Hiiragiya Ryokan

100   Recommended
November 11, 2014 by EXPERT

 Map | 1 Review | 100% Recommended
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Hiiragiya Ryokan
 Map | 1 Review | 100% Recommended

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Liked:
Location
Service
Food
Amenities
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I was really looking forward to this. I had booked just a single night there to experience a traditional Japanese Ryokan. This Ryokan came highly recommended, and I ended up selecting it over the equally famous one across the street, only because it offered efficient and helpful online booking, whereas Tawara did not.

Check In

Upon arrival by taxi from Kyoto Station, I was met by a man running to the taxi with an umbrella, who must have been at the ready for any arriving guests. I was led inside across the wetted floors welcoming guests, to a stool to remove my shoes. There I was warmly greeted by several staff persons, including kimono clad attendants. I was easily checked in and let to my room which was on the ground floor only 20 feet from the reception area.

Room

I was startled to see such an immaculate if old-style room, simply furnished with no bed. It was quite large (I selected one in the mid size range). It had an amazing garden surrounding two sides of it, visible through large floor to ceiling windows. I unpacked, and was given some tea and sweets while sitting on the floor. I then got changed into the traditional Japanese gown etc., and had a bath in the traditional tub before being served a traditional Keiseki in my room. I am not a huge fan of traditional Keiseki cuisine, as I had found out during my preceding four days in Tokyo...Anyhow, after dinner I went for a walk around a bit, and then retired for the night with my iPad.

Service

I woke up with a scheduled Japanese breakfast at 6:30 am, then went out to buy some Japanese knives and explore Kyoto. I checked out on time at 11:30. At checkout the proprietress of the inn spent a lot of time graciously telling me about the history of the inn and how special she felt it was and how special guests found it was. Guests, including a Japanese Nobel laureate in literature, who reportedly stayed in my same room, had said that staying there was "like coming home every time". Service was expectedly gracious throughout and I enjoyed my stay. I also received a tour of the "new wing", which was excellent and beautiful. I think that it was purposefully made modern, but not so modern as to take away from the overall traditional experience. I would say though, that the experience did not involve all that much over the course of a one night stay...Really this place is ideal for chilling out without leaving for a couple days, as otherwise, it is not really a good use of money if one is to use it as base to explore the city, or to just stay a single night.

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