Last Updated on February 18, 2024
Stylish hotel in central Kyoto makes visiting a pleasure
Kyoto is often referred to as the soul of Japan. Once known as Heikankyo – Capital of Peace – it is a city that is quite unparalleled. Famous for its cuisine, natural beauty and for shrines and temples as well as its geisha culture, Kyoto is exhilarating. In the heart of this dynamic city is the Dhawa Yura Kyoto Hotel. Part of the Banyan Tree Group, the hotel is an oasis of calm in a city that will keep you busy from early morning to late at night. For those who like to tick off all the sights when visiting a new city, Kyoto induces serious FOMO. There are over 1600 Buddhist temples and 300 Shinto shrines and that is before one starts to visit the plethora of museums, cultural institutions, markets, and a wealth of restaurants, many boasting Michelin stars. Returning after a long day to a top-notch hotel like Dhawa Yura Kyoto makes visiting the city even more pleasurable.
Most tourists arrive in Kyoto either after a long flight to Kansei Airport or on the train from another city. Either way, one feels tired and in need of some pampering before setting out to explore. Dhawa Yura Kyoto is not only a beautiful space but contains everything a visitor could require – an in-house restaurant, sumptuous afternoon tea, a fitness centre to work it all off afterwards, and an 8Lements Spa for some gorgeous pampering.
The interior of Dhawa Yura Kyoto is especially striking. Coming in from a busy main road, I was not expecting to encounter a mini bamboo grove. Kyoto is renowned for its bamboo forests, but this is the first time I have seen it planted in the middle of a hotel. As bamboo stops growing at 25m it is perfectly positioned at Dhawa Yura Kyoto on the basement floor and grows up through the large open space around which the rooms are located. It not only creates a natural focal point but is a living, breathing organism which produces a sense of peace. It brings the outdoors in while locating the hotel within the natural world of Kyoto. This is very much in keeping with the Banyan Tree Group philosophy of ecologically sensitive hospitality and, for its city-based hotels, a place of calm in the midst of a metropolis. The Dhawa Yura Kyoto boasts a striking décor with very large artworks such as a beautiful wall hanging of a traditionally clad woman in a kimono. There was also a rickshaw in the entrance. The artworks are appropriately Japanese and there are touches all over, like kimono material recycled into table runners in the tea lounge. The bedrooms are Western in design, giving the hotel overall an East meets West aesthetic. This is reflected in the catering on offer which allows diners to pick which style of cuisine they prefer or to mix and match.
The hotel staff were super friendly and well-trained. From check-in to check-out, they did everything to facilitate an easy stay in the city. I had emailed ahead for help with booking tickets for a concert which I could not do online. The concierge had kindly made all the arrangements in advance. Suggestions were made for dinner in the area and followed up with a phone call to book us in. Any request was dealt with smoothly.
Alongside the Reception, there is a lounge area called The Nest. Here guests can relax in comfort with newspapers, tea or coffee, fruit-infused water and fabulous little Japanese snacks.
I can think of no better way to ease out of a full day of sightseeing than handing oneself over to the staff at the 8Lements Spa. I was treated to an hour-long full-body massage which was blissful. Before the massage itself, I relaxed while my oils were mixed – I had a choice of which I preferred – and was served an intriguing welcome drink. This was a non-alcoholic mix with a flower floating on top. Alongside there was a lemon wedge which I was asked to squeeze into the glass. At this point, the colour changed from blue to purple.
This set the tone for a magical hour in a comfortable treatment room with muted colours with splashes of shocking pink and purple, plant motifs and contemporary lighting. As I have regular massage back home I am confident in saying that the masseur at 8Lements Spa was excellent. My husband who had a half-hour massage once mine was over, concurred. The 8Lements is the spa brand of the Banyan Tree Group and is the first to be offered in Kyoto. The 8Lements takes its name from the 8 pillars of the Banyan Tree Group’s unique wellbeing, with 8 being the symbol of infinity and intersects with the belief that the wellbeing of the self is connected to the wellbeing of others and the natural world. The Spa follows salutogenic principles which is an approach to wellness that focuses on health and not on disease. There is a full menu of treatments including a range of massage options – including Thai massage – body scrubs and body conditioners. 8Lements is conveniently open until 9 pm so that guests can have treatments on their return from a day out. It is a fabulous way to relax into the evening.
