Introduction

ROKU KYOTO is a refined urban ryokan that blends contemporary luxury with traditional Japanese aesthetics, set within the historic precincts of Kyoto. Designed by renowned architect Kengo Kuma, the property emphasizes natural materials, serene garden spaces, and understated craftsmanship, offering guests a tranquil retreat steps from major cultural sites. Rooms balance tatami and modern amenities, while the on-site dining and public baths showcase seasonal ingredients and restorative rituals. Ideal for travelers seeking an intimate, design-forward interpretation of Kyoto hospitality.

There are many reasons to love this property. More luxury resort than city hotel—and pretty spacious by Kyoto standards—this modern icon not only showcases an elegant Japanese design lifestyle it dubs “Kyoto Simplicity,” but it’s also a place to slow down, unwind and just bask in nature after the (typically exhausting) intensity of ticking off a plethora of must-see sights in central Kyoto.

Location | ROKU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts

Roku Kyoto is situated closer to the northern portion of Kyoto, nestled in the mountain hills. It’s not subway accessible nor is it necessarily friendly on foot, but that’s to be expected for these types of resorts. As mentioned before, the Roku Kyoto is situated on the grounds of the Shozan Resort, a series of Japanese restaurants, hotels and a secretive Japanese garden that is probably the hidden gem in this resort. If there’s only one negative - it’s not really friendly in terms of easy transportation, but if you’re coming from the Kyoto Train Station - it would take around 20-30 minutes by taxi or private limo.

While not the greatest for those looking for quick transportation methods, it is conveniently located near Kinkaku-ju aka Golden Temple (15 minutes by foot) and another 15 minutes by foot to Ryoan-ji, famous for its rock zen garden and Japanese garden. I highly recommend having breakfast first at ROKU Kyoto and then embarking on your walk towards the Golden Temple right before it opens at 9am, where you can beat the vast majority of the crowds during busy season.

Furthermore, you can easily walk around the massive 29-acre Shozan Resort, which features a expansive array of gardens, temples and restaurants. Furthermore, there is a on-site convenience store, and a 7-Eleven about 8-10 minutes walking distance. It’s one of my favorite places to just walk around and relax, with so many hidden gems and spots to just admire nature.

Check-In | ROKU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts

During both experiences at the ROKU KYOTO, our check-in experience was seamless. Upon arrival, we were kindly escorted to the front desk lobby, where we were greeted with a cup of hot green tea and a small amuse bouche. Being a Hilton Diamond member, we were also given a 15,000 Yen Experience Credit, with 10,000 on the first day and 5,000 after that. You can utilize this for almost anything - dining, room service, the spa, souvenirs, private car service, you name it. This came in incredibly handy for me down the road and certainly left a fantastic impression for me with their Concierge Team.

Being a Hilton Honors Diamond Member at the ROKU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts is one of the most rewarding ways to experience this tranquil mountain retreat. Because LXR is Hilton’s top-tier luxury brand, Diamond status is treated with a high level of Japanese "Omotenashi" (hospitality).

1. Room Upgrades & Elite Status

While upgrades are always subject to availability, Diamond members at ROKU KYOTO are eligible for upgrades up to a Garden Terrace Room.

The "Onsen" Upgrade: Many Diamond members report successful upgrades to the highly coveted Onsen Garden Rooms, which feature a private, deep-soaking natural spring tub—a rare luxury that transforms the stay. Official policy typically excludes specialty suites from standard elite upgrades, but the jump from a Deluxe to a Garden room is a significant value increase.

2. Breakfast at Tenjin

The Spread: Served at the hotel’s signature restaurant, Tenjin, you receive a full daily breakfast for two. This includes a high-quality cold buffet of local Kyoto vegetables, artisanal pastries, and fresh juices, plus your choice of an à la carte hot dish (the Japanese breakfast set and the eggs benedict are local favorites).

3. Resort & Experience Credits

If you are an Amex Hilton Aspire cardholder (which grants automatic Diamond status), you can stack your status benefits with the $400 annual Hilton Resort Credit.

Pro Tip: In the past, the hotel offered a specific "Diamond Experience Credit" (often ¥10,000–¥15,000) in lieu of a lounge. While reports on this specific credit vary as property policies evolve, most guests find that using their Aspire resort credits easily covers a high-end French dinner at Tenjin or a treatment at the ROKU SPA.

