A Small Luxury Hotel in Kyoto Where The Old and The New Come Together Luxury Hotel Sowaka (Gion, Kyoto Prefecture)

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22Aug2019

A Small Luxury Hotel in Kyoto Where The Old and The New Come Together Luxury Hotel Sowaka (Gion, Kyoto Prefecture)

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We are travel web magazine run by Ikkyu.com known for its "Let's make luxury ourselves.". Our editorial staff carefully selected this wonderful travel information.

Content Partner

We are travel web magazine run by Ikkyu.com known for its "Let's make luxury ourselves.". Our editorial staff carefully selected this wonderful travel information.

A complete renovation of the century-old Sukiya-style building

Luxury Hotel Sowaka is located near Gion area and Yasaka-jinja Shrine. In the vicinity are Kodai-ji Temple and the south gate of Yasaka-jinja Shrine. With Kiyomizu-dera Temple just a 15-minute walk away, this location is a perfect starting point for strolls through Kyoto.

The hotel comprises a newly built modern Japanese-style annex building in addition to the main building, which has been extensively renovated from the previous occupant, a traditional Japanese restaurant Minoko, a building known for its Sukiya architecture. The Kyoto-style exterior is defined by the tiled roof and its latticework. The buildings blend in naturally with the alleys paved with stone, as if they have been there for ages.

The lobby lies behind a noren curtain. It’s situated at the end of a cobblestone alley with walls of cedar bark. The modern interior featuring black washi tatami mats and plaster walls welcomes guests. The furniture adds pops of color, and the well from the building’s restaurant days remains as a decorative object, allowing the old and the new to coexist beautifully. The building design is by the architect Shigenori Uoya, who has received numerous awards including the Kyoto Architecture Award.

The main building, built from the finest in craftsmanship

There are eleven rooms in the main building and twelve in the annex. No two rooms share the same design. From the ceiling to the ranma and to the floor, the building was renovated using the finest craftsmanship passed down from long ago. The hotel is sure to be a treat for fans of Sukiya-style architecture.

For example, the ceiling features unique panels in “Higashiyama View (Deluxe)” guest room. The skillful craftsmanship shines in “Naguri Wall (Deluxe)” room. “With Private Garden (Deluxe)” guest room features a bold waterdrop pattern on the fusuma paper that compliments the polka dot pattern on the ranma.

The “Garden View Suite” is a stunning masterpiece of architecture. Once known as the “Conch Room,” the suite is complete with a view of the garden. Gazing over the garden from this room gives guests the feeling that you have gone back in time.

The bathrooms in every guest room feature a modern design with an emphasis on functionality. A comfortable stay awaits you.

A commitment to products made in Kyoto

The layout of the annex building features plenty of space between rooms to ensure privacy. “Courtyard View Bath Higashiyama View” is designed with a sloped ceiling to create a sense of space. The fusuma Japanese sliding doors, the symmetrically arranged furniture, and the view from the bay window—a quintessentially Kyoto-style atmosphere of this room will make you want to gaze out for hours.

The mattresses from the long-established bedding store Iwata, the Kyoto Natural Factory tree ring speaker made of Kitayama cedar, and the Gallery Kazurasei bathroom amenities all contribute to the Kyoto-esque atmosphere of the rooms.

Enjoy creative cuisine from La Bombance

One of the biggest benefits of staying at this hotel is the food. The restaurant is the first branch of La Bombance to open in the Kansai area. La Bombance is a gourmet restaurant that has captured the hearts of diners in Tokyo and Hong Kong. Guests can savor a creative dish that is playful while still in keeping with the tradition of Japanese cuisine.

The Gion area is home to many famous Japanese restaurants, but there are some dishes that can only be had here that you can’t miss out on! One glance at the eleven-meter counter made from a single slab of wood is enough to entice you.

Make yourself comfortable at this accommodation and get your fill of Kyoto’s charms. The hotel also offers a limited accommodation plan that includes an exclusive private nighttime tour of Kodai-ji Temple, as well as garden tours and more.

Directions: 480 Kiyoi-cho,Yasaka Toriimae-sagaru,Shimogawara-dori,Higashiyama-ku,Kyoto 605-0821
Tel: +81-75-541-5323
Website: https://sowaka.com/eng/index.html