Suiran Kyoto

Art of Euro

Ryokans in Kyoto tend to fall into the opposing camps of either ultratraditional or modern, but recent debuts have sought to offer a happy medium between the two. Opened in March, Suiran Kyoto is a ryokan-style accommodation that pays tribute to traditional Edo aesthetics while providing modern amenities such as English-speaking concierges, Western-style beds and bathrooms and fast, free Wi-Fi.

The first of Starwood Hotels and Resorts’ The Luxury Collection to launch in Japan, the 39-key property is built on the site of a 19th century imperial villa on the banks of the famed Hozugawa river.

Suiran Kyoto pays tribute to traditional Edo aesthetics

The ryokan-style accommodation houses 39 rooms

Its guestrooms feature a palette of lacquered onyx, honeyed woods and gleaming silks, imbued with modern touches. A classic floral painting on a sliding panel, for instance, turns out to bear subtly edgy manga-style flowers, courtesy of the 23-year-old Kyoto artist who painted them. Suiran also has two spa suites, where guests can stay and enjoy locally inflected treatments.

Two 19th-century buildings on site, Enmeikaku and Hasshoken, have been converted into a restaurant and cafe respectively. Kyo Suiran serves elaborate kaiseki feasts that vary according to the season. Hasshoken, now Saryo Hassui, is a small, intimate cafe. Its cosy straw-thatched charms are best appreciated while sitting on its outdoor terrace, enjoying one of its exquisite Japanese tea-influenced repasts – there’s simply no better way to while away an afternoon.