Sowaka

Kyoto, Japan

It bodes well when a hotel is named “happiness” – and Sowaka certainly lives up to its Sanskrit moniker. This peaceful ryokan-style hotel is located on a cobblestoned alleyway in Kyoto’s famous geisha district, set amid Buddhist temples. Cross the stone threshold and you’ll find 23 minimalist rooms, Japanese rock gardens and tranquil courtyards. Sowaka comprises two buildings – an ancient structure dating back to the Taisho Period, plus a modern annex designed in the same style. As such, no two rooms are the same, giving guests the choice between maisonette-style dwellings, rooms with private gardens, or open-plan suites with garden views. Each accommodation, however, features soothing details including shoji screens, bamboo lattices and cypress bath tubs – plus semi-outdoor bathtubs and tatami floors in select suites. Experiences further promote wellbeing, with morning meditation sessions and traditional tea ceremonies, while private tours ensure that guests can visit Kyoto’s tranquil temples before the crowds descend.

Key Information

• Rooms: 23
• Starting Rate: $883
• High Season: March-April November-December
• Dining: Restaurant Gion Loka
• Drinking: Sowaka Bar
• At the Hotel: Yoga
• 81 75 541 5323
• Visit Sowaka's Website

Location

480 Kiyoicho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, 605-0821