
Contemporary ryokan with six rooms in Higashiyama, where we sleep on futons in absolute silence.
Higashiyama Shikikaboku
From
406.961 €
“Only six rooms, private garden, total soundproofing steps from the Shirakawa canal.”
Higashiyama Shikikaboku occupies a renovated traditional house in the temple district, between Gion and Nanzen-ji. Six rooms, tatami mats, shoji screens in washi paper, futons laid every evening by staff. We sleep in complete silence thanks to the soundproofing, rare in old machiya. The interior garden follows the four seasons, Japanese maple, stone lanterns, koi pond. From 407 € per night, kaiseki breakfast served in room on lacquered tray. The Booking score of 9.6 from 252 reviews reflects the rigour of the service, discreet yet present. We recommend it for an immersion in Kyoto hospitality, far from the big tourist ryokan ✨
Who is it for?
Who we recommend it to
We recommend Shikikaboku to couples seeking an authentic ryokan experience without the pomp of Hakone or Kinosaki's grand houses. It's an address for travellers who accept sleeping on futons, appreciate silence and Japanese sobriety. The six rooms guarantee rare intimacy in Kyoto, ideal for honeymoon or three-night urban retreat.
The building
Architecture and interiors
Traditional Meiji-era machiya renovated in 2018, wood and earth structure, kawara tile roof. Minimalist interior: Okayama straw tatami, sliding shoji, tokonoma alcoves with seasonal ikebana. Six rooms of 18 to 28 m², each with a view of the central garden. Modern soundproofing integrated into the ancient walls, rare compromise between heritage and contemporary comfort.
Highlights
- Only six rooms, often fully booked three months ahead
- Private garden with centuries-old maple, view from every room
- Total soundproofing, rare in traditional wooden architecture
- Higashiyama district, Kiyomizu-dera and Yasaka temples 15 minutes on foot
- 9.6/10 score from 252 Booking reviews, in-room kaiseki service included
Location & access
Where the hotel sits in Kyoto
Higashiyama Shikikaboku stands in the Higashiyama district, east bank of the Kamo, 300 metres from the Shirakawa canal. Temples Kiyomizu-dera, Yasaka-jinja, Philosopher's Path accessible on foot in 10 to 20 minutes. Higashiyama station (Tozai line) 8 minutes, Kyoto station 15 minutes by taxi. The district remains residential despite proximity to Gion, cobbled alleys, artisans' workshops, silence after 6pm.
Good to know
Before you book
- Check-in
- 3pm–6pm only, notify if arriving late.
- Children
- Accepted from age 12, adapted futons on request.
- Breakfast
- Kaiseki served in room 7.30am–9am, included.
- Wi-Fi
- Free in all rooms and common areas.
- Parking
- None on site, public parking 400m away, 2,000 ¥/day.
Facilities
Key cards
CCTV in common areas
Free Wi-Fi
Shared lounge/TV room
Entirely non-smoking property
Soundproofed rooms
Garden
Daily housekeeping
Location
Where Higashiyama Shikikaboku is located
Exact address
Higashiyama Shikikaboku
Address
Higashiyama-ku Sanjodori Shirakawabashi Nishiiru Imakojicho 85-1
In the same city
Other addresses in Kyoto

A contemporary ryokan a stone's throw from Yasaka-jinja, where Japanese minimalism meets palace comfort.
Hotel Yuraku Kyo-yasaka

18th-century machiya transformed into eleven suites, a stone's throw from Yasaka-jinja.
Sowaka

A boutique hotel with 8 rooms in the temple district, where we sleep on futons in tatami rooms redesigned by a Tokyo design studio.