Kiyomizu Kyoto
Youthful, design-forward, art-and-music-driven lifestyle hotel with deep local craft collaborations. Gallery-like corridors, high-end Bluetooth speakers in every room, and a crowd that skews younger and international. Think contemporary Japanese hotel meets European neighbourhood bistro.
The 'Stay and Dine' package (exclusive to the official website) gives you 5,000 yen credit for CICON's bakery, restaurant, and rooftop bar — worth booking direct.
Why It Matters
Tablet Hotels-listed property that genuinely delivers on its 'local creative community' pitch — not just decor lip-service. The Meditation Room was co-designed with the deputy head priest of Kennin-ji Temple and a Chicago-born sound artist. The NOHGA Suite hosts private Maiko performances. The bakery alone draws non-guests off the street.
Nohga Hotel Kiyomizu Kyoto is a lifestyle hotel in Higashiyama that puts a distinctly modern spin on Kyoto's artisan culture. Every detail — from the Kiyomizuyaki ceramic tea cups to the pocket-squares staff wear made from recycled kimono fabric — connects back to the local craftspeople the hotel works with. And the food program is genuinely good: Italian-inflected Josper oven cooking downstairs, an award-winning rooftop bar with panoramic views of Mount Hiei and Kiyomizu-dera Temple, and a bakery with 50+ freshly baked breads that guests keep mentioning unprompted.
Where You'll Stay
11 room types available
Deluxe King
One of the more comfortable standard options at 31m² — guests consistently flag this as feeling spacious for Kyoto. King bed, bathtub, Geneva speaker, and the full craft-appointed interior.
King (1,800 x 2,030 mm) · 31 sqm
Deluxe Twin
The largest twin configuration at 33m², with an upgraded Technics speaker and capacity for a third guest with an extra bed (additional fee). Well-reviewed by families and groups of three.
Two singles (1,200 x 2,030 mm each) · 33 sqm
Double
The entry-level room is compact by Western standards — 19m² is honest, not spacious — but the layout is efficient and the fit-out is well above the price point. Shower booth only (no bathtub). Geneva Bluetooth speaker, Simmons mattress, Imabari towels, OSAJI organic bath amenities, and a 49-inch streaming TV.
Queen (1,600 x 2,030 mm) · 19 sqmDouble (Upper Floor)
Identical footprint to the standard Double but on an upper floor for better light and views. Shower booth only. Same craft-focused room fittings as all rooms: Geneva speaker, Simmons mattress, OSAJI amenities.
Queen (1,600 x 2,030 mm) · 19 sqmExecutive King
Upgraded to a 2,000mm-wide king bed and a premium Technics speaker system instead of the Geneva found in entry-level rooms. A noticeable audio step-up for music lovers.
King (2,000 x 2,030 mm) · 28 sqmJunior Suite
At 57m² this is a genuine suite — a separate living area, wine cellar storage, coffeeware, and a Blu-ray player, plus a premium Klipsch speaker amplified through a Komatsu Sound Lab vacuum tube amplifier. The audiophile setup alone makes it worth the upgrade. Two twin beds; max capacity 2 guests.
Two singles (1,200 x 2,030 mm each) · 57 sqmNOHGA Suite
The flagship room at 76m², sleeping up to 4. A tatami living area, kitchenette, wine cellar, record player, Blu-ray player, and the hotel's best HORA AUDIO speaker system. This is the room where the private Maiko dance experience is hosted (sold as a 200,000 JPY package including the suite stay). Asahiyaki ceramic reading lamps — made by a 400-year-old Uji pottery — are bespoke to this room.
Two queens (1,600 x 2,030 mm each) · 76 sqmPremium King
The widest bed in the king category at 2,400mm — essentially two queens joined. Sleeps up to 3 with an extra bed (1,000x1,950mm, additional fee). Technics speaker. Good option for families or guests wanting maximum bed real estate.
2,400 x 2,030 mm · 33 sqmSuperior King
A step up in size and bed, with a proper king-size at 1,800mm wide. Bathtub included (unlike the base Double). Geneva Bluetooth speaker and the full suite of craft-made room accessories.
