The Sanjo district of Kyoto is a lively neighborhood in the heart of the city, just a short walk from the many local shops and culinary delights of historic Nishiki Market. Given this prime location, Sanjo has a long history of accommodating travelers who seek to explore the historic and cultural wonders of the Thousand-Year Capital. Amidst traditional houses dating back to the Edo Period (1603-1868) and Western-influenced buildings constructed in the Meiji Period (1868-1912) stands Sumiya Ryokan, considered one of Kyoto’s finest and most atmospheric ryokan inns.

From the moment you step through the entrance of Sumiya Ryokan, moving behind its outer walls and bamboo curtains, you will find yourself in another world—a realm of tradition, peace and tranquility. Founded well over a hundred years ago to provide lodging for those who wished to practice the tea ceremony, Sumiya Ryokan is one of the finest remaining examples in Kyoto of traditional sukiya-zukuri architecture, a style characterized by tea house aesthetics and the abundant use of wood in construction.

Throughout its existence as a residence and then a haven for travelers to Kyoto, Sumiya Ryokan has undergone several renovations and refittings so that guests can enjoy their stay in comfort. At the same time, great care has been taken to ensure that the traditional character of the ryokan is preserved. For example, while rooms still possess sliding doors, tokonoma alcoves, and tatami mats, beds are now provided instead of futon bedding on the floor.

Eschewing anything ornate, garish, or cluttered, the refined aesthetic at Sumiya Ryokan emphasizes the beauty of understatement and the sophistication of simplicity. As is tradition with sukiya-zukuri architecture, wood is abundant within the guest rooms, adding its calming presence to an already tranquil atmosphere.

Long ago, prior to its establishment as a ryokan, Sumiya Ryokan once housed a blacksmith who crafted and sold a range of metal items both decorative and practical. Subtle hints of the building’s intriguing past remain in its decorative metal door pulls and nail covers.

Despite its timeless aesthetic and long history, Sumiya Ryokan is no museum piece. It is very much a living, working ryokan, owing its continued existence to a family who has breathed life into it for three generations. Third-generation proprietress (okami) Hiroko Horibe and her successor-to-be (waka-okami) Yumi carry this legacy forward, welcoming new guests into the ryokan with warmth and grace.

The proprietress Hiroko possesses a wealth of knowledge about the history of Sumiya Ryokan. She will be happy to show you around the building as she recounts fascinating stories about the ryokan passed down to her from her predecessors or from her own time as proprietress. After this brief tour, you will join both okami and waka-okami in Sumiya Ryokan’s Gyokutoan tearoom for a private tea service.

For your meaning meal at Sumiya Ryokan, there is no need to leave the comfort of your guest room. In the true spirit of Kyoto hospitality, breakfast will be brought to you and served in a sumptuous array of dishes that includes grilled fish, local seasonal vegetables, pickled tsukemono, and rice. This traditional Kyoto-style breakfast is informed by Japanese tea culture, which emphasizes balance and finesse in preparation, with each dish at just the right temperature whether served cold or hot.

“Mottainai” is a universal Japanese expression that is sometimes translated into English as “waste not, want not.” And yet this expression delves deeper into the heart of Japanese culture and philosophy, with the idea that to throw away something precious, even if broken, should be a source of deep regret. In this exclusive Wabunka experience, you will visit Shikata Urushi, a historic lacquerware shop in Kyoto, to learn the Japanese technique of kintsugi, which not only repairs broken ceramics but celebrates their cracks and imperfections as integral and unique.

Shikata Urushi has been producing lacquer-coated products in Kyoto for over 150 years, using the natural lacquer known as urushi, which is derived from the sap of the urushi tree. Urushi is also what the artisans at Shikata Urushi use to restore ceramics with kintsugi techniques, mixing the lacquer with powdered brass, tin, gold or silver. Under the guidance of a master artisan, you will learn two different kintsugi techniques: hibi, which involves painting over small cracks and fissures, and ware, in which fragments are rejoined using a special resin.

As for which piece of pottery to repair, the choice is yours. Each piece is unique, so feel free to pick up each in your hands and examine them closely to find one that speaks to you. As a special Wabunka exclusive offer, you can opt to upgrade your ceramics to Kyoto’s own renowned stle of pottery, Kiyomizu ware (additional fees apply). You may also choose gold or silver powder instead of the standard tin or brass (additional fees apply) for your urushi.

Learning the delicate techniques of kintsugi at a historic Kyoto urushi lacquer workshop provides far more than a simple afternoon of arts and crafts. It is a unique opportunity to view the world from a fresh perspective, to appreciate the value of variety and imperfection, to rethink the idea of beauty itself—and in the end, to carry home something tangible and precious from Kyoto that you yourself created.

Kyoto is home to some of the finest ryokan inns in Japan, offering a true taste of authentic Japanese hospitality, and each ryokan has its own set of unique stories. During your stay at Sumiya Ryokan, including a private tea service and traditional Kyoto-style breakfast, you may hear a few of those stories from the proprietress and perhaps even write one of your own.