Why Stay?

In culture-rich Higashiyama, one of Kyoto’s most touristy areas lies an oasis. Located just 20 minutes away on foot from the crowded Kiyomizu-dera temple, Six Senses Kyoto is a welcome retreat. The brand’s first outpost in Japan is fast becoming a standard-bearer in the land of Zen. Those familiar with the concept, but new to its city hotels will be pleasantly surprised to see how Six Senses has adapted its resorts’ barefoot luxury aesthetic to a refined, elegant city vibe. Here, the concept of miyabi, which refers to courtly elegance, is celebrated through design.

The Neighborhood

Just a 20-minute walk away from the UNESCO-listed temple of Kiyomizu-dera and the historic Gion area, Six Senses Kyoto is situated in a peaceful part of Higashiyama, which houses landmark places of worship like the Myoho-in (not open to the public) and the Sanjusangendo Temple which has 1,001 life-size bodhisattva statues. Neighborhood local gems off the tourist radar include POJ Studio, which offers small group classes in kintsugi (the art of mending broken ceramics with lacquer), and Ichikawaya Coffee, where locals wait in line for a seat in the machiya cafe known for its house-roasted beans and seasonal fruit sando. By car, the hotel is just 10 minutes away from Kyoto’s train station and the shopping district around Nishiki Market.

Inside the breezy lobby at Six Senses Kyoto.

The Feel

The moment you step into the expansive lobby at Six Senses Kyoto, weariness begins to ebb. Behind the check-in desk is a wall of 504 Rakuyaki tiles in earthy shades, made by ceramic artisan Yoshimura Rakunyu, which evoke the silhouette of Mount Kurama, the birthplace of Reiki. Sit across the hotel’s central courtyard and gaze at the reflecting pond; while rubbing a blend of incense in your palms before inhaling. Made by Tenkhodou, a local 90-year-old shop, the welcome ritual sets the tone for a relaxing stay.

A modern take on the 12th-century Choju-giga, satirical picture scrolls of animals in a human-like fashion and believed to be Japan’s first manga comic, spans the length of the wall opposite the check-in counter. This theme of incorporating elements of Japanese folklore, from the walkways to the dining areas, is repeated throughout the hotel, designed by the Singapore-headquartered Blink Design Group.

Guest Quarters

Outside each of the 81 rooms and suites hangs a fox mask made of recycled washi paper. The fox’s eyes or ears can be illuminated to indicate privacy preferences. This is a tribute to the “kitsune,” a deity and messenger in the Shinto religion who appears in the form of a fox. A wish for absolute privacy is denoted by a fox mask without light.

Rooms at Six Senses Kyoto overlook either the inner courtyard or the Toyokuni Shrine. The dominant color and texture are blond wood, and the design theme is minimalistic to promote rest; even the TV is hidden behind a moon painting. As Six Senses is a pioneer in sleep programs, sleep quality is high on the agenda. Guests enjoy temperature-regulating pillows and pajamas by the Japanese recovery wear brand Tential, designed for fatigue recovery.

Food and Drink

The main restaurant, Sekki, which means “seasons” in Japanese, is a tribute to the celebration of Japan’s 24 micro-seasons. Under the watch of executive chef Hiroki Shishikura, the ever-evolving menu offers the best of seasonal produce from a network of Kyoto farmers or producers within 100 miles of the hotel. Fermented foods figure largely on the breakfast menu with an array of pickles at the buffet table. As sustainability has always been a big part of Six Senses’ DNA, vegetable offcuts are transformed into delicious dips. Sushi lovers, make a beeline for Sushi Oga Higashiyama, an offshoot of a famous Osaka sushi restaurant, specializing in different cuts of tuna on red vinegared rice. The Nine Tails bar, again inspired by Japanese folklore, is stocked with mostly Japanese liquors and spirits. Top tip: order the Sansho Vesper, made with vodka, lemon and sansho pepper distillate, shiso bitters and sake.

The outdoor terrace at Sekki during the spring; a signature dish from the same restaurant.

Wellness Factor

Wellness here, in Six Senses’ style, is a blend of modern science, traditional healing, and the wisdom of Zen Buddhism too. The Ah-Un massage uses vibrational tuning forks to stimulate acupressure points and improve Qi. The sprawling spa, designed in light wood and stone, also has an Alchemy Bar where guests can create beauty products from natural ingredients like sake lees (the filtered residue from sake production) and herbs, a Watsu pool, a lap pool, a studio for sound meditation and yoga, and a lounge where guests suffering from jetlag can benefit from compression therapy and LED face masks.

Family Matters

Grow with Six Senses is a plastic-free space for young travelers focusing on cultural activities like origami-paper folding.

Sustainability Cred

Circular practices are everywhere—from the food served at Sekki to the activities available at Earth Lab, where guests can make candles from upcycled materials and watch how water purification at the hotel is carried out. Guests can also learn about composting at the hotel’s gardens, where some of the herbs and plants on the bar menu are grown.

What Else?

The hotel also offers onsite workshops with Hanae Oku, the fourth-generation owner of Tenkhodou, which custom-blends the welcome incense for the hotel. Guests can also learn dashi-making from a famous chef.

Reviewed by Mavis Teo

sixsenses.com
+81 75 531 0700
431 Myohoin Maekawacho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, Japan

Six Senses Kyoto: Elegantly Zen

Kyoto Hotels

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