The origins of Tawaraya Ryokan stretch back three centuries to 1709, during the Edo period. Tawaraya Wasuke, a trader of hemp and cotton textiles in Shimane Prefecture, bought land in Kyoto, founding the ryokan as a side business. The intention was for the ryokan to be used as an inn for local feudal officials and samurai visiting the area. Over the years, the ryokan continued to thrive and serve guests, largely remaining a family-owned enterprise.

However, during the Kinmon Incident of 1864, rebels attempting to seize the Emperor ended up setting Kyoto on fire, with the ryokan being completely burned down. It was rebuilt afterwards into the configuration that it is largely today.

The ryokan’s reputation for excellent service only grew and improved in the succeeding years, with members of former daimyo, aristocratic families, and even members of the Tokugawa clan itself taking time to stay there as well. By the *20th century, its reputation grew internationally, with notable figures like Steven Spielberg, Robert Oppenheimer, and Tom Cruise all spending time staying at the ryokan, leaving it with nothing but praise for its service. Until today, under 15 generations of continued family management, the ryokan continues to provide its unique and impeccable service and accommodations to visitors who seek to enjoy its rich and continuing heritage.

Tawaraya Ryokan has maintained a great deal of its traditional features, presenting itself as a simple yet authentic example of traditional Japanese wooden architecture. It is three floors high, and features 18 rooms. It is in its interiors where guests can fully experience the charm and beauty of the ryokan. Upon entry, guests are ushered into a luxurious lobby, featuring a tsubo-niwa pocket garden in the center whose plants are changed monthly. Byobu painted screens with intricate artwork greet visitors, leading up to a waiting room with Western-style seats and a bookcase.

Upon reaching their rooms, it becomes apparent that these have also retained the minimalist yet modern Japanese design, with the usual yet well-chosen tatami mats, shoji screens, fusuma doors, and low cedar tables. Futon beds utilize thick shiki-buton mattresses, allowing for a comfortable compromise with Western-style beds. Some rooms come with their private gardens, including tokonoma alcoves displaying seasonal scrolls or flower arrangements.

Despite its seemingly small size, the ryokan has room for outdoor gardens and a study, where visitors can read English or Japanese books while reclining in a nearby alcove.

Guests of Tawaraya Ryokan can enjoy a variety of cultural experiences that Kyoto is known for. Located right in the middle of Kyoto, visitors of the ryokan are in a very favorable location to explore and experience the rest of the city. They would not even need to travel far, as they can visit the Museum of Kyoto, featuring general exhibitions of arts and crafts, illustrations, and artifacts of Kyoto’s history. Meanwhile, the Kunjyukan features the production of incense and various fragrances.

Younger guests might be more appreciative of the Kyoto International Manga Museum, which features more than 500,000 works of manga arranged in different collections. Another historical experience visitors may enjoy is the Kyoto Samurai Ninja Museum, which showcases all sorts of artifacts and exhibits about the famed samurai and ninjas of old. The museum is lavishly decorated, with dozens upon dozens of full-body samurai armor displays, and a vast collection of swords, shuriken, and other related artefacts from various periods of Japanese history. Visitors can also try on samurai armor, whether for men or women, and for all ages, even with appropriate swords.