IHG’s luxury wellness brand is expanding its footprint, with the opening of the Six Senses Kyoto.
In this post:
Basics of the new Six Senses Kyoto
The new 81-room Six Senses Kyoto has opened as of April 2024, and marks the brand’s entry into Japan, and continued expansion in urban markets.
Here’s how the hotel’s design inspiration is described (I won’t even try to paraphrase this):
The hotel’s design draws inspiration from the Heian period (794-1185), when Heian-kyo (now Kyoto) was the capital of Japan, considered by many the golden age of art and culture that gave birth to “Miyabi” (courtly elegance) concept. This heritage is reflected in the hotel’s modern interpretation, incorporating elements of traditional arts to create a unique and elegant ambiance. The lobby artwork sets the tone with a folding screen featuring 504 hand-crafted Kyoto-made Rakuyaki tiles. These symbolize the silhouette of the sacred Mount Kurama, one of the legendary settings of the Tale of Genji and the birthplace of Reiki healing. Opposite the folding screen is a whimsical art piece which is a modern take on “Chōjū-giga” (Scrolls of Frolicking Animals), believed to be the very first manga (Japanese graphic novels) in the nation’s history.
The contrasting artwork sets the stage for the hotel’s blend of history, artistry, playfulness and emotional hospitality. The hotel’s biophilic design, evident in the usage of wood and natural materials, along with meandering paths through inner Japanese gardens, further connects guests with nature.
Accommodations at Six Senses Kyoto range from the entry level 42 square meter (452 square foot) superior rooms, to the 238 square meter (2,562 square foot) three bedroom penthouse suite.
The property features a Six Senses Spa, with services like the Kyoto-exclusive Ah-un treatment, “which symbolizes the pursuit of inner peace, balance, and awakening in Zen through a series of rituals and harmonizing body and sound therapies.” In terms of wellness, there’s also a fitness center, bath house, and indoor pool.
As far as dining goes, Sekki is the property’s all-day dining restaurant, with hyper-seasonal weekly menus and drinks inspired by Japan’s 24 solar terms. Then there’s the adjacent Café Sekki, boasting fresh brews, craft teas, homemade kombucha, healthy juices, and more. Lastly, there’s Nine Tails, the property’s speakeasy cocktail bar.
The property looks gorgeous, which isn’t surprising, given that Six Senses does a great job with sense of place. Kyoto is of course a highly competitive hotel market, with so many luxury brands represented, from Four Seasons, to Ritz-Carlton, to Park Hyatt, and more. It’s nice to see IHG adding a luxury property here as well.
Six Senses Kyoto cash rates & points requirements
Despite the amount of luxury hotel inventory in Kyoto, rates in the city tend to be astonishingly high, at least on the high end of the market. The new Six Senses Kyoto currently starts at just over $1,000 per night, though there’s quite a bit of variation seasonally.
If you’re looking to redeem points, the good news is that Six Senses Kyoto participates in IHG One Rewards. Unfortunately redemption rates are steep, and seem to start at over 200,000 points per night. That’s not surprising, but ouch.
The main way to get better value with points is if you have the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (review) or IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card (review), in which case you can get a fourth night free on award redemptions.
Bottom line
The Six Senses Kyoto has opened as of April 2024, and is probably now IHG’s most luxurious property in the country. Six Senses is a phenomenal brand, and I’m delighted to see the footprint continue to grow. It’s perhaps the hotel brand affiliated with a major hotel group which has the most charming hotels and resorts, with the best sense of place. I just wish that the IHG One Rewards program were a bit more compelling.
What do you make of the new Six Senses Kyoto?
We were in Kyoto last week and it was fine. The city is much bigger than, say, Florence, and while it’s true that there can be a wait at restaurants, it nowhere near felt as crowded as some Italian cities I’ve visited, even off season. Japanese civility and efficiency help a lot, too.
What is so stunning about the this hotel? It looks like many other hotels in Japan and is similar to other luxury hotels there...
A couple of comments:
1) Outside of sakura and autumn color seasons, plus Golden Week and other Japanese domestic holidays, Kyoto is not nearly as crowded as media reports make it out to be. Moreover, if you go to Kiyomizu-dera or Sagano Bamboo Grove before about 7 AM, even during the high season, you'll have the places mostly to yourself.
2) I will never understand why one would travel all the way to Japan's...
A couple of comments:
1) Outside of sakura and autumn color seasons, plus Golden Week and other Japanese domestic holidays, Kyoto is not nearly as crowded as media reports make it out to be. Moreover, if you go to Kiyomizu-dera or Sagano Bamboo Grove before about 7 AM, even during the high season, you'll have the places mostly to yourself.
2) I will never understand why one would travel all the way to Japan's ancient capital, which is home to dozens of five-star ryokan (as well as hundreds of other less opulent but equally stellar ryokan, Machiya and boutique hotels), and spend thousands per night to stay at a place like this.
I am at the FS Kyoto at the moment and it’s right next door to the Six Sense, the staff were happy to show us around, the places is very petty but if you are going to stay in that area the FS is way better just because you have the garden and out door area, that’s something that’s lacking from the Six Sence
What is there to do around Six Senses Kyoto?
Visit Kyoto sights.
Ben, did you see the DOT passed significant consumer protection laws in relation to flights that are delayed or cancelled?
100% in agreement with Peter. Just checked my pre-covid rates and compared them to the rates today. Wow!
I am old enough to suggest that a lot of the problem is social media. Kyoto is a wonderfully photogenic place, and many people are there, at least in part, for the Instagram potential.
The other thing that has changed is that your ability to enjoy yourself in Kyoto has significantly diminished. Gone are the...
100% in agreement with Peter. Just checked my pre-covid rates and compared them to the rates today. Wow!
I am old enough to suggest that a lot of the problem is social media. Kyoto is a wonderfully photogenic place, and many people are there, at least in part, for the Instagram potential.
The other thing that has changed is that your ability to enjoy yourself in Kyoto has significantly diminished. Gone are the days when you could just walk to the your choice of restaurant, picturing yourself as a geisha-era visitor, and have a reasonable chance at a table. Many restaurants are visibly unenthusiastic to have tourists dine - they much prefer the locals: language is not an issue and return visits are much likelier.
The comparison to Venice and Barcelona is spot on.
Really? I didn't have much trouble, but then again, I didn't imagine myself as anything but a tourist trying my best. The gyukatsu place for which I stood in line two hours employed a foreigner who spoke English with the tourist guests like me. Perhaps it's because we visited before mask restrictions were lifted and there were relatively few other tourists?
Kyoto is also a lot like Santa Fe, but of course much older and...
Really? I didn't have much trouble, but then again, I didn't imagine myself as anything but a tourist trying my best. The gyukatsu place for which I stood in line two hours employed a foreigner who spoke English with the tourist guests like me. Perhaps it's because we visited before mask restrictions were lifted and there were relatively few other tourists?
Kyoto is also a lot like Santa Fe, but of course much older and larger. The vibe of "ancient but modern city living through mobs of tourists" is the same, the "welcome to the city, please spend your money, enjoy your stay, and go home" of a population trying to go about their lives in a city with strained infrastructure. (I have not been to Barcelona or Venice, but I've heard they suffer from the same issues.)
Poor Kyoto, it's going the same way as Venice, Barcelona, and Amsterdam. I'm glad our trips were before the horde arrived.