4. Hidden Perks

Shozan Resort Access: By simply showing your Diamond room key, you can often gain complimentary access to the neighboring Shozan Resort Kyoto gardens, a stunning stroll during the autumn leaf or cherry blossom seasons. (THIS IS THE BEST PERK IMO)
Thermal Pool: All guests have access to the unique outdoor natural thermal pool (heated year-round), but Diamond members often receive priority for late check-out (up to 2:00 PM for Deluxe rooms), allowing you one last morning soak before departure.

Hotel Grounds | ROKU KYOTO

The grounds at ROKU Kyoto and The Shozan Resort are among the most compelling reasons to stay: ROKU Kyoto’s intimate, contemporary ryokan-style gardens weave minimalist stone pathways, moss beds and sculpted pines into a tranquil urban sanctuary that complements its sleek modern interiors, offering quiet nooks and seasonal foliage ideal for contemplative strolls; by contrast, The Shozan Resort sprawls across verdant, wooded slopes with sweeping terraces, meandering streams and dramatic views of Kyoto’s hills, blending traditional Japanese landscaping with resort-scale amenities—together they exemplify two distinct approaches to Kyoto hospitality, one quiet and refined, the other expansive and resort-like, both crafted to slow the pace and connect guests to place.

As part of the Shozan Resort, there are various places to explore and surprisingly a ton of fun hidden gems scattered across the property. It is home to a string of winding and romantic walkways, gardens and several high-end Japanese restaurants, along with a bonsai shop and a rather decked out gift shop. One good way to explore this is to embark on a meditation walk with the Spa team or yourself - here you wander through the scenic Japanese garden near the hotel, with clusters of vertical branches that seemingly shoot into the sky, or witness the cherry blossoms scattered across this lush garden.

In spring, ROKU KYOTO is framed by the delicate bloom of cherry blossoms and the vibrant green of new "daiba-sugi" cedars, creating a soft, ethereal atmosphere along the Tenjin River. As autumn arrives, the resort transforms into a fiery canvas of crimson and gold maples, where the crisp mountain air and heated thermal pool offer a serene vantage point for Japan’s most iconic seasonal transition.

Premier Deluxe Room King | ROKU Kyoto

There’s something so relaxing about the ROKU KYOTO rooms. Infusing both traditional Kyoto design and modern Japanese aesthetic in calming earthy tones, the 114 guest rooms offer a peaceful sanctuary that depicts the beauty and simplicity of Japanese materials and craftsmanship. This time around, we were on the top floor overlooking the hotel grounds, which was fantastic during the sunrise and sunset. The room itself is still just as magniificent as ever. Refined washi paper accents are utilized as the main wall, with light woods and natural metallic elements flowing throughout the room. There’s a walk-in closet and a half-bathroom upon entering, and the main bathroom to your left. The king bed is flanked by two tablestands, along with the main room controller and a Balmuda sound system.

Near the bed is a beautiful minibar, which comes with Nespresso and various tea selections. A massive flat-screen TV is mounted opposite of the bed along with another entrance to the bathroom. Woven headboards with abstract motifs, bespoke tea ceramics and wooden lattice partitions add various layers of luxury and warmth to the rooms. A pro tip here - these rooms do get hot quickly if you leave the blinds and sheers open, so if you want to keep your room cold, I’d make sure they’re closed when you leave the room.

Each bedside has easily accessible master switches and do not disturb/make up room buttons. There were USB Type-C ports as well. If you need the older Type-A ports, they’re located in a pull-out drawer beneath the bedside table, together with another universal power outlet and a HDMI port. Wifi is blazing fast over here. Our king size bed was extremely comfortable - we fell asleep so fast on the first day that we were more than sure our jetlag was cured upon waking up. There was a bedside table on either side of each twin bed as well as in between, which provided plenty of space to charge devices as well as organize reading materials and tea trays.

Bathroom | Premier Deluxe Room King

The bathrooms in the Premier Rooms (specifically the Premier Onsen category) at ROKU KYOTO are the definitive highlight of the resort experience, blending minimalist Japanese aesthetics with total sensory indulgence. The centerpiece is a massive, deep-soaking tub carved from smooth stone, which is continuously fed by natural volcanic thermal waters piped directly from the earth. Unlike standard hotel tubs, these are designed for "kakeyu" (the ritual of pouring water over oneself) and are set against floor-to-ceiling glass walls that overlook a private, tranquil garden or the forested slopes of the Takagamine mountains.

