Imperial Hotel Kyoto is located in the popular Gion area of Kyoto. From JR Kyoto Station, it's about 15 minutes by taxi or around 20 minutes by Kyoto City Bus (Route 206) to the Gion bus stop, then a 5-minute walk.

From Keihan Main Line Gion-Shijo Station, it's about an 8-minute walk; from Hankyu Kyoto Main Line Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station, approximately 10 minutes on foot — a very convenient location.

Both the Hankyu and Keihan stations are underground, so once you reach street level, head east toward the torii gate of Yasaka Shrine. Use the sign for Hanamikoji-dori — the historic geisha district street — as your landmark and turn south (right).

Hanamikoji-dori is lined with long-established teahouses, traditional restaurants, and charming new cafés, making the walk to the hotel a delightful stroll through the best of Kyoto.

As the shops begin to thin out, a gate with a refined Japanese-modern aesthetic comes into view. Step through it and you'll find the Gion Kobu Kaburenjo straight ahead, with Imperial Hotel Kyoto on the left.

The building that now houses Imperial Hotel Kyoto was originally known as Yasakakaikan, constructed as a facility attached to the Gion Kobu Kaburenjo. Over the decades, Yasakakaikan served as a theater, cinema, dance hall, and concert venue, becoming a beloved gathering place for the people of Kyoto.

During renovation, the exterior walls and portions of the structural frame on the south and west sides (including the Hanamikoji-dori frontage) were carefully preserved, while the north and east sides were dismantled and rebuilt. Due to Kyoto's cityscape preservation ordinances and height restrictions in designated elevation-control zones, new construction is limited to 12 meters, resulting in the North Wing being a two-story building.

A kaburenjo is a theater where geiko and maiko perform traditional dances and arts. Every April, it hosts the famous "Miyako Odori" stage performances, drawing visitors from near and far. On the day of our visit, we glimpsed maiko on their way to practice and heard the sound of shamisen drifting through the air — a reminder that this place truly breathes alongside Kyoto's living cultural traditions.

The grand entrance immediately lifts your spirits. The columns are clad in Kitagi-ishi (Kitagi stone), the very same stone used on the exterior walls of the original Yasakakaikan — a material that carries the weight of the building's history.

Looking up at the ceiling of the entrance porte-cochère, you'll notice a beautiful decorative motif — an adaptation of the design that once graced the top of the stage curtain in Yasakakaikan's main hall. It features the traditional "asanoha" (hemp leaf) pattern.

Inside the entrance, a single plank of keyaki (Japanese elm) approximately 1,000 years old — salvaged from Byakuma-ji Temple and Mikumari Shrine in Nara Prefecture — is displayed prominently on the wall ahead. At its center, the Imperial Hotel's iconic lion crest rendered in mother-of-pearl inlay. It's a moment that makes you feel you've truly arrived at the Imperial Hotel. Beyond this point, only guests with reservations may enter.

A member of the front staff guides you to the residents' lounge for check-in. Settling into a comfortable sofa with a cup of tea while the staff walks you through your room and offers sightseeing tips makes the whole process feel wonderfully unhurried and personal.

Gazing out the lounge window, we noticed a small shrine tucked in the corner of the courtyard. A staff member explained that it had been relocated from the rooftop of the original Yasakakaikan. Paired with the clean, minimal landscaping, it exuded a quiet, serene beauty.

The lounge offers complimentary food presentations throughout the day: fresh fruit and bread in the morning, baked goods and chocolates in the afternoon, and Kyoto-inspired beers and wines in the evening.

Coffee, tea, and soft drinks are available anytime you like — another thoughtful perk available to all hotel guests.

The lounge also has a curated selection of photo books and travel volumes — perfect for leisurely browsing on a journey. Ikebana arrangements and art pieces add to the refined, other-worldly atmosphere. With plenty of space and only fellow guests sharing it, we found ourselves truly relaxing and unwinding in a way that's rare to find.

Imperial Hotel Kyoto offers 55 rooms in total, all generously sized at 50 square meters or more — a space that feels equally perfect for a honeymoon or a leisurely trip for those who appreciate life's finer things. All rooms are fully inclusive, with complimentary minibar drinks and confections. Room service is available 24 hours (charges apply). Amenities feature the distinguished British fragrance house Penhaligon's — a lovely touch.

For families or groups wishing to connect rooms, it's best to check availability early. Wheelchair-accessible rooms are available, and children's amenities can be provided on request.

The North Wing's Grand Premier rooms mark a first for Imperial Hotel — tatami flooring throughout. Ranging from 50 to 71 square meters, these rooms invite you to slip off your shoes and truly unwind. Natural Japanese timbers have been used throughout with exceptional craftsmanship: yamazakura (mountain cherry) for the step-up entrance, mizumezakura for the corridor, hand-textured chestnut flooring with a naguri finish beside the bed, and jindai keyaki (ancient bog elm) for the TV console. The result is a room of rare beauty and warmth.

Three Heritage Junior Suite rooms occupy the fourth floor of the preserved section of the Main Wing, ranging from 79 to 100 square meters. In some of these rooms, the Kaburenjo's signboard is visible just outside the window, making you feel the living traditions of Gion all around you.

From the terrace, you can admire three beautifully restored elements up close: original tiles, terracotta details, and the copper-plate roof. Sitting there with a cup of tea, looking out over the Kyoto rooftops, felt like the very definition of luxury.

The top-tier Imperial Suite spans 128 square meters plus a 65-square-meter terrace, which we were fortunate enough to be shown. The hand-tufted carpet features a pine motif; the bathroom is equipped with a mist sauna; and from the balcony, the Higashiyama mountain range and the great torii gate of Heian Jingu stretch out before you in an unbeatable panorama. The terrace gazebo, a roughly two-tatami-mat covered pavilion, is an ideal spot for meditation — or simply for soaking in the magic of Kyoto.

