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RIHGA Royal Hotel KyotovsHiiragiya
Both properties are endorsed by those who travel for a living. On balance, Hiiragiya is the choice of most professionals compared to RIHGA Royal Hotel Kyoto. Hiiragiya ranks #3 in Kyoto with praise from 9 reviews like Hideaway Report, Star Service and Insight Guides.
RIHGA Royal Hotel Kyoto
Frommer's
Fodor's
Lonely Planet
Star Service
Oyster
1 Taimatsucho, Horikawa-Shiokoji, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 600-8237
From $72/night
- Bar/Lounge
- Hot Tub
- Free Internet
- Room Service
- Shuttle Bus
- Laundry Service
"Rooms are comfortable enough, with adequately sized standard rooms that feature shoji screens and window panels that close for darkness." Full review
"Even the smallest rooms at this well-established chain hotel are warm and inviting, with delicate shoji windows and elegant bath furnishings." Full review
"This long-running hotel has all the facilities that you’d expect from a first-class hotel, including a revolving rooftop restaurant." Full review
"Located 500 meters west of Kyoto Station, this property is five minutes by bus from central shopping and businesses." Full review
i
Staffers seem to ignore special requests in favor of handling the masses more efficiently, but business travelers can sometimes weave in and out between the tourist crowds without qualm.
Upper-middle-range
"This large-scale, three-and-a-half-pearl hotel, with 482 guest rooms and suites, is within a 10-minute walk of Kyoto Station, the city's main transportation hub." Full review
Hiiragiya
Insight Guides
Travel + Leisure
Time Out
Star Service
Oyster
Hideaway Report
Condé Nast Traveler
Frommer's
Lonely Planet
Michelin Guide
277 Nakahakusancho, Huyacho Anekoji-agaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 604-8094
From $904/night
- Hot Tub
- Free Internet
- Room Service
- Concierge
- Restaurant
- Multilingual
"A well-known and timeless ryokan, dating from the mid-19th century. Expensive, but a Kyoto experience."
"Among Kyoto’s most illustrious ryokan... this 145-year-old staple includes a kaiseki dinner served in your room." Full review
"Much has been written about Hiiragiya since it opened in 1861, usually rich with superlatives. Along with its cross-street neighbour Tawaraya, it’s considered the city’s greatest ryokan." Full review
"This hostelry is widely acknowledged as one of the best traditional ryokan in Japan, a claim shared with the Tawaraya directly across the narrow street." Full review
i
Room 14, a favorite of Kawabata, is among the most requested.
4.0
"With a history dating back to 1818, the luxury Hiiragiya is a Japanese inn ("ryokan") located in the middle of Kyoto that takes pride in upholding traditional customs." Full review
96.0
"Classic family-owned inn set in a traditional wooden house dating from 1818, located on a charming side street in the heart of the city." Full review
"Creaky floors, cypress tubs with hot steam water, and tatami mats heighten the senses at each turn. You feel incredibly special every minute you are here." Full review
"Hiiragiya represents the quintessential traditional Japanese inn...it has all the design characteristics of a fine old inn, with simple yet elegant tatami rooms decorated with art and antiques. " Full review
Top choice
"This elegant ryokan has long been favoured by celebrities from around the world. Facilities and services are excellent and the location is hard to beat." Full review
"While all twenty-eight rooms are different...utterly traditional, constructed with first-rate skill and decorated with arts and crafts (stained glass, woodwork, kakejiku scrolls) by master artisans." Full review