Shiraume

I just stayed for 6 nights on a solo trip through Japan. This was my second time staying at Shiraume in 2 years and the only word I can use to describe the experience is magic. The kind of stuff I dreamed of as a child and coming to Japan. The week I just had was cinematic. It’s more than an accommodation … it’s a healing sanctuary and fuel for the soul. Tomoko san will guide you in building a spiritual bond with the land and its history. The stories of her childhood and family are worth the cost alone … which is not enough for what she offers. Each day is curated for you. Every possibly want or need is already in place. Every meal is exceptional. The grounds are immaculate. The cultural significance is steep. You can feel it in the walls. If you have ever considered a traditional ryokan experience, it doesn’t get better than this. Not only Tomoko but the entire staff is now deeply rooted in my heart and I cannot wait to return to my home in Kyoto. My gratitude for the love I’ve received is beyond words.

Our family of 5 (3 kids age 9, 13, 17) had an AMAZING time at Shiraume. It was a highlight of our 10 day trip to Japan. The attention to detail and personalization made us feel like we were the only guests. Our multi-course dinner was delicious and the service was wonderful. We enjoyed hearing the stories behind some of the dishes. The staff went above and beyond to make it a memorable stay. The facilities were beautiful and we truly enjoyed our peaceful overnight stay at Shiraume. We hope that we can return again someday.

Staying at Shiraume was the absolute highlight of our trip to Japan – and truly one of the best experiences we’ve ever had. Tomoko and her staff were the most gracious hosts imaginable, helping us make the very most of our time in Kyoto with kindness and attention to detail. The breakfasts were simply incredible, beautifully presented and unforgettable. The property itself is stunning, full of history and charm, with a serene atmosphere that makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.||We also highly recommend experiencing dinner at Shiraume. It’s like no other – each dish carries a deeper meaning and connection to Japanese culture, making the meal as memorable and enriching as the stay itself.||If you’re visiting Kyoto, do not miss the chance to stay here – it will be the highlight of your trip, just as it was for ours.

We enjoyed the most wonderful stay at the Baian annex with the family occupying the entire house. The location was superb, very quiet and calm amidst all the bustle of the area. The rooms and facilities were all brand new and to a very high standard. The welcome and service were amazing and we could not fault anything about our stay. The dinner and breakfast food and service were similarly memorable. Specially thanks to Tomoko for her excellent recommendations and advice. We will definitely return!

The dinner and breakfast were both absolutely delicious as well as beautifully prepared. The host was incredibly kind, and spent a lot of time with us sharing stories and history of the house and Kyoto. The most memorable stay of our entire Japan trip, and perhaps out lives.|Thanks Shiraume! We hope we get a chance to stay with you again.

This is an amazing Ryokan that gives you a real Japanese local experience with all the comforts of Western lifestyle. The room (or apartment rather) was amazing, super comfortable and included all sorts of small details to make our stay more memorable. However, the best of all is Tomoko, the Japanese lady who manages the Ryokan and all the staff. They were simply the best staff I have ever dealt with in a hotel, they were friendly, helpful, very attentive and Tomoko taught us so many stories and things about Kyoto that it was simply the best stay we have had in Kyoto.

If you are reading this review, stop now! Go book this ryokan and then come back to read. Our stay at Shiraume was nothing less than amazing, spectacular, fantastic, etc. Tomoko, the owner found any way possible to make our stay as enjoyable and relaxing. To begin, the entrance sets the stage for the zen feeling experienced throughout the property. The decor, which changes monthly is soothing and gives it the wonderful feel of a traditional inn in old Kyoto. Now, as a 6’6” man, I will say there are spots that feel a bit tight and doorways can be tricky but there is no amount of times bumping my head that would damper our mood while at Shiraume. We had two women who took care of us for most of our stay, including Tomoko. Yumi and Saho were the kindest, most attentive people who ended up being a highlight of our stay. They would greet us anytime we entered the property and meet us upon every arrival. They also had a major part in serving our meals we had at Shiraume. By the way, most reviews say have at least one meal. Instead, have at least two breakfasts and two dinners. The food at Shiraume was some of the best we had in Kyoto, and we had nice meals out of the ryokan. Tomoko, Yumi, and Saho also improved our time in Kyoto by asking about our plans for each next day and providing insight, secrets, and recommendations and each time they did, they knocked it out of the park! All of this, including handwritten notes each day, and history lessons about the area, food, and property make this an absolutely special place. We will never be able to stay anywhere else in Kyoto. Stay here!

