As Japan’s ancient capital, Kyoto’s rich history has long attracted visitors in droves—but it was only in recent years that the city’s luxury hotel scene really came into its own, due to an exponential influx of international and boutique brands. The latest addition to the city, that will begin welcoming guests this Friday? Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto.
Nestled in the hills of Higashiyama Ward, the hotel is set on the grounds of the former Hotel Ryozen in a location that strikes a balance between remoteness and convenience. Surrounded by lush trees and its own little bamboo grove (who needs Arashiyama and its ensuing crowds), the hotel is just removed enough that guests can enjoy Kyoto’s natural beauty without all the hustle and bustle. Yet it’s simultaneously a stone’s throw away from some of the city’s most popular attractions, like the picturesque Yasaka Pagoda; Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, a pair of pedestrian-only, shop-lined streets; and Kiyomizu-dera, a Buddhist temple dating back more than a millennium that has been dubbed a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Photo: Courtesy of Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto
Given the historic setting, it’s appropriate that the brand’s first foray in the country is an homage to classic Japanese design with interiors reminiscent of a ryokan, punctuated by modern touches befitting of present-day travelers. So it comes as no surprise that Kengo Kuma was tapped for the project, whose philosophy of harmoniously integrating buildings into its surrounding environment and making natural materials the star serves as the perfect fit. In the case of Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto, its traditional architecture seamlessly blends in with nearby structures while a geometric lattice of wood beams that makes up the eaves of the entrance gives way to Kuma’s contemporary signature.