This article introduces 7 luxury hotels where guests can enjoy Kyoto’s autumn foliage. It details guestrooms and Japanese gardens that make the most of the scenery in Arashiyama and Higashiyama, as well as hot springs and seasonal garden views.
Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto stands at the foot of Arashiyama and has 39 guestrooms that inherit the character of a Meiji-period residence. Interiors using traditional Japanese colors blend with the autumn scenery outside the windows, while in the morning the trees along the Hozu River take on color like a picture scroll. Guestroom options with open-air baths are also available, and attractions around Tenryu-ji, a site of religious devotion, are also introduced. Rates start at ¥120,175 per room per night for up to 2 guests.
HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO is located directly opposite Nijo Castle and features a Japanese garden of approximately 1,300 square meters and natural hot springs. Its distinctive wooden columns and beams recreate the corridors of the Mitsui family’s former residence. Guestrooms with castle views overlooking the castle offer changing scenery from day to night. The hotel has received the Michelin Guide’s highest rating of 3 Michelin Keys, making it the only 3-key hotel in western Japan. Rates start at ¥177,100 per room per night.
Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto is characterized by a large eave designed by Kengo Kuma and a fusion of contemporary and Japanese aesthetics. The hotel comprises approximately 52 rooms, with an eastern side featuring a stage evocative of Noh, a bamboo grove and views of Higashiyama’s autumn foliage. It also offers guestrooms with hot springs, hot springs on the property and courses combining seasonal flavors. Rates start at ¥200,000 per room per night.
Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto is centered around the renowned Shakusui-en garden in the Higashiyama area. Its approximately 3,000-square-meter pond garden is transformed by autumn foliage, while a bamboo approach and Kyoto crafts decorate the interiors. Guests can enjoy the seasonal scenery while viewing the garden from the SEY lounge, and the hotel also offers restaurants, a spa and experiences led by cultural ambassadors. Rates start at ¥242,362 per room per night.
ROKU KYOTO is a serene setting that makes the most of Takagamine’s natural surroundings and a Japanese garden. It features Kyoto’s only outdoor natural hot-spring thermal pool, with expansive windows offering panoramic views of the autumn foliage and mountains. Its features include relaxation at THE ROKU SPA and aromatherapy treatments using Kitayama cedar on the property. Rates start at ¥127,800 per room per night.