Kyoto is one of our favorite destinations in Japan, and the relatively new Hyatt Regency Kyoto is the hotel that best captures the city’s refined aesthetic, perfected hospitality and service, and incredible cuisine.

The hotel is truly a work of art. Designed by Takashi Sugimoto of Asia’s renowned Super Potato design firm, the hotel features several Japanese gardens, contemporary Japanese furniture, traditional textiles, cedar tubs, a spa with shiatsu and acupuncture, and excellent restaurants that showcase Sujimoto’s skilled use of collections (cooking molds, door knobs, books, etc.) as design elements.

We are particularly fond of the hotel’s suites, which offer a combination of Western and Japanese (tatami) rooms overlooking a private Japanese garden.

The hotel is the place to stay in Kyoto for travelers who prefer a hotel, and it’s included in most of our private luxury Japan tours. We also highly recommend a stay at one of the city’s best ryokans (traditional inns) such as the Hiiragiya and Tawaraya, and many of our travelers opt to spend a night or two at a Kyoto ryokan before moving to the Hyatt Regency for several nights.