Embark on a holistic cultural and wellness escape at Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto.
About Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto
Occupying a peaceful and commanding hilltop site in Kyoto’s historic Higashiyama Ward, Banyan Group’s recent venture into the elegant fabric of Japan’s ancient capital offers travellers an unparalleled Sanctuary for the Senses. Harmoniously weaving together Kyoto’s rich cultural heritage with the company’s legendary hospitality, guests are invited on a memorable cultural and wellness sojourn where Japanese architecture, enchanting landscapes, wellbeing rituals, and culinary artistry intertwine.
Architecture and Surroundings
A stone’s throw away from the Kiyomizu-dera Temple, an iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site, Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto blends traditional Japanese architecture with contemporary style. Possessing an exclusive sense of place with its own bamboo forest and the great Higashiyama Mountains as its backdrop, this captivating retreat wonderfully harmonises with Kyoto’s natural surroundings.
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Designed by famed architect Kengo Kuma, the hotel’s design fuses traditional Japanese construction techniques with modern elements, all the while respecting the Higashiyama landscape. Honouring the cultural importance of the local area, the hotel’s façade is distinctively crafted from natural materials such as cypress wood. The building’s expansive windows and open spaces allow the magnificence of the surrounding landscapes to filter indoors. Moreover, this is the only hotel in Kyoto that has its own Noh stage. Originating from the 14th century, Noh theatre is one of Japan’s oldest art forms that is still performed nowadays. This Kuma-designed architectural masterpiece is built from sleek bamboo rafters that allow the beauty of the nearby bamboo forest to be showcased.
Accommodation
The property comprises 52 luxurious and light-filled guest rooms designed by the highly esteemed Hashimoto Yukio Design Studio. The interior design of the rooms is inspired by the Japanese concept of Yugen, meaning mysterious and quiet beauty. Exuding a tranquil and refined feel, gold and black accents intermingle gracefully against a gentle palette of stone and ecru hues. Taking centre stage, each room’s gilded headboard is crafted from natural textured wood using the traditional Naguri technique that features chisel carving marks. Furthermore, traditional Japanese materials permeate throughout the interiors: from the spacious and smooth Hiba (Japanese cypress) bathtub to the tactile pale green tatami.
I stayed in room 317 from the Wellbeing Sanctuary King category, which offers 55 sqm of space and expansive city views of Kyoto Tower and beyond. Thoughtfully designed to promote health and wellness, rooms in this category are furnished with amenities such as personal yoga mats and exercise equipment.
Furthermore, a Nutrition Platter was served to my room every afternoon, nourishing my body and pleasing my palate with succulent seasonal fruits and savoury treats, alongside refreshing herbal mocktails. Aromatherapy is also deftly crafted into the in-room wellness experience. A selection of Japanese essential oils such as Hinoki and Sugi woods and Yuzu, are presented alongside a handcrafted ceramic diffuser. Additionally, to enhance the wellness bathing ritual, delightful and surprising sachets of bath powders featuring scents such as Sake and Matcha, are supplied.
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Spa
The retreat is equipped with its own Onsen (Japanese natural hot spring), to complement the property’s well-appointed spa facilities. The spa menu consists of various ever-popular massage types such as Deep Tissue, Balinese, and Thai. Subtly paying homage to Banyan Group’s Southeast Asian roots, each tranquil treatment room is named after a spice or a herb.
On the second day, I was pampered with the signature 120-minute Onsen Indulgence treatment. This treatment combines a 60-minute personal Onsen experience with a subsequent 60-minute full body massage of choice. My purifying Onsen bath was followed by a self-care spa ritual in the steam shower, whereby I was given a softening lime body scrub and a fine sugar polish for skin exfoliation and rejuvenation. I selected the Balinese massage, which is a medium to strong pressure oil massage involving deep thumb and palm pressure, coupled with long yet firm rhythmic strokes.
My skilled and attentive therapist Rika-san intuitively sensed any tension points in my body, and confidently yet tenderly kneaded away the knots in my neck and shoulders. Banyan Tree Spa’s own aromatic and natural massage oils are used in the spa’s treatments, and the Black Pepper and Lavender oil that I selected soothed and nourished my mind, body and spirit. After my two-hour therapeutic and sensorial spa treatment, I felt fully relaxed and restored to a harmonious state of being.
Gastronomy
Ryozen, the property’s Kappo-style 48-seat restaurant, invites diners on a colourful culinary journey with a menu exquisitely crafted from the freshest seasonal and local ingredients.
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During my stay, I was able to savour all of Ryozen’s menus including breakfast, afternoon tea, as well as the chef’s kaiseki course dinner. The breakfast service provides a choice of either traditional Japanese or American fare. I gladly opted for the Japanese breakfast on both days, entirely immersing myself in local gastronomy. Beautifully presented in a carved wooden bento box containing a generous assortment of nutrient-rich dishes such as grilled salmon, yuba tofu skin roll, and simmered vegetables, the meal is rounded off with comforting Japanese rice, miso soup, and fruits with white wine jelly. Ryozen’s afternoon tea was one of the many highlights of my stay, during which I dined at the outdoor terrace next to the Bamboo Pavilion, and revelled in captivating views of the property’s gardens.
The refined afternoon tea is a delectable tapestry of sweets and savouries prepared using seasonal ingredients such as white miso, sake lees, and purple sweet potato. Accompanying this tea set is a free flow drink menu of extensive tea and coffee varieties from near and far. Lastly, the Fushi Kaiseki dinner is a sophisticated multi-course gourmet affair that showcases the chef’s masterful cooking techniques and creativity. Deeply satisfying, each course takes diners on a poetic and pleasurable exploration of authentic Japanese flavours.
Final Thoughts
In Kyoto, where time appears to stand still, and with impressions of its storied history imbuing every corner of this city, Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto is a luxury wellness haven for modern times. In a class of its own, the retreat artfully blends ryokan traditions with a sense of place, contemporary architecture, and Omotenashi—the Japanese concept of sincere and wholehearted hospitality. After three blissful days, I departed the retreat with my body revitalised, heart full, and spirits lifted. My experiences here have inspired me to integrate more daily rituals into my ongoing wellness repertoire, and serve to remind me that beauty and small pleasures can be found in the everyday.
