Higashiyama Shikikaboku
Kyoto / 京都
Higashiyama Shikikaboku is a stylish reimagining of the Kyoto luxury ryokan, conceived not as an urb
THE STORY
Higashiyama Shikikaboku is a stylish reimagining of the Kyoto luxury ryokan, conceived not as an urban escape but as an exclusive entryway to the authentic, lived-in city most tourists never get to see.
Lovingly designed from the ground up by the husband-and-wife team of architect Takafumi Kawakami and interior designer Masumi Kitayama, both long-term Kyoto residents, the property combines a chic modern sensibility with a deep connection to the city’s ancient culture and crafts. Kawakami’s layout makes excellent use of the canal-side Higashiyama location to offer views of Heian Temple’s iconic red torii gate and the lush eastern mountains from the 8 guest suites. A private open-air bath and rooftop lounge area, rarities in central Kyoto, grace the upper floors. Meanwhile, Kitayama’s thoughtful design weaves an ambiance of understated luxury with one-of-a-kind antiques, seasonally changing bonsai and ikebana, bespoke linens, and the use of handcrafted materials evocative of Japanese tea culture, such as woodblock-printed karakami paper from the centuries-old Karacho house and woven ajiro wickerwork ceilings.
Higashiyama Shikikaboku forgoes the traditional in-house dinner in favor of a concierge service that provides access Kyoto’s rich culinary world, leaning on an extensive local network to guarantee hard-to-get reservations and suggest off-the-beaten-track spots tailored to each guest’s preferences. Along with a fully stocked kitchenette in each guestroom, this flexible approach makes the property ideal for longer stays.
Like staying with a trusted friend, Higashiyama Shikikaboku offers an intimate experience of Kyoto enriched by local insight and human connection, revealing aspects of the ancient city no guidebook could capture.
Lovingly designed from the ground up by the husband-and-wife team of architect Takafumi Kawakami and interior designer Masumi Kitayama, both long-term Kyoto residents, the property combines a chic modern sensibility with a deep connection to the city’s ancient culture and crafts. Kawakami’s layout makes excellent use of the canal-side Higashiyama location to offer views of Heian Temple’s iconic red torii gate and the lush eastern mountains from the 8 guest suites. A private open-air bath and rooftop lounge area, rarities in central Kyoto, grace the upper floors. Meanwhile, Kitayama’s thoughtful design weaves an ambiance of understated luxury with one-of-a-kind antiques, seasonally changing bonsai and ikebana, bespoke linens, and the use of handcrafted materials evocative of Japanese tea culture, such as woodblock-printed karakami paper from the centuries-old Karacho house and woven ajiro wickerwork ceilings.
Higashiyama Shikikaboku forgoes the traditional in-house dinner in favor of a concierge service that provides access Kyoto’s rich culinary world, leaning on an extensive local network to guarantee hard-to-get reservations and suggest off-the-beaten-track spots tailored to each guest’s preferences. Along with a fully stocked kitchenette in each guestroom, this flexible approach makes the property ideal for longer stays.
Like staying with a trusted friend, Higashiyama Shikikaboku offers an intimate experience of Kyoto enriched by local insight and human connection, revealing aspects of the ancient city no guidebook could capture.
