About this hotel
General information
Six Senses Kyoto is a quiet urban retreat in Higashiyama, the district of temples, craft workshops and narrow lanes on the eastern side of old Kyoto. It faces Toyokuni Shrine and its garden, with Myoho-in, the Kyoto National Museum and Sanjusangendo a short walk away. The interiors pair clean lines and earthy natural tones with artisanal detail, while the mood draws on The Tale of Genji, the Heian-era aesthetic of miyabi and old folk tales — from the moon rabbit to the foxes that give the bar its name.
There are 81 rooms and suites of 42 to 238 m², looking onto the inner courtyard garden, the city or the shrine garden. The hotel is known for Six Senses Spa, with its indoor pool, bathhouse and sleep and recovery programmes, and for Sekki, a kitchen that follows the 24 micro-seasons of the traditional Japanese calendar. Round-the-clock GEMs (Guest Experience Makers) look after guests, and the experiences programme opens up Kyoto through Zen gardens, crafts, food and early-morning city runs.
Location
The hotel sits in Kyoto's Higashiyama district, opposite Toyokuni Shrine, within walking distance of Myoho-in, the Kyoto National Museum and Sanjusangendo, with Kiyomizu-dera, Nanzen-ji and Gion a little further on. Kyoto Station, served by bullet trains from Tokyo and Osaka, is about 7 minutes away by taxi, and Shichijo Station on the Keihan Line about 10 minutes on foot. The hotel arranges transfers from the Shinkansen station and private transfers from Osaka Itami Airport (about 1 hour) and Kansai International Airport (about 1 hour 15 minutes), to be booked in advance.
Spa
Six Senses Spa is finished in wood and stone and brings together smart wellness technology, traditional practices and Japanese Zen culture. Facilities include four treatment suites (one for couples), a sensory studio for meditation, yoga and aerial yoga, male and female wet areas with sauna, steam room and bathhouse, a Japanese and herbal tea lounge, a Watsu pool for aquatic bodywork, a biohacking area and a boutique. At the Alchemy Bar guests blend their own scrubs from ingredients that change with Japan's 24 micro-seasons. Signature treatments include Ah-Un, with an incense intention ritual, a full-body massage and tuning forks, and Omakase, where the therapists shape the session around the guest, opening with a bathing ritual and closing with a tea ritual. Personalised programmes cover sleep, detox, yoga, fitness, recovery and beauty.
Sports & leisure
A 24-hour fitness centre comes with a personal trainer on site during the day, and the spa's sensory studio hosts yoga, aerial yoga and meditation. The experiences programme takes guests into the city:
- Zazen meditation in a neighbouring temple
- a dashi-making lesson with a Kyoto master, followed by dinner at his restaurant
- an introduction to Zen gardens with a hands-on dry-landscape session led by master gardeners
- Japanese whisky tasting and a mixology workshop with Japanese spirits at Nine Tails
- a private karate lesson
- a workshop making nioi-bukuro incense pouches
- a mountain village tour and forest walks on Mount Kurama
- a guided run through little-known corners of the city
- Earth Lab sessions on sustainable living
For children
Grow With Six Senses is the kids' club for ages 5 to 12, with origami, washi paper making, chigiri-e collage, pop-up cards, teru-teru bozu dolls, an introduction to kanji and games. It takes up to five children at a time on a first-come, first-served basis; under-fives join with an adult. Babysitting can be arranged in advance through the GEM team.
Restaurants & bars
Dining draws on seasonal produce from local farmers and the Eat With Six Senses philosophy; in-room dining runs around the clock.
- Sekki — all-day restaurant whose menus follow the 24 micro-seasons of the traditional Japanese calendar: nourishing breakfasts, lunch and dinner, afternoon tea and an omakase dinner that changes every two weeks and leans on fermentation
- Café Sekki — café and takeaway for fresh coffee, craft teas, juice shots, kombucha and house-made pastries and sweets
- Nine Tails — cocktail bar for classic and inventive cocktails with Japanese accents and a broad collection of Japanese spirits
- Sushi Oga Higashiyama — counter-style sushi from a renowned Osaka sushi house, known for its signature red-vinegar rice
Swimming
Six Senses Spa has an indoor pool and a separate Watsu pool for aquatic bodywork; the pool is open from 7:00 to 21:00. Children under 16 may swim with an adult between 7:00 and 12:00.
Pets
The hotel welcomes one fully trained, vaccinated dog of up to 15 kg per room, in Deluxe rooms only and subject to availability, for an additional fee and with a consent form completed before arrival. Dogs receive a bed, toys, towels, toilet sheets, bowls and their own in-room menu, and must stay in a carrier in the designated outdoor areas.
Rooms
The 81 rooms and suites, from 42 to 238 m², look onto the inner courtyard garden, the city or the garden of Toyokuni Shrine. Interiors are contemporary, with artisanal touches and motifs from Japanese folklore; some suites open onto a private Japanese garden, and the penthouse takes the top floor.
Naturalmat organic mattress and pillow menu, organic cotton bathrobes, yoga mat, sustainable bath amenities, minibar with local and house-made snacks, coffee and tea, Six Senses water, satellite TV, Bluetooth speaker, safe, hairdryer, high-speed Wi-Fi, individually controlled air conditioning and an umbrella.
Superior King
A contemporary room with nods to Japanese architecture, an emperor-size bed and a view of the inner courtyard or the street. Sleeps up to three.
Deluxe King
A king-bed room with a balcony facing the inner courtyard or the city. Sleeps up to three; connecting rooms available.
Deluxe Garden King
A king-bed room with a balcony overlooking the Japanese garden of the inner courtyard. Sleeps up to three; connecting rooms available.
Deluxe Twin
A twin-bed room with a balcony facing the inner courtyard or the city. Sleeps up to four; connecting rooms available.
Deluxe Garden Twin
A twin-bed room with a generous balcony over the Japanese garden of the inner courtyard. Sleeps up to four; connecting rooms available.
Deluxe Junior Suite Garden
A junior suite with a balcony looking out to Toyokuni Shrine and its garden. Sleeps up to three; connecting rooms available.
Junior Suite City
A spacious junior suite with a king bed and a street view. Sleeps up to three.
Premier Suite Garden King
A secluded suite with a separate living room, a king bed and a balcony leading straight into a private Japanese garden. Sleeps up to three.
Deluxe Suite Garden
A suite with a separate living area and a balcony with a box garden and views of Toyokuni Shrine. Sleeps up to three; connecting rooms available.
Premier Suite Garden Twin
A suite with a separate twin bedroom, a living area and a balcony leading straight into a private Japanese garden. Sleeps up to four.
Grand Premier Suite
One of the hotel's top suites, with a separate living area and an L-shaped balcony over the inner courtyard and the city. Sleeps up to three.
Two Bedroom Suite
A two-bedroom suite, one bedroom with a king bed and one with two double beds. Sleeps up to six; booked on request.
Three Bedroom Penthouse Suite
A top-floor penthouse with three en-suite bedrooms, living and dining space, a kitchenette with a fully equipped pantry and a terrace with views over Higashiyama and the mountains. Sleeps up to six; booked on request.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.