Shiraume is a beautifully preserved traditional Japanese inn tucked away in the heart of Gion, Kyoto. It strikes the perfect balance, ideally located within walking distance of key attractions, yet serene and steeped in authenticity.||The true soul of Shiraume is Tomoko, the gracious owner whose family has called this place home for generations. Her presence is both elegant and deeply personal. Every detail of your stay is carefully considered, with a sense of harmony and intention that reflects her thoughtfulness.||Tomoko’s warmth and attentiveness infuse Shiraume with a unique charm, it’s not just a place to stay, but an experience of old-world Kyoto hospitality at its finest.

This was for our visit in early December 2022 for a night. Our hostess was Ami-san/Amy. We booked the room in front of the river on the first floor for a night. It was very private as we had one of the public bathrooms close to our room. We provided our passports to Ami-san when we first arrived and then filled out a form that let her know where we were staying next in case we forgot our luggage. The room in front of the river was a bit less private as you saw those walking along the street, but we had the option to close the door. We met O-chan, whom was the white crane that was wandering around nearby in the river. We switched into the yukatas and a light jacket and walked around the area during the night time. Then went into the ryokan's bath, which was super nice. There were 2 indoor areas. We went to the one closer to us. Rinsed and washed ourselves well before settling in. We enjoyed having the area to ourselves. Then we had a kaiseki dinner which was VERY filling and tasty. It was enlightening to learn about the chef's creations and we got to take back mementos of what we ate back home. We got to learn about the history and enjoyed the stories along with everyone's company. You also have the option to eat in the communal area or in the dining area of the room. We lit the incense to enjoy the scent while we were dining. The bedding - soft! It was nice and fluffy, and we woke up very refreshed. The bathroom was nicely stocked with wonderful amenities for you to try, as well at the baths. We had breakfast the next morning that was filling and delicious with a beautiful garden for the view. It was bittersweet to leave! Traditional Ryokan, yukatas and pajamas, close location to Gion district and subway, comfortable bedding, and just feeling so at peace. Plus, they can hold your luggage if your next place has not opened for check in. We enjoyed our time here during our honeymoon in Japan, and we can't wait to come back next time we're in Kyoto.

We had a fantastic stay at the Shiraume (white plum) ryokan in Gion area of Kyoto. Since we were traveling with children, we choose to stay in their Baian house annex, which was located one block behind the main ryokan. The house has two separate apartments each with living room, bedroom, and beautiful baths with wooden tubs. We rented both apartments and therefore had the entire house to ourselves. On arrival, there were multiple welcome courses including hot tea service and basket of Japanese snacks, ice tea, beer, and local sake. After a short exploration of Gion, we choose to have our Kaiseki meal served at the main ryokan in one of the private dinning rooms. Lovely courses of traditional hyper-seasonal dishes followed. The entire service took about 2.5 hours and was both a visual and gastronomic delight. A nice soak in our baths followed (infused with Kyoto sake). The next morning we choose to have our breakfast served in our apartment. Again, we we're served beautifully prepared courses in both traditional and western styles. We have been fortunate to have experienced many lovely hotels during our travels, but this was a cut above. Shiraume spoiled us with wonderful hospitality and impeccable attention to detail.

