美山荘 京奥の料理旅館

What is Miyamasou?

Miyamasou is a Japanese-style inn and restaurant founded over a century ago during the Meiji era in the Hanase mountains in Kyoto’s inner sanctum. Tsumikusa cuisine crafted skillfully with seasonal bounties from the mountains and rivers, inspired by the herb gathering enjoyed as a pastime by Heian aristocrats. A physical space designed by Sotoji Nakamura, a master of Sukiya-zukuri architecture. Furnishings imbued with a playful spirit. Time, light, wind, sound, and aromas that continue to flow through this place.

We look forward to offering you a relaxing and rejuvenating experience amidst the mountains.

Rustic charm of mountain folk, elegance of tea ceremony, contemporary sensibilities

It was in 1937 that Miyamasou began operating as a Japanese-style restaurant with an attached inn. Since the third-generation owner, Yoshitsugu Nakahigashi, we have welcomed guests with a spirit of considerate yet unobtrusive hospitality, focusing on the elegance of the tea ceremony and Tsumikusa cuisine, which incorporates the noble custom of herb gathering cherished by Heian aristocrats.

By honoring the sensibilities and untamed spirit of the present while continually enriching the local Hanase culture through our cuisine, we aim to be a beloved inn and restaurant, committed to improving our services through daily hospitality.

The Origin of Tsumikusa Cuisine

The origin of Tsumikusa dates back to the Manyoshu (Japan's oldest anthology of poems). Heian aristocrats ventured out into the fields to physically experience the changing of the seasons. With love in their hearts and joy in embracing life within nature, they picked and savored the young herbs. Miyamasou’s third-generation owner incorporated that pastime into our Tsumikusa cuisine and gave it its name.

There is a waka poem in the Hyakunin Isshu anthology that translates as, “For you, I head out into the spring fields to pick young herbs, snow falling on my sleeves.” It depicts Emperor Koko gathering herbs for a loved one as spring snow gently falls upon his sleeves.

"Tsumikusa" is also a seasonal word for the third month of the lunar calendar. It evokes a time long ago when people looked back on winter and looked forward to spring, as the buds of butterbur peeking out from the thawed earth filled their hearts with exhilaration and joy. It is a moment that connects people with nature.

When remote mountain scenery and pastimes crystallize

Hisato Nakahigashi, the fourth-generation owner of Miyamasou, continues to develop and pass on Tsumikusa cuisine and to explore various ways of expressing it.

Raised in Hanase from his early years, he has strong memories of hiking into the mountains, diving into rivers, and getting buried in snow. He moved to France as a teenager and trained at a local auberge, which made a strong impression on him. He was deeply influenced by the way time flowed around food and people in France, the style of service there, and the experiences that deepened his love for his own culture. In this era when various things and experiences intersect and diversify, Miyamasou continues to experiment with new dining moments and the possibilities that unfold from them. Enjoy our imaginative seasonal creations.

Lunch or Dinner
Per person:
¥18,000 (base price) / ¥22,770 (tax and service charge included)
¥23,000 (base price) / ¥27,830 (tax and service charge included)
¥28,000 (base price) / ¥33,880 (tax and service charge included)
Prices vary depending on the course.
For further details, please contact us by phone.

A space created by a master Sukiya-zukuri architect

The sub-temples of Bujoji Temple, the main building that retains traces of Heian period architecture, and other structures were renovated by the master of Sukiya-zukuri architecture from Nakamura Sotoji Komuten.

The large glass windows in the annex guestrooms, through which light streams in, offer views of the adjacent riverbed, featuring a clear stream and earthen walls that change appearance with each passing moment. A key feature of Miyamasou is its design, which allows you to feel the swaying of the trees and the babbling of the river so intimately that you forget you are indoors.

Considerate yet unobtrusive

Miyamasou’s principle for hospitality is “considerate yet unobtrusive.” We look forward to welcoming you and ensuring a quiet, relaxing stay.

Per person:
¥60,000 (base price) / ¥75,900 (tax and service charge included)
Includes dinner and breakfast.
For more information, please contact us by phone.

Check-in: 15:30
Check-out: 10:30

Hanase and Miyamasou

A rural mountain village surrounded by beautiful flowers in the heart of the Kitayama region. Ancient customs, traditions, and beliefs. This region, where people live amidst the mountains and the fire festival comes alive, supplied timber to the Imperial Palace from the Heian period onward as part of the Emperor’s territory, and was known as a hidden summer resort for writers.

In its over 120 years of operation in Hanase as a Japanese-style restaurant with an attached inn, Miyamasou has played a key role in shaping the community. Through food and various experiences, we create local activities for the modern era that reflect the spirit of Miyamasou.