One of the best parts of traveling is staying in incredible hotels full of personality, local charm and a real sense of place. In Japan, Accor has just opened the Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto, a stunning and luxurious hotel with all of these qualities – and more.
TPG had the chance to take a quick tour just days after the new resort opened in the Higashiyama district, a beautiful historic area where people in rented kimonos walk through scenic streets and past historic temples like the Kiyomizu-dera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (Though I doubt ancient geishas carried Starbucks coffee, even if the floor of the local Starbucks is made of tatami mats.)
The first Banyan Tree in Japan, this property was carefully renovated on the site of the former Ryozen Hotel to meet the brand’s unique standards while honoring the unique elements that made the site so valuable, such as the Higashiyama Onsen hot spring.
Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto has 52 guest rooms, eight of which are fed directly from the hot springs. The rooms are designed after a Japanese proverb meaning “hidden beauty revealed,” and feature traditional Japanese elements such as cypress-wood bathtubs, tatami mats, and, in some rooms, traditional Japanese tables called horigotatsu.
Guests and visitors to the hotel will find a beautiful Noh stage where the art of Nohgaku has been performed for around 650 years. The hotel combines the traditional Nohgaku shows based on gods and spirits with modern art, musical events and other types of performances that require a stage.
Once there, walk past the stage to the Bamboo Grove, which feels almost like a private trip to the nearby Arashiyama Bamboo Forest—but without the crowds. It’s one of three gardens on the property that guests can visit for special relaxation events like yoga classes.
Banyan Tree is known for its wellness offerings and relaxing spas, so it’s no surprise that Higashiyama Kyoto has a spa with six treatment rooms, each equipped with a tub using water from the hot springs (I’d personally splurge on one of the onsen rooms though, so you can basically have a private spa right in your bedroom).
The hotel’s dining options include a Japanese restaurant serving seasonal dishes featuring many of Kyoto’s famous products, as well as a sake bar.
In a city full of unique hotels – from the Six Senses Kyoto, which opened earlier this year, to luxury brands such as Aman, Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton – Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto offers a truly special experience against the backdrop of one of the world’s most interesting cities. This new hotel is a fabulous addition to an already exciting hotel scene.
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Although Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto is part of Accor Live Limitless, this loyalty program works a little differently than most. Instead of booking reward nights with a set number of points, members can exchange 2,000 points for 40 euros (about $44) off their stay.
Rates at Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto start at USD 1,365 per night and include breakfast and dinner.
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