Hiiragiya

Japanese inn · Kyoto-shi

Hiiragiya

Japanese inn · Kyoto-shi

Japan, 〒604-8094 Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Nakahakusancho, 277

Highlights

Experience the charm of Kyoto at this historic ryokan, where elegant rooms, exquisite kaiseki cuisine, and warm hospitality create a cozy retreat.

Japan, 〒604-8094 Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Nakahakusancho, 277 Get directions

hiiragiya.co.jp

@hiiragiya_ryokan

$$$$

Reserve

@afar

"Established in 1818, this heritage Kyoto ryokan has been run like a sacred temple by six generations of the Nishimura family. Consider it a sanctuary where you can fully immerse yourself in the traditional Japanese inn experience—think low-slung lacquer tables, sliding fusuma doors, multi-course kaiseki meals, and pristine white shoji screens. Watch Japanese white-eye birds flit through the private camelia garden; bundle up in your yukata to dine in-room on abalone with miso egg yolk sauce and sea urchin chawanmushi (a savory egg custard) served on Kiyomizu ceramics; and drink a nightcap of sake before sinking into the freshly laid tatami mat in one of property’s 28 rooms." - Keith Flanagan, Sanjay Surana, Jennifer Flowers, Adam H. Graham

15 of The Best Hotels in Japan to Book Right Now - AFAR

View Postcard for Hiiragiya

@afar

"A historic property, Hiiragiya has hosted many a notable writer, artist, celebrity, and imperial family member since its opening in 1818. Operated by the same family for six generations, the ryokan is steeped in centuries-old tradition, etiquette, and service, with the aim of making guests feel at home during their stay. Rooms are spread across two buildings—the original with its classic style, and the newer, sleeker wing, where the color palette is a bit brighter and the windows and doors are more modern. Both feature updated amenities, however, including flat-screen TVs, minibars, and free Wi-Fi. Among the hotel’s other highlights are the kaiseki-style meals, during which kimono-clad guests enjoy course after beautiful course at low tables. Breakfasts and dinners are both included in your stay, and feature seasonal bites served in locally made lacquerware bowls and boxes."

The Best Hotels in Kyoto

View Postcard for Hiiragiya

@cntraveler

"Why did this hotel catch your attention? What's the vibe?Discovering this ancient ryokan is part of the fun. The namesake wild holly protruding from the eaves lends a certain natural element to the environment. Creaky floors, cypress tubs with hot steam water, and tatami mats heighten the senses at each turn. You feel incredibly special every minute you are here. What's the backstory?It's run by the sixth generation of the Nishimura family. Charlie Chaplin and Liz Taylor both stayed here in the past, as well as several famous Japanese writers and poets—and even the former emperor of Japan and his family. Tell us all about the accommodations. Any tips on what to book?I spent one night in the modern wing and one in the old wing, and both were comfortable. This is the place to hole up and read a book on a rainy night; Kyoto's temples can wait. Take in the solitude here to really get the essence of it. Drinking and dining—what are we looking at?Slip into your robe and hunker down on your tatami for an in-room kaiseki meal of simmered razor clams, billowy yuba dumplings, tender bamboo shoots, and sea urchin chawanmushi served on handmade Kiyomizu ceramics. The epic Japanese breakfast is a theatrical ode to the season arriving in gift-like bowls, boxes, and covered lacquerware dishes. The western breakfast is no B-side: perfect boiled eggs, strawberry preserves, and white sandwich bread—so fluffy you could use it for a pillow—comes with its own toaster. Meals are for guests only. And the service?It totally changed my understanding of hotel service. Extremely warm. Check-in was flawless and everything about my two-night stay was seamless. Extremely humble and caring staff went out of their way to help me with the simplest of tasks. What type of travelers will you find here?I didn't see or hear any other guests! That's part of the allure. It's deeply private, and cloister-like. What about the neighborhood? Does the hotel fit in, make itself part of the scene?It's on a quiet back street and just one street away from a main thoroughfare, but you would never know. It's so quiet, I could hear a white eye warbler tweeting in my private moss garden. This is an intimate Kyoto experience that the big chains cannot offer. Is there anything you'd change?No. Not one thing. Any other hotel features worth noting?In-room dining is a must. Bottom line: Worth it? Why?Yes. It will give you a sense of how deep Japanese service can go, which is extremely uplifting and hopeful. You feel very loved and respected after a stay here, which is impossible to monetize." - Adam H. Graham