In the bathroom, the hairdryer that was included was apparently expensive, as pointed out by my wife - it was a Repronizer 4D Plus, which retails for a whopping $520 USD! No wonder she enjoyed taking her sweet time in the shower during our stay, haha. Unfortunately, they’ve stopped utilizing Votary as their amenities brand and went in the direction of room bottles, which was a disappointment. For this price range, you would expect top notch quality and toiletries that one can enjoy and bring home to you remind you of your stay.

The attention to detail extends to the "wet room" design, where the open-concept shower features a powerful rainfall head and a traditional wooden stool for an authentic onsen feel. You are pampered with exclusive ROKU SPA amenities and the hotel’s signature White Tea scents, while the double-vanity area provides ample space with soft, recessed lighting that mimics natural daybreak. The transition from the warm, mineral-rich waters of your private bath to the plush, oversized robes provided is a masterclass in the Japanese art of relaxation, ensuring the bathroom feels less like a utility and more like a personal sanctuary.

Onsen Garden Room King | ROKU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts

During another part of our stay, we opted for the Garden king Room. This particular type of room is located only on the first floor and denotes itself through its own private sanctuary through a private Japanese garden and your own onsen. Refined washi paper accents are utilized as the main wall, with light woods and natural metallic elements flowing throughout the room. There’s a walk-in closet and a half-bathroom upon entering, and the main bathroom to your left. The king bed is flanked by two tablestands, along with the main room controller and a Balmuda sound system.

Near the bed is a beautiful minibar, which comes with Nespresso and various tea selections. A massive flat-screen TV is mounted opposite of the bed along with another entrance to the bathroom. If you enter the bathroom, there are two vanities that flank the massive shower. Made entirely out of stone, this bathroom feels incredibly luxurious and downright expensive. Woven headboards with abstract motifs, bespoke tea ceramics and wooden lattice partitions add various layers of luxury and warmth to the rooms. Our toiletries was from aromatic British brand Votary that smell so good, I had to take a set back home.

Once you head into the garden patio, you’re welcomed with a picturesque sight of the zen garden along with the stone onsen to your left. The onsen sits in there with floor-to-ceiling windows that can be opened to bring the Kyoto air in. This onsen pours natural hot spring water directly from the source, and was definitely one of the my favorite moments in this particular stay. While the other rooms have a similar layout with the onsen being based in the bathroom itself, the element of having the onsen right next to the garden is the reason why I aimed for this particular room to begin with.

Since the patio windows do open up, you’re welcomed with a private Japanese garden the features seasonal shrubs and trees, along with stone motifs and moss that are almost like a painting. Open the glass windows and watch the steam rise from the water surface and into the cool mountain breeze.

Amenities | ROKU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts

The immaculate and beautiful tea house continues to be my favorite place to go. Custom-designed tea cabinets house a industry grade nespresso machine with various pods, and on the other side houses the various teas and hot water machine. One can easily unwind here and enjoy the outdoors or catch up on some newspapers. We frequented here during the downtime or before we headed out for dinner. With floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the gardens, the 24-hour fitness center was impressively equipped with several treadmills, an elliptical, bike, and an array of weight machines and free weights. You can connect your own Bluetooth headset or fitness tracker to the TechnoGym system, and watch YouTube/Netflix while you work out.

The Roku Kyoto’s spa is open from 10.30 a.m to 9 p.m daily, with the last treatment commencing at 7.30 p.m. A total of three rooms are available: two singles, and one couple room with an onsen bath. For those interested in the spa, treatments begin with an unusual ritual, which I discover when I’m politely ordered to toss a scattering of small pieces of cedar-scented washi paper over my shoulders, a peaceful purification process. Treatment highlights include the Signature Tenjingawa stone massage, with stones first soaked and “purified” in the nearby Tenjin River, before being used to heated muscle-melting effect in an aromatic oil massage.

The swimming pool was also fantastic. Start your day with warm-enough waters of the 82-foot outdoor thermal pool, before heading to one of three treatment rooms—cocooning enclaves of forest green tiles, light woods, and dim lights. There were a half-dozen loungers that deck the swimming pool, and it’s easily reservable via a quick trip to the spa center.

