At a Glance
Considered one of the top hotels in Kyoto since it opened in 2006, the Hyatt Regency Kyoto marries excellent service with dazzling design from Takashi Sugimoto of the acclaimed Japanese firm Super Potato.
Indagare Loves
- The lovely kimono fabrics arrayed over the beds, with no two alike in the whole hotel
- The proximity to must-see sites including the Fushimi and Sanjusangendo temples
- The subterranean Touzan Bar, which features an eye-popping design scheme and over 30 types of sake and a great many whiskeys; next door, the beautiful Touzan restaurant specializes in charcoal-grilled dishes
Review
From the moment one enters this hotel's lobby, it's evident that this 189-room property is not merely another outpost in a luxury hotel chain, thanks to its striking design concept by Takashi Sugimoto, founder of Japan's superstar design firm Super Potato. The hotel's location in the Higashiyama Ward is an easy five-minute taxi ride from the train station, though its neighborhood is far quieter than that proximity might suggest. Beyond the bamboo grove marking its entrance, there's nothing especially pretty about the surroundings—don't picture the traditional charm of Gion—but located literally next door is one of the city's most astounding temples: Sanjusangendo, with its 1,001 carved statues of the goddess Kannon. Gion and the sites and shops of downtown Kyoto are a short drive away, and many other temples also lay within close proximity via taxi, metro or bike (which are available to rent for a cost, but should be reserved ahead of time).
By Japanese standards the rooms are quite spacious, with blond wood and understated art dominating. Some suites have tatami mats and sliding shoji screen doors; the much in-demand Deluxe Balcony King rooms features a long balcony overlooking the hotel's Japanese garden and its backyard neighbor, the Kyoto National Museum. The well-appointed Riraku spa offers a range of Western and Eastern treatments, including acupuncture and yoga classes.
Who Should Stay
Value-seeking travelers who prefer Western-style amenities.
Written by Becca Bull