Imperial Hotel, Kyoto

When the cherry blossoms begin to stir Kyoto’s ancient streets this spring, a new chapter in the city’s luxury hospitality story will unfold in Gion. On March 5, 2026, Imperial Hotel, Kyoto will debut as a 55-room boutique hotel within the restored Yasaka Kaikan—a 1936 landmark. Blending heritage architecture with contemporary design, the hotel will introduce four signature dining experiences: REN, YASAKA, OLD IMPERIAL BAR, and THE ROOFTOP.

Positioned in the heart of Gion, Kyoto’s famed geiko and maiko district, Imperial Hotel, Kyoto is conceived as a collection of intimate stages where light, texture, and flavor follow the rhythm of the seasons. From a 10-seat chef’s counter to a lantern-lit rooftop terrace, each venue offers its own perspective on Kyoto luxury travel, design, and cuisine

A Historic Gion Landmark Reborn

The Imperial Hotel, Kyoto occupies part of the historic Yasaka Kaikan on the grounds of the Gion Kobu Kaburenjo, long a cultural anchor for Kyoto’s traditional performing arts. Embracing an “old is new” philosophy, the project preserves key elements of the original 1936 structure while introducing a refined, contemporary interior.

Materials such as Japanese marble, Ōya stone, and Tamina-ishi define the public spaces, complemented by crafted woodwork and, in the North Wing, traditional tatami flooring. The interior design of Imperial Hotel, Kyoto leans into warm woods, nuanced neutrals, and subdued metallic accents, creating luminous yet understated spaces that respond to Kyoto’s ever-shifting light.

With just 55 guest rooms across seven stories, the property is intentionally intimate—a discreet urban retreat in Gion, moments from temples, shrines, and the narrow lanes that define Kyoto’s historic core. In April 2025, the Imperial Hotel, Kyoto joined The Leading Hotels of the World, underscoring its commitment to global luxury standards and authentic local character.

REN: A Seasonal Chef’s Counter in Kyoto

For travelers seeking a fine dining restaurant in Kyoto, REN offers a focused, immersive experience where timing and gesture are as important as ingredients.

The 18-seat restaurant centers on a 10-seat chef’s counter, framed by soft, directional lighting that illuminates the counter like a stage while the surrounding room is held in a gentle, cinematic hush. The atmosphere invites quiet concentration on the movement, aroma, and detail unfolding just a few feet away.

The walls feature bespoke works by a renowned plaster artisan—delicate reliefs of cherry blossoms inspired by Gion’s Miyako Odori and the breeze drifting from nearby Higashiyama. The result is a cocoon-like environment for conversation and contemplation.

Executive Chef Koji Imajo, a veteran of Imperial Hotel since 1996, leads REN’s culinary program. Having refined his classical French technique in France before becoming Head Chef of the Kyoto property in 2025, he crafts menus guided by Japan’s twenty-four solar terms, a traditional seasonal calendar that breaks the year into subtle intervals.

“Kyoto’s light changes by the hour, and so must the plate,” says Imajo. “At REN, you taste the moment—the gentle bitterness of early spring greens, the comforting warmth of a slowly coaxed jus, and the harmony of textures composed at the counter before your eyes.”

At REN, guests can expect French-inspired Kyoto cuisine that marries classical technique with local seasonality and terroir, served in real time at the counter—a distinctive option for those searching for chef’s counter dining in Kyoto.

YASAKA: Grill-Centered Dining in the Heart of Gion

If REN represents quiet precision, YASAKA celebrates the elemental appeal of fire and flame. Located on the second floor, this 54-seat Kyoto restaurant is anchored by a custom wood and charcoal oven that brings a subtle flicker and fragrant smoke to the open kitchen.

A restored “Bashō relief”, once displayed in Yasaka Kaikan’s former VIP room, has been carefully reinstalled, linking today’s lively dining room to the building’s historic past.

In the morning, YASAKA is bright and sunlit, ideal for breakfast in Gion. By evening, it shifts into a warm, layered environment suited for relaxed dinners and gatherings. The menu presents elevated comfort dishes enhanced by the grill’s signature kiss of smoke.

