Enjoy the Autumn Leaves in Kyoto! 4 Hoshino Resorts Hotels to Choose From

• Table of Contents
• Why Kyoto’s Autumn Leaves Are Renowned as “Beautiful”
• Hoshino Resorts Continues to Offer a Variety of Hotel Stays
• HOSHINOYA Kyoto: Enjoy the Autumn Leaves of Arashiyama, Beloved by Heian Aristocrats, in an Extraordinary Space
• OMO5 Kyoto Sanjo by Hoshino Resorts: Dig Deeper into Kyoto’s Townspeople Culture in the Sanjo Area!
• OMO5 Kyoto Gion by Hoshino Resorts: Enjoy a Stay Like Living in Gion, the Temple Town of Yasaka Shrine
• OMO3 Kyoto Toji by Hoshino Resorts: Enjoy the Fantastic Autumn Foliage Illumination at the World Heritage Site of Toji Temple
• Enjoy the Autumn Foliage of Kyoto from Late October to Early December

Why Kyoto’s Autumn Leaves Are Renowned as “Beautiful”

There are many places in Japan that offer beautiful autumn foliage, but there is a reason why the autumn foliage in Kyoto is particularly stunning.

The most significant factor is that Kyoto has been Japan's political and cultural center for over 1,000 years. There are gardens acclaimed as national treasures across Kyoto and many skilled gardeners who keep them well-maintained. (Kyoto boasts by far the greatest number of nationally designated "Gardens of Scenic Beauty" equivalent to national treasures, with 53 out of 234 nationally designated "Gardens of Special Scenic Beauty." Additionally, 13 out of 24 are nationally designated as "Gardens of Special Scenic Beauty.")

Another reason is that the area has all the necessary conditions for leaves to turn beautiful colors. When the minimum temperature drops below 8°Celsius, the leaves begin to turn varying shades, and at 5-6°Celsius, they become vibrant hues. It is said that the conditions for the leaves to turn beautiful colors depend on a vast difference in temperature between day and night, plenty of sunlight, and ample moisture. 

Kyoto is a basin with large temperature differences between morning and evening, plenty of sunlight since there are few obstructions such as high-rise buildings, as well as abundant water sources. Therefore, it can be said that this area is where leaves turn beautiful colors.

Kyoto is unique in that you can enjoy the autumn leaves in various ways, such as gardens designed to contrast with Japanese architecture, those that use and accentuate natural sceneries, and others shimmering with nighttime illuminations!

Hoshino Resorts Continues to Offer a Variety of Hotel Stays

The most important thing to consider when planning your stay in Kyoto is "where to stay." Kyoto offers a variety of hotels, including ryokan inns, luxury hotels, and guesthouses. But among these accommodations, we recommend a stay at Hoshino Resorts, which operates under five main brands—Hoshinoya, Kai, Risonare, OMO, and BEB—with the theme of "making travel enjoyable."

Another reason for their popularity is that each hotel brand offers a different theme for enjoying the city, such as Hoshinoya, which offers "an overwhelmingly extraordinary experience with a unique theme," and OMO, which operates under the concept of "an exciting 'city' hotel." This time, let's take a look at four hotels in Kyoto!

HOSHINOYA Kyoto: Enjoy the Autumn Leaves of Arashiyama, Beloved by Heian Aristocrats, in an Extraordinary Space

HOSHINOYA Kyoto is located in Arashiyama, a villa area where Heian aristocrats escaped the hustle and bustle of the capital and enjoyed the shifting seasons.

From Togetsukyo Bridge, board a special boat and go up the Oi River for 15 minutes. HOSHINOYA Kyoto is a lodging facility built along a quiet gorge. Accessing the accommodation is similar to Hogwarts Castle in Harry Potter, making it feel like something out of the ordinary!

The concept of HOSHINOYA Kyoto, which opened in 2009, is to "forget time in a private waterfront residence." All 25 guest rooms allow you to experience the traditional techniques that continue to thrive in Kyoto and a river view, allowing you to enjoy the ever-changing nature while experiencing Japan's traditional aesthetic sense. The kaiseki cuisine, which uses delicious delicacies grown and gathered in Kyoto, and breakfast, which you can enjoy while gazing at the beautiful scenery, will nourish your body and mind.

