Tucked away in a serene riverside neighbourhood, Design Hotels member Genji Kyoto is a hidden sanctuary for travellers in the know.
If you’re headed to Japan’s former Imperial capital and want to immerse yourself in what it is to be a Kyotonite, unassuming, design-driven Genji Kyoto is the urban hideaway for you.
So, it’s a boutique hotel?
Absolutely. Genji is home to just 19 rooms as well as that intoxicating local vibe you get from hotels that are truly part of their neighbourhood. Perched on the cusp of the Kamo River, in the heart of Gojo-Kawaramachi, a warren of immaculate, wafer-thin laneways (that are themselves home to tiny restaurants and artist studios), this modern hotel was designed by Geoffrey P. Moussas with interiors by Moussas and Jun Tomita and gardens by Marc Peter Keane.
What’s the design like?
A modern rendition of a traditional machiya townhouse, Genji’s contemporary Kyomachiya design persona was inspired by the integration of external and internal spaces seen in Japanese architecture since the Heian period, something that will be obvious the second you walk into the lobby with its glass-encased Ukifune Garden, inspired by the eponymous chapter of the Tale of Genji, a classic work of Japanese literature written in the 11th century.
What are the rooms like?
They’re spacious and fuse elements of both Japanese and Western culture, including large platform beds, furniture by Kyoto’s Futaba Furniture and +veve, intricate Japanese art and views to a private courtyard garden or, in the case of our River Balcony Suite, across the river.
There’s a sublime timber bathtub and separate shower, washi lighting and pressed yukata sleepwear, matched with a Bluetooth speaker, a minibar laced with local delights, low-slung Verner Panton chairs and, in the river-facing rooms, broad glass-lined balconies, perfect for those morning espressos. Visit in the cooler months and you’ll love the heated floors and Dyson Supersonic hairdryers.
How about public spaces?
Head to the Sky Forest Garden rooftop for afternoon sun and great views down the river, and the eclectic lobby-cum-reception’s Genji Lounge, the heart of the hotel, for crafted cocktails and a menu of approachable soul-soothing Japanese and international dishes.