T+L’s Hotel Review of Imperial Hotel, Kyoto

I checked into the Imperial Hotel, Kyoto two weeks ahead of its official March 5 opening. The hotel brings Kyoto’s historic Yasaka Kaikan theater, deep in the heart of Gion, back to life as a luxury stay.

In 1936, construction of the performance venue was financed by local geishas and their apprentices. The building still stands next to Gion Kōbu Kaburenjō, Kyoto’s leading geisha theater, and the Gion geisha school, on land owned by the school. Though designated as a nationally registered Tangible Cultural Property, the theater eventually fell into disrepair. When Gion’s geisha community decided the structure should be repurposed for a different sort of hospitality, they called upon the Imperial Hotel.

“The Gion district is mysterious, even for Japanese people. It’s respected,” says Reiko Sakata, the hotel’s general manager. “[As a hotel brand], we have a 135-year history in Japan, and the people in Gion know that. They [invited] our hotel to come here, and we are so grateful.”

Architect and designer Tomoyuki Sakakida prioritized preserving the theater’s exterior. Since Kyoto City now imposes a 40-foot height restriction on new construction in the neighborhood, keeping the Yasaka Kaikan’s 100-foot height meant unparalleled—and forever unobstructed—guest room and rooftop views. Exterior tiles were removed and inspected one by one. Now, about 10 percent are original; the rest are replicated.

The hotel also marks Imperial Hotel’s first opening in 30 years, so there was an air of great expectation during my pre-opening stay. The staff was excellent, noticing my preference for decaf coffee in the afternoon or asking questions about my daily activities based on previous conversations. On my second day, the hotel’s concierge team even whisked me to a tea house near Gion’s postcard-worthy Hanamikoji Street to meet with a maiko, or an apprentice geisha, over wagashi confectionery and matcha tea.

Below, my full review of Imperial Hotel, Kyoto.

The Rooms

The Imperial Hotel, Kyoto, has 55 guest rooms and suites, with varying views. What weaves them together is the shared history and the design details that showcase local materials, such as cedar headboards, creamy silk wallpaper, zelkova wood shelves, and bedside lamps reminiscent of Japanese lanterns. Some suites include framed relics of the Yasakai Kaikan.

The 1,108-square-foot Yasaka Suite, with its warm woods and greens, won me over for its original architectural details, but the Imperial Suite has a massive terrace with a private tatami gazebo. Other guest rooms and suites fall into three categories: Heritage or contemporary rooms in the former theater’s main building or tatami rooms in the newly constructed North Wing.

While many guest rooms in the main building offer views of Gion’s tea houses, those in the North Wing feel as though you’re stepping inside one. I checked into room 101, a North Wing Grand Premier room, where aromatic wood plank flooring led to a generous tatami bedroom. By the window, sunlight filtered through woven bamboo blinds onto a low seating area with a sloped wooden ceiling.

Guests seeking more natural light may prefer a higher-floor room in the main building. I also spent a night in room 506, where large windows let in breeze and sunlight while framing the curved ceramic rooflines below. At about 592 square feet, this Premier room had a slightly smaller footprint, but it’s still ample space for a couple or a solo traveler.

Food and Drink 

The Imperial Hotel, Kyoto, has two restaurants and a bar: Yasaka for all-day dining, Ren for French cuisine, and the Old Imperial Bar for refined cocktails served with meticulous care. “We don’t need a Japanese restaurant because the people here already have the Japanese cuisine and culture by themselves,” Sakata says.

At Ren, executive chef Koji Imajo uses French techniques to prepare mostly regional ingredients dictated by Japan’s 24 solar terms. And while Ren’s menus will not be vegetarian by default, Imajo quickly and skillfully created a plant-based menu for me. I tasted a rapeseed blossom cake, roasted Shiitake mushrooms, and tender garlic shoots. The mugwort brioche, served with butter disguised as a raspberry, was delicious. The intimate setting—10 counter seats—allows Imajo and his team to chat with guests while they prep and plate, which elevates the experience.

The Rooftop is a chic guest-only open-air bar that will offer a snack menu in the warmer months.

The Spa 

While the spa menu, which will use Oskia skincare, was being finalized during my stay, I had a blissful hour-long treatment, combining dry shiatsu-style techniques and a relaxing aromatherapy oil massage.

In the basement wellness floor, the pool is the real statement piece. Sakakida designed it to feel like swimming in a cave. Black loungers on dark stone floors recede into the shadows. The pool is flanked by 1.5-ton rough-cut boulders sourced from Shikoku Island.

As of my stay, the fitness center, steam sauna, dry sauna, and Japanese deep soaking tubs were not yet open.

Accessibility

The hotel has one designated accessible guest room featuring lowered handles, an adjustable bed, and bathroom grab rails. The shower entrance has a small ledge.

Elevators were installed during the historic building’s renovation. A public wheelchair-accessible bathroom is also available on the restaurant floor.

How to Book

Imperial Hotel, Kyoto, is a member of Leading Hotels of the World (LHW), where guests can earn Leaders Club points that are redeemable for free nights at any of the collection’s 400-plus properties. LHW member perks also include a daily continental breakfast for two, early check-in and late check-out (based on availability), complimentary Wi-Fi, and upgrade priority upon arrival.

Nightly rates at Imperial Hotel, Kyoto start at 164,500 yen (about $1,075).

Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.