ROOMS
- ROOM Teigyoku The suite names at Higashiyama Shikikaboku reference both their main design element and a facet of tea ceremony culture, with Teigyoku (Garden Gem) nodding to a tearoom at Kyoto’s Daitokuji Temple said to be a favorite of 17th-century master Kanamori Sowa. Despite being located on the 5th floor, this room boasts a private Japanese tea garden, where moss-covered stones and the gentle tinkling of the stone font encourage reflective relaxation. A garden-view red granite bath, tearoom with undulating naguri wood floors, antique writing desk, and a spacious living area round out the luxurious features of this top-class suite, in addition to the standard all-natural Noble Isle amenities, bespoke linen sheets, and Japanese-style pajamas designed by the owner herself. RESERVATION
- ROOM Ensyu The name of this premium suite comes from Kobori Ensyu, a 17th-century artist and aristocrat who founded the Ensyu-ryu school of tea ceremony. He favored a simple elegance over the rustic wabi-sabi fashion of the time, which is reflected in the clean lines of this suite’s wood furniture, a mix of modern pieces and Asian antiques. In a similar blend of old and new, the tatami-floored tearoom has cabinets decorated with Karacho karakami in an undulating pattern equally evocative of an ukiyoe seascape and an audio waveform. When the woody aromas of traditional hinoki cypress bathtub fills the air at bedtime, the room is a feast for all five senses. All-natural Noble Isle amenities, bespoke linen sheets, and Japanese-style pajamas designed by the owner herself are also included. RESERVATION
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ROOM
Bousen / Yuuin
Bousen - The name of this premium suite (Forgotten Fish Trap) comes from a tearoom at Kyoto’s Daitokuji Temple. It is a reference to the Zhuang Zhou proverb “The fish trap exists because of the fish; once you've gotten the fish, you forget the trap,” which can be interpreted as a direction to remember the past. The art in this room similarly evokes the connection between past and present with fragments of antique folding screens repurposed as objets d’art and bespoke karakami panels from the kamisoe atelier created using an innovative technique that incorporates metal that will burnish over time. A tatami-floored tearoom and full shower and bath provide plenty of room for relaxation, in addition to the all-natural Noble Isle amenities, bespoke linen sheets, and Japanese-style pajamas designed by the owner herself.
Yuuin - This premium suite shares a name with a teahouse constructed by famed master Sen no Sotan. However, while the characters Sotan used meant second retirement, the homophone characters here mean “evening retreat,” what this suite will surely be after a busy day exploring Kyoto. The suite has the same layout and design concept as Bousen, but has carpeting rather than hard floors and slate-black tiling in the bathroom. In the tea room, the bespoke karakami panels are made with copper, expected to burnish with notes of verdigris green over time, accenting the celebrated pure white Shino glazing on the Mino ware vase on the counter above them. RESERVATION - ROOM Yuuseki / Koukoku Yuuseki (Tranquil Stones) comes from a well-known poem by the 13th-century Zen priest Dogen describing a pond wrapped in wintery mists. Koukoku is the name of a Kyoto teahouse constructed by 20th-century garden architect and ikebana artist Shigemori Mirei. These two standard rooms feature a cozy layout with two armchairs next to a balcony shielded by sliding shoji screen doors, perfect for a romantic getaway. Yuuseki is carpeted, while Koukoku has hardwood floors. They both have the same amenities as the premium suites, including fully equipped kitchenette, all-natural Noble Isle amenities, bespoke linen sheets, and Japanese-style pajamas designed by the owner herself. RESERVATION
- ROOM Syuusui / Syunsou Syuusui takes its name from a centuries-old teahouse that overlooks a pond in the Kyoto Gyoen National Garden. Meanwhile, Syunsou references a teahouse built in the 1600s by the powerful Oda clan. These two standard rooms are slightly more compact, but still have a comfortable furnished seating space for two and the same amenities as the premium suites, including fully equipped kitchenette, all-natural Noble Isle amenities, bespoke linen sheets, and Japanese-style pajamas designed by the owner herself. Syuusui is carpeted, while Syunsou is ideal for those that prefer hardwood floors. RESERVATION
FACILITIES &
SERVICES
Map &
Transportation
Closest Train Station | Kyoto subway Tozai-line Higashiyama Station | |
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Closest Bus Station | Higashiouji Sanjo Bus Stop | |
Free pick-up service | N/A |
Key Gate Way Int'l Airport and Train (Shinkansen) Station
Ryokan Data
Area | Kyoto / 京都 |
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Name of Ryokan | Higashiyama Shikikaboku / 東山四季花木 |
Address | 85-1 Shirakawabashi Nishiiru Imakouji-cho, Sanjo-dori, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0023 〒605-0023 京都市東山区三条通白川橋西入ル今小路町85-1 |
Total Number of Rooms | 8 rooms |
Check-in Time | 15:00 |
Check-Out Time | 12:00 |
Credit Card | Yes |
Meals
Dinner Start Time | - |
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Breakfast Start Time | 7:00 - 10:30 |
In Room Dining Available | No |
Bar | |
Special Dietary Arrangements | Yes |
Vegan Friendly | Yes |
Western Breakfast Available | Yes |
Other Facilities & Services
Communal Bath | No |
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Family Bath | Yes |
Private indoor bath in room | Yes |
Private open-air bath in the room | No |