Concierge | ROKU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts

What truly distinguishes the service is the deep sense of "Omotenashi"—the Japanese art of selfless hospitality—where staff are known to proactively call ahead to your next destination to ensure your arrival is expected. Whether it’s kneeling to speak with you at eye level during a tea-house check-in or arranging a private taxi to the nearby Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), the team operates with meticulous attention to detail. This high-touch approach ensures that even though the resort is tucked away from the city center, you never feel disconnected from the best that Kyoto has to offer.

One of the highlights of this trip was the amazing Concierge Team led by Yurie Machi, the Concierge Shift Leader. She pretty much made our stay incredibly welcome and provided us a VIP welcome. Yurie took the time to help reserve TENKI, a well-known tempura restaurant in the heart of Kyoto during the busy season and connected us with the hotel’s Mercedes-Benz shuttle on the way down, saving us some money on transport. In addition, when i found out that I lost my Nikon battery charger, she was able to track down a replacement within hours and had a new one for me after our dinner at TENKI.

We were also able to utilize our Experience credit by booking two private limos from the hotel to the Kyoto train station, again with the help of Yurie and her team. She’s made our experience at the ROKU Kyoto incredibly memorable and would be a major reason why I would be back at the resort in the future.

Dining at Tenjin | ROKU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts

Named for the Tenjin River, Tenjin presents a refined French dining experience that emphasizes seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. The menu is structured around a composed entrée served as the centrepiece, complemented by a thoughtfully curated buffet. The buffet features salads, pickles, fresh fruit and a selection of cold cuts — a modest offering in appearance, but executed with evident attention to quality and nutritional balance.

For discerning travellers, however, the breakfast presentation represents perhaps the biggest area for refinement. In a city where several five‑star properties compete on culinary grounds, a more expansive and varied morning service would better reflect the hotel’s otherwise exceptional standards. As it stands, the limited selection can feel repetitive over several mornings. When dining here, opt for the Japanese set: it includes the grilled fish of the day, yuba (tofu skin) and a robust red miso soup, with additional rice and soup available on request.

Tenjin also offers elevated dining experiences beyond the buffet. The Chef’s Table provides an intimate view of the kitchen, where chefs craft an exclusive seasonal tasting menu inspired by the aesthetics and traditions of the Rinpa school. At the bar, bespoke cocktails highlight local ingredients, while a seasonal afternoon tea is available for a more relaxed interlude. Guests may also retreat to the Engawa — the indoor riverside patio — to enjoy river views and the soothing soundscape, making Tenjin a quietly elegant option for both leisurely and ceremonial dining.

Curated for Class?

The ROKU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts is a masterful blend of minimalist luxury and the natural beauty of the Takagamine mountains. From its Premier Onsen rooms featuring private natural spring baths to the impeccable Omotenashi provided by a world-class concierge team, the resort offers an unparalleled sense of tranquility. While the culinary program and dining variety have room to grow, the property remains a premier destination for those seeking a high-tech, sophisticated sanctuary in the heart of Kyoto’s most scenic landscape.

Undoubtedly, The Roku Kyoto’s greatest asset is its capacity to dissolve the rush of everyday life. Set against a dramatic mountain backdrop and articulated through refined, intentional design, the property cultivates a singular sense of wellness and repose. Thoughtfully appointed amenities — including an expansive heated swimming pool, a bespoke spa, a fully equipped fitness centre, and a network of tranquil gardens and discreet dining venues — invite prolonged stays where worry and haste fall away. The Roku’s atmosphere and facilities are designed not merely for comfort, but to deliver a restorative, wholly immersive retreat.

Curated for Class Final Score | 44/50

The ROKU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts offers an ethereal retreat for those seeking immersion in Kyoto’s lush landscapes. The property’s serene atmosphere and state-of-the-art accommodations cater perfectly to the modern luxury traveler. To be the best though, there remains an opportunity for the culinary program to evolve to match the resort's exceptional architectural and service standards.

Ambiance: 9.5/10

Room: 9/10

Food & Beverage: 7.5/10

Service: 8.5/10

Does it Feel Special: 9.5/10

Hotel Review: ROKU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts