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Luxury travel inspiration from the Asia-Pacific region

DestinAsian

<h5><strong>Why stay? </strong></h5>
<p>An unexpected slice of calm amid Kyoto’s most well-known historic district, the Four Seasons delivers creature comforts galore in a setting that unites modernist style with traditional Japanese flourishes. The property’s focal point is Shakusui-en, a 12th-century <em>ikenawa</em> pond garden inhabited by koi, ducks, turtles, and the occasional heron. Another soothing attribute? Wellness-minded guests can unwind at one of the best spa facilities in town, while the resort-esque ambience is complemented by unfaltering hospitality that impresses from arrival to departure.</p>
<h5><strong>The neighborhood</strong></h5>
<p>Four Seasons Kyoto stands amid a not-so-touristed part of the Higashiyama area and borders Myoho-in, an ancient Buddhist temple whose halls are rarely open to the public. Nearby Sanjusangen-do (aka Rengeo-in) is well worth a visit for its collection of 1,001 life-size bodhisattva statues, some of which date back more than 800 years to the Heian period. A pleasant stroll to the north lies the Geisha district of Gion and the charming (if often-crowded) streets that meander up the hillside to the UNESCO-listed temple of Kiyomizu-dera. The hotel also offers easy access to the downtown area, with the city’s central train station a mere seven-minute taxi ride away.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-134248 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Four-Seasons-Hotel-Kyoto-6.jpg" alt="Shakusui-tei, the greenery-ensconced teahouse at Four Seasons Kyoto." width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Four-Seasons-Hotel-Kyoto-6.jpg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Four-Seasons-Hotel-Kyoto-6-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Four-Seasons-Hotel-Kyoto-6-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Four-Seasons-Hotel-Kyoto-6-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
<h5><strong>The feel</strong></h5>
<p>Visitors arrive down a 120-meter bamboo-fringed driveway to pull up at a striking wood-and-steel porte-cochère inspired by a traditional <em>wagasa</em> Japanese umbrella. Beyond, the tranquil foyer of marble and cypress wood showcases seasonal ikebana displays in Shigaraki pottery (from one of Japan’s “six ancient kilns”); this overlooks French-Japanese restaurant Brasserie, whose floor-to-ceiling windows face the garden. Museum-worthy art pieces displayed throughout the dignified, minimalist interiors by HBA (Hirsch Bedner Associates) add to the sense of craftsmanship, as do the hand-chiseled walls and floors.</p>
<h5><strong>Guest quarters</strong></h5>
<p>Private chambers at Four Seasons Kyoto are undeniably capacious; entry-level Deluxe rooms start from 49 square meters. Hallways come adorned with wooden slats that emulate the facade of a traditional <em>machiya</em> townhouse, and other local touches range from cushions by locally based textile company Hosoo to <em>washi</em>-paper lanterns that hang over marble-clad desks. Generously sized bathrooms feature rain showers, double vanities, and deep-soaking stone tubs. Bedside iPads connect you to Four Seasons’ all-hours chat service. Selected rooms have a private balcony overlooking Shakusui-en, while the 57 apartment-style Residential Suites, complete with a kitchen, will suit groups of up to six people.</p>
<h5><strong>Food and drink</strong></h5>
<p>Beneath a soaring nine-meter ceiling, Brasserie acts as the culinary heart of the property. À la carte and set menus here change with the seasons; multicourse dinners might include squid ink risotto made with Kyoto-grown Hinohikari rice, chorizo, and basil. (Breakfasts, whether taken in-room or at Brasserie, are veritable feasts that will set you up for a full day of sightseeing.) Inside the lobby, The Lounge &amp; Bar dishes up handmade pastries and savory afternoon tea treats accompanied by a diverse selection of top-tier infusions. Sushi Wakon, meanwhile, specializes in <em>omakase</em> meals of Edomae sushi using ingredients flown in from Tokyo’s Toyosu Market each day. Cocooned in lush greenery beside the pond, Fuju at the Shakusui-tei teahouse offers matcha and divine <em>wagashi</em> sweets during the day and champagne and fine sake after dark.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-134249 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Four-Seasons-Hotel-Kyoto-7.jpg" alt="Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto’s 20-meter indoor swimming pool." width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Four-Seasons-Hotel-Kyoto-7.jpg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Four-Seasons-Hotel-Kyoto-7-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Four-Seasons-Hotel-Kyoto-7-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Four-Seasons-Hotel-Kyoto-7-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
<h5><strong>Wellness factor</strong></h5>
<p>Four Seasons Kyoto’s subterranean wellness center spans two floors, and includes a 20-meter pool lined with plush wooden cabanas, two deep whirlpool baths, as well as a sauna and steam room. Designed around the concept of Kyo no Iyashi (“Kyoto healing”), the spa specializes in Japanese wellness rituals: think bamboo charcoal body wraps, facials applied with a gold-leaf massager, and a full-body Zen massage. You won’t need to skip your exercise regime either, as there’s a gym that outclasses most fitness centers with its advanced machines and yoga studio.</p>
<h5><strong>Family matters</strong></h5>
<p>Kids will be entertained through a koi-feeding activity and the wellness center’s dedicated playroom, which comes stocked with toys and board games. Staying in a Residential Suite gets you extra perks like indoor camping and DIY pizza-making for all the family. Child-sized bathrobes are provided no matter the room category, while babysitting can be arranged.</p>
<h5><strong>Sustainability cred</strong></h5>
<p>A stringent waste-reduction policy has seen Four Seasons Kyoto phase out single-use plastics in favor of bamboo toiletries, refillable Diptyque bath amenities, and on-site water filtration and bottling stations by Swedish brand Nordaq. On the culinary front, Brasserie champions local small-scale farms and suppliers that adhere to eco-friendly practices.</p>
<h5><strong>What else?</strong></h5>
<p>Exclusive <em>maiko</em> dance performances are held in the lobby twice a week, with in-house guests given a rare opportunity to interact with the apprentice geishas afterward. Other special activities range from the Japanese tea ceremony experience at Shakusui-tei to a guided tour of the hotel’s art collection and a private journey around Higashiyama by rickshaw.</p>
<p>Reviewed by <strong>Bryan Eastlake</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://www.fourseasons.com/kyoto/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fourseasons.com/kyoto/</a><br />
+81 75 541 8288<br />
<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/sYY6XHuC5aw4FTQo9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">445-3 Myohoin Maekawa-cho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, Japan</a></p>


A garden-view guest room at Four Seasons Kyoto.

Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto Hotels