Hikari

Overview

Sleek with unmistakable Kyoto style and classic machiya ambiance, Hikari is a cozy, fully renovated traditional Japanese home. The house features plenty of old-world charm, while its modern renovation ensures that guests have all the amenities they need for a comfortable and unforgettable stay. Elegantly simple design and bedrooms that look like something ripped from the pages of a home interior editorial magazine spread, this five-person-capacity home is a wonderful choice when staying in Kyoto.

With soft, almost matcha-like greens of the bedroom’s tatami, earthy colored walls, and warm wooden finishes, as well as shoji sliding paper doors, Hikari embodies the tranquility of simple Japanese design. Although it has plenty of traditional elegance, it still feels tidy, spacious, and effortlessly livable.

Each room of the house has its own distinct personality, and the entire home feels airy and light while also retaining a sense of coziness and warmth. A little smaller than its sister homes Aki and Haru, Hiraki can accommodate up to five guests. It boasts 75 square meters of space spread across two floors and features a Japanese zen garden out the back. Each room of the house has its own distinct personality, and the entire home feels airy and light while also retaining a sense of coziness and warmth. A little smaller than its sister homes Aki and Haru, Hiraki can accommodate up to five guests. It boasts 75 square meters of space spread across two floors and features a Japanese zen garden out the back.

Location

Hikari is ideally positioned in the heart of Kyoto. It’s located within walking distance of the city’s many attractions but is also nestled in a quiet backstreet, ensuring complete tranquility. Less than a 10-minute walk east from Hikari sits Kyoto Imperial Palace and the stunning surrounding Kyoto Gyoen National Garden, which season in, season out offers spectacular natural views and is the perfect location for a late-morning stroll.

Situated in an excellent position for those who want to explore the city by bicycle – which is highly recommended – from Hikari, it’s about a 10-minute ride to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Nijo Castle and a 20-minute ride north to Kinkakuji, Kyoto’s iconic golden temple. Pedal 10 minutes to the east, and you’ll also reach the more northern end of Kyoto’s iconic Kamo River, the main waterway of the city, and an area home to plenty of excellent dining establishments. 

Nishijin, the neighborhood in which Hikari is located, is a beautiful area, home to traditional architecture and quaint streets. It’s an area known for its textile production. The Nishijin weaving technique is famous for its highly decorative and finely woven designs and is well-regarded for the quality and craftsmanship of its fabrics, which are commonly used for high-end obi and kimono. 

The home is also surrounded by other similar Shiki-run properties, Aki and Haru. Booked together, the homes that make up Shiki Complex could also be perfect for larger traveling groups of up to 15, like tours or research groups.

History

Hikari, along with two other Shiki Complex houses, Haru and Aki, are proudly owned by an individual with long-term ties to Kyoto and the Kamigyo-Ku neighborhood in which the homes are situated. The houses are owned by local Raku-san, the current owner and operator of the nearby Raku Museum. The Raku Museum is a fascinating local landmark dedicated to showcasing the Raku family’s famous ceramics. The Raku family was the family that made the bowls for Sen no Rikyu, Japan’s master of the tea ceremony. You can trust when you stay at a Shiki Complex home your money is going to help support local businesses.

Description

With exposed beams throughout, tatami mat finishing in the bedrooms, warm wooden flooring in the living and dining areas, and earthy walls, Hikari is a home filled with classic Kyoto charm. It’s a two-bedroom, five-person-capacity home that can be as versatile as its guests are unique. The house is ideal for small families or even a group of close friends. For larger groups of up to 15, the house can be booked with the other neighboring Shiki Complex homes Aki and Haru. With exposed beams throughout, tatami mat finishing in the bedrooms, warm wooden flooring in the living and dining areas, and earthy walls, Hikari is a home filled with classic Kyoto charm. It’s a two-bedroom, five-person-capacity home that can be as versatile as its guests are unique. The house is ideal for small families or even a group of close friends. For larger groups of up to 15, the house can be booked with the other neighboring Shiki Complex homes Aki and Haru.

The lounge room, located on the first floor, features a plush sofa and large TV. It also features shoji sliding paper doors that connect the living room to the engawa (indoor-outdoor space), which opens up to a small Japanese style garden. Open the engawa, set up a mat by the window, and you’ll have the perfect yoga nook for meditating in the Kyoto sun. The lounge room, located on the first floor, features a plush sofa and large TV. It also features shoji sliding paper doors that connect the living room to the engawa (indoor-outdoor space), which opens up to a small Japanese style garden. Open the engawa, set up a mat by the window, and you’ll have the perfect yoga nook for meditating in the Kyoto sun.

In the room, joining onto the living room is where you’ll find the spacious, self-contained dining area, which comes with a completely renovated, fully equipped kitchen and dining table, perfect for enjoying a meal or using as an impromptu workspace for those last-minute emails.

The sleeping quarters are on the second floor. There are two bedrooms, one with a double western bed and the other with two semi-double western beds and a sleek indigo-blue feature wall. Dotted with tasteful Japanese motifs, like framed calligraphy, Hikari is a home proud to show its heritage and ensure guests enjoy a comfortable, traditionally styled modern stay.