Hiiragiya

View Postcard for Hiiragiya

Adam Beebeejaun

Google

Brilliant experience. We stayed in the room previously occupied by noble laureates and it was beautiful. The atmosphere was a slice of calming Japan, which feels a world away from all the bustling tourist areas around Kyoto. We had dinner served in our room, and it was a 9 course menu (all of which were delicious). We had the Japanese breakfast in the morning and did not need to eat again until dinner! The staff were attentive, friendly and so gracious. Thank you for making this an amazing experience!

dcStu

Google

Hiiragiya is a fantastic ryokan. Big pluses:|1. The building is gorgeous and really interesting. We were in the “new wing” and we were a bit worried it would feel less authentic, but the room was great and the entire building flows together naturally. We were on the 3rd floor but the room was built so we had a “garden” outside our windows. The entire place is like this and just exudes harmony.|2. Service was outstanding. Japan in general tends to excel on service but Hiiragiya stood out even with that expectation in mind. Our “room attendant” was just an incredible pleasure and went out of her way to make our stay enjoyable.|3. The food is amazing. Dinners and breakfasts were outstanding. You can have them either in your room or in the dining room and we chose a mix of these options. Note, there were only two possible dinners available during the 6 days we were there, so we’d recommend limiting yourself to two dinners there and eating out the other nights. We did only the Japanese breakfasts (they have Japanese or Western options) They were all amazing and we really had to limit ourselves to light lunches afterwards! We think they had 5 of those in a rotation.||If we find ourselves in Kyoto again, we’ll definitely return.

Andy Koh

Google

From the moment we arrived at this charming Ryokan, we were welcomed with heartfelt warmth and impeccable hospitality. Nestled in a peaceful setting, the atmosphere was tranquil and deeply traditional — the perfect place to relax and experience authentic Japan. The room was beautifully maintained with tatami flooring, shoji screens, and a lovely view of the garden. Every detail, from the yukata provided to the soothing scent of wood, made the stay feel special. The highlight was undoubtedly the kaiseki dinner — a beautifully prepared multi-course meal featuring seasonal ingredients and local flavors. Each dish was a work of art, both in taste and presentation.

Alexis Kwok

Google

My husband and I went on our honeymoon in Japan and had the pleasure to stay at multiple 5 star ryokans and hotels, but none came close to the level of Hiiragiya. The hospitality and care that we received was far above what we expected. Yuko-san was our attendant and she always cared for our enjoyment. She served our meals, ensured we were fed, and made certain we were never without tea or snacks. The staff were also very professional. They called taxis when we needed, gave us recommendations on where to visit and made solid dinner reservations at our behest. And when we went to our dinner reservation, we were treated as VIPs in private rooms just because of the connections Hiiragiya has in Kyoto. Even the simplest of things far exceeded our expectations such as remembering our room number or giving us umbrellas during raining episodes. The food and rooms were also very enjoyable. In particular, we loved the Japanese breakfast so much after the 1st day that we requested it every morning for our stay. We stayed in both the new and old wings of the ryokan so that we can fully enjoy the experience. Both rooms were great but I think we preferred the new room just because of the layout. We are delighted that this was our first stop in Japan as it gave us an unforgettable experience but also sad that it made all our other 5 star hotels seem lacking in comparison! We will definitely stay at Hiiragiya again on our return visits to Japan.

Reese Wilson

Google

This was the best experience during our Honeymoon! My wife and I were in Tokyo for a week before coming to Kyoto and staying at Hiiragiya. From the moment we got there, all of the staff was going above and beyond to make us feel comfortable and check us in. The owner met us and showed us around and told us some of the history of the inn which was really interesting to hear about. Everyone was so nice and spoke great english, including our room attendant. She was so kind to us and at one point my wife pointed out how cool the Sake cups were and she brought out a map and showed us where to find the best ceramicists in kyoto, and we ended up buying several. She made us feel like we didn't have to lift a finger and made sure we had everything we needed. The kaiseki dinner was so fun, we loved 80% of the courses, liked 10% and didn't care for 10%, but we were having so much fun during the experience as this was something we've never done. We used the larger bath downstairs and everything was nice and clean and we were so relaxed the whole time. We would definitely stop here again if we had the chance.

