October 2024
This ancient, traditional ryokan, run by the sixth generation of the Nishimura family. Charlie Chaplin and Liz Taylor has stayed here, as well as a number of famous Japanese writers and poets—and even the former emperor of Japan.
StayGrandAnd while all twenty-eight rooms are different, they’re all utterly traditional, constructed with first-rate skill and decorated with arts and crafts (stained glass, woodwork, kakejiku scrolls) by master artisans.
Guide Michelin, April 2023It 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.
Conde Nast Traveler, January 2021More info
Hotels Own Introduction
A Rich Heritage Since 1818
Established in 1818, Hiiragiya has long been regarded as one of Japan’s most beloved traditional inns, or ryokan. Its story began during the Edo period, when Shogoro I followed his fate from Fukui, settling in Kyoto to establish a transportation and seafood shipping business. Over two centuries later, Hiiragiya remains a timeless symbol of hospitality and tradition.
Uniquely Designed Rooms
Each room at Hiiragiya is uniquely crafted with its own special motif. Some feature lacquered bathrooms, while others boast intricate tilework. Guests may discover painted folding screens adorned with gold leaf or Zen-inspired ink paintings on handmade paper. Rooms are appointed with polished wooden beams, reed ceilings, hand-carved transoms, and antique maki-e lacquered writing boxes, some gilded and inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Traditional Japanese aesthetics, such as tatami mats, papered shoji windows, and sliding fusuma doors, imbue the spaces with an authentic sense of place.
A Culinary Tradition
Hiiragiya's fine Kyo-Kaiseki, Kyoto’s haute cuisine, reflects the changing seasons while embracing new inspirations alongside time-honored traditions. Savor locally sourced ingredients, meticulously prepared and served on a curated selection of the inn’s treasured tableware, creating an unforgettable dining experience steeped in Kyoto’s culinary legacy.