King (1,800 x 2,030 mm) · 23 sqmSuperior Twin
More floor space than the standard Twin at 30m², which makes two separate beds feel much less cramped. Geneva speaker, bathtub, and the full Kyoto-craft interior.
Two singles (1,200 x 2,030 mm each) · 30 sqmTwin
Two 1,200mm single beds, Geneva speaker, bathtub. A solid choice for two friends or solo travellers who prefer single beds. Standard room craft fittings throughout.
Two singles (1,200 x 2,030 mm each) · 24 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
3 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Create a personalised aroma spray blending natural essential oils with hot spring water, in collaboration with Kyoto-based aroma designer Tomoko Saito Aromatique. An in-room experience.
In-room hand massage using products from OSAJI, the Japanese skincare brand also used for the hotel's bath amenities. Designed to ease tension accumulated from walking Kyoto's hills.
Live music performances featuring Kyoto-based and Kyoto-born musicians, typically held on the second Saturday of every month in the lobby lounge area from 7pm–10pm. Past performers have included m-flo collaborations, jazz acts, and DJ sets.
In-room matcha preparation experience in collaboration with YUGEN Kyoto, a tea specialist that opened in 2018. Designed for casual, accessible engagement with Japanese tea culture rather than a formal ceremony.
Periodic tea ceremony experience combining mindfulness and traditional Kyoto tea culture. Held on select dates (check the Experience page). A more intimate format than large-group tourist ceremonies.
A private in-suite experience in the NOHGA Suite. A Maiko (apprentice geisha) and Jikata (shamisen musician) perform traditional Kyomai dance, followed by Ozashiki Asobi parlour games and a Q&A with an interpreter. Duration approximately 2 hours from 6:00pm. Package rate 200,000 JPY per night for 2 guests, inclusive of one-night stay in the NOHGA Suite and CICON breakfast. Subject to suite and Maiko availability.
Bicycles curated by KON'S CYCLE, a sustainability-focused Kyoto bike shop. Both standard bikes and e-bikes available. A practical and enjoyable way to cover Kyoto's temple-dense eastern hills and flat central streets.
Periodic sound bath meditation events in the hotel. Scheduled on specific dates — check the Experience page or the hotel's news section for upcoming sessions.
Guided sutra-copying (shakyo) experience in the guest room, produced by Toryo Ito, deputy head priest of Ryosoku-in, Kennin-ji Temple. Accompanied by washi paper and a calligraphy pen custom-made by Kahotoen pottery.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
High-speed Wi-Fi available throughout the property including all guest rooms. Independently reviewed as one of the better hotel internet connections in the region.
Corridors are curated like gallery spaces with rotating art installations and exhibitions. The hotel hosts occasional artist-in-residence programs; past residents have installed textile works directly in guest rooms.
The hotel does not have a swimming pool.
In-room water server noted by multiple guests as a convenient and appreciated touch.
Every room has a high-fidelity Bluetooth speaker. Entry rooms have Geneva speakers; mid-tier and above upgrade to Technics; the Junior Suite uses Klipsch with a vacuum tube amplifier; the NOHGA Suite features HORA AUDIO.
Valet laundry and dry cleaning. Request at the front desk by 10am for same-day return by 7pm.
Door-to-door luggage delivery between Kyoto Station Hachijo Gate and the hotel (1,000 JPY each way) or between other accommodations within Kyoto City (1,000 JPY). Reception by 10am on the day.
English- and Japanese-speaking staff at the front desk around the clock.
On-site 24-hour cashless laundromat using allergen-free alkaline ionized water 'Wash+ Water' instead of detergents. Wash only: 600 JPY. Dryer: 100 JPY per 10 minutes.
Very limited parking available on-site. The hotel strongly recommends using public transportation.
Equipped with Technogym machines: 2 treadmills, 2 upright bikes, dumbbells from 1–22 kg, a multi-adjustable bench, and a studio mat. Technogym equipment is used by professional athletes worldwide. Reservation at the front desk required.
BUILD YOUR NOHGA HOTEL KIYOMIZU KYOTO PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
Start Planning