[2 Nights] Kyoto Culture and Sensibility with a Bespoke Assisted Stay at Ōhara-juku

A Premier Kyoto Sightseeing District Near Nijo Castle and the Imperial Palace

Nijo Castle is a prominent World Heritage Site closely associated with Tokugawa Ieyasu, the shogun who unified and ruled Japan in the early 1600s. On the nearby Nijo-dori, a street which runs from the castle, sits the Ōhara-juku villa – in an area which historically flourished under Tokugawa rule as a traditional medicinal business district officially sanctioned by the Edo Shogunate. At its peak, more than 100 medicinal wholesalers lined the street. Today, many of the area’s temples, shrines, and shops still bear connections to traditional medicine. Also within walking distance is the Kyoto Imperial Palace, the main residence of the Emperor for roughly five centuries. Despite being a central tourist draw in Kyoto, the area retains a serene charm and remains home to numerous private residences.

If you wish, enjoy a stroll of the area – within walking distance of Nijo Castle and the Kyoto Imperial Palace – with Kunihisa Ohara

The current site of Ōhara-juku was once a small clinic that served the medical needs of the community, operated by the grandfather of current owner Kunihisa Ohara – who lived there as well. Its interior still preserves the elegant charm of its early 1900s origins, with Kunihisa ensuring that the space continues to be infused with an authentic blend of the aspirational Western modernity popular in Japan at the time and the traditional sensibilities of serenity handed down from ages prior. It is truly a place of magnificence.

A Uniquely Fulfilling Experience

Kunihisa is a Kyoto-based experience designer also active in Tokyo and Paris, who arranges bespoke itineraries rooted in region. A student of literature, philosophy, and culture in France during his university days, he considers his current activities an extension of that same research. Since he launched Ōhara-juku in 2018, the lodging has been beloved by high-end travelers from across Japan and beyond as one of Kyoto’s hidden gems.

The second-floor bedroom ceiling has been removed to create a sense of open dimensionality through the exposed beams

Kunihisa was inspired by the influential Japonism movement that held sway in the European art world during the late 1800’s. “I want this to be a place where the depths of modern Japan’s aesthetic values and sensibilities can be unearthed and shared. I want to take visitors beyond surface-level tourism, and connect them with the locale through old and new. I also want to give people a chance for spiritual fulfillment by quieting the endless noise and information glut of modern life.” It is these kinds of sentiments that have connected so strongly with Kunihisa’s guests.

The quiet courtyard where guests can sense the shifting of the seasons

Ōhara-juku retains its Art Deco styling from a century in the past. The first floor is home to a Western-style room furnished with antiques, a traditional tatami area, a counter kitchen, and a small garden. The second floor offers a sitting room complete with tokonoma alcove and a bedroom. Many of the furnishings and fittings survive from the original family home. An Emile Gallé vase, Old Baccarat glassware, traditional Japanese antiques, and other items from different eras and cultures all find a place together in the home’s seamlessly eclectic taste.

The original floors, fixtures, and ceilings fuse with 1960s modern art and present day audio equipment

A Kitchen of Renown in Kyoto, Weaving Tradition and Innovation into Cuisine Nonpareil

Ōhara-juku’s dining only elevates the experience. Its signature Kyoto Breakfast is exclusively available to staying guests, fusing Japanese and Western cuisine with meticulous balance by Kunihisa, drawing on his extensive international background. Its menu also features items from Sen, a Japanese restaurant awarded one star by the Michelin Guide Kyoto/Osaka.

The Kyoto Breakfast available exclusively to staying guests: New Japanese cuisine made with gluten- and additive-free ingredients like rice flour waffles, soy milk yogurt, kudzu somen noodles, and mochi

Ōhara-juku’s menu features a range of balanced healthy dishes, incorporating seasonal local ingredients centered on rice and beans. Guests enjoy an uncommonly leisurely degree of freedom to savor it at their own pace as a brunch.

Kunihisa offers commentary on the fascinating stories behind each piece of tableware and cutlery.
*Your concierge may be Kunihisa, or in some cases a different dedicated staff member

Local Gastronomy with New Sensibilities

Kunihisa or another dedicated concierge au fait with the area will provide guidance on the neighborhood’s gastronomy offerings to suit the guest's preferences, mood, and desired atmosphere. If you wish, avail yourself of priority reservations at Sen, or alternatively the nearby avant-garde French restaurant Moko, run by a chef from Versailles.

