This Enchanting New Hotel in Kyoto Connects Guests to Japanese Heritage

The Dinogo perspective

The Six Senses hotel brand has established itself as a leader for those seeking well-being and eco-friendly experiences in stunning natural environments and rich local cultures. In late April 2024, Six Senses Kyoto opened its doors as the brand’s second urban location (the first was in Rome in 2023) and its inaugural property in Japan. With a population of 1.5 million, Kyoto is renowned for its Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, and ancient craftsmanship, making it an ideal fit for Six Senses, whose Kyoto venue harmoniously integrates with its surroundings through thoughtful design and engaging guest experiences.

The hotel boasts a chic and modern aesthetic while incorporating rich textures, inspired by playful and contemporary reinterpretations of the Heian period (794–1185), recognized as Japan’s cultural zenith when Kyoto served as the capital. Numerous nods to The Tale of Genji, widely regarded as the world’s first novel and penned by Murasaki Shikibu, a female figure in the Japanese court, in 1010, can be found throughout. (The original manuscript is preserved next door in the Kyoto National Museum’s archives.)

In the open-air lobby overlooking a serene Japanese garden courtyard, a long ceramic screen made of handcrafted raku-yaki tiles (a ceramic used in matcha ceremonies) depicts one of the novel’s key settings, Mount Kurama, the birthplace of Reiki healing. The lobby’s ceiling, crafted from white ash, mimics the appearance of creased origami paper, inspired by the folded scroll that held the original novel.

The hotel experience unfolds in a tranquil, wood-scented environment that encourages relaxation and cultural enrichment, featuring a comprehensive wellness center and an all-day restaurant that highlights seasonal Japanese ingredients, alongside hands-on arts and crafts activities.

Who is it suited for?

Stressed international travelers will discover a Zen-inspired approach to rejuvenating spa treatments and goal-oriented biohacking. Urban adventurers will enjoy a luxurious and conveniently located retreat after a day of exploration. Families with children will love the Grow with Six Senses initiative, a plastic-free area focused on cultural activities for young guests, while the adjacent Earth Lab will attract eco-conscious visitors with insights into the hotel’s sustainability efforts.

Food enthusiasts and luxury seekers who aren't staying at the hotel will also be drawn here: To engage the local community, the food and beverage venues and spa are accessible to outside guests.

About the location

Situated in the Higashiyama district—just a mile south of the iconic Gion geisha area—Six Senses Kyoto is a mere 10-minute drive from Kyoto Station, the renowned Nishiki food market, and several significant temples and shrines, including the Torii gate-lined Fushimi Inara Taisha. It's roughly a 20-minute walk to the famous Kiyomizu-dera temple, with plenty of interesting stops along the way, such as kimono rental shops, eateries, and ceramics boutiques. Nearby POJ Studio offers intimate classes in kintsugi and shuro broom making.

The accommodations

With a design by Blink Design Group that emphasizes calming neutral shades, the 81 guest rooms and suites—including the expansive Three Bedroom Penthouse—offer views of either the city skyline or serene green gardens. The architecture reflects elements of traditional Japanese ryokans, featuring details like hallway carpeting that resembles tatami mats. The asa-no-ha (hemp leaf) motif carved into the wood behind the beds symbolizes health and wellness in Japanese Buddhism, while the soft, organic shapes and cozy textiles create a warm ambiance. A plastic-free minibar is filled with local artisanal drinks and snacks, alongside delicious house-made treats like soy sauce beet crackers and lemon cookies.

The emphasis on restful sleep is evident in the accommodations, which are equipped with custom Naturalmat organic mattresses, pillows that regulate temperature, blackout curtains, and recovery pajamas designed by Japanese brand Tential. Each room also includes yoga mats and soft brown felt slippers that guests can take home. The Do Not Disturb feature is uniquely designed: each doorway is adorned with a handmade fox mask crafted from recycled washi paper, whose eyes or whiskers glow. When guests desire privacy, they simply press a button, and the illumination dims. (In Shinto belief, the fox serves as a mischievous guardian deity and messenger.)

I adored the abundance of natural light in our Deluxe Suite Garden accommodations, which overlooked the hotel’s intricate herb garden, Toyokuni Shrine garden, and the sunset behind the mountains beyond the city. These stunning views were visible from our bedroom, living room, expansive balcony, and the ofuro-shaped bathtub in the bathroom. For added tranquility and a touch of nature, consider booking one of the two Premier Suite Garden rooms featuring their own lush Japanese gardens.

Culinary offerings

Sekki serves as the indoor-outdoor dining venue for all three meals, while the more relaxed Café Sekki operates from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Both are named after Japan’s 24 sekki, or solar terms, which align with the agricultural calendar and seasonal changes. The dining room features exquisite kimono thread-weaving art from Nishijin in Kyoto, where a local artist created a mural inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream, depicting vegetables and animals in festive attire around a tree adorned with Shinto omikuji fortune-telling slips.

