Last fall, the second Park Hyatt in Japan, following the one in Tokyo, opened in Higashiyama, Kyoto. Located on the slope of a hill adjacent to Kodaiji Temple, it is a low-rise building designed with consideration for the surrounding landscape. As its name, which is shared with the venerable Japanese restaurant Sanso Kyoyamato, suggests, the good old and the good new coexist in harmony. Being a "luxury guesthouse" rather than a "hotel," the thorough personal hospitality is also a major feature and one of its charms.
Photographs by Shinsuke Matsukawa
A warm guesthouse that resonates with the traditional beauty of Kyoto
Park Hyatt Kyoto is located in a picturesque location facing Ninenzaka with the 36 peaks of Higashiyama in the background. It sits on the approximately 10,000-square-meter grounds of Sanso Kyoyamato, a 140-year-old traditional Japanese restaurant, coexisting with seven historic buildings and a Japanese garden. The result of a collaborative design between New York-based designer Tony Chi and Takenaka Corporation, a company with a 400-year history of temple and shrine carpentry, the four low-rise buildings blend seamlessly into the historic landscape of the area. The guest rooms make extensive use of fragrant ash wood, creating a relaxing, soft space. The eaves that extend from the ceiling to the roof create a sense of envelopment. The modern bathrooms, with their marbled granite accents, feature bamboo baskets by Kochosai Kosuga, where bath towels are stored, creating a seamless blend with the building itself.
Bar Kohaku's signature cocktail, the Kohaku Gin and Tonic, is made with Seiryu, an original craft gin from a Kyoto distillery that uses water from Higashiyama's wells. It's filtered through Kyoto bancha tea, giving it a soft, fragrant aroma. These subtle, almost floating touches of Kyoto are truly comforting. Guest rooms are furnished with original letter sets by paper maker Kirakaracho, and the spa uses the organic cosmetics brand KOTOSHINA. Works by artists and artisans are also placed throughout the hotel, each with a refined touch. Furthermore, the books in the library and guest rooms are arranged in a specific order, even the pages they are opened to are set to specific pages. Such meticulous aesthetics define the Park Hyatt Kyoto.
This space connects the signature restaurant, Yasaka, and the bar, Kohaku. General Manager Marc de Rieuwerk says it's his favorite spot. With unobstructed views of Yasaka Pagoda, the setting sun never gets old, with different shades of blue each day. Turning around, the majestic teahouse, Soyotei, and the murmuring of a stream and a Japanese garden unfold before your eyes. Like this space, the roof is continuous, but the structure allows you to briefly come into contact with the outside air as you move through the building. This may be a way for the architect to "sharpen your five senses." As reflected in the 24 solar terms and 72 seasonal divisions of the calendar, the seasons change every moment. Here, even the subtle changes in the air, which tend to be lost in everyday life, are truly eye-opening. The familiar Kyoto scenery appears strangely dramatic.
PARK HYATT KYOTO
360 Masuyacho, Kodaiji, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
☎075-531-1234
Check-in 15:00 / Check-out 12:00
All 70 rooms
Rates for two people sharing a room, including breakfast, start from around 110,000 yen (excluding consumption tax)
