[Accommodation Report] Enjoy a Nostalgic Kyoto Experience at "The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu"

The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu is located in Higashiyama, Kyoto, close to Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

This hotel is a heritage hotel that was converted over several years from a former elementary school built in 1933, preserving and utilizing the building as it was in the past. The concept of the hotel is to "Carve memories and connect them to the future". The hotel retains traces of its elementary school days throughout the building, allowing visitors to experience the history and culture that has been passed down from generation to generation.

The hotel is packed with attractions, including a classical interior that makes use of the design of the time, a restaurant that uses ingredients from Kyoto, anda guest lounge where you can relax while looking out atHokanji Temple's "Yasaka no Tou".

This time, our Editorial Team actually stayed at "The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu." We'd like to share our extensive report with you!

Heritage hotels: structures or locations that hold historical or cultural significance of the place in which they are found

An elementary school that has been loved by the local community for many years
turned into one-of-a-kind hotel!

The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu Hotel Entrance

The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu is located on the mountainside of Higashiyama in Kyoto, just an eight-minute walk from the World Heritage Site, Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

One of the hotel's great attractions is being able to enjoy sightseeing in Kyoto on foot. Some rooms and the guest lounge offer views of "Yasaka no Tou"​ in Hokanji Temple, a symbol of Kyoto Higashiyama.

This building is said to have been the former staff room and principal's office. If you look closely above the central door, you can see the remains of a clock!

The most distinctive feature of The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu is that it is a one-of-a-kind heritage hotel that has been preserved and utilised as a former elementary school.

The school opened in 1869as Shimokyo 27th District Elementary School,one of the first district elementary schools established in Japan, and was built in 1933 using the school building of the Motoshimizu Elementary School, which was relocated and newly constructed.

At the time, elementary schools with modern and groundbreaking reinforced concrete buildings were being built one after another. Among them, Motoshimizu Elementary School was one of the schools that was highly acclaimed for its unique exterior decoration and interior design.

The school grounds have been transformed into a garden.

The schoolyard where students used to run around energetically has been transformed into a garden open to the public. The newly constructed area is unified in dark tones to mimic the shadow of the school building.

This mailbox has been watching over the school since those days, and students apparently used it to practice sending mail.

The impressive grand staircase has had its stone replaced, but it remains in its original form to this day.

Front desk/lobby

After checking in, a staff member gave us a tour of the hotel.

The hotel's name, "Seiryu," refers to the eastern guardian deity of the four sacred beasts. The carpet is designed to resemble dragon scales.

There are traces of elementary school life everywhere in the building, making you feel like you're visiting a museum or tourist spot.

The staircase still retains a strong trace of its past

The dust chute used at the time

While the entrance and garbage chute have been left in their original form, they match the classical atmosphere of the hotel. It would be nice to see the elementary school you attended as a child reborn in such a wonderful way. Many graduates apparently use the facility for their class reunions.

Artworks are displayed throughout the hotel, mainly by artists with ties to Kyoto. One unique feature of the hotel is that some of the artworks are not named. It's fun to wander aroundthe art pieces and wonder what meanings they have!

A total of 48 diverse guest rooms

"Terrace Twin (54.5㎡)"

You can see Yasaka no Tou from the private terrace.

There are 48 guest rooms to choose from, with 15 different simple and modern interior designs.

Among these, the "Terrace Twin" is especially recommended. This special room offers a panoramic view of the beautiful scenery that only "The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu" can offer.

"Junior Suite Classic (66.3㎡)"

The renovated guest rooms in the existing building are designed to be as simple as possible to complement the classical architecture of the school building. The structure of the existing school building, including the impressive beams, has been inherited. The ceilings are high and open as they are former classrooms!

In addition to gyokuro and hojicha from Ippodo Tea House, a long-established Japanese tea store in Kyoto, all drinks, including alcoholic beverages in the minibar and refrigerator, are free of charge. You can also enjoy a relaxing stay at the hotel.

Take a break in the guest lounge

In the archive corner adjacent to the guest lounge, photographs of the elementary school from that time are on display.

"Guest lounge"

"Guest lounge"

We had a little time before dinner, so we went to the "Guest Lounge," which is available only to guests staying at the hotel. The lounge is an open space with all-glass walls, from which you can view the Yasaka no Tou, designated as an important cultural property, as well as the seasonal nature.

Light meals and drinks including alcohol are available free of charge. Light meals such as yatsuhashi (cinnamon-seasoned rice flour cracknel) and yuba (bean curd) are also on the menu to give you a taste of Kyoto.

There is also a hands-on section where you can choose a tea bowl that suits your taste and make matcha (powdered green tea), or grind your favorite beans and brew coffee.

You can choose your favorite Kiyomizu-yaki tea bowl.

If we had come all the way to Kyoto, we would have tried to make a cup of matcha! We decided to try making matcha. The staff will carefully teach you how to do it, so you don't have to worry even if it's your first time.

It was a special time to enjoy matcha while looking at "Yasaka no tou". We heard that cherry blossoms can be enjoyed in the spring and autumn leaves in the fall!

