~ "Serene Incense Stay" enveloped in fragrances with kneaded incense and incense pillows, as seen in the Tale of Genji ~
HOSHINOYA Kyoto, a ryokan nestled in Arashiyama with every room boasting river views, presents the "Serene Incense Stay" from December 15, 2024 to March 15, 2025. This program invites guests to immerse themselves in the incense culture of the Heian period amidst the crisp winter air and tranquility of Kyoto. The stay begins with enjoying the making of kneaded incense in a guest room enveloped in silence. Before going to bed, guests will burn the blended kneaded incense into letters and clothes, spending time enveloped in the fragrance. The next day, guests will ride on HOSHINOYA Kyoto's private houseboat "Hisui," filling the space with the aroma of kneaded incense. This program offers guests a calm winter retreat in the tranquil depths of Arashiyama, where they can experience the Heian period's incense culture and refresh their mind and body.
Background
Oku-Arashiyama, where HOSHINOYA Kyoto is located, is a scenic spot where Heian aristocrats spent their time enjoying the valley's scenery in all four seasons. In winter, it is enveloped in a dignified atmosphere and a landscape reminiscent of an ink painting. It is a quiet space filled with the sounds of nature, such as the murmuring of the river, the cries of animals, and the sound of birds flapping their wings on the water's surface. We want our guests to enjoy the delicate fragrances that the Heian aristocrats also loved and refresh themselves in an environment away from the hustle and bustle.
Feature 1: Immerse yourself in the making of kneaded incense, a tradition that has continued since the Heian period
At the beginning of this program, guests will make kneaded incense using authentic incense materials prepared by Yamadamatsu Incense-wood co.,Ltd., a long-established incense store in Kyoto. Kneaded incense is a type of incense made by kneading powdered incense materials into a round shape using honey or plum flesh. In the Heian period, kneaded incense was a way for aristocrats to express their education and wealth, and they would blend their own incense in pursuit of a more refined fragrance (*1). The Tale of Genji also depicts nobles using their knowledge to blend kneaded incense and competing with each other to see who could create the best fragrance. In this program, guests will create two types of kneaded incense known as "Six Kinds of Incense (*3)": Baika (plum blossom) and Kurobo, which also appears in the Tale of Genji. HOSHINOYA Kyoto staff, who have received guidance from Yamada Matsu Koki-ten, will support the blending based on the recipe. This is an experience where guests can immerse themselves in the creation of fragrances, following in the footsteps of the Heian aristocrats.
*1 Masaaki Mitsui, "Recommendation of Kodo"
*2 Incense (kneaded incense), which became popular among Heian aristocrats, was eventually classified into six major themes: Kurobo, Baika, Kayo, Kikuka, Ochiba, and Jiju.
Feature 2: Spend time with the fragrance imbued in letters and clothes
After dinner, guests will transfer the kneaded incense they have blended to letters, clothes, and hair, and spend time wearing the fragrance. For Heian aristocrats, fragrance played a role in expressing themselves. Therefore, they would send love letters with their scent on them or burn their favorite incense into their clothes and hair. In this program, guests will use a tool to transfer fragrance to kimonos in the Heian period, to imbue letters and clothes with fragrance. At bedtime, guests will place an incense pillow by their bedside and fall asleep while being healed by the fragrance.
Feature 3: Enjoy boating while enveloped in fragrance
The next morning, guests will spend time on HOSHINOYA Kyoto's private houseboat "Hisui," gazing at the dignified scenery of the winter valley while the kneaded incense they blended the day before wafts through the boat. The Oi River, which flows in front of HOSHINOYA Kyoto, is where Heian aristocrats enjoyed boating while gazing at the valley scenery in all four seasons. On the boat, following the "Kumoi Awase (*3)," where Heian aristocrats showed off their kneaded incense and competed to see who had the best, guests will enjoy the subtle differences in fragrance of the two types of kneaded incense they blended the day before. This is a boat trip where guests can reminisce about the scenery of Arashiyama and the incense culture that the Heian aristocrats loved.
*3 A Heian period court game where various kneaded incenses are brought together and burned to compete for superiority. (Digital Daijisen)
Example Stay Schedule
<Day 1>
3:00PM Check-in
4:00PM Make kneaded incense under the guidance of staff
6:00PM Enjoy dinner with winter ingredients (separate fee)
8:30PM Spend time with the fragrance imbued in letters and clothes
11:00PM Go to bed wearing the fragrance
<Day 2>
8:30AM Enjoy breakfast with the ink painting-like scenery visible from the guest room (separate fee)
10:30AM Enjoy boating while enveloped in fragrance
12:00 PM Check-out
"Serene Incense Stay" Overview
Period: December 15, 2024 - March 15, 2025
Time: 1 night, 2 days
Price: 60,500 JPY per group (tax and service charge included, accommodation fee separate)
Includes: Kneaded incense making, private rental of the houseboat "Hisui"
Capacity: 1 to 2 people per group
Reservations: Accepted until 7 days prior on the official website (https://hoshinoresorts.com/ja/hotels/hoshinoyakyoto/)
Location: HOSHINOYA Kyoto
Eligibility: Guests staying at the hotel
Remarks: In case of inclement weather, the houseboat may be canceled.
Best Rate Guaranteed
