Tree Higashiyama Kyoto
Contemporary Japanese ryokan with a luxury resort sensibility. Clean lines, natural cypress and wood detailing, tatami floors, and sweeping windows. Quiet and intentional — this is a place for people who want to be inside Japan's cultural history, not just adjacent to it.
Book an Onsen Retreat room to get private natural hot spring water in-room — not all rooms have the real thing; some non-retreat rooms have standard hot water baths
Why It Matters
Only hotel in Kyoto with an authentic Noh theater stage (the Bamboo Pavilion, also designed by Kengo Kuma). It also has natural hot spring water piped to select rooms and to the indoor-outdoor public onsen baths. Banyan Tree's debut property in Japan.
Banyan Tree's first Japan property sits on a wooded hilltop in Higashiyama Ward, right next to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. The 52-room resort was designed by architect Kengo Kuma, with interiors by Yukio Hashimoto, and the design concept is 'Yugen' — a Japanese aesthetic of profound, hidden beauty. Every room has tatami floors, cypress wood soaking tubs, and views of the city or garden. It's the only hotel in Kyoto with a working Noh stage and its own bamboo grove, and it draws natural hot spring water directly from the hillside.
Where You'll Stay
11 room types available
Banyan Onsen Retreat King
The top-tier room at 74.5 sqm — the largest on property and the most indulgent. Private natural onsen with genuine mineral hot spring water, magnificent views, traditional tatami, and king-bed elegance. This is the room to book if you're staying for a milestone occasion.
King · 74.5 sqmGrand Onsen Retreat King
More space than the standard Onsen Retreat — 58.5 sqm with the same mineral-rich private hot spring. East-meets-West design, king bed, and garden views. The additional square footage makes a noticeable difference in the room's feel.
King · 58.5 sqmGrand Onsen Retreat Twin
An expansive twin-bed room at 56.4 sqm with a private natural onsen. The Japanese-Western design and garden views make this one of the more generous twin configurations in the property.
Twin · 56.4 sqm
Grand Serenity King
A step up with a Japanese-Western fusion design and panoramic city or garden views. Same footprint as the Serenity King but positioned on higher floors for better sightlines over Kyoto.
King · 51.5 sqmGrand Serenity Twin
Twin beds with tatami flooring and serene garden or city views. Slightly larger range than the standard twin rooms, with some units reaching 63 sqm.
Twin · 55.5 sqmOnsen Retreat King
This is where the real hot spring experience starts. A private natural onsen fed by the hilltop's mineral-rich spring water, courtyard garden views, and full tatami elegance. The onsen is a genuine hot spring — not standard plumbing — which makes a tangible difference.
King · 55 sqmOnsen Retreat Twin
The twin version of the Onsen Retreat — private natural hot spring, comfortable twin beds, tatami floors, and courtyard garden outlook. A good pick for two guests who both want the onsen experience.
Twin · 55 sqmSerenity King
The entry-level room, and still impressive. King bed, tatami flooring, a wooden soaking tub (not a private onsen — standard hot water), and views of either the garden or street. Carefully selected furnishings balance traditional Japanese sensibilities with modern comfort.
King · 51.5 sqmSerenity Twin
The twin-bed version of the entry room, ideal for friends or colleagues traveling together. Same tatami surroundings and signature wooden bathtub, with garden or street views.
Twin · 52.5 sqmWellbeing Sanctuary King
Designed specifically for wellness-focused guests. Floor-to-ceiling windows with city views, a private yoga space within the room, and a wooden soaking tub. No private onsen, but paired well with the spa offerings downstairs.
King · 55 sqmWellbeing Sanctuary Twin
Twin version of the Wellbeing Sanctuary, built for two wellness travelers sharing the space. Panoramic city views, therapeutic wooden bathtub, and yoga amenities.
Twin · 52.5 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
3 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Traditional dance and shamisen music performed by geiko and maiko on the Noh stage. Guests see these artists in exquisite kimono performing graceful movements — an authentic Kyoto cultural encounter without leaving the property.
Package pairing a local temple visit with a traditional matcha ceremony. Available as part of a curated stay offer.
Performances of Noh — Japan's oldest classical theater art — held on the hotel's Bamboo Pavilion stage. Haunting drum rhythms, candlelight, and mystical masks. The only hotel stage of this kind in Kyoto.
Guided meditation sessions held in the property's gardens, drawing from ancient Japanese wisdom traditions. Designed to complement the overall wellbeing programming.
Guided morning yoga sessions in the Japanese gardens, led by hotel instructors. Overlooks the garden as Kyoto awakens — quiet and grounding.
Gender-separated public onsen baths with both indoor and outdoor pools fed by natural hot spring water drawn from within the hilltop grounds. Available to all guests as a shared facility. Located on the 1st floor.
Rickshaw ride through Sannenzaka and the historic lanes of Higashiyama. Guests can combine this with a kimono stroll through the famous stone-paved streets near the hotel.
Experience a sacred Goma fire ritual of prayer and purification — a journey to the spiritual heart of the ancient capital. An unusual offering for any hotel anywhere.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Accessible facilities available, including a reserved parking lot for disabled guests on-site (the only on-site parking available).
The hotel's iconic centerpiece — an authentic Noh theater stage designed by Kengo Kuma, surrounded by bamboo. The only such stage at any Kyoto hotel. Hosts classical performances as well as geiko and maiko shows.
The hotel does not have a swimming pool. The onsen public baths serve as the primary aquatic wellness option.
The hotel's own bamboo grove, maintained by local Kyoto artisans. Enhances biodiversity and reflects traditional Kyoto craftsmanship. Open for guest strolling.
Curated retail shop in BF1 carrying Banyan Tree Spa bath, body, and aromatherapy products. Allows guests to take the spa experience home.
Indoor and outdoor public onsen baths fed by the hilltop's natural hot spring. Gender-separated. Located on the 1st floor.
Fully equipped gym with modern cardio and weights equipment. Located in BF1. Designed to offer bright, airy space with inspiring views of the surrounding area.
BUILD YOUR BANYAN TREE HIGASHIYAMA KYOTO PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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