Art hotels do more than offer luxury; they elevate your stay into an extraordinary cultural experience. Here, we introduce four exceptional art hotels in Kyoto, each uniquely showcasing artistic excellence.

Kyoto and Art H otels: A Harmonious Blend of Culture and Luxury

Behind a large gate with a thatched roof lies a traditional Japanese-style building. However, once inside, you enter a space of jetblack iron and stucco: the lobby and art gallery Hyakudai.

Designed and produced by Yukinori Yanagi, the first Japanese artist to win the Aperto award at the Venice Biennale, this space is centered around the motif of a ‘cube.’ Sunlight pours through the windows, filling the rooms with a calming brightness.

The art room “Yobufu” extends the lobby’s concept seamlessly.

Artists and craftsmen, including potter Naoto Ishii, obi craftsman Genbei Yamaguchi X, plasterer Akira Kusumi, and Japanese paper craftsman Wataru Hatano, brought Yanagi’s vision to life. The room is based on Yukio Mishima’s poem ‘Icarus,’ and visitors stepping into the room are immediately drawn into a world of art. Each room along the corridor surprises and stimulates the senses, yet remains comfortable and inviting due to the traditions of Sumiya Kihou-an. It is no exaggeration to say you are in the womb of art.

Another unique feature is that Sumiya Kihou-an employs an Austrian wine ambassador sommelier, offering the finest selection of Austrian wines in Japan. Known for their high quality, Austrian wines have recently gained international attention, especially bio and organic varieties, which pair exquisitely with the inn’s Japanese cuisine. Sumiya Kihou-an is truly a feast for the senses, delighting not only the visual and sensory but also the palate.

photographs / Shinichi Tomikawa