THE RYOKAN COLLECTION

Higashiyama Shikikaboku’s ethos of tailored service and human communication begins with a check-in that is not an empty formality but rather a consultation on accessing the Kyoto of their dreams. Guests are ushered to a quiet space on the second floor and seated at a golden wood counter carved from a single piece of Amur cork. Over a cup of silky green tea from Uji’s Yoshida Meichaen, one of Japan’s oldest producers, the knowledgeable staff inquire after guests’ interests and assist in making any necessary reservations or arrangements, as well as recommending off-the-beaten-track spots for an authentic experience of Kyoto only possible through local insight. As owner Kawakami puts it, their job is to ensure every stay is full of surprises, large and small. The tatami-floored library adjacent is open to guests at all hours as a place to relax or draw inspiration from the many volumes related to Kyoto art and history.