The menu rotates every two weeks, reflecting a hyper-seasonal philosophy evident in the veggie-centric, root-to-stem dishes that comprise over half of the selections. Massive carrots are drizzled with miso vinaigrette, while okra and tamba mushrooms are enveloped in a light tempura batter; perfectly cooked Japanese wagyu melts in the mouth. What I appreciate about Six Senses is that well-being can encompass delightful indulgences like wine and dessert; I relished every moment of the heavenly brownie batter-like chocolate fondant one evening.

Breakfast is a unique culinary journey. It features various Uji heirloom egg options and delightful treats infused with Kyoto honey, along with an endless supply of juices, smoothies, and wellness shots. Guests can also enjoy an abundant selection of fresh fruits, pastries, and charcuterie. The commitment to low- or zero-waste is showcased through fiber-rich sesame seed crackers served at lunch, made from the leftover vegetable pulp from the morning juice preparation.

The bar, Nine Tails, draws inspiration from Edo-era fox legends, designed as a venue where these clever creatures (thought to have nine tails) might gather for a secret celebration. With a speakeasy vibe, it features predominantly Japanese spirits and liquors, with one exception being an aquavit sourced from Mexico by a Japanese distiller. From the zero-waste cocktail menu, I chose a Miso Ginger Sour, a delightful mix of umami bitters and a homemade syrup crafted from Kyoto white miso, honey, and ginger.

Personnel and service

The hotel staff, referred to as GEMs (guest experience makers), are available 24/7 and were incredibly helpful when we sought recommendations for nearby attractions, made restaurant bookings, and arranged transportation. They were especially kind to my toddler, who loved participating in the hotel’s welcome ritual—taking a tiny spoonful of incense powder to rub between their hands and inhale. They gladly participated in this activity.

Accessibility Features

The newly constructed hotel is designed with minimal stairs, with the exception of ladders for accessing the pool and steps leading down to the watsu treatment pool. There is one wheelchair-accessible Accessible Superior King room, and Braille signage is provided throughout the hotel for guests with visual impairments.

Sustainability Initiatives

The hotel, certified with LEED silver status and entirely plastic-free, filters and bottles its own sparkling and still water. It features Earth Lab, an on-site studio focused on repurposing and reusing materials into Japanese crafts. Used paper and old menus are transformed into washi paper, while kitchen vegetable scraps and leftover spices are turned into fragrant paints for decorating traditional sensu fans. Local artisans contribute their skills for activities like sashiko, the craft of reinforcing vintage fabrics with embroidery. Guests can also create moss balls, an initial step in bonsai making, and learn to prepare green tea, starting with harvesting their own matcha leaves on site.

Just beyond an ancient cherry blossom tree, the herb garden cultivates matcha alongside fragrant herbs such as holy basil, lemon thyme, lavender, cucumber, and fushimi chilies, which are utilized in the Alchemy Bar and Sekki. The hotel aims for zero waste by maximizing the use of produce before composting any scraps on-site.

The hotel’s Sustainability Fund allocates 0.5 percent of its revenue to support two local forest conservation organizations: Biotope Network Kyoto and the Council for Kyoto Traditional Forest Culture. Their initiatives aim to enhance biodiversity and mitigate landslides caused by monoculture. Guests and local residents can participate in sustainability tours behind the scenes to observe the hotel’s eco-friendly practices, including the use of reusable crates for produce delivered from regenerative farms within a six-mile radius, thereby reducing food miles and CO2 emissions.

The Wellness Center

The spa and wellness amenities feature an onsen-inspired hot bath that overlooks a tranquil garden, complemented by both dry and wet saunas, and a 62-foot indoor lap pool adorned with cabanas and a whimsical Genji-inspired mural of clouds. The spa's boutique offers locally sourced products, including camellia oil traditionally used by maiko geisha and incense from a local shop supplying temples. At the Six Senses Alchemy Bar, guests can create recipes that connect directly to Kyoto’s traditions, such as a matcha face mask or seasonal bean scrubs.

Each of the four treatment rooms features a unique theme. For instance, the Sound room is equipped with a gong and numerous golden chimes resembling droplets hanging from the ceiling. Many treatments engage multiple senses, including Ah-Un, a Qi-boosting massage utilizing tuning forks on acupuncture points, and watsu therapy in a warm pool. There are also experiences tailored for children, such as foot mapping; the omakase option allows therapists to customize treatments for guests. Following a 15-minute Wellness Screening, I received a recommended upper body massage that significantly eased the tension in my shoulders.

A specialized Sensory room hosts aerial and traditional yoga, sound healing, and meditation sessions, while a Biohack Recovery Lounge features a bamboo water element and includes devices like compression therapy and LED face masks to aid in post-travel recovery or alleviate pain. From $1,083