Editor’s Note: The Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto offered TPG a free two-night stay so we can get a glimpse of the hotel’s interior and amenities. The views expressed below are entirely those of the hotel and have not been subject to review through the hotel. or any outdoor entity.
Kyoto, the former capital of Japan, remains the center of the country’s cultural heritage. It has more than 2,000 temples and shrines, historic alleys, an imperial palace, and beautiful handicrafts on promotion passed down from generation to generation.
Kyoto is also decidedly contemporary, with state-of-the-art art studios, fashion workshops, and cutting-edge restaurants that have garnered acclaim abroad. It embodies an irreconcilable blend of old-world prestige and cutting-edge sophistication, which in turn is reflected in one of its finest luxury hotels, the Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto.
Related: The World’s Best Four Seasons, According to Travel Experts Who Stayed There
It borders some of the city’s most important cultural sites and is based on the centuries-old traditions of Japanese hospitality. At the same time, it offers room technology and amenities that everyone from business travelers to family groups will enjoy. The hotel is like a miniature edition of Kyoto.
Here’s everything you want to know about staying at the Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto and how to make the most of your time there.
The Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto is close to the city’s historic center, many temples, and the Instagramm-favorite red Torii gates on Fushimi Inari Hill.
If you arrive exercising at Kyoto Station, a taxi or rideshare service will take about 10 minutes and charge you between 1,350 and 1,500 Japanese yen ($9 to $10). If you’re traveling light, you can also take several city buses, adding line 206, for just 230 yen ($1. 50); It takes about 15 minutes.
The nearest major overseas gateway is Kansai International Airport (KIX). To get from the airport to the hotel, you can take the Kansai limousine bus to Kyoto Station and from there take a city bus for about 3300 yen ($22). The time deserves to be around 90 minutes to two hours. A taxi or car service can also be rented, which reduces the time to about an hour and 15 minutes, the cost can be prohibitive, between $250 and $300.
The Four Seasons Kyoto has just 180 hotels in total, adding 110 rooms (48 of which are interconnected, making it a good choice for family groups traveling together), thirteen suites, and 57 apartments; The apartments have these spacious square meters of suite type, but with other amenities such as dining rooms, kitchens and washing machines.
Even the deluxe rooms at the pivotal point start at just 530 square feet, and the Premier Garden View room I stayed in is even more spacious at 570 square feet. Some sets also have a balcony overlooking the historic park.
Four Seasons Kyoto participates in the Amex Fine Hotels Resorts program. American Express Platinum Card® or American Express Business Platinum Card® cardholders who book electronically through AmexTravel will get benefits such as a complimentary daily breakfast for two, room upgrades based on availability, $100 in site credits to use their stay, and guaranteed expired check-out.
The hotel is also part of Chase’s new The Edit, which is a rebrand of its collection of luxury hotels and resorts. So, if you have an eligible card and make your reservation through Chase Travel, you can expect perks like breakfast for two. , room upgrades based on availability, early check-in and late check-out based on availability, a $100 mortgage loan to use during your stay, and a welcome gift. Those who own Chase Sapphire Reserve® can even redeem Ultimate Rewards issues for remnants reserved at The Edit properties.
Others eligible for The Edit reservations include:
Rates at the Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto for the next few months start at around $1,160 per night, while the Premier Garden View room I stayed in starts at $1,350 per night.
Tucked away beyond a bamboo-lined walkway straight out of an Ang Lee movie and overlooking Shakusui-en ikenawa (a superbly preserved 12th-century lawn and pond with a slender pagoda, believed to have once been part of a tough samurai’s mountain villa), The Four Seasons Kyoto is an enclave of historic charm with just the right amount of modern refinement.
Guests can book private tea ceremonies (or sake tastings) at Fuju, the former teahouse located next to the pond, and watch superbly choreographed musical performances through a maiko (an apprentice geisha). You can also enjoy state-of-the-art smoked cocktails in the Lounge.
Is it a one-of-a-kind Hermès rickshaw in the lobby?And do those adorable souvenir teddy bears dressed in homemade kimonos in the store cost a relative fortune?Of course.
But do kids like the cream-filled taiyaki waffles at the breakfast buffet?Yes, that too. And there’s no extra charge to use the spa’s lockers, equipped with Ofuro-style hot tubs, or to take a dip in the serene underground pool.
So whether you want to enjoy the cultural riches of Kyoto or simply take your circle of family members on a luxury vacation in today’s environment, the Four Seasons Kyoto will be the solution. . . if you can afford a really expensive bill.
My Premier Garden View room is at the same point as the front table (third floor) and a few doors beyond the guest elevators. It is almost six hundred square feet with panoramic windows overlooking the lawn and pond.
Just inside the front door is a small seating space where you can take off your shoes before heading out into the rest of the room.
Along one wall, wood cladding reminiscent of Kyoto’s famous Arashiyama bamboo forest; It contained the closet with security and hanging space, as well as a large luggage storage area.
The master bedroom contained a king-size bed dressed in Four Seasons’ signature white bedding with a small bench at its feet, as well as a semi-separate living room with a couch, ottoman, and desk.