Kunihisa has a close relationship with the restaurant owner, who honed his skills at some of Japan's most sought-after restaurants

The restaurant Sen also offers an exclusive menu for Ōhara-Juku guests of fare the restaurant calls New Japanese Wellness Cuisine. Seasonal ingredients like goji berries, mushrooms, and soft-shelled turtle combine for hearty, mouthwatering, and nutritious Japanese cuisine with creative twists.

Moko offers a special opportunity to visit a farm with the chef. Enjoy a dinner plan where the very ingredients you got from the farm during the day’s visit are transformed into creative dishes for your delight in the restaurant kitchen.

Moko was awarded one star in the Michelin Guide Kyoto/Osaka

Other options include a bespoke sushi chef dinner prepared on site at your lodgings for you, or going beyond the city for lunch at an acclaimed restaurant deep in the mountains – or even to a neighboring prefecture. In addition to Sen and Moko, options include restaurants featured in the Michelin Guide and hidden gems usually closed to tourists and other first-time visitors. Ōhara-juku’s concierge gladly makes whatever arrangements you need.

A Bevy of Optional Cultural Experiences to Transport and Inspire

Ōhara-juku also connects you to a wide range of cultural experience options to enrich your stay (additional charges apply). A particular must-do is the special program at Jojuji Temple, with its 12-century history. This is the family temple of the Hamuro family closely tied to the aristocratic House of Fujiwara that held political sway during the Heian period (794-1185), usually closed to the public. Experience Japanese traditional culture on a profound level in this special space.

Soak up the seasons in this private garden, letting the elegant and inexorable flow of time carry you away

Some other experiences offered to Ōhara-juku’s guests are described below.

The World's Smallest Origami by an Embroidery Artist Previously Based in Paris

With the backdrop of Jojuji’s beautiful gardens, take a lesson in the world’s smallest origami art under instructor Miyuki Gignoux. Gignoux is an artisan with a background in Paris haute couture craft embroidery. Though traditional origami works with 15cm squares, Gignoux’s finished works are microcosms under 5mm. Work with translucent washi paper made of sulfuric acid, as used in tea ceremony, cut into 5cm square, to create three-dimensional cranes, butterflies, and flowers.

Miyuki Gignoux deftly folds stunning artwork smaller than her pinky nail

Waterfalls of Sunlight, Rustling Wind, and the Breath of Plant Life in Nihonga Painting

Experience the spirituality of Nihonga painting under instructor Hisa Miwo, who studied the art here in Kyoto and currently works at the forefront of its world. Immerse yourself in garden greenery, observing its light and shadow, and bring the scene to life as you see it. Beauty is born from natural mineral pigments carried on Nihonga brushes one stroke at a time. "The process of mixing paints and calling new hues to life is a process of self-discovery," says Hisa.

Nihonga techniques have the fascinating power to produce unimaginably delicate hues from the special glossy paints

Soothe the Soul with the Sacred Sounds of the Shakuhachi

The shakuhachi flute emanates mysterious tones and its own uncannily distinct sense of world. Once a ritual instrument of Buddhism, the instrument continues to convey a sense of sacred ethereality. Learn its charms and ways in a special lesson from Mamino Yorita, an up-and-coming shakuhachi flautist. Enjoy a close experience of a sound that reverberates through you, body and soul. The shakuhachi is said to take six months of practice to produce even a single note, and you are sure to be astounded by the skill and dedication of its masters in this experience.

When Yorita begins to play, the garden birds begin to sing, the breeze begins to blow, and the notes of the shakuhachi become one of nature’s notes

Other plans not described in detail above include a tea plantation terroir experience and an art and antiques stroll. Every plan can be flexibly customized to suit your interests and purposes.

The Unparalleled History and Culture of Kyoto and its Continuing Community

Ōhara-juku is bursting with deep knowledge of and appreciation for the history and culture of Kyoto, the origins of the city’s life and character, and the value of ​​human connections. Delight in a one-of-a-kind stay experience that draws you into profound traditions beyond even the ken of most locals today. Rub shoulders with fascinating individuals and hear their stories, finding inspiration and enrichment in every moment. From your stay and meals at the lodging to the paths it opens up to you beyond its walls, enjoy the soothing hospitality of Ōhara-juku, which spares nothing to create unforgettable travel experiences for its guests.

Kunihisa delivers travel experiences rooted in authentic culture, attracting a wide range of unique individuals sharing in his passion