Review: Four Seasons Kyoto, Japan (A Rare Tranquil City Resort)

First!

First of all amazing that it was free. However, I have got to ask don’t you think it’s possible if you had to personally shell out 2k a night you might feel differently or notice things? Doesn’t negate your review at all, just food for thought ;). Glad it was wonderful!!!

Very disrespectful, Omakase is not a show. Don't confuse that with American Hibachi places.

And $250 is a reasonable price for a restaurant in Four Seasons.
I understand you're reviewing the property, but for other people you're better off having omakase somewhere else for the same price.
It's Japan, great food is everywhere.

Garden does look very cool. Were the japanese pools and sauna/steamroom gender segregated?

I think some of the most miserable people on earth live in the omaat comment section

Another great hotel review. I love all of the photos and details that give the reader a really good idea of what the hotel is like.

The FS is fabulous and would be my choice to stay at because of the beautiful setting and beautiful facilities. The RC is old and the view you got was horrible and makes it not worth it at all.

The interior seems to be devoid of any Kyoto influences, it is a pretty run of the mill international luxury cookie cutter style that could be transplanted anywhere. Very nice, but also very indistinct.

The Japanese breakfast looks rather weak. Maybe the picture does not do it justice, but by the pictures by far the weakest looking of the 3.

If this is $2K/night how much is Aman now? $3K+ ?

The Four Seasons brand is very weak in Japan. Concierge is terrible both in Tokyo and Kyoto and the finishes feel very cheap. Usually a FS fan but it should be avoided here.

Gorgeous review, as always! Ben, did you consider the Aman Kyoto/do you think it is meaningfully better than the hotels you stayed at?

I find it nearly impossible to review without paying retail. To me, that is the focal point of an establishment. I might think I’m casting a critical eye for free but I KNOW I’m using a critical eye after shelling out $4500 for two nights.

In addition, I’ve read most of the top end FS and others and I can’t recall Ben giving a serious conclusion to the worth as a function of retail. I believe he purposely avoids it—-but I could be wrong.

He mentions the price reflects current supply and demand pricing for luxury hotels in Japan. Hard to say how much the retail “value” is since everyone values their money differently. But he does a good job comparing all 3 reviews which were retailing around the same

I stayed both here and at the Ritz and felt the same way. The design at the Ritz felt a lot more "of the place", meanwhile the Four Seasons was certainly high end but it didn't feel particular to Kyoto. The sheer amount of marble stood out as feeling like many other new high end hotels in major cities. (But the tea house is a different story.)

I thought the base design was more appealing at the Ritz but the FS is newer and therefore everything would indeed be in better shape from fewer years of wear and tear and newer tech in the rooms.

I struggle to comprehend that these FS reviews are actually impartial...

Ford evidently has a very lucrative partnership with FS, facilitated by Ben through this platform. Basically, this is an indirect business relationship between Ben and FS (BTW I have absolutely no issue with that as it's their prerogative to monetise this platform however they wish)

To stress these reviews are impartial though is extremely disingenuous to OMAAT readers, why bite the hand that feeds after all. It also somewhat distorts all the other reviews that are paid for, in cash or points. Some FS properties are great others absolutely not, however reading all the FS reviews on here doesn't convey that reality.

Shame really, as a veteran of this scene Ben should Know better.

What are you on about? Sitting at the counter in high end Japanese restaurants is very much about experiencing, seeing, getting a bit of an understanding of the processes in the kitchen. Whether you then want to call it a show, a performance, an experience, or something else. But it very much part of what you have booked.
Some chefs take a very somber approach to it, some take a far more casual style.

Thanks for the review, I find it useful as comparison in relation to your other Four Seasons reviews.
But is is just me or does the suite appear a little bit tight on space considered its advertised size? The living room looks narrow to me and so does the bedroom.

Thanks for writing these up! Of the three, which felt most family-friendly to you? We're traveling to Japan next year with a 5 year-old and are between the FS and PH in Kyoto.

I just finished up a stay at The Chapter a Tribute Portfolio property in Kyoto. While nowhere near in the same category as the 4S, I also booked a room right after Japan opened back up for around $160 per night! I just can't ignore the price and value differential as some might. It was a very lovely stay with an especially nice breakfast and evening hors d'oeuvres offering (Titanium). The service was excellent and the room was small but well kept and appointed. Plus, it was centrally located and close to the metro line and bus lines which were surprisingly easy to navigate with Google Maps and an IC card (SUICA) to get to the outer shrines/attractions. Just because you can...doesn't mean you should.

I adore the Chapter Kyoto, and I managed to score it for barely over $100 a night after tax this March so it was a true steal. I loved the Japanese influence in the room design and the Plat breakfast was quite nice too. Also helps that they had self service laundry and I was running out of clothes.

Something not mentioned, the area immediately surrounding this has numerous temples and shrines in easy walking distance, one really big and nice one near the end of the hotel driveway. Also the Fushimi Inari Shinto shrine is a cab drive away.

I think it should be stated earlier on if this was a comp stay or paid with points or retail.

Thanks for the article but it is not complete until all costs are transparent.

Very impressive.

So to summarize the last five Four Seasons reviews:

Kyoto - Ford won a prize, free stay
LA - travel agent rate
Nevis - Ford got invited, free stay
Florence - Ford won a prize, free stay
Megeve - Ford won a prize, free stay

Ford is both the luckiest man alive and I also think the claim of "impartial" review cannot really be made.

This property in Kyoto looks beautiful, nice outdoor space and seems like a great option. Paying $2000 for a city hotel, I do not really get though, since there is so much to do around. Only for the resort style FS like in Nevis that makes more sense...

Some of the savviest traveling people live on OMAAT comment section. We are discerning.