Yasakakaikan is an all-day dining restaurant defined by its wood-fired oven cooking. At the entrance, a bas-relief of the poet Basho — preserved exactly as it stood in the original Yasakakaikan's VIP room — greets you, while the flooring replicates the square-block parquet design of the original hall.

The restaurant seats 54 guests in generous comfort and is open from breakfast through dinner. Breakfast is exclusive to hotel guests, with a choice between a Western breakfast and a Japanese breakfast supervised by Gion Kawakami, a renowned Kyoto kaiseki restaurant (from 7,500 yen each). The Japanese breakfast requires advance reservation (by the previous day) and is available in limited quantities. Breakfast can also be enjoyed through room service.

The signature dishes are the "Yasakakaikan Curry" and the "Yasakakaikan Burger." The curry puts a Kyoto twist on Imperial Hotel's time-honored recipe, served alongside colorful local vegetables for a flavor that's distinctly different from the Tokyo or Osaka versions. The burger features a wood-fired cheese-stuffed hamburger steak topped with Imperial Hotel's classic demi-glace sauce — a hearty and satisfying plate.

Neri is Imperial Hotel's first-ever counter-style French restaurant, seating just 10 at the counter plus one private dining room (up to 8 guests) — 18 seats in total, fully reservations-only. Executive Chef Koji Imashiro, who honed his craft at Imperial Hotel Osaka and further refined his skills at Michelin-starred restaurants in France, creates breathtaking seasonal dishes that are as beautiful to look at as they are to taste. Dining at the counter means you can hear the chef's philosophy and the stories behind each ingredient directly — an experience unique to this restaurant.

The signature dish features "Kamiyama shiitake" mushrooms — prized for their thick caps and rich umami — and is served year-round. The menu itself changes approximately monthly to reflect seasonal themes, with wine pairings curated by the sommelier. Peeking at the wine cellar, we were genuinely impressed by the breadth of the selection. Wine lovers and food enthusiasts will find this an absolute treat.

The Old Imperial Bar shares its name with the main bar at Imperial Hotel's Tokyo and Osaka properties. This intimate 19-seat space features columns clad in Oya-ishi — the same volcanic stone used in the legendary second Imperial Hotel designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Its warm, textured surface creates an atmosphere of unhurried elegance, and paired with the Gion night view from the windows, the setting is simply romantic. A perfect spot for couples on a honeymoon or a special evening out.

The Kyoto signature cocktail is "Mount Hiei," inspired by the sacred mountain to the north of the city. It's a reinvention of "Mount Fuji," a beloved Imperial Hotel original cocktail with over 100 years of history, reimagined with Kyoto ingredients like matcha and yuzu from Mizuo. A non-alcoholic cocktail, "Shion" (2,700 yen), is also available — so even non-drinkers can enjoy the sophisticated atmosphere to the fullest.

Take the stairs up from the 7th floor and you'll find an exclusive rooftop bar reserved for hotel guests only. Sipping cocktails in this open-air space with sweeping views of Kiyomizudera, Heian Jingu, and Mt. Hiei is simply wonderful. What's more, from here you can see four of the five fires of Gozan no Okuribi — Kyoto's beloved summer tradition of mountain bonfires!

The Pastry Shop on the Main Wing's first floor is open to all visitors, not just hotel guests. Imperial Hotel's signature blueberry pie is available here in a Kyoto-exclusive mini size (1,620 yen for a set of 3). While the Tokyo version measures about 9 cm in diameter, the Kyoto version is just 4.5 cm — made smaller so that maiko can eat them without opening their mouths too wide. Just as sandwiches served to maiko and geiko are cut into small, delicate bites, this reflects the charming customs of Gion's flower town culture.

The shop also carries Imperial Hotel's original fresh cakes, baked goods, chocolates, and gift confections in Kyoto-exclusive packaging — all wonderful souvenir options.

The wellness area in the basement of the Main Wing encompasses a spa treatment room, fitness center, thermal bath, and pool. Spa treatments are available to non-hotel guests; all other facilities are exclusive to guests.

The pool measures 17.5 meters long, 3.8 meters wide, and 1.1 meters deep — spacious enough for a proper swim. The walls are lined with the original Kitagi-ishi stone from Yasakakaikan's exterior, its natural rock texture creating a mysterious, cave-like atmosphere. Immersing yourself in the water, it's easy to forget you're in the middle of the city — time seems to slow down completely.

The vitality pool uses water jets to apply pressure to the body and promote circulation — perfect for easing travel fatigue.

Swimsuits, swim caps, and goggles are available to borrow free of charge, with changing facilities in the lockers. Bathrobes, towels, and slippers are all provided. Guests under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Infants in diapers are not permitted.

Imperial Hotel Kyoto stands in Gion — a place that keeps the traditions of Kyoto's flower-town culture alive in the present day. The chance to stay in a cultural heritage property in the very neighborhood where geiko and maiko go about their daily lives is truly rare. And it's here that you can experience the charming Gion custom of serving food in small, bite-sized pieces — sized especially for maiko who never open their mouths wide. The staff are multilingual, including English, so international visitors are in very good hands. Unlike the more formal, business-oriented atmosphere of Imperial Hotel Tokyo, this property moves to the gentle rhythms of Gion itself. Among all of Kyoto's luxury hotels, the sense of immersion in Kyoto's culture here is in a class of its own — and that, we felt, is the true mark of Imperial Hotel.