Anton P

Google

We throughly enjoyed our stay at Hiiragiya. We found it to be an immersive and enlightening experience of the custom and culture of old Japan. The staff are incredible in their hospitality and attention to detail. We felt very welcome and appreciated even as we at times fumbled and stumbled... Our hostess Haruna was an absolute joy - so kind and cheerful. The food was traditional, local and exceptional. Would highly recommend

Norwegian1975

Google

We had gotten a tip from friends thatvhad stayed here some years back. So when planning our Japan-holiday and stay in Kyoto we were happy spending our last Night here.||The building itself are amazing. The old history of the house and room were just wow. Also still loved all the modern amenities in the room such as Japanese toilet, chatgers etc. The small bathroom felt like a mini-spa and the futons prepared for sleeping gave us the best sleep.||We also had the set menu and japanese breakfast all prepared in the room. Quite the experience - will never regret - but it was sometimes challenging when it came to some of the dishes. But again; that’s all part of the experience.||We loved the stay and the people working there was over the top superfriendly and service-minded. ||Wifi also…:) would def recommend for one Night of traditional Japanese living.

Jon Foster

Google

Hiiragiya is magical. A rare and special place. If you travel to Kyoto just to stay here, the trip will have been well worth it.

Allison L.

Yelp

Absolutely incredible. Came here for my first ryokan experience with very high hopes--and I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I was blown away by the service and facilities. The second our taxi pulled up to the ryokan, the staff was waiting to greet us and assisted us with our travel arrangements for the entirety of our stay. Our room (New Wing Room 51) was beautiful and spacious. We didn't want to, nor need to, leave our room for anything. I'm not a huge seafood eater, so food (in terms of our traditional dinner menu) wasn't up my alley, and yet, I still thoroughly enjoyed our meal. The quality of everything--facilities, food, service--are top -notch here. My only regret: I wish I could have stayed longer. When you're traveling, I'd suggest researching about the tipping customs at a ryokan. While tipping isn't expected throughout Japan (and ryokans may not expect it from foreign travelers), it appears to be a nice gesture among locals. Some locals recommended tipping or offering a gift as a token of gratitude, but if you're giving cash, always put it in an envelope or wrap it in tissue.

Lu H.

Yelp

When you come to Kyoto, you have to stay at a ryokan, it's part of the experience. I was trying to decide between here and Tawaraya, both are very well known, and actually across the street from each other. We ended up with Hiiragiya because (1) I was a little nervous about Tawaraya's all around traditional style and not sure how much I'd enjoy a two night stay here; (2) Hiiragiya has a new wing, which to me is the perfect blend of traditional ryokan and modern amenities. From the moment we stepped in front of the door, I felt the serenity of old Kyoto. We were greeted warmly at the front door, after we took off shoes and stepped in, our hostess/attendant welcomed us with the cutest smile, introduced herself and said she'd be taking care of us for our entire stay. Even though there were definitely other guests (because I saw other shoes at door), but during our whole time here, I didn't see anyone else. It felt very intimate and peaceful. Everything was impeccable, our room was spacious, furniture/decor were traditional Japanese. Every time we came back from outside, our hostess brought us cold water and snacks. She made beds at night and put them away first thing in the morning. We also had kaiseki dinner and breakfast in room. Both were delicious, and presentation was beautiful, on par with any fancy Japanese restaurants we've been to. Now to be fair, this is definitely not a cheap ryokan. Couple of notes: if you don't like wooden bench, or can't sit on the floor, traditional ryokan may not be for you. There's no comfortable couches. Additionally there's no real bed in room, they put mattresses and beddings on the floor when you tell them it's your bed time, and the hostess comes in the morning to put them away so you can eat breakfast. For us, two days are enough for the experience, but just before my back starts hurting from sitting on the floor.

Jason P.

Yelp

I can't say enough good about this place. Welcoming right from the moment you step across the threshold of the ryokan. Friendly service, lovely rooms, and just noticing all of the thoughtfulness that went into thinking about each guest was really superb. We chose to dine in our room, because it was our first Ryokan experience together. However, we saw they had a communal dining room that is really gorgeous. This place is a place you feel refreshed by visiting even one night. I can't recommend it highly enough. In addition to the traditional Japanese breakfast, they also had a Western breakfast option. I was curious how that would be, but not curious enough to miss out on the incredible Japanese breakfast. This place has a lot of history, and an old-fasihioned, old world feel.