THE HIRAMATSU Kyoto
Traditional Kyoto machiya meets contemporary Japanese-Scandinavian design. Lead feature walls that develop a patina over time, Danish furniture by Kaare Klint, Qing dynasty antiques, washi paper screens, and box gardens by noted potter Shiro Tsujimura. The aesthetic has a word: hannari — the Kyoto concept of refined, sophisticated, and elegant. No flash. No grand lobby. Instead, the arrival ritual involves turning corners through narrow corridors, each revealing something new.
Book Izumi early — only 12 seats at the kappo counter, and it fills up fast, especially on weekends
Why It Matters
This is Japan's leading luxury restaurant group (Hiramatsu) applied to a hotel. The machiya conversion is museum-quality — Nakamura Sotoji Komuten preserved original exposed ceiling beams, tataki beaten-earth floors, and the omoteya merchant's entrance. Both restaurants are open to the public, and the tiny 12-seat kappo counter at Izumi is one of Kyoto's most intimate dining experiences. Rooms start at a generous 54.8㎡ — genuinely large by Kyoto city-hotel standards.
Opened in March 2020, THE HIRAMATSU Kyoto is a 29-room small luxury hotel occupying a 120-year-old machiya townhouse on historic Muromachi-dori in central Kyoto. The building was sensitively restored by the renowned Kyoto firm Nakamura Sotoji Komuten, specialists in sukiya teahouse design — every beam, earth wall, and lattice partition is original or faithfully reconstructed. The Hiramatsu group built its reputation on Michelin-starred French dining before pivoting to hotels, so food is the organizing principle here: two serious in-house restaurants (Italian and Japanese kappo) share the bill with the architecture itself.
Where You'll Stay
5 room types available
Deluxe
The defining feature of the Deluxe rooms is the box garden — a miniature landscape created by renowned Kyoto potter Shiro Tsujimura, in collaboration with a florist who has supplied ikebana arrangements in Kyoto for over 160 years. You look at it from the desk. It sounds simple; it's surprisingly moving. Wave patterns above the bedroom shoji screens are a classic Kyoto decorative touch.
Deluxe Premier
The most numerous room type — 16 rooms across six different layouts. An imposing lead-covered feature wall dominates the entry. Living area and bedroom are separated by a wood-and-metal lattice, which casts beautiful shadow patterns throughout the day. Danish designer furniture harmonizes with traditional Kyoto materials without leaning too hard in either direction.
Junior Suite
At 87㎡, the Junior Suite captures the elongated layout that is particular to machiya architecture. A lattice partition greets you at the entrance; then a living room with a colorful rug opens to a dining room, then the bedroom, then the bathroom — each space subtly different, all connected through shoji paper screens that diffuse light softly. Ideal for families or groups who want in-room dining space.
2 semi-double beds (122cm x 195cm) · 87 sqmSuperior
The hotel's entry-level room — though at 55㎡ it's anything but small. The bedroom is screened from the entrance by a lead-covered feature wall, so you never see the full room at once. That deliberate reveal is a machiya thing. A jet bath, living area with table and chairs, and the same quality of materials and craftsmanship as every other room in the building. Well suited to solo travelers.
Semi-double (122cm x 195cm) · 55 sqmThe Hiramatsu Suite
The flagship suite at 104.4㎡. Walnut-panelled walls, lattice partitions casting shadows across the floor, Qing dynasty Chinese antiques, and modern furniture by a Danish designer — all working together. Feels more like a private apartment than a hotel room. Exclusive matcha tea set not found in other room categories. Jet bath, hand-held shower, overhead shower, and rain shower. Sleeps up to 4.
2 semi-double beds (122cm x 195cm) · 104.4 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
3 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
The building itself is an experience. The Pine Tree Garden (visible from Izumi and the entrance), the Bamboo Garden (viewable from Ristorante la Luce and the lounge), the omoteya with its original exposed beams and earth walls, and the kura storehouse are all accessible to guests at any time.
A thick-walled former storehouse at the end of the hashiriniwa corridor, furnished with Qing dynasty antiques and Kaare Klint Danish Mix easy chairs. Stocked with photography collections and books on Kyoto. Occasionally booked for private parties.
The hotel provides curated sightseeing information and can arrange uniquely Kyoto experiences through partner Otonami, including special temple visits and traditional cultural activities not accessible to the general public.
On check-in, guests are invited to relax on a sofa in the lounge and enjoy a seasonal sweet made by the hotel's own pâtissier while admiring the Bamboo Garden. Not included in the Casual Stay Plan.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Complimentary high-speed wireless internet access throughout all guest rooms and public areas.
In-room dining from Izumi's Japanese kitchen, available 5:00pm to 9:30pm last orders.
Japanese cypress (hinoki) bath ribbons that release a woody, calming aroma — a Hiramatsu Hotels signature amenity across all properties.
All beds use premium Regalia mattresses with a variety of pillow options available.
Refrigerator stocked with complimentary mineral water and soft drinks. Selection may vary for Casual Stay Plan.
In-room skincare set by Kazurasei, a celebrated Kyoto cosmetics maker. Bath amenities use Wazuka tea leaf extracts.
Multilingual concierge staff assist with sightseeing arrangements, restaurant reservations, and ticket booking. Currency exchange also available.
The hotel has no on-site parking. Nearest subway station (Karasuma Oike) is approximately a 3-minute walk away.
All 29 guest rooms include a jet bath. The Hiramatsu Suite also has hand-held, overhead, and rain showers. Junior Suites have a separate shower booth.
The hotel does not have a swimming pool, fitness center, or dedicated spa. The in-room jet bath is the primary wellness feature.
BUILD YOUR THE HIRAMATSU KYOTO PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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