DISCOVERIES IN NEW & NOW KYOTO 1

Whether you seek a quiet retreat, an inspiring setting filled with art, or a spectacular scenic view, you’ll find that new accommodation choices abound like never before.

This is Kyoto, or is it?

Shiki Juraku

Hayato Nishiyama of flower shop Mitate arranges seasonal decorations throughout Shiki Juraku.

Inside the gate awaits a dimension of Kyoto you likely never expected. Opened in winter 2016 in a quiet residential district west of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, Shiki Juraku offers 10 distinctive guest rooms in fully renovated former townhouses nearly 100 years old. Choose a Japanese-style room to sleep on a traditional futon; cottage-like rooms with a warm atmosphere; a room with a characteristic earthenfloored area; or cozy, compact rooms great for those traveling solo with their laptops.

All rooms combine contemporary furniture, artwork, and Asian antiques. Measures taken to ensure privacy from the surrounding houses enhance the experience. For instance, windows fitted with textured glass obscure the view but leave a pleasing tracery of the landscape faintly visible, and muffled sounds of the neighborhood filter in, bringing a touch of local Kyoto into the secluded otherworldliness.

Hearty, Western-style breakfasts supervised by cooking specialist Kimiko Hiyamizu showcase seasonal ingredients with a focus on vegetables. Many guests cite this fine start to their day as one of the reasons they return to this great base for enjoying Kyoto in every season.

The bedside area in room no. 4 with photographic works by Taisuke Koyama

The staircase leading to the loft in room no. 3

The salon, designed by architect Tsuyoshi Tane and inspired by the traditional reddish-brown bengara color, which serves as adining room in the morning and a bar lounge at night

Open-plan room no. 5 with living space downstairs and bedroom above

The spacious Japanese cypress tub in room no. 10, offering an open view to the inner garden

Shiki Juraku
http://shikijuraku.com/en/