“The Thousand Kyoto embodies the concept of a ‘Personal Comfort Hotel,’ taping into the abundant wisdom of Kyoto, goes beyond luxury to offer guests the finest sensory experience.” Keihan Hotels & Resorts
Kyoto, once the capital and now known as the cultural capital of Japan, offers visitors a glimpse into the country’s past but alongside all the history and sightseeing opportunities there are plenty of modern hotels and an abundance of Michelin Star restaurants. We stayed at The Thousand Kyoto, a member of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts brand, a stunning, five-star modern hotel located in the heart of the city in the Shimogyo Ward district.
The flagship property of the Keihan Group, The Thousand Kyoto opened in early 2019 and is just a two-minute walk from JR Kyoto Station central exit. It’s perfectly located for exploring everything Kyoto has to offer whether on foot, via two-wheels (bikes available from one of the many local hire shops) or by car.
The hotel certainly has the wow factor from the moment you walk in. The contemporary designed lobby has a unique art installation, ‘UTSUROI/YURAGI’ which epitomizes all things in perpetual motion, that immediately attracts your attention. The calm, tonal colours of the interior are punctuated with greenery and there’s a garden for healing and relaxation, an oasis of peace where guests can feel at one with nature. Our welcome was warm and efficient with plenty of reception staff to fulfill all our needs.
The hotel’s focus on minimalism does not detract from the comfort or service you would expect from a luxury hotel. The style of the spacious and light modern 222 rooms and suites is based on traditional Japanese teahouses, a place of zen yet offering comfort for the modern day traveller. Each room is decorated in pale grey tones complimented by pale wood and equipped with state-of-the-art technology including i-pads for accessing all the hotel information.
We stayed in The Thousand Room, a simple space designed to be harmonious with soft lighting and Japanese-style low furniture. Whereas a lot of Japanese hotel rooms are small this one was sizeable with plenty of additional features. There was a large, comfortable bed with high quality linens and the best pillows of the trip, the black out blinds were excellent too as was the sound proofing. The living area had a modern table & chairs, sofa, flat-screen TV as well as tea & coffee making facilities. The bathroom had a walk-in rain shower, separate automated toilet and amenities such as bath robe, pyjamas and slippers alongside a wide range of complimentary toiletries. The room also had a humidifying air cleaner, air conditioning and free wifi.
A buffet style breakfast is offered in the hotel’s Scalae restaurant where both Japanese and international cuisine is available. This was the only downside of the hotel for me, the service was questionable, the food was disappointing and the whole experience was chaotic. There is also a Japanese restaurant, Kizahashi and Tea & Bar for afternoon tea but we didn’t try either of these. The modern spa offers a range of treatments and there’s also a fitness centre.
I would definitely recommend staying at The Thousand Kyoto if you looking for a luxury hotel that’s clean, comfortable and well located.
The Nitty Gritty
The Thousand Kyoto, 570 Higashishiokoji-cho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto City 600-8216, Japan
Telephone: +81 75-354-1000
Website: www.keihanhotels-resorts.co.jp/the-thousand-kyoto
Check-in: 3:00pm
Check-out: 12 noon
The Good…
Spacious modern accommodation
Located in the heart of Kyoto
Just 0.3km walk to JR Kyoto Station (where you can catch the Shinkansen aka bullet train)
Free & fast wifi
The Not so Good…..
Breakfast service and options
Read more about Japan in previous post In Pictures | A Postcard From Japan, Nagoya | Japan and Kyoto | Japan
We travelled to Japan with Etihad Airways and stayed at The Thousand Kyoto via Booking.com
The views in this post are all my own based on my experience. Unless otherwise stated all photos © Jo Brett 2019. All rights reserved. Additional photos used with courtesy of www.keihanhotels-resorts.co.jp/the-thousand-kyoto