Highlights include the Yasaka Burger and Yasaka Curry, both marked by gentle char and depth of flavor that nod to the artistry of the wood and charcoal oven. Open throughout the day for breakfast, lunch, tea, and dinner, YASAKA functions as the social heart of the hotel—a welcoming destination for both hotel guests and Kyoto locals seeking approachable, grill-focused cuisine in Gion.

OLD IMPERIAL BAR: Classic Cocktails with a Kyoto View

Perched on the seventh floor, OLD IMPERIAL BAR offers a contemplative setting for cocktails in Kyoto. Drawing inspiration from the Imperial Hotel’s historic Wright Building, originally designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the bar translates that architectural legacy into a Kyoto context.

The counter is carved from a single slab of zelkova wood, its grain leading the eye outward toward the Kyoto townscape beyond. Carefully designed architectural lighting creates low, focused pools that graze ceramic reliefs and make each cocktail gleam like a jewel on the bar top.

With only 19 seats, OLD IMPERIAL BAR is a quiet refuge above Gion’s busy streets, ideal for guests seeking a sophisticated Kyoto bar experience. The menu showcases time-honored classics and Kyoto-influenced originals, including Mount Hiei, a matcha-based homage to the storied Mount Fuji cocktail, bringing together heritage mixology and the region’s tea culture.

THE ROOFTOP: An Exclusive Open-Air Terrace in Gion

For guests in residence, THE ROOFTOP provides a contrasting experience to the hotel’s enclosed, intimate interiors: an open-air terrace that places Kyoto’s skyline front and center.

Located above the seventh floor and accessed via a dedicated staircase, the 24-seat rooftop terrace in Gion enjoys an unobstructed vantage point in central Kyoto. The design remains deliberately understated—minimal strip lighting and lantern-like fixtures ensure the cityscape takes visual precedence.

Here, the focus is on atmosphere: the night breeze, the murmur of the streets below, and the silhouettes of temples and rooftops against the sky. THE ROOFTOP operates seasonally from late March to late November, weather permitting. In the off-season or during inclement weather, guests are invited to enjoy OLD IMPERIAL BAR instead.

For travelers searching for an exclusive rooftop bar in Kyoto, THE ROOFTOP offers a quietly dramatic, guest-only experience in the heart of Gion.

Culinary and Service Leadership

The coherence of Imperial Hotel, Kyoto’s dining experiences across four distinct venues stems from the leadership of Executive Chef Koji Imajo. His overarching food philosophy is rooted in French technique, while the twenty-four solar terms provide a precise seasonal framework for how menus evolve throughout the year.

Overseeing the guest experience across REN, YASAKA, OLD IMPERIAL BAR, and THE ROOFTOP is Food & Beverage Manager Yuto Jindo. Jindo focuses on tailoring service, pacing, and tone to each venue’s personality—from the hush of the chef’s counter to the convivial energy of the grill, and from the intimacy of the bar to the openness of the rooftop terrace.

“Our craft lives in small moments—the warmth of the grill’s first ignition, the quiet exchange at the counter, the way a cocktail meets the night air on the terrace,” says Jindo. “Each space feels timeless and distinctly Kyoto.”

For guests seeking refined Kyoto hospitality, this alignment of culinary vision and service detail is central to the hotel’s appeal.

A New Chapter for the Imperial Hotel Brand in Kyoto

The opening of Imperial Hotel, Kyoto represents a significant milestone for one of Japan’s most storied hotel brands. Established in 1890 as a state guest house, Imperial Hotel has long been synonymous with formal hospitality in Tokyo and beyond.

Kyoto becomes the brand’s fourth property, following Tokyo, Kamikochi, and Osaka, and marks the first new Imperial Hotel to debut in three decades. By preserving and transforming the Yasaka Kaikan—a beloved 90-year-old cultural landmark for the local community—the project underscores a commitment not only to high-level service, but also to architectural and cultural continuity.

In addition to its four food and beverage venues, Imperial Hotel, Kyoto will feature a spa, pool, and fitness center, positioning the property as a complete luxury hotel in Kyoto for both short city breaks and longer stays. 

In a city that has long perfected the art of subtlety, Imperial Hotel, Kyoto positions itself as a new kind of stage—where architecture, service, and cuisine quietly converge to frame Kyoto’s enduring, ever-changing beauty. For travelers looking for a luxury hotel in Gion with signature dining, the property offers an intimate, design-driven base from which to experience Kyoto at its most atmospheric.