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 by providing a 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.

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 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.

This exclusive Wabunka itinerary includes one very special experience, in which you can partake in the unique Kyoto combination of fine dining and traditional entertainment within your own room at Hiiragiya. Savor the subtle flavors and aromas of Kyoto kaiseki cuisine while being entertained by the gorgeous dances of a geisha (geiko) or apprentice geisha (maiko). This tradition of geiko and maiko entertaining guests with dances, shamisen music, and songs in tatami-style rooms in Kyoto dates back at least 300 years, a tradition that you too can be a part of.

For dinner, you will enjoy a meticulously crafted Kyoto kaiseki meal that prioritizes seasonal ingredients for flavor and aesthetic beauty. 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 the overwhelming attention to detail and quality of this kaiseki dinner 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.

From seasonal flower arrangements to the bamboo blinds and screens of summer, a stay at Hiiragiya offers the chance to experience Japan’s deep cultural connections to nature and the four seasons.

The city of Kyoto itself has always been ever-changing, evolving as it incorporates new influences into its long legacy of art and culture. The staff at Hiiragiya want to help visitors embrace the unique traditions of their city, which is why they have worked tirelessly to promote the preservation and continuation of traditional arts like those practised by the geikogeisha and maiko.