Kyoto is one of the most beautiful, sophisticated, and artistic cities of Japan. It is located on the island of Honshu. It was once the capital of Japan and the home of the former Emperor.

Kyoto features some of the most stunning palaces of the country including The Golden Pavilion Kinkaku-ji immortalised by Yukio Mishima in his eponymous book, and The Silver Pavilion with its bijou dry gardens. So many more World Heritage shrines and traditional houses are disseminated across the city. Take a walk along the Philosopher’s Path to view the beautiful trees and elegant architecture.  

The UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto include fourteen temples, shrines, and castles dating from between the sixth century and the seventeenth century (Nijō Castle). The sites were designated as World Heritage in 1994. Outside the city, more sites are also on the list.

At night, discreet geishas can be furtively seen in the downtown Gion district while fashion aficionados shop around the busy and narrow Shijo street. Kyoto mixes charming ancestral design with some of the edgiest lifestyle venues.

KYOTOGRAPHIE, held in the spring, is one of the strongest photography festivals of Japan. Impressive collections of photography and works by international artists are presented in elegant, historic buildings. This event is another opportunity to travel to Kyoto. Some shows feature the work of traditional artists, while others honour artists using the most pioneering photographic technology. Spanish house LOEWE took part in this year’s programme and emerging talent Coco Capitán was one of the selected artists.

Founded in 2021, the upcoming Art Collaboration Kyoto will soon present a new model of art fair that is rooted in the spirit of collaboration, as well as Kyoto’s welcoming ethos and rich history of art and culture. Its “Gallery Collaborations” section pairs a local Japanese gallery with its international peer in a shared booth to co-present a unique and thoughtful exhibition, while “Kyoto Meetings” features artists with distinct connections to Kyoto.

Cinema is also a very important art in Japan. In 1895 the Lumière brothers developed the Cinematographe in France. Two years later, in 1897, businessman Katsutaro Inabata brought it to Japan and the first projections took place in what is today the stunning Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa by HULIC. How many other hotels in the world can claim such an impressive location? Situated on the birthplace of Japanese Motion Picture Industry, The Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa is therefore one of the most prestigious hotels of Kyoto.

Conveniently located near the Kamogawa River, The Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa is between the busy shopping Kawaramachi streets with luxury boutiques, the excellent restaurants and bars of the Kiyamachi-dori street and the Kamo River. The hotel is also within a short 10-minute walk of Nishiki Market. Its very central location makes The Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa so easy to access. It’s got everything you need around! The property is also a short walk to public transportation: Sanjo Keihan Station and Shiyakusho-mae Station are really closeby. HULIC is an important leading Real Estate group which develops luxury hotels. It stands for “Human”, “Life” and “Create”.

The architecture of the hotel is spectacular with a white elegant façade. Once in, a large lobby featuring an ancient piano, a punting boat used on the Takasegawa River, and comfortable sofas welcomes guests. This part of the building features a library, a nod to the building’s former function as a schoolhouse. This slick lobby also hosts really charming cafés and shops. The building was renovated by Takenaka, a family-owned architecture corporation, and SCDA, an international practice seamlessly integrating architecture, interiors, landscape and object-making to create holistic spatial experiences that are intrinsically sustainable. With offices in Singapore, Shanghai, Manila and New York City, SCDA has projects in over 80 locations across Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania, and North America. In parallel, SCDA Lab pioneers social and cultural initiatives, applying research and design to enact measurable change and advance the environmental cause.

Taking the lift to the reception of the hotel on the 8^th floor, guests are welcomed with an impressive view over the city with an outside terrace and a restaurant. This large room is perfectly architected and designed for a comfortable time. It houses large sofas and a remarkable counter for cocktails at night. This is one of the ‘wow factors’ of the hotel. This panoramic view of the Higashiyama area on the hotel’s top floor makes The Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa by HULIC truly special.

The Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa by HULIC is all about discreet luxury and little touches of pale colours throughout the different rooms enhance this elegance. “Anchor Kyoto”, the fantastic restaurant on that floor, offers bistro style cuisine and delicious dining options. This outstanding space and terrace can also serve for private events. Breakfast is excellent and mixes buffet style and table service with a great choice of eggs Benedict, French toast or Japanese options.

