Hiiragiya
柊家- Say it
- hee·
ee· ra· gee· ya - Also written
- Hiiragiya Ryokan, Hiragiya, Hiiragiya Kyoto
About Hiiragiya
A family-run Kyoto ryokan founded in 1818, in a wooden sukiya building with a new wing beside it. Kyoto kaiseki is served in your room, and the baths use soft groundwater, not hot-spring water.
- OnsenNoSoft groundwater, not hot spring
- Bath in your roomEvery roomWooden tub and toilet in every room
- Private bathTwo private baths, freeAbout 45 min; 15:00 to 9:00
- TattoosNot stated
- MealsKyoto kaiseki dinner and breakfastRates without meals on request
- Dietary needsVegetarian and allergies catered for3 days' notice; no halal or kosher
- ChildrenWith limitsAsk first; only some rooms
- Check-in and dinnerFrom 15:00; dinner 18:00 or 19:00
- Getting there15 min by taxi from Kyoto Station
Good to know before you book
- Beds are in the new wingThe only beds are in the new wing, in its Bedroom (twin) type.
- The smallest room is smallThe 7–8 mat main-building room may be 5 mats with a 2-mat anteroom, or 8 mats.
- Western breakfast is ordered by check-inBreakfast is Japanese unless you ask for the Western one by check-in.
- Founded
- 1818
- Building
- Wooden sukiya, late Edo to Showa, a registered tangible cultural property, plus a new wing
Rooms and their baths
- No room photos yetIndoor bath
Main building Japanese room, 7–8 mats
Bath with a wooden tub and a separate washing area; toilet
- No room photos yetIndoor bath
New wing Standard
Bath with a wooden tub; toilet
- No room photos yetIndoor bath
New wing Bedroom (twin)
Bath with a wooden tub; toilet
Non-smoking
- No room photos yetIndoor bath
Main building, 8 mats + anteroom
Bath with a wooden tub and a separate washing area; toilet
- No room photos yetIndoor bath
New wing Luxury
Bath with a wooden tub; toilet
- No room photos yetIndoor bath
Main building, 10 mats + anteroom
Bath with a wooden tub and a separate washing area; toilet
The fine print
Last checked November 12, 2026.
- Onsen
No. No hot spring
Baths use soft groundwater drawn from under the ryokan.
- Bath in your room
Every room. Bath and toilet in every room
Wooden tubs; the main-building rooms have a separate washing area.
- Private bath
Yes. Two private baths, free, about 45 minutes
For 1 to 3 people, 15:00 to 9:00; ask after check-in.
- Tattoos
Not stated. Not stated by the ryokan
There is no shared bath.
- Meals
Included with some stays. Dinner and breakfast, or rates without meals
Kyoto kaiseki. Plans without dinner, without breakfast or with no meals are available on request.
- Dietary needs
Some diets. Vegetarian and allergies, 3 days' notice
Halal and kosher meals are not offered.
- Children
With limits. Ask first: only some rooms take children
Applies to primary-school age and under, babies included.
- Check-in and dinner
Check-in 15:00, check-out 11:00; dinner at 18:00 or 19:00
- Getting there
15 minutes by taxi from Kyoto Station
Or about 25 minutes by subway and on foot. No shuttle; the ryokan can book a car at a charge.
Meals
- Dinner
- Kyoto kaiseki, in your room or another room, starting at 18:00 or 19:00. Served on Kiyomizu ware
- Breakfast
- Japanese, with yudofu (simmered tofu) kept warm over charcoal, or Western if ordered by check-in
- Extras
- A Japanese black-wagyu fillet can be added to dinner
- Without meals
- Stays without dinner, without breakfast or with no meals are available on request
Who it suits
- Suits
- A classic Kyoto ryokan stay, couples and anniversaries, and travelers who want either an old wooden room or a bed in the new wing
- Less suited
- Anyone looking for hot-spring water: there is none here
- Quiet season
- The ryokan suggests the rainy season and the showers of early winter
History
- 1818
The ryokan is founded, in the first year of the Bunsei era.
- Late Edo to Showa
The wooden sukiya building goes up over these periods. It is now a registered tangible cultural property.
- Over the years
The ryokan names late-Edo activists, the imperial family, writers and artists among its guests. Kawabata Yasunari wrote a fond piece about its holly pattern and its quiet.
- Today
Still family-run. Its motto is that guests should feel they have come home.
Ryokan elsewhere to compare
Questions
Is Hiiragiya the same ryokan as Tawaraya?
No. They are separate ryokan that face each other across Fuyacho street.
Does Hiiragiya have rooms with beds?
Yes, in the new wing: its Bedroom type has twin beds and is 35 m². The new wing is the only part of the ryokan with beds.
Does Hiiragiya have a hot spring?
No. The baths use soft groundwater drawn from beneath the ryokan. Every room has its own bath, and there are two private baths that are free to use.
Can you stay at Hiiragiya without dinner?
Yes. Stays without dinner, without breakfast or with no meals are available on request.