Kyoto accommodations: Hiiragiya Ryokan
Hiiragiya is widely regarded as the finest ryokan in Kyoto. It’s said that every corner you turn in this place presents a meticulously designed and landscaped view. Hiiragiya (tel 075/221-1136, fax 221-1139) is across from Kyoto City Hall on the south side of Oike Street, but you can’t see much from the street. Very private, and renowned kaiseki ryori, a Kyoto course dinner. Hollywood big shots and captains of industry stay here, so prices go into the thousands of dollars, but you can have the Hiiragiya experience for as little as Â¥15,000 ($130) per night per person (Charges at ryokan are per person, rather than per room). The cheaper accommodations are in a nearby building, Hiiragiya Bekkan(tel 075/231-0151, fax 231-0153), but I’ll bet it’s pretty nice for the price, considering they attach their name and reputation to it.
When in Kyoto
Next time I travel to Kyoto, I really, really want to stay here. Anyone want to come along?…
I have forever wished to visit Japan. Primarily the countryside however. Tokyo and the big cites do not interest me all that much. But I would imagine that Kyoto is far smaller and less hectic than Tokyo.
If I did have to visit Kyoto, this is the Ryokan I’d love to stay at but that is a lot of money. Yikes.
Hey Nils,
I was just browsing your site when I noticed this post on Hiiragiya. I’ve been there and it’s very nice indeed. Highly recommended for any who might have a little extra time and money to spend in Kyoto.
Hey there all:
I’ve had the pleasure of staying there twice. Once last year and again this last July.
OK, it was a HUGE splurge, but I stayed there with my wife and daughter in the corner garden room. (15 tatami mat room)(Dinner included for one of the two nights.)
Dinner was excellent. Choose an earlier dinner time as it was 16 courses. It takes two hours to be served everything.
The staff was excellent and the lady of the house speaks perfect English.
I highly recommend it for a special treat.
Great to get comments from people who have stayed there. It’s really considered the ultimate in Kyoto style, so I’m glad you enjoyed it. Sounds like you had a very special kaiseki dinner.
Your site is a pleasure. I realize your post on Hiiragiya is from 2003 but can you suggest how I might locate a rate even close to Y15000? I can’t find anything much under $600. For that matter would love to stay at Tawaraya but $800-900 is the best rate I can find. Maybe I should give up striving and stay at Three Sisters or annex, with dinner at Tawaraya?
I realize you are not an agency; appreciate any thoughts.
Did you email them?
No I did not email directly, both because I assumed they would quote higher rates than would be available through a broker (as is generally the case in the US) and because I could not find an email address for Tawaraya, where I wasn’t sure they would read English in any event. I have now emailed Hiirigiya though and if you have other Tawaraya information would certainly appreciate. Thank you!
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