BACKGROUND
Four Seasons debuted in Kyoto in 2016 with this 123-room property, which also has 57 residences. The hotel group has two additional hotels in Tokyo (see businesstraveller.com for reviews).
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1450191940/1679916453/articles/zVeR9EpJG1680093536645/4993931998.jpg]
WHERE IS IT?
The hotel lies at the foot of a mountain in the city's Higashiyama district. The main entrance is on Onna-zaka hill, though this is closed from 8am-9am in line with Kyoto Prefectural Road Traffic Regulations, during which time guests must use the residential entrance along Higashioji Street. The hotel is ten minutes from downtown Kyoto, within walking distance of various temples, and a seven-minute drive from Kyoto station, where you can get the Shinkansen bullet train to Tokyo. Osaka International airport is an hour's drive by car.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1450191940/1679916453/articles/zVeR9EpJG1680093536645/3717119899.jpg]
WHAT'S IT LIKE?
Incredibly serene. The property has been built around the 800-year-old Shakusui-en ikeniwa (pond garden), believed to have belonged to a samurai from the Heian period (794-1185). The 10,000 sqm feature is traversable via stone and tempered glass bridges, with a pagoda at its core and a tea lounge on the western side. During my visit last October, hints of autumnal burgundy foliage were starting to emerge, the reflections camouflaging koi in the pond.
The low-rise hotel has just four floors (plus two basement levels) thanks to the city's height rules. Interiors by Hirsch Bedner Associates are minimalist, with clean lines and calming neutral tones, along with Japanese touches such as cypress wood and local artwork.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1450191940/1679916453/articles/zVeR9EpJG1680093536645/6987916646.jpg]
ROOMS
The hotel's 110 rooms, located on floors 1-4, range from 48-61 sqm, with some including private balconies. The 13 suites span 83-180 sqm. I checked into my Premier room just after midnight, and awoke to beautiful, sun-drenched views of the garden.
Much like the public spaces, rooms are sleek and minimalist. Dark hardwood floors are combined with neutral tones and splashes of purple in the furnishings, along with washi paper lamps, lantern-like light fixtures, fusuma screens and hand-painted panels depicting cherry blossom.
The bed is sumptuous, making jet lag that bit easier. Marble and granite bathrooms include a Toto toilet, bath and separate rain shower, plus beautiful kimonos.
The rooms are well-designed for remote work, with a coffee tabl...
Four Seasons debuted in Kyoto in 2016 with this 123-room property, which also has 57 residences. The hotel group has two additional hotels in Tokyo (see businesstraveller.com for reviews).
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1450191940/1679916453/articles/zVeR9EpJG1680093536645/4993931998.jpg]
WHERE IS IT?
The hotel lies at the foot of a mountain in the city's Higashiyama district. The main entrance is on Onna-zaka hill, though this is closed from 8am-9am in line with Kyoto Prefectural Road Traffic Regulations, during which time guests must use the residential entrance along Higashioji Street. The hotel is ten minutes from downtown Kyoto, within walking distance of various temples, and a seven-minute drive from Kyoto station, where you can get the Shinkansen bullet train to Tokyo. Osaka International airport is an hour's drive by car.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1450191940/1679916453/articles/zVeR9EpJG1680093536645/3717119899.jpg]
WHAT'S IT LIKE?
Incredibly serene. The property has been built around the 800-year-old Shakusui-en ikeniwa (pond garden), believed to have belonged to a samurai from the Heian period (794-1185). The 10,000 sqm feature is traversable via stone and tempered glass bridges, with a pagoda at its core and a tea lounge on the western side. During my visit last October, hints of autumnal burgundy foliage were starting to emerge, the reflections camouflaging koi in the pond.
The low-rise hotel has just four floors (plus two basement levels) thanks to the city's height rules. Interiors by Hirsch Bedner Associates are minimalist, with clean lines and calming neutral tones, along with Japanese touches such as cypress wood and local artwork.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1450191940/1679916453/articles/zVeR9EpJG1680093536645/6987916646.jpg]
ROOMS
The hotel's 110 rooms, located on floors 1-4, range from 48-61 sqm, with some including private balconies. The 13 suites span 83-180 sqm. I checked into my Premier room just after midnight, and awoke to beautiful, sun-drenched views of the garden.
Much like the public spaces, rooms are sleek and minimalist. Dark hardwood floors are combined with neutral tones and splashes of purple in the furnishings, along with washi paper lamps, lantern-like light fixtures, fusuma screens and hand-painted panels depicting cherry blossom.
The bed is sumptuous, making jet lag that bit easier. Marble and granite bathrooms include a Toto toilet, bath and separate rain shower, plus beautiful kimonos.
The rooms are well-designed for remote work, with a coffee tabl...
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Business Traveller Uk (Digital) - 1 Issue, April 2023