Elite Traveler HRS 2025

Park Hyatt Kyoto

Michelin-starred Kyoyamato — a historic ryotei dating back to 1877 — serves seasonally inspired kaiseki dishes. There’s also a laid-back bistro where breakfast is served; you can opt for the bu ff et (I had everything from homemade granola to mini quiches), but we also recommend trying the Japanese breakfast at least once. Prepared by the team at Kyoyamato, it's an elegant bento box fi lled with an assortment of treats. Mine included miso-marinated black cod, grilled spicy cod roe and a warming Shijimi clam barley soup. EXPLORE When it comes to location, it doesn’t get much better than this. Park Hyatt Kyoto is situated on Ninenzaka — a stone-paved pedestrian road lined with meticulously preserved wooden buildings. There are plenty of temples within walking distance; for incredible views of Kyoto, stroll to Kiyomizudera Temple (go early in the day to avoid the crowds). Along the way, you’ll pass plenty of tea houses, restaurants and trinket shops. Further a fi eld, take the train for a day trip to Arashiyama to walk along the stunning bamboo groves and explore the area’s many temples. I stumbled across a tiny hermit’s cottage, Rakushisha, that was once home to Genroku poet Mukai Kyorai — one of the 10 disciples of the famed haiku poet Matsuo Basho. The thatched-roof hut is surrounded by a tranquil garden dotted with stones carved with haikus; it's a nice pit stop between temple-hopping. Be sure to chat with the hotel sta ff for recommendations; Aghyad and Ivan went above and beyond to make my stay unforgettable. By Irenie Forshaw From $1,150 per night. Contact +81 755 311 234, hyatt.com

Designed and built by Takenaka — a family-run company dating back to the 17th century that’s responsible for many of Japan’s shrines and temples — the low-ceilinged building appears at fi rst glance to be a traditional ryokan . It quickly becomes apparent, however, that it has a distinctly contemporary edge, with all the trappings of luxury you would expect from a Park Hyatt property. STAY With just 61 rooms and nine suites, Park Hyatt Kyoto has an intimate feel. World-renowned interior designer Tony Chi is responsible for the beautifully appointed accommodations. Minimalist yet undeniably swanky, the rooms feature sloping ceilings crafted from tamo woodand fl oor-to-ceiling windows that reveal sweeping views either out over Kyoto’s tiled rooftops or across private gardens. DINE The highlight of my stay was dining at Yasaka, the hotel’s über-cool teppanyaki restaurant. Sitting at the counter watching the chefs prepare my meal on the Japanese teppan (steel plate) while watching the sun setting over the Yasaka Pagoda — one of Kyoto’s most iconic landmarks — was really special. The moodily lit restaurant has just two 10-seat counters, so you feel lucky to have a seat here. Chef Kentaro Koyama has crafted an exceptional seven-course menu that fuses the theater and ingredients of teppanyaki with classic French cooking techniques. Standout dishes, of which there were many, included mini buckwheat crepes fi lledwith caviar, salted lemon and edible fl owers; kyotango rice topped with sakura shrimp and bamboo shoots; and generous hunks of wagyu beef served with grilled asparagus and a dollop of wasabi.

PARK HYATT KYOTO KYOTO, JAPAN The entrance to Park Hyatt Kyoto is so discreet it would be easy to miss entirely. Located in the heart of the ancient city’s bustling Higashiyama District, close to Kodai-ji Temple, the hillside retreat blends in almost seamlessly with the surrounding buildings. Save for a small black sign, there is little indication that this low-rise property is, in fact, one of the most sought-after hotels in Kyoto. But that’s exactly the kind of understated elegance the brand is known for. Within moments of arriving, I'm ushered across a boulder-strewn, Japanese-style garden and into the sleek lobby. The stress of my hectic journey from Tokyo dissipates almost instantly: It’s clear that, while inside Park Hyatt Kyoto, it’s almost impossible to feel anything but a sense of calm.

King Bed Deluxe Viewroom

Photo Takeshi Nakasa