Protected through privacy dividers reminiscent of Kyoto’s famous ornamental washi rice paper and painted with tree-like patterns, the bedroom felt like a room unto itself.
There was a nightstand on either side. One of them had an ornamental lamp, plugs, USB ports and a tablet with hotel information; the other had a Bluetooth speaker and switches for room lights, blinds, and curtains, which automatically lowered and closed to create a cocoon-like space.
Although the sofa in the living room was upholstered in taupe, the cushions were colorful, with purple cushions and orchid prints. There was also a circular ottoman to rest your feet on.
The stone table had a chair on one side, plus power outlets, USB ports, and controls for blinds and curtains.
On the wood-paneled wall next to the desk, the 55-inch diameter flat-screen HDTV.
In addition, the minibar was stocked with a hot kettle, a classic kettle with two hand-painted porcelain cups, a Nespresso machine, and a variety of snacks, plus soy-glazed rice crackers and chocolate-covered gluten buns.
There was also Japanese wine and gin, vodka and whiskey, as well as water and soft drinks.
The bathroom was huge and took up at least a third of the clutter in the room. There were sliding paper doors separating it from the front hallway and the bedroom (which also had a glass partition).
The main doleading had sand-colored marble flooring and cladding with two black granite sinks at vanity level. A drawer stocked with amenities in case you left toiletries at home, as well as lavender-scented Diptyque soap and lotion.
The bathrooms were equipped with an automated Toto toilet with the same old functions, adding a heated seat.
Through a swinging glass door, the bathroom area housed the shower and bathtub. The open shower was supplied with a wall-mounted hanging shower head that you can also detach to hold in your hand, and the area filled with full-size Diptyque products. .
The tub was oblong and deep, with its own manual faucet. It contained a bar of soap and a scrubbing cloth, as well as packets of yuzu-scented bath salts for a relaxing bath.
At once opulent and understated, the room, like the rest of the hotel, blended the sensibility of fresh luxury with a sense of position and, beyond that, the right combination of elements.
Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto has 4 main restaurants. Adjacent to the lobby (yes, just past the Hermès rickshaw and local studio Tohgoro pottery on the nearby shelves) is the lounge area and bar. It is open from noon to 11 p. m.
Though casual, the space feels upscale thanks to the shiny black marble floor and velvet chairs and benches in the living room. There is plenty of natural light through the huge windows.
The menu of the day includes a collection of pastries, seasonal logs, coffee drinks, Jing teas, and bar bites like Japanese beef tenderloin sandwich bites ($20), calamari fritters ($22), and vegetable hummus ($17).
In the evening, you can find other visitors sipping theatrically presented cocktails. The Yuzu Mule offers chamomile, tangy yuzu, and peach juice paired with ginger ale and lemon vodka ($26); the Smoky Old Fashioned lives up to its call with its blend of Japanese whiskey, maple syrup, house-made cinnamon and orange bitters, and a cherry wood smoke that is applied over the whiskey for a heady effect ($26).
Sadly, the hotel’s elegant Edomae-style sushi restaurant, Sushi Wakon, was closed during my layover, but serves lunch and two courses in the evening (at 6 p. m. ). m. and at 8 p. m. ).
The menu changes were based on the new fish imported that day from Tokyo’s Toyosu Market and served on a 26-foot, 10-seat counter made of 200-year-old hinoki wood. (There are also two personal dining rooms for separate parties. ) At lunch, you can enjoy a simpler nigiri menu ($163), but dinner is a chef-chosen omakase dinner with a variety of dishes that can exceed a dozen ($222).
On my first afternoon, I wandered through the ancient gardens, feeding the friendly koi carp and ducks from a bridge over the pond. I then stopped at the hotel’s tea room, Fuju, for a waterfront sake tasting that included a glass of the hotel’s special cuvée. made in Kyoto ($40 for a tasting of three sake).
The hotel also serves afternoon tea ($44 per person) with treats like kumquat chiffon cake and Kyoto black bean panna cotta that vary seasonally. Guests can also order champagne and cocktails or book a personal tea ceremony or personal romantic dinner.
Finally, the hotel’s main restaurant, the Brasserie, is located under the reception, via a giant staircase. As it turns out, it’s currently evolving, and lunch and dinner menus aren’t available lately.
However, I enjoyed the sumptuous breakfast buffet both mornings of my stay, which is included in the maximum nightly rates. It’s too cold to eat on the outdoor terrace, but those are the seats you should take if you’re here on a big day. Otherwise, nest-like cabins on one side of the area feel personal yet approachable.
Guests can explore the offerings throughout the bar. They range from sweets and savory pastries like matcha muffins and taiyaki waffles to homemade soba, cheeses, cold cuts, fresh fruits, yogurts, and special smoothies of the day (the yuzu lettuce one was revamped in the traditional way).
