Imperial Hotel has opened “Imperial Hotel Kyoto” on March 5.
This is the first new opening under the Imperial Hotel brand in 30 years. Located within the grounds of the Gion Kobu Kaburenjo Theatre in Kyoto, Japan, it preserves and utilizes part of the nationally registered tangible cultural property Yasaka Kaikan. The hotel offers a total of 55 guest rooms—47 in the main building and 8 in the north wing—spread across three areas with different architectural structures: preserved, renovated, and newly expanded sections.
The interior was designed by Tomoyuki Sakakida of New Materials Research Laboratory. While inheriting the design of Yasaka Kaikan, he created a relaxing atmosphere using traditional Japanese natural materials.
The preserved area consists of guest rooms on the southwest side overlooking the Gion Kobu Kaburenjo Theatre and Hanamikoji Street. Traces of the Yasaka Kaikan era remain in many places, including pillars, beams, and window frames, and some rooms are also equipped with balconies. The renovated area comprises guest rooms on the northeast side of the main building. While maintaining the distinctive silhouette from the Yasaka Kaikan period, the overall design has been updated with a modern touch. The newly expanded north wing area features newly constructed guest rooms designed to harmonize with the streetscape of Gion, with tatami flooring installed.
Facilities inside the hotel include the French restaurant “REN” and the all-day dining “YASAKA”, the main bar “Old Imperial Bar”, the rooftop bar “The Roof Top”, and “The Pastry Shop”, as well as a guest lounge, pool, sauna, hot-bath facilities, and fitness gym. Ms. Reiko Sakata has been appointed General Manager, and Mr. Koji Imashiro has been appointed Executive Chef.
Room reservations started on November 17, 2025, and a completion ceremony was held on December 18 of the same year. At the opening ceremony held on the same day, the opening was celebrated with “Teuchi,” a traditional Gion ritual performed by 20 geiko (professional female entertainers in Kyoto).
