Header: Nacasa&partners
Kyoto, with its serene landscapes and timeless traditions, has long been a sanctuary for those seeking peace and cultural immersion. The Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto elevates this experience, offering a retreat that combines the spiritual essence of the city with contemporary luxury.
Located in the wooded hills of Higashiyama Ward, this remarkable hotel offers absolute serenity and relaxation. Its bamboo garden and ryokan-style rooms, complete with tatami mats and handcrafted wooden bathtubs, pay homage to Japanese heritage. For a touch of indulgence, the best suites feature private onsen baths fed by natural hot springs, while all guests can enjoy the expansive indoor-outdoor baths, spa, and fitness center. However, the hotel’s true masterpiece lies in its Noh stage, the only one of its kind in Kyoto, designed to host traditional kabuki and other classical performance arts.
Architectural elegance inspired by Noh Theatre
The architectural vision, led by Kengo Kuma & Associates, encapsulates the ethereal beauty of Noh theatre, often referred to as the “Theatre of Ghosts.” With its roots in Kyoto, Noh is renowned for its mysterious and profound artistry, a concept encapsulated in the Japanese aesthetic principle of yūgen – a subtle, quiet beauty. Kuma’s design captures this essence, creating a sanctuary where tradition and innovation intertwine.
The Noh stage, constructed from yellow cedar and Kyoto cypress, is a tribute to this 14th-century art form. Set against a shallow reflecting pool, its timber skeleton lacks solid walls or a traditional roof, creating a transparent interplay with the surrounding greenery. Instead of a painted pine backdrop, the stage frames real trees, harmonizing with nature and adhering to site restrictions.
Architecture that blends with the environment
The hotel’s architecture dissolves into its natural surroundings, embodying a design philosophy that blends the forest with the city. The eaves, constructed from louvers, soften the building’s contours and create a sense of translucency. These continuous rafters form deep, elongated eaves that cast soft shadows, echoing traditional Japanese design while breaking the monolithic structure into visually lighter sections.
The entrance, with its cantilevered miniature gabled roof, exemplifies an effortless fusion of tradition and technology. The interlocking wooden beams, supported by cutting-edge resin construction, achieve a remarkable sense of levitation, welcoming visitors with an awe-inspiring architectural feat.
Timeless craftsmanship in every detail
Inside, the hotel continues to celebrate Kyoto’s rich heritage. The interiors, crafted by the late Yukio Hashimoto, feature natural materials like wood and stone, elevated through traditional Japanese techniques. The lobby showcases charred timber columns, a chequerboard-patterned wooden floor, and a reception desk carved with the naguri technique, evoking hammered metal.
Guest rooms are sanctuaries of calm, combining tatami flooring, cypress-wood bathtubs, and locally sourced gold-leaf details on headboards. Modern touches like hidden timber lattices in shoji screens and elevated horigotatsu seating enhance the comfort and functionality of these traditional spaces. Even the tea tables embody a balance of natural beauty and contemporary design, featuring solid tochi wood tops and hexagonal legs.
A celebration of Kyoto’s landscape
The hotel’s landscape design by Placemedia Landscape & Architectures inc. pays homage to the natural beauty of Higashiyama. Weathered stones from the site’s original masonry, moss, trees, and a bamboo grove were preserved and restored, creating a seamless connection between the built environment and its surroundings. The stepped gardens offer panoramic views of Kyoto, while a craggy rock pond and reflective pools bring tranquility to the lower levels.
At the heart of the property lies the Ryozen restaurant, where multi-course kaiseki meals can be enjoyed with views of the Noh stage and the surrounding bamboo grove. This perfect integration of dining, performance art, and natural beauty exemplifies the hotel’s commitment to a holistic experience.
Project info
Design Architect: Kengo Kuma & Associates
Guest Room Design: hashimoto yukio design studio
Interior Design: DWP International
Landscape Design: Placemedia Landscape & Architectures inc.
Lighting Design: Uchihara Creative Lighting Design inc.
Structure Design: Irie Miyake Architects & Engineers
Construction: SHIMIZU CORPORATION
Photography: Nacasa&partners