We were treated to a wonderful 5-course set menu dinner in the 54 Grill, the in-house restaurant. Like the rest of the hotel, the dining area is attractively decorated and boasts one of the longest wooden tables I have seen, a stunning piece of wood and a sculpture in its own right. It is comfortably and stylishly appointed with beautiful Rosenthal crockery. We relaxed with a glass of Charles Lafitte Sparkling Wine, Brut Prestige. Each course was well-proportioned so that one could enjoy the meal without feeling overly full. Highlights included sweet shrimp with blue cheese and hazelnut; scallops with pumpkin, jamon serrano and yuzu, and a beautifully grilled Wagyu rump with black pepper sauce.
As the Dhawa Yura Kyoto is a few minutes walk from some of the liveliest streets in the city we enjoyed a post-prandial stroll through Gion and Pontocho. Small canals run through the area, cherry blossoms were illuminated as were many shrines. This area is very lively at night which is a boon for visitors. We admired the traditional wooden buildings (machiya) that line Hanamikoji Street and saw a number of geisha waving goodbye to their clients outside an ochaya (a traditional geisha restaurant).
Returning to the hotel we enjoyed our comfortable accommodation. Our room was a good size with twin beds that were very comfortable and looked chic with white bed linen and shocking pink accent cushions that toned in with a design on the headboard. As is standard in Japanese hotels, there were toothbrushes, toiletries, pyjamas, fluffy white gowns and slippers. The Clarins toiletries in the bathroom were really a treat. There was a large walk-in rain shower which had excellent water pressure. It was the best shower I encountered in a three-week trip in Japan.
Breakfast was served in the 54 Grill with a large buffet providing both a Japanese breakfast and a Western one. As we sat down we were offered a choice of eggs- scrambled, fried or omelette as well as tea or coffee. I got cracking on the Japanese buffet. There were two very tasty soups – a creamy cauliflower soup eased me into the morning. That might sound odd for breakfast but as I had been eating miso soup for breakfast throughout the trip so this was a welcome addition. I tried the miso soup too. I fell in love with Japanese pickles on this trip to Japan so I was pleased to find a good assortment which I enjoyed with steamed rice. There was an assortment of dishes including roasted salmon, pickled plums, pickled eggplant, spicy konjac, beef tendon and potato, simmered seaweed, burdock and simmered vegetables including tofu, There was green tea aplenty. This was a wonderful breakfast that really set me up for a full day ahead. The Western buffet had a good selection of sausage, bacon, corn, broccoli, roast tomatoes, hash browns, smoked salmon, a selection of cheese, fresh fruit, cereals and yoghurt.
The Dhawa Yura Kyoto is very well situated for visitors to the city as not only is it on a main road where a taxi can be hailed immediately, it is also on a major bus route and a few steps away from a large metro station. Getting about this large city is easy from such a central location. It is situated on the edge of Gion which is one of the most atmospheric areas of Kyoto and lovely – and safe – to walk around at night. Some of the must-do walks in the city – through north and south Hagashiyama – are easily accessible from the hotel. These areas boast a wealth of magnificent shrines and temples which simply must be explored. For those who like to do some retail therapy while in a new city, the hotel is a short walk from one of the major retail areas. A plethora of eateries and bars of every kind is available a short walk from the Dhawa Yura Kyoto including some of the city’s Michelin-star restaurants.
Dhawa Yura Kyoto by Banyan Tree Group is a very good choice of hotel when visiting Kyoto. It has a luxurious interior, an in-house restaurant, a fitness room and 8Lements Spa, well-trained and very helpful staff, and a central location – everything you need to make your visit to this memorable city a pleasure.
Dhawa Yura Kyoto by Banyan Tree Group
84 Ohashi-Cho, Higashiyama-Ward, 605-0009 Kyoto, Japan
Looking for something different in Japan? We also recommend Hoshino Resorts, Kai Hakone
