About the Shiraume Ryokan

The area where the Shiraume Ryokan is located is one of the most beautiful and historical areas in Kyoto, the Gion district. Gion, day and night, is still very much a living world of elegant and traditional sophistication, charms and mysteries. Here the geiko and maiko (apprentice geiko) live, study and work against a backdrop of old cherry and willow trees along the Shirakawa Stream and the polished grand wooden facades of Hanamikoji and the many fascinating back lanes. Shiraume Ryokan's two 100-year-old red and white plum trees welcome you at the start of our small entrance bridge. In the late Edo period (1600-1868) our ryokan used to be an ochaya (where maiko or apprentice geiko live while they study, train and work). The famous Japanese poet, Isamu Yoshida, who loved Gion, praised its beauty and elegance in his poetry. The Shiraume Ryokan offers excellent service and warm, friendly hospitality to all its guests. We especially love foreign visitors and understand their needs

Shiraume Ryokan History

In the beginning our inn was an ochaya teahouse called Oyagi. In the Meiji period (1868-1912) and Taisho period (1912-1926), our inn continued to serve many important Gion guests from all over Japan. One famous poet, loved of our rooms very much, and today his poetic calligraphy decorates a scroll hanging in that same room.

In 1949, the previous female manager of the ochaya teahouse decided to convert her family business into an elegant inn which she renamed Shiraume or White Plum. The entrance of the inn building is reached by crossing over a short bridge that crosses the romantic Shirakawa Stream. At the entrance to the bridge stand two plum trees.

We offer natural wonders in every season: fireflies in summer, bush clovers in autumn, snow in winter and plum blossoms in early spring. You will discover the seasonal charms of Kyoto at Shiraume Ryokan: we live in a world of beauty and charm.

The Shirakawa Stream runs down a valley that flanks the west side of Mount Hiei (the big mountain on the northeastern perimeter of Kyoto). The stream runs through the Okazaki area northeast of the Gion district. A branch was constructed in the early 17th century to transport timbers to build Nijo Castle. The water running in front of our inn is clear and is home to many water animals (ducks, koi carp, eels, shells, etc.). Our neighborhood area was designated as a historical scenery preservation district in 1976 and remains one of the best preserved traditional areas in all of Japan.