large and modernized ryokan.
The inn was located some fifteen minutes from the Kyoto railway station, and easily reached with a cab.
The room was large and basic. Tatami mats covered the floor, and the only pieces of furniture were a low table and a small shelf for the television. The inn personnel took care of setting up and removing the futon beds at appropriate hours.
Apart from a wireless connection, the comforts of modern japanese hotels were all there. In a luxuriously different package.