Nishiyama Ryokan , kyoto

24/08/2026

Don't clap at a temple. 🙏

Shrine or temple? In Kyoto they stand a few streets apart, and the rules are opposite.

⛩️ SHRINE — look for the torii gate
1. Purify your hands at the water basin
2. Place a coin in the offering box
3. Ring the bell
4. Two bows, two claps, one bow
→ Here, clapping is the polite thing to do. It's how you greet the god.

卍 TEMPLE — look for the wooden gate
1. One bow
2. Press your palms together
→ No clapping. Same hands, different meaning.

The water isn't about clean hands. It's a simplified form of ritual purification — you're leaving the outside world behind before you step in.

Most visitors clap at a temple at least once. Nobody will stop you — but now you'll know.

Our morning walking tour comes here. About 2 hours with a guide, and it's free if you're staying with us. Dates vary — you can check the schedule when you book. It's the reason many guests tell us they wish they'd booked a second night.

Save this before your trip — you'll want it at the first gate.

Nishiyama Ryokan, in the heart of Kyoto.
Book direct → link in bio

13/08/2026

Two rooms. One Kyoto. Which one are you?

Room 1 — the classic one. Tatami, paper screens, and a futon laid out on the floor. And here's the quiet magic: while you're having breakfast, that bed disappears — folded away into the closet, and the bedroom turns back into a living room. Two rooms in one, really.

Room 2 — the comfortable one. Tatami underfoot, but with a sofa to sink into and your comforts kept close.

There's no wrong answer — one family has been looking after both, in the middle of Kyoto, since 1953.

Tell us below: Room 1 or Room 2?
And comment "Kyoto" — we'll send you a little something for your trip :gift:

Book direct → link in bio


📍NISHIYAMA RYOKAN
433 Yamamoto-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto

Save this for your Kyoto trip so you won't miss a thing 🇯🇵
🎉Comment "KYOTO" and we'll DM
you a special coupon for your stay ㊗️

01/08/2026

I filmed every second of my check-in. You will too.

She meets you, shows you where your shoes come off — no guessing, no getting it wrong — and opens every door for you. Watch closely: always in two moves, never one. Slower means respect here.

And before you've even seen the whole room, a Kyoto sweet is placed in front of you.

This is what checking in looks like when you're a guest of the house, not a room number. One family has welcomed travellers this way in the middle of Kyoto since 1953.

Save this for your Kyoto trip — and send it to whoever you're travelling with, because this is the part hotel photos never show.

Book direct → link in bio
Save this for your Kyoto trip so you won't miss a thing 🇯🇵
💬 Comment "KYOTO" and we'll DM
you a special coupon for your stay 🎁

Book direct → link in bio
[](https://www.instagram.com/kyoto_nishiyama_ryokan/)

📍NISHIYAMA RYOKAN
433 Yamamoto-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto

28/07/2026

You didn't pay extra for any of this.

Kendama, daruma otoshi and origami on the tatami. A tea ceremony every morning at 9:30. Koto. A morning walk through the backstreets with an English-speaking guide. All of it free for guests — it's what our Japanese Culture Experience is for.

One family has welcomed travellers here, in the middle of Kyoto, since 1953.

The schedule changes week to week, so save this before you book — and send it to whoever you're travelling with.

Book direct → link in bio
[](https://www.instagram.com/kyoto_nishiyama_ryokan/)

📍NISHIYAMA RYOKAN
433 Yamamoto-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto（京都市役所前駅 10番出口から徒歩約2分）

24/07/2026

First time at Gion Matsuri? Two things most first-timers get wrong 🏮

1. Don't only come on parade day. Come a few days early and watch the floats raised entirely by hand — no nails, a technique over 1,000 years old.
2. Don't just watch them roll past — know what you're looking at. The praying-mantis float (Tōrō-yama) is the only one with moving parts, and the float that leads the whole procession still carries a real child as a sacred page. Every float has its own story.

And one quiet tip: July in Kyoto is hot and crowded, so base yourself a few minutes from the parade route. At our ryokan in Kyoto (founded 1953), the floats pass just a short walk from our door — and a cold tea and a garden are always waiting when you need a break from the heat.

Save this for your Kyoto trip so you won't miss a thing 🇯🇵
💬 Comment "KYOTO" and we'll DM
you a special coupon for your stay 🎁

Book direct → link in bio

30/06/2026

Did you know about this hidden gem in Kyoto?🇯🇵⛩️
Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto isn't usually the first name that comes up in travel guides,
but it's actually one of the city's most convenient areas
— right in central Kyoto, with easy access to major sightseeing spots and a calm,
local atmosphere where old-style Kyoto still lives.

It's the kind of neighborhood that feels authentic, comfortable, and pleasantly underrated.

✨ 5 things to do in Kyoto:
🏞️ Take a slow walk along the Kamo River
⛩️ Go temple hopping between shrines and temples
⚔️ Watch Kenbu, the art of the sword
🛏️ Sleep the Japanese way on a futon and tatami
🍵 Experience a traditional tea ceremony

We look forward to welcoming you at Nishiyama Ryokan on your next stay!

🇯🇵

05/06/2026

stay by Kawaramachi in central Kyoto 🇯🇵

Featuring 5 room types to suit different travel needs,
with traditional Japanese-style interiors offering
an immersive cultural experience.

Experience authentic Kyoto charm with ease at our RYOKAN,
highly recommended for international travelers.

🗣️English-speaking staff available
🍵Free cultural experiences such as tea
ceremony offered almost every morning
⚔️Occasional special performances,
including samurai sword dance demonstrations
🛀Features a large public bath
🪴Includes a traditional Japanese garden

If you’re planning a trip to Kyoto,
definitely add a ryokan stay to your list 💛

✨NISHIYAMA RYOKAN Established in 1953
📍433 Yamamoto-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto,JAPAN 604-0933
📞 +81-75-222-1166

03/01/2026

We were recently featured in a blog post by a guest who stayed with us in the past💕✨

Thank you very much for the warm and thoughtful article!

We will continue striving to provide an even more satisfying experience for our guests.

We sincerely look forward to welcoming you again in the future.

If you're interested in our ryokan or considering a visit, please check it out!

🔗 Wanders by RealMairie - Blog

https://www.realmairie.com/post/nishiyamaryokan?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAdGRleAPFr0FleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAafPKFaSKKqca_0OTkPPcFcSWMc02B2-oo9KHLcTIwOa3j9iltX027PR6WxdcQ_aem_eHyAHLX3RRofKtiBgr_xug

This relaxing ryokan is located in a quiet neighborhood close to the Imperial Palace and the Shijo Kawaramachi shopping areas. Their staff are now just welcoming, but also speaks English, so you'll surely have a great experience of Japanese hospitality. They also have cultural events, providing an e...