I researched ryokans for DAYS and Shiraume was exactly the ryokan I was searching for. Here are some reasons why: 1. Location: it is located conveniently in the Gion district where you're surrounded by bustling life and delicious foods. It isn't too far from the subway station too. It's such a sweet little area to hang out and be in but serene when you walk through the doors. 2. Traditional Ryokan: it is a smaller ryokan and is rich in history. As we were shown our room, the attendants talked to us about the beauty, history, reasoning, etc. behind this used-to-be-geisha house and now-turned-ryokan. 3. Umemi room: my husband and I stayed in the umemi room. The room is beautifully sized w a mini hallway that leads to two separate rooms. The first room leads to the bedroom where the futons are already laid out, the bathroom (w wonderful amenities), and sliding doors to the garden and the sounds of the river. The other room is the dining area for the suite. You have necessary toiletries, a private bath, mini fridge (everything complimentary), etc. Everything is beautifully thought out. I won't spoil the surprise for you too much, so enjoy. 4. Bath: I wanted a private wooden bath (I know.. so specific), as well as a public one. Hahah. The public bath can be reserved easily by talking to the staff for a period of one hour. The water is perfect temperature! Also, use the special green tea scrub... it's amazing! 5. Service: the service is wonderful!! Everyone is incredibly sweet and so helpful. 6. Happy hour or hours... from like 3-9pm, there's happy hour in the library, where they offer chilled tea, juice, sake, and beer (the cutest tiny asahi beers!!). 7. Food: we did the kaiseki dinner (one w sushi option and the other w beef) and breakfast in room. This in-room dining was a must for me. ;) everything we ate was really good. I'm not just saying that. And the staff came in and explained to us what the food was, how it was prepared, history, and stories. Also, they hand wrote everything we ate so we knew what we were eating. So in Love!!! We also got complimentary drinks since we were on our honeymoon. :) In a nutshell, Shiraume has everything I was looking for: traditional ryokan, yukatas and pajamas, in room kaiseki dining, awesome location, private and public wooden bath, futons, beautiful floors and sliding doors, and rest and relaxation. It is the perfect escape from the busy-ness of travel.

Excellent historic feudal cottage B&B (ryokan) in Higashihara preservation Ward just outside Kyoto. Modern conveniences with old-style traditional living ie: furo. garden setting. Multiple bathrooms, dining rms. Walk the old historic preservation district. Excellent cuisine traditional or Western options.

Amazing hospitality! Amazing way of life! Amazing view! My wife and I received the best treatment we have ever had at Shiraume. Before Shiraume, we were fortunate to stayed 4 nights at the Peninsula Tokyo in the 116sqm/1250sf deluxe suite with a panoramic view of the Imperial Palace Gardens in which we get complementary concierge that drive us around Tokyo 3 hours per day. We have stayed/received treatments at the Ritz Carlton, Mandarin Oriental, Calistoga Ranch, etc...Shiraume BEST them all in many way. Still not convinced? We stayed at Shiraume for 4 nights in the Umekoyomi room which has a romantic view of the Shirakawa stream outside our window and the sound of water flowing beneath our pillows. The bed was confortable. We really enjoyed the refined Japanese breakfast. Our dinner was of great fine dining. We love love Tomoko, Yuna, Yuki, and the staffs at Shiraume. We are truly greatful for their warm welcome and kindness in providing us with the best experience. Tomoko shared with us Japan culture/history, helped us plan our day and Yuna helped us with recommendations/reservations/directions everywhere we go. They were genuine and truly enjoyed their way of life. What sets Shiraume apart from other Ryokans besides the stream? Why are they so amazing at what they do? Here is my guess. Shiraume was once a famous tea house called Dairyū (Big Willow) where famous novelists and poets including Isamu Yoshii goes to enjoy sake with their favorite geishas. Although no longer a tea house, when we stay at Shiraume we are receiving some of the authentic treatments that has been passed down and refined for hundred of years from one of the best Kyoto tea house. Stay at Shiraume and enjoy the magic of ancient Kyoto.

Three nights in the beautiful traditional Japanese ryokan was our little treat for our recent trip to Japan. Yes it was more expensive, but it was worth every cent. If I could give them 10 stars I would! We stayed for three nights, with a kaiseki dinner & all breakfasts included. Everything from enquiring through to booking and our stay was seamless. I was also impressed that they didn't require any payment or credit card details until we were checking out - not bad considering the value of the stay. Shiraume is located upon a beautiful stream in the heart of Gion district in Kyoto. Upon arriving we were given a tour of the ryokan. It sleeps up to twenty people & apparently while we were there, there was another 14 but we would never have known it. We never saw or heard another soul & it felt like we were being given 100% of the staff's attention. The ryokan also has a reading room with internet access (in addition to the in room wifi) and two jacuzzis which are traditional Japanese baths (wash youself before you get in!). Our room overlooked the stream & was large. It included a separate dining area and a separate bathroom with our own private bath and the most amazing body scrub you have ever used. It felt just like we were in Japan hundreds of years ago (which is when it was built!). Every time we arrived back in our room it had been tidied up with a little Japanese treat laid out for us. We were offered tea & shown where our ukata's were (like a cotton kimino that I practically lived in while we were there). The staff were more than happy to make arrangements such as booking bikes for us, taxis, etc And the food.....WOW. The kaiseki dinner on our first night was incredible. 10 courses of traditional Japanese cuisine presented so beautifully. Every mouthful was delectable. Each morning we had a choice of Japanese or Western breakfast - we tried both over our trip and again, were all delicious. We were also shown to a different room for breakfast each morning so we got to overlook a garden one morning, the stream another, etc. I feel like I'm not even scraping the surface with this review. Everything was beyond perfect. I just wish I had more time there!

