Rai-Sha-Nyo-Ki
“It is our wish that arriving guests feel as if they are coming home.” – These words, written by the scholar Seisai Shigeno (1827-1910), appear in a calligraphy displayed at the entrance to Hiiragiya since the Edo period.
Established in 1818, and opened as a Ryokan in 1861, Hiiragiya was named after the hiiragi – holly trees which grow near a shrine in Kyoto the family had been devoted to. Hiiragiya is located in Nakagyo ward, just across the river from Gion.
"The light from the pale white paper, powerless to dispel the heavy darkness of the alcove, is instead repelled by the darkness, creating a world where dark and light are indistinguishable... a rare tranquility not found in ordinary light..."
Junichiro Tanizaki (1886-1965)Throughout the years of its existence, Hiiragiya has been favored by many prominent figures from Japan’s intellectual elite and royalty.
It features a stately old wing, with spacious rooms retaining the original furnishings and gardens where poems and important letters had once been written, and a fantastic new wing, keeping the same minimalist zen design principles, and beautiful pocket gardens, with bright illumination afforded by the inn’s higher floors.
Rooms feature tatami mat floors, low chairs as well as Western ones, garden views, and Ofuro – traditional hinoki pine wood baths, as well as Kazu Ofuro – larger family sized baths. Hiiragiya draws its water from a well located under the property.
This is the quintessential traditional Ryokan, maintaining its spirit and dedication to the highest level of hospitality continuously for 200 years. To keep with this tradition, in respect to this magnificent Ryokan, we ask guests to understand the customs of a Japanese home, showing a deference that would contribute to extending this spirit into the future. These customs are a part of the consultation we offer to guests booking through us, as well as helping to plan your trip to Japan when booking this and other select properties with Emporda to Algarve.
“… Even the simple pleasure of sitting still enough, long enough, to hear the sound of water trickling into a small stone basin just outside the window of your room. An appreciation for the subtleties of nature, is an essential part of experiencing an evening…or better yet, a morning at Hiiragiya.”
“… great pains are taken to insure that you will not be served the same meal twice…unless you should request otherwise. Individual preferences are catered to impeccably. Unobtrusive, meticulous attention to detail is a part of the spirit of OMOTENASHI, the hospitality for which Hiiragiya has gained its reputation as Kyoto’s finest traditional inn.”
