Views from the Yaami Hotel

From 1879 until 1899, when it downscaled after a large fire, the Yaami Hotel was arguably the premier spot for panoramic views of Kyoto. Many visitors described the view at length, and in often ecstatic terms, in travelogues. Some, like American artist John La Farge, painted it. Others sketched it.

Although it was only open to guests, the view from the Yaami could easily be revisited at different times in the day and over the entire length of one’s stay. Also in contrast to public viewpoints in the area, another attraction was the "private" nature of the view: it could be seen alone from one’s own room, in a setting that felt comfortable and familiar. The design of the hotel helped to facilitate this aspect: after expansion in 1894, more than half the rooms had “front aspects” and each floor had a veranda looking over the valley. English-language advertising, like those from guidebooks shown below, promoted the Yaami using these qualities — another advantage it enjoyed over other local viewing spots. As this suggests, hotel proprietors recognized the new sign-value of the view for its primary customer base: along with Western-style food and furnishings, it helped differentiate hotels like the Yaami from "Japanese inns" as a modern form of accommodation and was an effective selling point.