My wife and stayed there for two nights, in the river room with a private bath. This ryokan is amazing and great history tied to it. The location of this ryokan is just outside of the downtown area but is really close to the Kyoto bus loop and bus/train stations. The owner is really nice, and explains everything that you'd want to know about the place and the food that they serve. Planning the trip through their website was easy and is dependable. A side note, Japanese websites are very different than what's expected in the US, I say this because you need to enter your credit card number. No worries, it is secure. Another note, if you order wine or sake at dinner, it is not included.

Reasons this place is wonderful: location in a restored 120-year-old building, friendly staff that will cater to your needs including dinner reservations, laundry, taxis, travel plans. We had breakfast included every day and and evening meal one night. The food is wonderful. We felt like we were royalty. There were many special touches including a new pair of socks in our drawer every day and an American language newspaper brought to our room. There was a hand carved wooden sink that was remarkable in our room. Our room was a suite with a separate dining area and sleeping area in addition to a nice bathroom. Daily we would enjoy the private Jacuzzi bath on the first floor. Tomoko, the owner, was an absolute delight and almost always present to meet us, greet us, and offer helpful suggestions.

We stayed 2 nights here on a recommendation from a Japanese friend who warned that the Ryokan experience varies a great deal. Shiraume is the real deal and worth every penny. Tomoko Okuda, the proprietor of Shiraume was a fantastic host providing recommendations for sights and itineraries for our short stay. Her English-speaking staff were professional and friendly and courteous in the typical Japanese manner which is to say very very nice. The food was excellent with explanations of each dish for the inexperienced traveller. The kaiseki meal was unbelievable. The Japanese breakfast was delicious. The "western" breakfast was delicious as well if you prefer not to have the Japanese style breakfast but trust me the Japanese breakfast is not to be missed. There are 2 reservable private hot tub rooms, although our room had its own deep soaker tub. The entire inn is 100% old school Ryokan. Tatami rooms, wooden tubs, futon, sliding doors, kimono, kaiseki, all in old Gion town in central Kyoto. The bathroom, and electrical had the necessary modern necessities. The wifi was not the strongest but worked well enough. Newspaper in the morning was a nice touch.

We've stayed at this remarkable ryokan twice, staying three days each time. The warmth and professionalism of the owner, Tomoko san, is exceptional, as is her wonderful staff. If you are seeking a truly unique and amazing experience, and you would enjoy being immersed in Japanese culture in a way rarely experienced, I would heartily endorse a stay. Breakfast is beautiully arranged and can be taken either in one's room or in the downstairs counter with a view of the small river outside. Each has it's own charm, and I would suggest trying both if you're staying for multiple days. The Kaiseke dinner is beyond compare-a true culinary masterpiece. The meal is served over 8+ courses, each coming with an explanation of the history of the dish and it's cultural relevance. A wonderful experience.

Staying at Shiraume has been one of the best experiences of my life, and was one of the highlights on my trip to Japan. Shiraume is located on the Shirakawa Minami Dori in Gion. When you enter Shiraume through the bridge you feel as if you've entered a different epoch. Everything in this ryokan is thoughtfully done and is the perfect place to unwind after a strenuous day of exploring. The ryokan is very well appointed and the rooms are quite large. The staff are exceptional and will go above and beyond in looking after guests. The food at Shiraume was superb, with Tomoko the proprietress of Shiraume explaining the significance and components of each dish. The breadbasket for breakfast contained the best pastries and bread I've ever had hands down, and were made fresh every morning by Tomoko's uncle. Tomoko was very helpful in helping to plan out our day and was able to tell us which sights to visit at what time in order to avoid crowds. Shiraume is an absolute gem in the heart of Kyoto that offers the quintessential ryokan experience. I cannot wait for my next stay!