What it is

A serene, 70-room retreat with the feel of a guesthouse, including a teahouse (since 1877) and spa and bath house.

What it isn't

Poorly serviced. Guests here are truly doted upon, with amenities ranging from loaner bikes and kids activities to a private library you can peruse at your leisure.

What we think

For anyone seeking an authentic Kyoto experience, Park Hyatt is the spot. Case in point? They’ve partnered with Kyoyamato teahouse, run by the same family for six generations and counting, as one of their dining options; ask to sit in the Edo-Era teahouse where warlords used to meet. Rooms are loosely inspired by traditional guesthouses, but thoroughly modern, with soaring blonde tamo wood ceilings, floor to ceiling glass windows and a sedate palette of sandy-hued neutrals. It’s well worth splurging on the Pagoda House, tucked within the leafy Higashiyama hills, with the expansive feeling of a modern art gallery—plus a show-stopping panorama over the Yasada Pagoda, erected in the 6th century.

You're here because

Their concierges will curate all manner of tours to your own interests, whether you want to run with a personal trainer through Kyoto’s most noteworthy neighbs, or visit local potters in their studios.

The Moment

Cozied up in your fireside seat in The Living Room, your eyes flash as bright as the flames at the tea menu, which would wow Gwyneth Paltrow herself. Today, you’ll sip a three-year-aged Bancha from Kyoto—so divine, you ask for some leaves to go as a sippable souvenir.

Restaurants & Bars

- Yasaka - Unconventional approach to classic Japanese teppanyaki.

- KYOYAMATO - Kyoto’s famed Japanese Kaiseki restaurant.

- KYOTO BISTRO - Dining café connected to the neighborhood community.

- The Living Room - An inviting lounge space where guests can enjoy seasonal, course style Afternoon Tea.

- Kohaku - Exclusive bar where ritual and craft meet cocktails and spirits.

Location

Within the age-old Higashiyama District of Kyoto, just a block from the Ryozen Museum, filled with Edo period artifacts.