Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas has confirmed its first hotel in Japan, Six Senses Kyoto, will open in late April.

The property is located in the historic Higashiyama district, close to Myoho-in Temple, Kyoto National Museum and Sanjusangen-do Buddhist Temple, and marks the brand's second urban property. 

Six Senses Kyoto features 81 guest rooms and suites, with each offering views of the central courtyard, the gardens of the neighbouring Toyokuni Shrine or the city skyline. The hotel’s top accommodation is the Three-Bedroom Penthouse Suite which is secluded on the top floor of the hotel with an adjacent rooftop terrace.

Six Senses said authentic Japanese traditions and décor “ran throughout” the property, with quirky touches inspired by folklore The Moon Rabbit and the 11th-century classic Tale of Genji. Interior design majors on clean lines and an earthy colour palette.

Like other Six Senses properties, the Kyoto outpost will feature an Earth Lab, Alchemy Bar and a locally grown herb garden.

The brand said its wellness offering would incorporate “smart science, traditional healing and Japanese zen culture” with an array of treatments and programmes “deeply rooted in Kyoto’s culture and community” on offer. Wellbeing facilities include male and female bath houses as well as yoga, meditation, aerial yoga, a state-of-the-art gym and a Biohack Recovery Lounge.

F&B experiences include a relaxed all-day dining restaurant and counter-style sushi venue as well as a cocktail lounge and bar offering a combination of European and Japanese cocktails. 

Kyoto is thought to be the cultural and historical heart of Japan and is famed for its Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, palaces, tea houses and traditional Japanese architecture. 

Guests of Six Senses Kyoto can enjoy guide-led tours of the local alleys, temples and markets.

General Manager Nicolas Black said: “We are thrilled to announce our debut Six Senses opening in Japan. There couldn't be a more fitting location than Kyoto in the cultural heart of Japan, where age-old sustainability traditions thrive, and wellbeing is deeply ingrained in the way of life."

Six Senses Kyoto is part of IHG’s luxury and lifestyle portfolio.

The property is a 90-minute drive or 70-minute train ride from Kansai International Airport. The hotel is situated a 10-minute drive from Kyoto Shinkansen Station.