Founded in 1818, Hiiragiya has long been one of Kyoto’s most revered traditional ryokan inns, offering a warm welcome to guests for over two centuries to provide the feeling of rai-sha-nyo-ki (“as if returning home”). For over two centuries, this spirit of hospitality has captivated guests from around the world, including renowned film actors as well as some of Japan’s most significant political and cultural figures.

Hiiragiya is located within the Sanjo district, which began to develop some time around the 8th century when Kyoto first became the capital city of Japan. In the many centuries since, Sanjo has flourished as one of Kyoto’s most important centers of culture and commerce as the city has continued to evolve. Sanjo is a bustling district characterized by a unique blend of 400-year-old machiya townhouses, 100-year-old early modern structures, and recently built commercial facilities. Past the gates of Hiiragiya, however, the clamor of the outside world falls away into a private world of peaceful tranquility.

After checking into Hiiragiya, you will travel by car to the picturesque Arashiyama district, renowned as a place of natural beauty that has inspired poets and artists for generations. It therefore seems fitting to find Atelier Shimura in Arashiyama, given the focus of the enterprise on using natural plant-based dyes to breathe life into its colorful creations. Guests are not normally given access to this atelier, but in this exclusive Wabunka experience, you will have the chance to explore its world of woven wonders.

The founder of Atelier Shimura, Shoji Shimura, was inspired by the world of fine Japanese fabrics through a family legacy. His grandmother, Fukumi Shimura, is one of Japan’s most renowned textile artists, known in particular for creating beautiful kimonos from threads dyed with colors derived from a wide variety of seasonal plants. With his mother Yoko also pursuing this vocation, Shoji launched Atelier Shimura in 2016 as a continuation of his family legacy.

For your hands-on experience at Atelier Shimura, you will be given the choice of either a handkerchief or a shawl as the object of your artistic endeavors. The plants used will vary depending on the time of year, with plums and cherries in spring, indigo in summer, acorn in autumn, and gardenia in winter just a few of the sources used to transform fabric into a vivid piece of art. The material is dipped in heated dye, then dried by sun and wind—with the process repeated until the color penetrates the fabric.

After working with the fabric, you will then have the chance to view the facility's indigo dyeing apparatus. This will be followed by relaxing a cup of blended tea with your host. As well as discussing the various processes and products of Atelier Shimura as well its overall philosophy, you can visit a special room to view some of Fukumi Shimura’s most beautiful and renowned textile art, which often includes stunning kimonos (please be aware that exhibits are subject to change). The same space displays a collection of folk art that dates back to her own mother’s generation.

As you bid farewell, you will be handed your own creation from the experience to take home, a graceful reminder of your time at Atelier Shimura in Arashiyama.

With more than two centuries of history, Hiiragiya contains myriad influences from different eras in Japanese history spanning the vast societal and cultural changes of the 1800s and 1900s. Many of the furnishings and antique items in the ryokan are masterpieces of craftsmanship that could be as easily at home in a museum or art gallery. Through preserving these treasures, Hiiragiya cherishes the traditional Japanese way of life, particularly through a close connection with nature.

Throughout the ryokan, you will find that each piece of furniture or decor has its own story, sparking your imagination to whisk you away from modern life into the enticing mysteries of the past. Every guest room offers views of the elegant inner garden and seasonal flower arrangements provide the perfect accoutrements to your room’s interior.

Guest rooms at Hiiragiya retain the essence of a bygone time in Japan, hearkening back to the elegance of the 1800s and 1900s. The traditional sukiya-style architecture imbues the ryokan with soft lighting and a sense of peace and tranquility. You can relax in your room as you experience the timeless tale it tells through its unique furnishings and the distinctive paintings on its sliding doors.

Of course, the essence of a ryokan is truly found within the people who work there. The culture of ryokan hospitality has been particularly cherished in Kyoto and passed down through the generations. Unlike conventional hotels, ryokans are known for providing more personalized service, with room attendants and even the proprietress herself doing everything they can to be attentive to the needs of each guest. At Hiiragiya, this tradition is upheld by the current sixth-generation proprietress Akemi Nishimura and her successor Mai Nishimura.

“Some people describe what we do here as something special or unique,” says Akemi Nishimura. “But this type of hospitality was something that was normal in Japan throughout history—just the way things were done. It comes purely from a genuine desire to help and to interact with people as individuals.”

This focus on harmonious unobtrusive service involves reading the moods and thoughts of guests from their faces and gestures. Author and Nobel laureate Yasunari Kawabata was so impressed by the service at Hiiragiya that he once chose to write on it. Beyond being a well-established historic ryokan in Kyoto, it is the people at Hiiragiya who have led to its reputation for providing such a comfortable and welcoming stay.

One of the great pleasures while staying at Hiiragiya is the opportunity to experience Kyoto’s refined kaiseki cuisine. Usually served as a multi-course meal consisting of an array of small seasonal dishes, kaiseki cuisine is said to have originated in Kyoto based on cha-kaiseki, a simple meal served before matcha at a formal tea gathering. Ryokans in Kyoto are renowned for their ongoing dedication to quality kaiseki cuisine featuring local seasonal ingredients, which you can savor in true style at Hiiragiya.

Dinner will be served to you in the privacy and comfort of your guest room. As the dishes arrive in front of you, take a moment to look at the food in front of you. Kyoto kaiseki cuisine is meticulously crafted to ensure a balance of flavors, textures, and colors, as well as a range of different preparation techniques. The meal will be served on dishes with shapes and colors that complement the ingredients, creating a visual presentation akin to a work of art. Experiencing this kind of overwhelming attention to detail will give you one more reason to fall in love with Hiiragiya.

Begin your morning the next day with a hearty breakfast. Guests can choose either a Japanese-style or Western-style American breakfast, though we recommend trying the Japanese-style meal with its well-balanced dishes of charcoal-warmed tofu, grilled fish, homemade pickles and rice prepared in a clay pot.

A private family bath is also available at Hiiragiya from 3:00 PM after you check in until 9:00 AM the following morning, so you can enjoy a relaxing morning bath before you check out. Reservations are required.

Through your visit to Atelier Shimura and your textile dyeing experience while there, you will leave not only with a precious keepsake that you created but with a renewed appreciation of family traditions in Kyoto. As with so many Japanese traditional arts, the techniques of dyeing fine textiles, such as those used in kimono making, were historically passed down from generation to generation. Passing on this cultural legacy, and that of his mother and grandmother, is what Shoji Shimura is working to achieve.

Staying at Hiiragiya offers you the unique opportunity to experience an authentic Kyoto ryokan with its own strong family traditions. It is a special place alive with joy and warmth due to the ongoing efforts of its sixth-generation proprietress Akemi Nishimura, her successor Mai Nishimura, and their staff. From seasonal flower arrangements to the bamboo blinds and screens of summer to timeless kaiseki cuisine, no effort is spared to provide guests with unforgettable memories of authentic Kyoto hospitality.