Imperial hillside sanctum
Guests arrive to seasonal calligraphy poems from the Okami, surrounded by fragrant cypress timber, sliding screens, and imperial chrysanthemum crests.
“Once a princely residence, the Yoshida Sanso is now a boutique inn serving incredible kaiseki.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Former 1932 imperial villa of Prince Higashi-Fushimi, registered as a cultural property.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and AFAR.
Walk past an imposing gate on an unassuming street and you’re suddenly surrounded by a sublime hush as you enter Yoshida Sanso’s historic main building.
Somewhere quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Set along the quiet slopes of Mount Yoshida, the inn sits a short walk from Ginkaku-ji and the Philosopher's Path.
The rooms
Tatami suites look out onto moss gardens and eastern peaks, detailed with paper shoji screens and deep soaking tubs.
Restaurant
Café Shinkokan
Upstairs in a 1930s pavilion, the salon serves matcha and sweets beneath timber beams and Art Deco stained glass.
Housed in an imperial residence dating back to the 1930s, Yoshida-Sanso blends classical Japanese architecture with art deco touches…
At the table
Kaiseki courses arrive on antique ceramics in private dining rooms looking out onto the estate gardens.
How it began
Constructed in 1932 as a royal villa, the estate preserves classic Shoin carpentry alongside subtle Art Deco stained glass.
Good to know
Stay here
Yoshida Sanso Hotel
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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.