A Small Luxury Hotel Where Tradition Meets Modernity

SOWAKA is a small luxury hotel born in the Gion-Yasaka area of Kyoto, a beautiful ancient capital that is a representative of Japan, deeply rooted in history and tradition.

The hotel consists of 11 rooms in the main building, a large-scale renovation of a sukiya-style building that was once a long-established Japanese restaurant with 100 years of history, and 12 rooms in the newly built modern Japanese-style annex, for a total of 23 rooms.

The design for both the main and new buildings was handled by Uotsumi Architects, a rising architectural firm led by Shigenori Uotsumi, who has received numerous awards, including the Kyoto Architectural Award (Fukui Koji Award), which recognizes highly creative architectural works that respect Kyoto's historical context, and has extensive experience in renovating traditional Kyoto townhouses.

The greatest charm of SOWAKA lies in its unique guest rooms, with no two layouts being the same, showcasing the delicate craftsmanship of artisans in both the main and new buildings. The hotel embodies the sentiment of 'encountering artisans through SOWAKA,' aiming to deliver heartfelt感動 to guests from the moment they step through the entrance noren.

SOWAKA has been featured in The Michelin Guide Kyoto & Osaka 2020, announced on Wednesday, October 9.

Regarding this recognition, Taisuke Yajima, General Manager of SOWAKA, commented, "SOWAKA has been honored with a listing in the Michelin Guide. Receiving such an honor is beyond our expectations, and we express our deepest gratitude for the support, guidance, and encouragement from our guests, related parties, and the local community since our opening."

■"Even for Japanese people, it allows them to feel Japan."
This is one of the keywords that has been cherished from the beginning. How can we preserve buildings made with precious materials that have stood the test of time? Simply preserving them would be quickest if they were turned into museums, but in reality, such buildings are extremely rare.

So, how should they be preserved? How can we, living in the modern era, use old buildings without inconvenience? The owner, designers, artisans, coordinators, and operators. SOWAKA's main building is the result of various people clashing diverse opinions and reaching a consensus.

■Modern Japanese Expressed in the Present Day
When considering the new building, it was important that it not be merely an appendage to the main building. The story a building holds is a crucial element in making it attractive. The new building, completed just this January, has no story yet.

So, how can we create such a building to be attractive? This challenge led to even more heated discussions than for the main building. Unnecessary spaces. Interior walls that appear inorganic at first glance. Furniture placed deliberately. A restaurant unified in black. And a rugged yet stylish exterior. The new building, like the main one, expresses the essence of contemporary Japan.

SOWAKA
Address | 480 Kiyoi-cho, Shimokawara-dori, Yasaka Torii-mae Sagaru, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City
Main Building | 10 rooms (27㎡～97㎡)
Annex | 1 room (34㎡)
New Building | 12 rooms (35㎡～70㎡)
Total Rooms: 23
Facilities | Bar, Restaurant
Room Rates |
Main Building (per night, per room)
Standard: 27㎡ from ¥30,000
Superior: 32㎡ from ¥40,000
Deluxe: 50㎡ from ¥60,000
Suite: 97㎡ from ¥130,000
New Building (per night, per room)
Standard: 35㎡ from ¥40,000
Superior: 43㎡ from ¥60,000
Deluxe: 44㎡ from ¥64,000
Junior Suite: 70㎡ from ¥95,000
Annex (per night, per room)
Superior: 34㎡ from ¥43,000
*All prices above exclude tax and service charges.
Access |
Approx. 15 minutes by taxi from JR Kyoto Station
Approx. 10 minutes walk from Keihan Electric Railway Gion-Shijo Station
Approx. 14 minutes walk from Hankyu Electric Railway Kawaramachi Station