Another exclusive lounge with outdoor patio for hotel guests only can be found on the third floor. It serves sweets, soft drinks and wine for guests. The charming patio is equipped with an outdoor fire pit where guests can enjoy quiet and relaxing moments. A large collection of books about Kyoto, Japanese culture, arts and fashion, as well as local guides can be borrowed in the large spectacular shelves of the room. It’s tasteful and greatly curated.

Service is very professional at The Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa by HULIC and every member of staff, from front of house to the restaurant, are truly nice and helpful.

The rooms are all truly jaw-dropping. The schoolhouse building, recently renovated, offers 5 types of rooms, “the Suite, Lab, Grace, Connect and Study”. All room are functional and relaxing, and feature high ceiling and large windows overlooking he small Takase River. Some of these rooms feature typical Japanese design including the spectacular artworks of local Kyoto artists. The Lab guest rooms present artworks by Masaomi Raku and Takaaki Murase as interior gardens. Masaomi Raku won the Best Young Artist Award by City of Kyoto in 2018.

The colours of the room are pleasant with a mixture of gold, blue, grey, white and black for the rich textiles, flooring, and bathroom materials. All rooms are equipped with shampoo, conditioner, and body soap from Zemido, a natural spa cosmetic brand that uses natural ingredients. Nightwear is also provided and the mattress are by British brand Slumberland. Rooms have the most modern technology with large screen, Nespresso machines, original speakers by M’s System and more useful amenities such as phone connectors, fridges, water and more.

The rooms are modular and designed for every type of clientele from families, couples, or businessmen. Guests are mostly from Asia including a significant part from China, but also US, Europe and Australia. Japanese guests are also enjoying the hotel and love coming for dinner or drinks in the evening. Who wouldn’t given the stunning panoramic view over the city?

Yoshio Kimura, General Manager, originally from Tokyo, talks to Art is Alive about the recent developments of The Gate Kyoto: “We have 4 hotels, and now planning new hotel major cities in Japan. It’s been so exciting to work on The Gate Kyoto and expansion is on the horizon in cities such as Osaka and Fukuoka for example. Our mission goes beyond hosting guests, it’s also to spread Japanese culture and to showcase the work of local Kyoto artists. Artworks are displayed throughout the hotel and it’s an honour to represent them.”

Beyond its useful location, amazing service and fascinating history, The Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa by HULIC is unique because it offers a rich cultural programme. Hosted in the dramatic Retreat Room, a place used for teaching in the past when the building was an Elementary School, the space has been regenerated as a venue for No-gaku and Takibi Noh performances, morning yoga classes, poetry reading, films and other cultural programming during the year. Highlights also include outstanding Samurai sword fighting and scary nights stories. It’s open to visitors who enjoy discovering Japanese culture.

Yoshio Kimura, General Manager adds: “I used to be General Manager of The Gate Hotel in Tokyo and I brought my experience to Kyoto’s The Gate Hotel Takasegawa one month ago. There are 184 rooms in total in the hotel which is a great capacity. My big challenge is to position The Gate Kyoto in a unique way. We achieve this through art and performances. Through this series of events, we also rediscover our own culture and that’s very important to our guests and staff.”

The Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa by HULIC features a restaurant, a fitness centre, a bar and shared lounge. With its spectacular views, its amazing food and drinks options, its remarkable design, its spacious rooms and history The Gate Kyoto is the best option to explore the cultural landscape of Kyoto.

“The hotel welcomes 50% guests from Japan and numbers from Asia are increasing. Social media has a real impact, especially following the covid crisis. Audiences are truly engaging with the hotel and Instagram, for example, provides amazing insights into the interior the hotel, our brand and visuals. Often our guests know a lot about the local culture and our role is to respond to this desire and to offer interesting cultural experiences. We have strong connections to local artists and our programme of events allows guests to discover fantastic Kyoto-based talents.” Yoshio Kimura continues.

Other hotels are part of this luxurious brand including The Gate Hotel Kaminarimon, Tokyo, The Gate Hotel Ginza, Tokyo, and The Gate Hotel Ryogoku, Tokyo bringing comfort, design and lifestyle experiences to new heights.

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Thank you to Yoshio Kimura, General Manager, Yuki Fukuda, Manager, and Akiko Minakawa, Manager of Public Relations.