The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu is a luxury hotel that sits along the approach to the World Heritage site, Kiyomizu Temple. In Japan, these approaches are considered sacred paths, as they lead worshippers to shrines or temples. Yet despite being in a year-round bustling area, the hotel itself has a rather peaceful atmosphere. Set on an expansive 7,000-square-meter plot, it houses only 48 rooms.

The Hotel Seiryu ranks number eight in Japan amongst The Leading Hotels of the World, an international organization of over 400 independent luxury hotels spread across 80 countries. Its historic building boasts a beautifully preserved architectural design that has earned it widespread acclaim, including the Bronze award in the Interior Design category at the prestigious Sky Design Award 2021.

This historic building was originally built in 1933 and served as an elementary school for many years. In 2020, it was renovated and reborn as The Hotel Seiryu, preserving its distinct modern design. The building’s interior is a blend of refined modern luxury and the warm nostalgic charm that only such a timeworn place could offer. Many guests even express a nostalgic familiarity, even when visiting for the very first time.

The Hotel Seiryu is a one-of-a-kind heritage hotel that offers visitors a chance to experience Kyoto’s unique history and tradition.

The moment you arrive, you are greeted by a view of Yasaka Pagoda through the gate, almost as if it’s been waiting to welcome you. This five-story pagoda is part of Hokan-ji Temple, one of the oldest in Kyoto, and is a beloved landmark of the Higashiyama district. And with its recognizable silhouette, it’s easy to spot even from afar!

For those staying at The Hotel Seiryu, the pagoda almost feels like part of the hotel’s own garden, visible up close from the lounge and even some guest rooms!

The reception area is open and inviting with a relaxed atmosphere, decorated with art on the walls by the front desk and eye-catching chandeliers.

Even the check-in itself is a relaxed experience, as you’re seated on a sofa and offered tea and a hand towel as you wait. With just 48 rooms, The Hotel Seiryu feels like a luxury club floor turned into its own hotel! From the moment you step inside, the staff treat you with warm, attentive service that makes you feel like a VIP.

Most staff members speak both Japanese and English.

Right after check-in, stop by the guest lounge. Open from 7:30 AM to 10 PM, it’s free to use for overnight guests, and even offers events and services that let you experience Kyoto’s traditional culture for yourself. Some guests even end their sightseeing early just to come back here! A testament to the thoughtful hospitality that makes The Hotel Seiryu so unique.

One of the most popular experiences at the hotel is the Maiko Performance, where guests are treated to a traditional dance up close! Maiko are apprentice geisha who entertain guests with classical Japanese dance and party games. They train in Kyoto’s geisha districts while mastering traditional arts, and are easily recognized by their ornate kimono and elaborate hair ornaments.

The event features two active maiko, offering the rare opportunity to see their graceful performances up close, an experience that even many Japanese people rarely see!

After the dance, there’s time to chat and take photos with the maiko. Even if you don’t know Japanese, hotel staff are right there to translate for you, allowing you to talk to them face to face.

Events are held on weekdays, with the Maiko Performance on Tuesdays and Thursdays (4:15-4:45 PM), tea ceremonies, lead by a professional instructor, on Mondays and Fridays (4 - 6 PM), and a Traditional Instruments experience on Wednesdays (4 - 5 PM) where guests can try playing classic Japanese instruments for themselves.

Beyond the scheduled events, the guest lounge also offers drinks and light bites that vary by time of day, and are free to enjoy as much as you like throughout your entire stay. At 3 PM is cocktail hour, where you can sample local Kyoto craft beer and other alcoholic beverages.

One recommended event is the hands-on matcha experience, where guests can prepare their own tea. Matcha is the powdered green tea used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies.

“Tateru” refers to the process of blending the powder with hot water using a “chasen” (bamboo whisk) to create a froth. Instructions are provided in both Japanese and English, and staff are available if you have any questions. You can also enjoy sweets from the historic Kyoto confectioner Tsuruya Yoshinobu, or brew your own coffee from beans you can grind yourself.

So kick back and enjoy some treats as you take in the view of Yasaka Pagoda from the window.

After checking out what the hotel has to offer, it’s time to head to your room. The Hotel Seiryu has five room types: Deluxe (Twin or King), Premium (Twin or King), Executive Twin, Panoramic Terrace Twin, and the Panoramic Suite. Each room features a different view and unique interior artwork, so no two rooms are alike!

For this trip, we stayed in the Deluxe King, a spacious room of about 42-45 square meters, making even the king-size bed look modest in comparison! The carpet design was a gray pattern with linear accents, inspired by the rooftops of traditional Kyoto townhouses known as machiya.

This room had windows on two sides, letting in plenty of natural light and granting an open view of both the garden and the Kyoto cityscape. The space felt both modern and elegant, with classical touches like the tall ceilings and long vertical windows accented by black latticework, architectural details that were preserved from the building’s former life as a school.

The spacious room had a variety of thoughtful touches that really added to the stay. For example, the mineral water, coffee, and tea, along with eight types of drinks in the fridge, all complimentary. These included Kyoto-made juice, green tea, sake, and two kinds of local craft beer.

One favorite detail was the wooden box for the TV remote, which was designed to resemble a school pencil case, a nod to the building’s history as an elementary school.

The bathroom and sink area were separate, with amenities provided by Natura Bisse, a luxury skincare brand from Barcelona favored by celebrities like Kate Moss and Madonna. The toothbrush, hairbrush, comb, and body sponge were all made from natural materials like bamboo, wood, and luffa.

