Noku Kyoto: contemporary living at the heart of Japan’s ancient capital

Noku Kyoto is designed to reflect the locality – it’s simple and elegant in design, blending modern comforts with historic Kyoto heritage.

We’re located very close to the Kyoto Imperial Palace Gardens, home to two ancient palaces, and the State Guest House, where you can learn more about the city and its culture. There are also bus stops close by to reach all of Kyoto’s attractions, and we’re located right above the Marutamachi subway station, so it’s easy to get around.

We run a neighbourhood walking tour for guests wanting to explore these attractions with a guide, visiting traditional craft studios along the way. We also offer bike rental for those wanting to see the city in their own way – it’s a beautiful city to cycle around.

Most of our staff come from Kyoto so they have an in-depth knowledge of the area and its culture, and they’re all bi-lingual or tri-lingual. We try to provide a personalised service, which guests really like.

In terms of accommodation, we have 81 guest rooms across four different categories, each with either king-size or twin beds and decorated with curated artworks. Food-wise, we serve hearty Japanese and western-style breakfasts and lunches at Noku Café, as well as special coffee blends and homemade cakes. We’re also opening a new guest lounge with a restaurant and bar later in 2022, which we’re really excited about.

Sustainability is an important focus for us and we’ll soon be removing plastic water bottles from the rooms and replacing them with eco-friendly refill bottles instead. We also support local community projects, including Second Harvest Kyoto, a local food bank.

We’re closely linked to Kyoto’s art scene too and support two major arts events every year – the Kyotographie International Photography Festival, held for four weeks in spring with exhibitions across the city, and Art Collaboration Kyoto, one of Japan’s biggest contemporary art fairs. We also often hold art exhibitions in the hotel, giving local artists the chance to showcase their work to an international audience, while reinforcing the focus on Kyoto culture that’s been at our heart since we opened.

What I love most about the hotel is its location in Kyoto. This was the ancient capital of Japan, with over a millennium of history and culture. There is so much to see, do and experience and it’s a foodie’s paradise, with many famous Japanese dishes having their roots here. We want to help our guests make the most of their stay in this incredible city.