PHILOSOPHY

A Path to Progress
Looking Back on the History and
Beauty of Kyoto and Kikusui.

During the period of transformation during which Japan pursued its unique culture following the Meiji Restoration, Ogawa Jihei, the seventh-generation gardener who constructed the gardens of the distinguished figures in the vicinity of Nanzenji Temple, breathed new life into modern garden-making.

Kikusui opened its history around the 28th year of the Meiji era as the villa of the kimono merchant Sukeemon Teramura, and thus became the stage for Ueji's Garden.

Kikusui then crossed paths with the renowned Kyoto cuisine chef Shinzo Itamae, and began making its mark on time by welcoming many guests as a Culinary Ryokan.

A new "Kikusui" has now been born in order to pass on the culture and identity that Kikusui has created over the years into the future.

The History of Kikusui

The place known as Kikusui, located by Nanzenji Temple, was first built as a villa for Sukeemon Teramura, a former kimono merchant, around the 28th year of the Meiji era.

On the approximately 2710 square meter premises, lies the magnificent garden created by Ogawa Jihei VII, also known as "Ueji," who is said to be a pioneer of modern gardens. The adjacent building is a sukiya-style structure that embodies the essence of Japanese architecture. With the magnificent view of Higashiyama in the background, Kikusui is a place which has been nurturing "time" since the Meiji era.

The pond which lies in the garden was modeled after Lake Biwa, and a bridge was built at the exact spot where the Omi Bridge would be on the lake. There is an anecdote that the bridge was built with the wishes of receiving the blessings of the Biwako Canal and enriching people's lives who lived around it.

Cherry blossoms in the spring and colored maple leaves in the autumn fill the garden with the vivid colors of the four seasons. The garden is further furnished with a tea room established with the permission of the grandmaster of the tea ceremony and stone lanterns associated with Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

While the owners of Kikusui have changed several times over the years, the elegant garden, borrowed scenery, and magnificient appearance were all preserved and protected and Ryori Ryokan Kikusui was born in 1955.

Then and Now -
The Flow of Time that
Kikusui has Inherited

Since the Meiji era, Kikusui has been carving out time-honored experiences. Enveloped in serenity and the ambiance of Kyoto, the graceful appearance, the picturesque garden that changes with each season, and its historically significant building all tell the story of the connections between the people who came into contact with each other at Kikusui. 。

This encounter was with the renowned Chef Shinzo Itamae, who was widely acclaimed to be among the top three chefs in Kyoto.Incorporating traditional culinary techniques passed down through the ages and various cultural arts of Kyoto into the dishes, Chef Shinzo's cuisine captivated the guests who visited Kikusui and this earned the respect of many other chefs and restaurant owners through Japan.

Kikusui has been creating a place and time in which "cuisine" and "time" can be enjoyed to the fullest throughout its history.