SEDATE ESCAPES

Find your moment of Zen at these choice hotels, which marry the old and the new in seamless style

Hoshinoya Kyoto

To call Hoshinoya Kyoto a hotel would be accurate, but it is also an under‑representation of what awaits at this truly special place. Celebrating a decade since it opened its doors, Hoshinoya Kyoto transcends from being merely a home for the night to becoming a destination in itself. A lot of it has to do with its magnificent location. Nestled in the pristine surrounds of Arashiyama—a protected area which is a short train ride from Kyoto and best known for its towering bamboo forest—hoshinoya Kyoto sits on a quiet riverbank, unchanged since the Heian era (794-1185) when it was the go-to retreat for Japanese nobles. Few are able to match the hotel’s grand welcome, which requires guests to board a black wooden boat and cruise down the Oi River. The 15min sail immediately puts one on a different rhythm—slower, calmer, and ready to be enveloped in serenity. Stepping into Hoshinoya Kyoto is like entering a small, traditional village and feels like a microcosm of Kyoto. The restored century-old property was intelligently reimagined—shoji screens and tatami mats meet modern touches, and the custom‑made furniture are positioned to face the picture windows that frame the verdant view. This exquisite panorama is best appreciated when enjoying the Japanese breakfast brought to your room, a signature Hoshinoya touch. No stay at the hotel is complete without engaging in activities, be it learning about traditional incense ceremony or indulging in one of Kyoto’s best expressions of kaiseki at its in-house restaurant. hoshinoresorts.com/kyoto