Regular events hosted by Miyagawacho Maiko

The "Guest Lounge" offers an authentic cultural experience, inviting maiko (apprentice geisha) from Miyagawa-machi as guests-only events. (Every Thursday)

It is said that there are not many opportunities to encounter ochaya because of the "no first-time visitors" culture. At this special event, you will be able to see the graceful dances up close, which are usually hard to see.

In the second half of the event, you will have the opportunity to take photos with the maiko, and talk to them directly about kimonos, hair accessories, and the customs of the entertainment district. It's sure to become a memorable experience for your trip to Kyoto!

A rooftop bar where you can feel the night breeze
"K36 The Bar & Rooftop"

「K36 The Bar & Rooftop」

We recommend the rooftop bar "K36 Rooftop" on the 4th floor of the hotel at dusk, where you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of Kyoto city.

Enjoying a cocktail while looking at Yasaka no Touis a special experience. Since it is located on a hilltop, the night breeze was very pleasant.

【K36 The Bar & Rooftop】
https://stillfoods.com/k36/

At night, the building is lit up, creating a completely different atmosphere than during the day. The old school building is illuminated, creating a beautiful sight that will leave you entranced.

Supervised by Ducasse Paris
Dinner time at "Benoit Kyoto"

For dinner, we went to "Benoit Kyoto" located in a separate building on the premises. This restaurant is supervised by Ducasse Paris, which operates Michelin-starred restaurants around the world.

Benoit is a long-established restaurant that has been loved by Parisians for over 100 years. In 2005, Ducasse Paris took over the bistro, breathing new life into this traditional establishment and spreading its esprit to Tokyo, New York, and Kyoto.

A prix fixe course style menu is offered, with your choice of a dish from a menu that incorporates seasonal Kyoto ingredients or Benoit's signature French traditional cuisine. A la carte menu is also available.

Lightly smoked salmon tartare
Blood orange and gold

Potato gnocchi cookpot with black pepper and parmesan

Pate en croute

Cold veloute made with white corn from Kumamoto Prefecture
Veal tongue croquettes

You can choose two appetizers from your choice. The seasonal menu is "Cold veloute made with white corn from Kumamoto Prefecture." It is a cold soup with the sweetness of white corn. The combination of two types of corn creates a rich flavor.

Roasted lamb loin with bone and ratatouille

Fresh fish from the market, green asparagus and soup poisson

In addition to fish and meat dishes, the main course also includes lobster salad and dishes using Kyoto vegetables! The appeal of the prix fixe course is that you can freely choose according to your tastes and mood.

Profiteroles
Parta Choux/Diplomat Cream/Vanilla Ice Cream
Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse chocolate warm sauce

There is also a wide variety of desserts available, including mille-feuille, affogato, and creme caramel.

One of the most recommended is the Profiteroles. A luxurious dish of pâté puff sandwiched with Diplomat cream and vanilla ice cream, and topped with a generous dollop of warm Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse chocolate sauce. It was a perfect match with coffee.

Freshly baked madeleines are also available! They are so popular that they are even sold as souvenirs.

Benoit Kyoto is open to non-guests as well, so please come and enjoy a bistro experience that is unique to Kyoto. Lunch and afternoon tea are also available!

[Benoit Kyoto]
https://www.benoit-kyoto.com/

Relax and refresh in the private bath

The hotel has three private baths named after Kyoto symbols: "Sakura," "Yamabato," and "Kiyomizu." The ceilings are over 3 meters high, making them very open and spacious!

The rest area is spacious enough to relax and refresh yourself. The space is so quiet that you forget you are in the Gion area. This time we used it in the morning and it was a great start to the morning.

[Private bath]
https://www.princehotels.co.jp/seiryu-kiyomizu/privatebath/

You can choose your main dish!
Course-based morning breakfast

restaurant library the hotel seiryu

Breakfast is served at "restaurant library the Hotel Seiryu", a restaurant that was renovated from a former auditorium. It is a space reminiscent of a library, with 1,100 books lined up. If you find a book that catches your eye, you can read it at your leisure in your room.

In addition to Western-style dishes such as the chef's original egg dishes, buckwheat galettes, and pancakes, the restaurant also offers a wide range of Japanese dishes, including "risotto with shiba-zuke pickles," "Kyoto style Japanese breakfast," and "Kyoto style morning hotpot," all created by a chef who specializes in Japanese cuisine.

We start with the starters, such as cold chawanmushi (steamed egg pudding) and corn soup, which have gentle flavors that will wake you up in the morning.

Kyoto Japanese Breakfast

Kyoto morning hotpot

This time, we chose the "Kyoto style Japanese breakfast" and the "Kyoto style morning hotpot"! When we visited, the menu used seasonal conger eel. It's nice to be able to enjoy authentic Japanese food in the morning in Kyoto.

When the weather is nice you can enjoy breakfast on the terrace!

This time, we bring you a review of our stay at "The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu."

The hotel is well-equipped with a classical interior that makes use of the design of the time, as well as a restaurant that uses ingredients from Kyoto, a guest lounge where you can relax while looking out at Yasaka no Tou, a bistro that is unique to Kyoto, and private bathrooms in fully private rooms. Another big attraction is that you can enjoy sightseeing in Kyoto on foot.

Why not spend some nostalgic time in Kyoto at "The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu"?