Park Hyatt Kyoto

We recommend the Park Hyatt to travellers seeking contemporary luxury without forgoing immersion in historic Kyoto. It's a hotel for honeymoon couples, fortysomethings on cultural retreats, fans of minimalist Japanese design. Families with children are accepted, but the atmosphere remains hushed, conducive to silence and contemplation.

The building dates from 2019, designed by Nikken Sekkei agency in collaboration with designer Yukio Hashimoto. Low-rise architecture (three storeys maximum) to respect the skyline of the listed district, façades in fire-blackened cryptomeria wood, kawara tile roofs. Interiors in Oya stone, hinoki wood, washi paper stretched over bamboo frames. Rooms measure between 55 and 120 m², all with stone bathtub and terrace or balcony.

The Kyoto Bistro serves kaiseki cuisine revisited by chef Takuya Watanabe, trained at three-Michelin-star Kikunoi. Japanese or Western breakfast served in room or at the restaurant, with view of the interior garden. The Yasaka bar offers 80 references of saké and shochu, open until midnight. No starred table, but impeccable technical execution and seasonal products sourced from Nishiki market.

The Park Hyatt stands in Higashiyama, historic district on the east of Kyoto, between Kōdai-ji temple and Yasaka shrine. Kiyomizu-dera 12 minutes on foot, Gion 8, Sannenzaka street and its craft shops 5. Higashiyama Yasui bus stop 3 minutes, Kyoto station 15 minutes by taxi. The district is quiet after 18h, very touristy during the day, ideal for morning walks before the crowds.