Built around Shakusui-en, an 800-year-old pond garden, with Edomae sushi at Sushi Ginza Onodera and the temples of Higashiyama on the doorstep.
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Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto sits in the Higashiyama district, built around Shakusui-en, an 800-year-old circuit-style pond garden originally laid out at the end of the Heian Period. The 10,000 sqm garden is one of the few of its kind still in existence, and the hotel is designed to open up onto it from nearly every angle.
The location puts the city’s main draws within walking or short-drive distance, including the temples of Higashiyama, the historic streets of Gion, and the geisha districts that anchor traditional Kyoto. The hotel was ranked the sixth-best in Japan in the 2025 Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards.
Accommodation covers Premier Heritage Garden Rooms with direct garden views through to the two-bedroom Presidential Suite on the fourth floor. Suites and residences come with private balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows. The spa was listed in the Vogue Global Spa Guide’s 100 Best Spas in the World from 2024 to 2026.
There are four dining venues across the hotel. Sushi Ginza Onodera is the signature: an Edomae omakase counter built from 400-year-old Japanese cypress, sushi served on Bizen and Kiyomizu ware, with views over Shakusui-en.
EMBA Kyoto Grill handles steak and seafood with dry-aged meats and charcoal grilling, indoor seating, and a waterfront terrace. FUJU lounge, reached by a glass bridge over the pond, serves matcha by day and sake by evening. SEY is the izakaya-inspired cocktail bar.
The spa occupies two floors of the underground Level 2 Fitness Centre, with seven treatment rooms, a 20-metre indoor pool, two whirlpools, sauna, steam bath, and a full Technogym fitness centre.
Signature treatments include the bamboo ritual, a full-body massage using warmed oil and therapeutic bamboo sticks, and the Zen Ceremony, which ends with a sake bath. The spa has appeared in the Vogue Global Spa Guide’s 100 Best Spas in the World from 2024 to 2026.
The hotel sits on Myohoin Maekawa-cho in Higashiyama-ku, the eastern temple district of Kyoto. The historic streets of Gion are within walking distance, with Sanjusangen-do Temple, Kiyomizu-dera, and the Kyoto National Museum all close by.
Kyoto Station is around a 10-minute drive, putting the Shinkansen network and the rest of the city within easy reach. Tokyo and Osaka are roughly two hours away by bullet train.
The Premier Heritage Garden Room is a specialty category with views directly onto Shakusui-en pond garden. Available with either a king bed or two doubles, sleeps up to three with a sofabed or rollaway.
A pet-friendly room type. The signature room at the property for guests prioritising the garden view, with the 800-year-old pond garden visible directly from the main window.
The One-Bedroom Premier Heritage is a large suite with separate living and sleeping spaces, both lit by natural light, and a Zen-style bathroom. Sleeps up to four including up to three children.
Connecting rooms are available for families. The natural step up from a standard room for guests wanting more space and a separate living area without committing to a residence.
The Two-Bedroom Kyoto Residence is the largest residence at the hotel, with floor-to-ceiling city skyline views, two private balconies, and a dining room that seats six.
A fully equipped kitchen, washer, and a dedicated guest experience ambassador come with the booking. The right choice for longer stays, families, or two-couple bookings wanting maximum space and the option to cook independently.
The Two-Bedroom Presidential Suite is the largest hotel suite in Kyoto, set on the fourth floor with extra-tall ceilings and a 10 sqm balcony. Layout covers two bedrooms, a separate living and dining room, and a private pantry for cocktail prep.
Sleeps four. The flagship category at the property, designed for guests wanting the most generous footprint Kyoto’s hotel inventory offers.The Two-Bedroom Presidential Suite is the largest hotel suite in Kyoto, set on the fourth floor with extra-tall ceilings and a 10 sqm balcony. Layout covers two bedrooms, a separate living and dining room, and a private pantry for cocktail prep.
Sleeps four. The flagship category at the property, designed for guests wanting the most generous footprint Kyoto’s hotel inventory offers.
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