Among the hot a la carte Los Angeles dishes that accompanied the American breakfast were free-range onsen eggs (poached with truffle) with creamy truffle and poultry juice and avocado toast with poached eggs. Opt for the Japanese breakfast elos angelesborately presented, for every day. grilled fish, tamago-style sweet omelette, seasonal pickles, steamed rice, and homemade tofu with ginger sauce, among other hearty snacks.
In addition to its stunning gardens, what sets the Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto apart from other luxury hotels in the city is its cultural offerings. There are many paid activities, such as a personal tea ceremony in Fuju ($135 per person). ) and a kimono party where an ex helps you dress up in a classic Japanese dress before a photo shoot with your child (from $54 per child). Two women I met in Fuju were and enjoyed themselves immensely alone.
Some evenings, you can also enjoy a maiko (apprentice geisha) dance performance. A concierge team can recommend the city’s most productive fan department stores to shop for exclusive souvenirs, make last-minute reservations at hard-to-book restaurants like Tan, and much more. more.
The rest of the hotel was also accommodating and accommodating. They featured everything from tips on breakfast menus and cocktails to an impromptu trip to the gym and bread to feed the fish and ducks in the grassy pond.
The waiters at the restaurant remembered my coffee order the second morning of my stay and proactively replaced my cappuccino with a hot one after I left the first one to chat away from my table for several minutes. In short, it is not necessary, large or small, it has been overlooked.
The hotel’s boutique sells everything from sublime hanao sandals by Whole Love Kyoto to teddy bears dressed in kimonos and ornamental steel ornaments by Kazari Kanagu Takeuchi.
Its wellness complex, on the other hand, occupies two floors (B1 and B2). On one level, the expansive fitness center features Matrix aerobics equipment, weight machines, and loose weights, as well as a stretching and yoga studio. and women’s locker rooms with bathrooms, showers, white granite toilets, plus classic laundry stations, steam rooms, saunas and seating areas.
It sits next to the 65-foot indoor pool, which is a cavernous but well-lit area with gray granite tiles. It has plenty of loungers and loungers, as well as hot tubs placed in skylights for natural light.
On the upper level, the salon and spa have their own set of converted rooms with the same amenities. The spa has just seven remedies with décor inspired by Kyoto’s classic machiyas, or wooden townhouses. The facilities have well-known foreign brands such as the French Biologique Recherche and the Japanese Tatcha.
The Akari facial (meaning “light”) is carried out with the Tatcha skincare line and a gold-leaf facial massager offered by the city’s famous geisha (from $209 for 60 minutes); The Kyoto Heritage Shiatsu Massage is designed to optimize the body’s power (starting at $182 for 60 minutes).
Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto is located in Higashiyama’s historic district, close to some of its most famous temples and shrines. It is available to the entire metropolitan domain thanks to the extensive public transport network consisting of buses and trains.
Just around the corner, the Kyoto National Museum is home to valuable works of art and ancient artifacts. Not to be missed is the nearby Sanjunsangendo temple, with its thousand statues of Kannon, the goddess of compassion.
A 10- to 15-minute walk south, the grounds of Tofukoji Temple, with its disjointed wooden bridge, are nothing short of spectacular. From there, it will take you another 10 to 15 minutes to reach Fushimi Inari’s iconic red Torii gates (and a thrilling hike to the top, past mystical moss-covered shrines and smiling fox statues, if you feel like it).
From the hotel, visitors can walk about 15 minutes northeast to the sprawling, hilltop temple complex of Kiyomizu-Dera and the unmissable terraced spire of Yasaka Pagoda. They can then spend hours browsing the cafes and galleries along the picturesque pedestrian streets of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka. before descending into the alleyways of Gion’s classic geisha district.
Just across the Kamo River, Nishiki Market beckons with its aromatic food stalls and lively souvenir shops. However, you may have to take a city bus or taxi to Kyoto’s Imperial Palace Park and the Kinkakuji Golden Pavilion with its manicured gardens.
The Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto has two wheelchair-accessible entrances, one on the asset side where the aspects are located and the other in the hotel lobby.
Public spaces and visitor corridors are wide and without stairs to allow for easy use of wheelchairs; All floors are also available by lift.
Visitors in wheelchairs will need to be able to walk portions of the trail around the lawn and pond. However, the segment closest to Fuju comprises more coarsely cut stones, which can prove to be a challenge.
There is only one deluxe wheelchair accessible room with a larger bathroom than the other rooms; It has sliding doors, a roll-in shower, bathrooms with ramps, and recessed sink countertops. The bed has no special features to accommodate wheelchair users, but it is approximately 27 inches tall. If you want to book it electronically, you’ll need to tap directly on the hotel to make sure it’s reserved for you.
The Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto is absolutely trendy but with palpable nods to the afterlife and authentically to the ancient heritage of the surrounding city.
While the cultural offerings and tranquil gardens delight travelers looking to enjoy modern Japan more deeply, new hotels and high-quality service also make it the most sensible choice for business travelers and families.
The upscale value will put this hotel out of reach for many guests. However, if it suits your budget and you can book through a credit card portal or through an advisor who can guarantee you additional benefits, it’s worth staying here.
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