Insuited in a new era of fashionable hospitality, the beginnings of Six Sense Kyoto in 2024 mark highly expected access of the logo in Japan, a destination of a summit culturally known for luxury trips. Playing a key role in enriching the luxury portfolio and way of life of its parent organization, now the greatest moment in the global, surprising assets promises an unparalleled delight in the welcome mixture directed through the culture merged with the generation with the generation of peak and a deep cultural immersion.
Located in the captivating district of Kyoto Higashiyama, one of the city’s most productive squares favored through tourists and flavor creators, the assets are decidedly crowd-free and filled with a calm and serene energy. A relaxing, peaceful, yet delightfully engaging way. The ambiance is softly humming and engaging, while the herbal materials, abundant light, and meticulous attention to blending details create an air of quiet sophistication.
The property’s design sees key influences from the Heian period, with elements of traditional arts featured throughout the hotel. The lobby, home to an expansive folding screen incorporating 504 hand-crafted Kyoto-made Rakuyaki tiles in earthy tones, is spacious and airy, with uninterrupted views into the green-filled courtyard through floor-to-ceiling glass doors.
81 exquisitely designed rooms and suites — ranging from intimate spaces to a sprawling three-bedroom penthouse suite with a private rooftop terrace —offer views of either the leafy courtyard, the zen grounds of the neighboring Toyokuni Shrine, or the enchanting panorama of Kyoto’s cityscape. Each space has been carefully curated to create a unique sensory experience, incorporating subtle yet playful design elements that draw inspiration from local folklore and the timeless elegance of the Tale of Genji.
“We are proud of the original Japanese traditions and the Japanese ornament that run the hotel, with original touches encouraged through folklore, such as the moon rabbit, and emblematic scrolls of exciting animals,” explains Nicolas Black, general director of six Senses of Kyoto, which is the non -public flavor the assets that it manages: During our first meeting, he wore a flavored linen jacket, he dresses related to the pants in terrestrial tones. “We hope to include an aggregate landscape stimulating without filter, original and friendly hospitality, and a desirable contrast of the preserved ancient culture and the ultra modern shinearray. Which are at our door.
From mirrors etched with animals to paw prints lining the pathway outside the F&B outlets, I didn’t expect quite so many finer details featured throughout the hotel, even in the most discreet corners. A beaming fox head can be found next to the door of each guest room, with its illuminated eyes or whiskers replacing “Do Not Disturb” signs.
The private garden in the Garden King Premier Suite at Six Senses Kyoto
The bathroom view of the Garden King Premier Suite at Six Senses Kyoto
The expansive spa seamlessly blends traditional healing techniques with modern science, providing an array of treatments and programs rooted in Japanese Zen philosophy. A personal favorite, the bathhouses offer an elevated take on the traditional Japanese rituals completed with dry and steam saunas as well as a cold-plunge pool. Popular treatments include Watsu therapy and offerings at the Biohacking Recovery Lounge, with wellness assessments available for identifying key biomarkers. Yoga, meditation, and fitness facilities are also available on site, catering to diverse wellness goals.
Beyond the spa, discovery is encouraged. With sustainability deeply rooted in its DNA, the property’s Earth Lab — a Six Senses signature — presents an array of activities where participants can make incense bags with DIY-ed furoshiki packaging or learn about composting whilst sipping the property’s sparkling water distilled on site. In addition, the Alchemy Bar allows for the creation of customized natural products, and a locally grown herb garden makes the perfect spot for appreciating the local bounty of the region.
The culinary arm fuses Japanese tradition with an international flair. Locally sourced, hyper-seasonal ingredients are at the heart of the dining experience, prepared with innovative techniques that unleashes flavor while preserving nutrients: think farm grown sweet potatoes roasted to perfection for breakfast, hearty udon for lunch, and Omi beef fillet or sushi for dinner. Nine Tails, the stylish cocktail lounge providing an intimate setting for evening relaxation, boasts some of the best local whiskies and re-invented martinis.
Sekki Restaurant, an all day restaurant serving farm-to-table food at Six Senses Kyoto
Hyper seasonal food offerings at Six Senses Kyoto
Rising in popularity steadily as a top destination fusing diverse offerings with rich cultures, Japan has gained momentum in attracting luxury travellers worldwide, particularly post-pandemic. Coinciding with IHG’s 60th anniversary since entering into the country, the opening of Six Senses Kyoto marks a new era of strategic growth for IHG focusing on providing its audience with a carefully crafted solution for every occasion. ANA InterContinental Tokyo, the main luxury destination for many locals and international business travelers for over 35 years, is undergoing a major glow-up: aiming to renovate 759 of its total 844 guest rooms since October 2023, combining and repositioning some rooms to offer expansive spaces uncommonly seen in the busy capital. Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo, a property popular with younger guests thanks to its close proximity to all the buzz Shinjuku has to offer and relaxed “come as you are” vibe, maximizes the rooms’ square footage by focusing on functionality without sacrificing design aesthetics. InterContinental Osaka, embracing the large port city’s modern architecture and warm energy, has established itself as the No.1 choice when it comes to elegant stays with unparalleled views and second-to-none service — I was most impressed by how seamlessly the team worked as one and how often the top management team greeted guests by their names.
“Japan is a priority market for IHG and today our presence in Japan is growing rapidly,” Abhijay Sandilya, Managing Director for Japan & Micronesia at IHG Hotels & Resorts says, referencing to the group’s 17 Luxury & Lifestyle hotels across four different brands in the country — 47 opened hotels in total.
“And we are supporting the Japanese government’s ambition to become a major tourist destination and welcome 60 million foreign visitors annually by 2030.”
The great plan for IHG, Sandilya shows, is to raise 16 new hotels to the Japanese portfolio of the group in the coming years, adding 7 in luxury and lifestyle. “The Vignette collection, after having debuted in 2024 with Windsor Toya, will join through the emblematic Rihga Royal Hotel Osaka in April as the first assets signed through the logo in Japan, and Regent enters Japan with the opening of the Kyoto Kyoto In 2026. Embarcate in a new era of expansion fed through the preference inherent to other people and in an expanding tourism industry.
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