Banyan Group has announced that Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto will open in Q3 2024, marking the brand’s debut in Japan.  

Located in the historic Higashiyama Ward of Kyoto City, the hotel will comprise 52 guestrooms, a signature Banyan Tree Spa and two F&B venues, and is also home to the Higashiyama Onsen hot spring. Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto will feature the only Noh stage in a Kyoto hotel – the site of a traditional Japanese performing art called Nohgaku. The stage has been designed by architect Kengo Kuma, and will serve as a venue for Nohgaku, contemporary art performances and musical events.

Designed by Yukio Hashimoto, the hotel’s 52 guestrooms draw inspiration from the concept of ‘yūgen’ – meaning mysterious, quiet beauty – and the phrase ‘Hisureba Hana’ from the Noh theory bible ‘Fushikaden’, which translates to ‘hidden beauty revealed’. Each room features traditional Japanese materials, including large cypress wood bathtubs, tatami mats, natural wood elements and gold leaf accents. 

Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto harmonises with its natural surroundings through three gardens and a bamboo grove. The hotel’s sustainable practices meanwhile include preserving and reinforcing the historic stone walls from the site’s former Hotel Ryozen, cultivating moss for the stone walls during construction, and maintaining the existing bamboo grove. 

The property’s Banyan Tree Spa will offer Kyoto-specific treatments, while two unique dining experiences will highlight the city’s rich culinary heritage.