Kyoto, JapanArashiyama
HOSHINOYA Kyoto
Secluded gorge sanctuary
Arashiyama Kyoto, Japan
Renovated
2009
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Design Heritage LocalOutside the door
The house
Hoshino ResortsSecluded gorge sanctuary
Arrival is by private wooden boat gliding fifteen minutes up the Oi River into the forested stillness of Rankyo Gorge.
“All meticulously designed, the rooms are a balanced mix of old and new, combining to offer an updated Japanese-style retreat.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Hand-printed kyo-karakami washi wallpaper and low-slung tatami seating frame river gorge views.
Remarkable
Preserved Meiji-era ryokan pavilions and seventeenth-century merchant grounds along the riverbank.
What they say
One Michelin Key
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler, Softer Volumes and AFAR.
The architecture is unmistakably Japanese but also unmistakably modern, and the interiors are a delightful update on ryokan convention.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Crowds around Arashiyama's bamboo groves and Togetsukyo Bridge quickly fade as you travel upriver to the quiet base of Mount Ogura.
The rooms
Hand-printed Kyo-karakami wallpaper and low tatami seating line each pavilion, leading to deep cypress soaking tubs framing river gorge views.
Spa and morning Zen
Therapists deliver in-room bodywork using Japanese aromatics, and mornings start with guided Zen stretching in the garden.
Salon & Bar Kura
Set in a converted storehouse with exposed timber beams, the bar pours Japanese whiskies and seasonal cocktails across a dark counter.
The 25 pavilions—each one unique, secluded, and expertly crafted—are temples to serenity, carefully positioned along steep banks above the river to maximize the natural setting.
At the table
Multi-course kaiseki dinners center on heirloom Kyoto vegetables, and morning hot pots arrive at low tables facing the gorge.
How it began
Originally a seventeenth-century riverside estate for merchant tycoon Suminokura Ryōi, the heritage timber buildings were revived using traditional Kyoto wood-washing.
“The journey is part of the experience at Hoshinoya Kyoto, where a charming wooden boat ferries guests to the hotel’s scenic perch...”
Kyoto
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.