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Experience Traditional Kyoto at Nishiyama Ryokan

MaiRie
Jan 7, 2024
2 min read

Updated: Jan 16, 2024

This relaxing ryokan is located in a quiet neighborhood close to the Imperial Palace and the Shijo Kawaramachi shopping areas. Their staff are now just welcoming, but also speaks English, so you'll surely have a great experience of Japanese hospitality. They also have cultural events, providing an excellent opportunity to experience Japanese culture.

Upon entering the lobby, you will be greeted by a stunning maiko mosaic art on the wall that perfectly complements the traditional atmosphere of the room. It also offers a serene view of their beautiful Japanese garden, which you can adore as you sip the warm tea they serve as a welcome drink.

The ryokan features four types of spacious Japanese tatami rooms - Japanese Standard Room, Japanese Superior Room, Japanese Deluxe Room, and Luxury Twin-Bedded Room. I was pleased to stay in their standard room, which was very comfortable and allowed me to relax after a long day.

ONSEN

With two separate onsen for both men and women, you can overlook the waterfall, providing a soothing bathing experience.

ROOMS

Luxury Twin-Bedded Room

Japanese Deluxe Room

Japanese Superior Room

BREAKFAST

Kyoto is known to be the best source for delicious tofu and Nishiyama Ryokan offers a healthy Japanese breakfast featuring this soul food - Yudofu (boiled tofu) along with grilled fish, vegetables, miso soup, Japanese omelet, and rice. You can also request a Western-style breakfast.

WORKSHOP

One of the things I look forward to when choosing an accommodation is the events. Nishiyama Ryokan also offers free cultural activities such as the Japanese Tea Ceremony, Koto Concert, Calligraphy, Sake Tasting, origami, and other Japanese crafts. It is also a great chance to experience cultural activities in Kyoto.

Japanese Tea Ceremony

The tea ceremony room is situated beside the lobby, where visitors can participate in Japanese tea ceremony events. Kyoto is renowned for its matcha, making it the ideal destination to immerse oneself in the Japanese tea culture and enjoy - a must-try experience during your stay.

Yuzenzome

Yuzenzome or rice-paste dyeing is a traditional dyeing technique that originated in Japan and is known for its use of resist dyeing. The process involves applying dyes inside outlines of rice-paste resist, which can be drawn freehand or stenciled on a fabric. The rice paste separates the dye areas, resulting in intricate and beautiful designs.