Here’s a photo of the view from the window that night: a quiet, peaceful Kyoto nightscape, right before your eyes!

During our stay, we were also given a tour of the hotel’s highest-level room: the Panoramic Suite, where both the bedroom and bathroom offer a full, unobstructed view of Yasaka Pagoda!

The Panoramic Suite is about 137 square meters, and is divided into a bedroom, bathroom, and living area, which itself includes a kitchen, dining space, and lounge. The interior combines natural materials like wood and stone with soft tones of gray and white, creating a calm, high-end atmosphere. Traditional Japanese touches like lantern lighting also add a sense of cultural warmth, making your stay feel like nothing short of a private Kyoto retreat.

Ready to eat? Head to Restaurant Library The Hotel Seiryu!

Previously a school auditorium, this fine space has since been transformed into a restaurant that looks like a library. Morning visitors can indulge in the Well-being Breakfast, while evening customers can enjoy the space’s transformation into the SUSHI-BAR.

・Hours:
- Breakfast: 7 AM - 10:30 AM (last order: 10 AM)
- SUSHI-BAR: 6 PM - 10 PM (last order: 9 PM)

At the center of the SUSHI-BAR restaurant is a counter. This is where the magic happens, as Japanese chefs prepare sushi right before your eyes with ingredients purchased fresh daily from Kyoto’s central market. Watching chefs prepare sushi by hand at the counter is a traditional style of Japanese dining. Table and open terrace seating are also available.

Our sushi is here!

Once your sushi is prepared, it’s served to you from right across the counter. We ordered the traditional nigiri sushi (8 pieces for 6,500 yen, service fee not included) and the popular salmon roll (3,000 yen, service fee not included), a fan favorite that even those new to sushi love!

Each piece of sushi made by the Japanese chefs are a delicacy to be savored. We paired ours with Kamikura, a sake by Matsui Shuzo, a brewery with a 300-year history (starting at 120ml for 1,800 yen).

And if raw fish isn’t your thing, don’t worry. There are à la carte options like steak and salad as well!

After such an indulgent dinner the night before, breakfast is certainly worth looking forward to! The Hotel Seiryu offers what they call the “Well-being Breakfast,” which includes the Wake-Up Appetizer, a drink, salad and fruit, and a main dish.

Guests can choose from three types of mains: American Breakfast, Japanese Breakfast, or Vegan Breakfast, each with two to three variations. (6,000 yen, service fee not included)

Our main dish of choice was the Kyoto-Style Morning Hot Pot. The hot pots is a traditional part of Japanese cooking, a dish of ingredients simmered in broth, miso, or soy sauce.

The Hotel Seiryu serves theirs in a small, personal pot. And being warm, easy on the stomach, and nutritionally well-balanced, they’re the perfect Japanese breakfast to start your day!

The ingredients used for the hot pots change with the seasons. At the time of this visit in February, the dish featured a fatty buri (yellowtail), tender and rich with flavor, placed in the broth and cooked to perfection. With its soothing warmth and delicious, natural flavor, it’s just what your body needs to ease into the day.

Don’t want to leave your room? In-room dining is another great option! If your room has a terrace, you can even dine outside. During cherry blossom season, the terrace offers front-row seats to the blooms along with Yasaka Pagoda.

A true prime spot for dining, from the comfort of your own room!

Room service is available from breakfast through dinner.

・Hours:
- Breakfast: 6:30 AM - 11 AM
- Lunch & Dinner: 11 AM - 11 PM, last order: 10:30 PM

One popular dish, especially with international visitors, is the Uji Free-Range Egg and Chicken Oyakodon, a traditional Japanese bowl of simmered chicken and egg served over rice. The hotel uses premium eggs from Kyoto’s Wabisuke Farm for a rich and flavorful dish. The Japanese Beef Steak Sandwich is another guest favorite: hearty, satisfying, and easy to eat!

The hotel also offers a variety of facilities and services to help you enjoy a relaxed, comfortable stay.

The gym is open 24 hours, with treadmills and exercise bikes positioned toward the windows so you can enjoy views of the garden while you work out. Shoe and workout wear rentals are also available for a fee.

The hotel retains not only the exterior but also much of the original interior, including the Archive Corner with old photos and materials on display from its time as an elementary school. Definitely another spot worth checking out!

Elsewhere around the hotel, guests will notice beautiful architectural details, decorations, and art, like the wooden framework in the stairwells, retained from the original structure, and even an old-fashioned mailbox.

Finally, you’ll definitely want to take a stroll around the neighborhood. With historic streets, natural scenery, and even the World Heritage Site Kiyomizu Temple nearby, there are plenty of picture-perfect views that truly capture the essence of Kyoto.

As a tourist spot, the area is bound to get busy during the day. However, if you’re up for an early morning or late-night stroll, you’ll get to see a peaceful, crowd-free side of Kyoto that’ll make it feel all your own.

The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu is a luxury hotel that offers a refined experience in a historic setting. From cultural events to artisan sushi prepared right before your eyes, guests will enjoy all kinds of thoughtful services you’re unlikely to find anywhere else. On top of that, it’s the perfect spot for exploring Kyoto.

If you’re looking for a truly special stay for your next Kyoto trip, then you need look no further than The Hotel Seiryu.

(*Information as of March 2025. Please see official website for the latest updates and information.)