The Imperial Hotel Kyoto, a luxury hotel set to open on March 5, 2026, was unveiled to the press on March 2. The hotel is a renovated version of the Yasaka Kaikan (Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City) in Gion, Kyoto. While preserving the atmosphere of its past as a venue for performances and other events, the hotel's reimagined space offers a sophisticated hospitality experience.
The seven-story building with two basement floors features a blend of Japanese and Western styles, making extensive use of domestic timber and rare stone. The entrance ceiling features glass insets with a plum branch design, a design that was originally used in the Yasaka Kaikan, while the pillars are made of the same red Italian marble used before the renovation. Legacy-conscious touches abound.
Eight of the 55 guest rooms feature tatami mats, a first for the Imperial Hotel, and a sloping "hanging ceiling" reminiscent of tea rooms creates a sense of depth. Some suites offer a close-up view of the impressive tiled roof of the Gion Kobu Kaburenjo Theater from the window. The hotel's highest-end Imperial Suite, priced at 3 million yen per night, features 128 square meters of room and a 65 square meter terrace, offering panoramic views of Kyoto's famous landmarks, including the World Heritage Site Kiyomizu-dera Temple (Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto) and the Great Torii Gate of Heian Shrine (Sakyo Ward, Kyoto).
A rooftop bar has been installed exclusively for hotel guests, and a pool with rock walls has been installed in the basement. Two restaurants serving French cuisine, curry, hamburgers, and more are open to the public.
This is the fourth hotel in the Imperial Hotel chain, known as one of Japan's prestigious hotels, and the first new hotel in 30 years since the Imperial Hotel Osaka (Osaka City). The hotel has been renovated and expanded, retaining the architectural design of the Yasaka Kaikan (completed in 1936), a nationally registered tangible cultural property, while preserving some of the exterior walls and decorations.
The accommodation fee is variable and starts from 164,500 yen per night (for two people per room). The hotel is said to be fully booked on its opening day, March 5th.
