First look: Inside the new Banyan tree Higashiyama Kyoto

One of the best parts of traveling is staying in amazing hotels that are full of character, natural beauty and a true sense of place. In Japan, Accor recently opened Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto, a beautiful and luxurious hotel with all those qualities – and then some.

TPG had the opportunity to stop by for a quick tour of the new resort a few days after its opening in the beautiful and historic Higashiyama region. There, people wearing rented kimonos walk the beautiful streets and past historic temples, such as Kiyomizu-dera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (Though I doubt ancient geisha were seen carrying coffee from Starbucks, even if the local one had a tatami mat.)

The first Banyan Tree in Japan, this property was meticulously developed on the site of the former Hotel Ryozen to bring a different level of brand while still respecting the unique features that made the site so valuable, such as the hot spring of Higashiyama Onsen. .

Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto has 52 guest rooms, including eight that draw water directly from the hot springs. Rooms are designed around the Japanese phrase “hidden beauty revealed” and include traditional Japanese features such as cypress wood bathtubs, tatami mats and, in some rooms, traditional Japanese sunken tables called horigotatsu.

Guests and guests at the hotel will find a beautiful Noh stage where the art of Nohgaku has been practiced for about 650 years. At the hotel, traditional Nohgaku shows focusing on gods and ghosts are combined with new age art, music events and other forms of performance that require a stage.

If you find yourself there, go through the platform to the bamboo grove, which feels like a private trip to the nearby Arashiyama Bamboo Forest – but without the crowds. It is one of three gardens in the area where visitors can attend special relaxation events such as yoga classes.

Banyan Tree is famous for its health offerings and relaxing spas, so it’s no surprise that Higashiyama Kyoto has a spa with six treatment rooms, each with a hot spring bath (although I’d rather spend time in one of the onsen .rooms to have a private spa right in your room).

Dining options at the hotel include a Japanese restaurant serving seasonal cuisine filled with Kyoto’s famous produce, and a sake bar.

In a city full of unique hotels – from Six Senses Kyoto, which opened earlier this year, to luxury brands such as Aman, Four Seasons and the Ritz-Carlton – Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto offers a very special experience against the backdrop of one of the many . interesting cities in the world. This new hotel is a wonderful addition to the already exciting hotel scene.

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Although Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto is part of Accor Live Limitless, this loyalty program works differently from most. Instead of booking an award night for a set amount of points, members can trade in 2,000 points for 40 euros (about $44) at the point of stay.

Rates at Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto start at $1,365 per night and include breakfast and one dinner.

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