Higashiyama Shikikaboku
Modern Japanese luxury with the soul of a traditional ryokan. Quiet, adult, minimal — the aesthetic of subtraction. Design-forward without being cold. Feels like the Kyoto apartment of a very cultured friend who knows everyone in the city.
Book far in advance — with only 8 rooms this fills up months ahead, especially for cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons
Why It Matters
One of Kyoto's most architecturally distinguished small hotels, designed from scratch by a husband-and-wife architect/interior designer team. Just 8 rooms in an adults-only property with private open-air rooftop baths, a genuine shitsuji concierge service that can unlock otherwise inaccessible Kyoto experiences, and decor sourced from artisans with centuries of history. The 2019 opening instantly made waves in discerning travel circles.
Eight rooms. Adults only. No TVs. No dinner service. Higashiyama Shikikaboku does not play by typical hotel rules, and that is exactly why it works. Opened in 2019 by architect Takafumi Kawakami and interior designer Masumi Kitayama — a husband-and-wife team of long-time Kyoto residents — the property is a modern building wrapped in deeply traditional soul: woodblock-printed karakami paper from the 400-year-old Karacho house, woven ajiro wickerwork ceilings, one-of-a-kind antiques, seasonally rotating bonsai and ikebana. The canal-side Higashiyama location puts Heian Jingu's red torii gate and the forested eastern mountains right outside the windows, and the 5th-floor open-air baths and rooftop lounge are genuine rarities in central Kyoto. Instead of an in-house dinner, the shitsuji (butler-concierge) service leverages the owners' deep local network to score reservations at restaurants most visitors can't get into.
Where You'll Stay
5 room types available
Bousen / Yuuin
Two premium suites sharing the same layout, each with a tatami tearoom and a queen double bed. Bousen ('Forgotten Fish Trap') references a Daitokuji Temple tearoom and the Zhuang Zhou proverb about remembering the past — the room features antique folding screen fragments repurposed as art and bespoke karakami panels with metal inclusions that burnish over time. Yuuin ('Evening Retreat') mirrors the layout but has carpet instead of hard floors, slate-black tiling in the bathroom, and copper karakami panels that will develop verdigris green tones with age.
Queen double bed · 33 sqmEnsyu
Named for Kobori Ensyu, the 17th-century tea master and aristocrat who founded the Ensyu-ryu school. His taste for simple elegance over rustic wabi-sabi is reflected in the clean-lined wood furniture — a mix of modern pieces and Asian antiques. The tatami tearoom has cabinets decorated with Karacho karakami in a wave pattern evoking both ukiyo-e seascapes and audio waveforms. The only room in the hotel with a hinoki cypress bath — the woody aroma at bedtime is reason enough to book it.
Hollywood twin beds · 54 sqmSyuusui / Syunsou
The hotel's most compact rooms, but still comfortable and beautifully appointed. Syuusui is named for a teahouse overlooking a pond in the Kyoto Gyoen National Garden; Syunsou references a teahouse built in the 1600s by the Oda clan. Both have a furnished seating space for two and the same amenities as the larger suites. Syuusui is carpeted; Syunsou has hardwood floors. Good choice if the premium suites are out of budget but you still want the full Shikikaboku experience.
Hollywood twin beds · 26 sqmTeigyoku
The hotel's flagship suite, named for a tearoom at Kyoto's Daitokuji Temple favored by 17th-century tea master Kanamori Sowa. On the 5th floor, it has its own private Japanese tea garden with moss-covered stones and a stone water font. The red granite bath looks out over the garden, and a tearoom with undulating naguri wood floors and an antique writing desk round out the space. The sofa is a hotel original made with Japan-inspired Armani fabric. Noble Isle amenities, bespoke linen sheets, and owner-designed Japanese-style pajamas included.
King double bed · 51 sqmYuuseki / Koukoku
Two standard rooms with a cozy, romantic layout: two armchairs beside a balcony shielded by sliding shoji screen doors. Yuuseki ('Tranquil Stones') takes its name from a 13th-century Zen poem by Dogen; Koukoku references a Kyoto teahouse by garden architect Shigemori Mirei. Yuuseki has carpet; Koukoku has hardwood floors. Both include the same amenities as the premium suites — kitchenette, Noble Isle products, bespoke linens, owner-designed pajamas.
Hollywood twin beds · 28 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
1 venue on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
A curated evening at Surugaya Gion Shimosato, a Tangible Cultural Asset confectionery in Gion. Includes tea ceremony led by the seventh-generation proprietress, live dance performances by three geisha and maiko, and catering from Gion. A rare up-close experience usually limited to regular clientele.
Hands-on pottery making at Kawai Pottery Studio, a three-generation workshop in a quiet Higashiyama townhouse.
A private Noh lesson and performance led by Hiromichi Tamoi, a master of the Kanze School of Noh. Held in an exclusive venue. One of the more unusual cultural offerings available through the shitsuji network.
A 90-minute session with traditional shamisen musician Yamada Hakumai, typically held on the rooftop at sunset. Covers the instrument's history and technique, includes a hands-on attempt at playing, finishes with a performance. A seasonal Japanese sweet and green tea ceremony is also included. Held indoors in bad weather. Year-round except Mondays.
Two open-air baths atop the building on the 5th floor, cleverly screened from surrounding buildings for full privacy. Reservable for exclusive 45-minute slots (one per hour). Comes with traditional hinoki cypress shower seating. Particularly magical after dark when stars are overhead and the city lights are on. Operating hours: 15:00–22:45 and 07:00–09:45.
The rooftop lounge is available to guests at all hours. Views take in Heian Jingu's famous red torii gate, the mountain temples in the eastern hills, and by night the glow of Kyoto Tower. Baccarat candles provide evening ambiance. A genuine amenity rarity in central Kyoto.
Morning yoga session on the rooftop with views of the Higashiyama Mountains at sunrise. Guided for all levels, including beginners. Followed by the hotel's original slow juice. Canceled in rain. Available March–June and September–November only.
The shitsuji team can arrange a wide range of exclusive Kyoto experiences through the owners' personal network: private shopping at a venerable ukiyo-e gallery; kumiko woodcutting at an artist's atelier followed by alfresco dinner in Miyama; curated art gallery tours with an expert; visits to temple gardens normally closed to the public; private calligraphy lessons at the hotel; access to geisha and maiko performances usually reserved for regulars.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Free Wi-Fi throughout the property.
There are no TVs in any of the 8 rooms, by deliberate design choice.
Every room equipped with a mini sink, IH induction cooking heater, BALMUDA electric kettle, cutlery, tableware, steamer, refrigerator, and microwave. Fully stocked minibar includes mineral water, sparkling wine, soft drinks, and beer.
Top-class Sealy (USA) mattresses in all rooms. Premium down duvets (90% down, 10% feather). Bespoke high-thread-count linen sheets (1.8x standard thread density).
Premium Barcelona-brand Natura Bissé toiletries in all rooms.
Children of elementary school age or younger are not permitted to stay.
All rooms and hotel grounds are non-smoking. E-cigarettes also not permitted.
A tatami-floored library on the 2nd floor adjacent to the concierge desk, open to guests at all hours. Contains volumes related to Kyoto art and history.
Open-air rooftop terrace available to guests 24 hours. Views of Heian Jingu torii gate, eastern mountains, and Kyoto cityscape. Baccarat candle evening ambiance.
No parking at the hotel. Nearest option is Times Sanjo Jingumichi coin parking lot.
Two open-air baths on the 5th floor, reservable for exclusive 45-minute private use. Screened from surrounding buildings. Hinoki cypress shower seating.
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