The hotel's architecture is also incredible, making it a delight to visit. Attractions include the "Floating Tea Room" that juts out over the Oi River that flows in front of HOSHINOYA Kyoto, the quaint "Garden Alley," and the "Library Lounge," where you can enjoy books across various genres along with seasonal snacks and beverages.

The hotel also has a garden, and the 400-year-old maple tree in the "inner garden" with Mount Ogura on the opposite bank as a backdrop is a must-see. Throughout your stay, you can experience the traditional Japanese way of enjoying nature alongside top-notch hospitality, which will create lifelong memories at this hotel. Enjoy the autumn leaves and gardens of Kyoto City and Arashiyama on your first night before checking in. After your nature excursion, it is a good idea to relax at HOSHINOYA Kyoto!

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OMO5 Kyoto Sanjo by Hoshino Resorts: Dig Deeper into Kyoto’s Townspeople Culture in the Sanjo Area!

OMO is a Hoshino Resorts brand that allows you to fully enjoy the city. The main features are staying in the best location in the city and doing plenty of activities that allow you to feel close to the place you’re visiting. If you want to go to deeper spots that aren't in guidebooks and get to know the city and the people who live there beyond superficial sightseeing destinations, then this is a hotel you should definitely consider.

Incidentally, the number after "OMO" indicates the range of services. By looking at this number, you can choose a hotel that suits the purpose of your trip and the ideal way to spend your time. OMO1 is minimalist yet full of features to help you enjoy the city. OMO3 has basic features with compact and reasonably priced rooms, while OMO5 has nice rooms as well as a delicious cafe and breakfast. OMO7 is a full-service hotel with spacious rooms where you can enjoy gourmet food unique to the region.

OMO5 Kyoto Sanjo by Hoshino Resorts opened in April 2021. It is a serene area with many delicious restaurants and is easily accessible to various places, such as the Karasuma subway line, which runs north and south through Kyoto. One train ride can also take you to Kyoto Station. Moreover, it's accessible via the Tozai line, which makes it easy to reach Arashiyama, Nijo Castle, and Higashiyama, alongside the Keihan line, which will take you to Osaka.

Japan had five highways built by the Edo Shogunate, the most famous being the Tokaido, which connects Nihonbashi in Tokyo with the Sanjo Ohashi Bridge in Kyoto. Next to the Kamo River, where the Sanjo Ohashi Bridge crosses, flows the Takase River, which supported the economic development of Kyoto by transporting goods and helped the merchant culture flourish in the Sanjo area.

At OMO5 Kyoto Sanjo, you can enjoy attractive activities such as the "Go-KINJO Map," which is a list of recommended spots that hotel staff have actually visited, based on the concept of "Kyomachi Ranman River Walking." The "Kyomachi Walking Tour Along The River" (free, held from 16:30 to 17:30)" allows you to walk along the Takase River with a ranger, while the "Walk to old stores of Kyomachi" (free, held from 11:00 to 12:00) is where you can stroll down Sanjo Street in search of traditional items to enrich your trip, such as furoshiki clothes, sachets, folding fans, and rosary beads. There's also the "Kyomachi Pure Coffee Shop Selection", where you can experience Kyoto's cafe culture.

At OMO Cafe, where you can recharge your energy after enjoying a walk around the city, you can enjoy an original Kyoto dish called "Risotto with Pickled Yuba Skin," made with soymilk skin and three types of pickles. For breakfast, guests can savor dishes like prosciutto pesto, pumpkin ricotta, and shrimp tomato, as well as sweets such as the "Hassun Sweets Plate" and the "Ippuku Issen Set," a set that comes with a drink and dried sweets.

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OMO5 Kyoto Gion by Hoshino Resorts: Enjoy a Stay Like Living in Gion, the Temple Town of Yasaka Shrine

Gion is an area where the colorful culture of the geisha district, a temple town centered around Yasaka Shrine, flourishes. OMO5 Kyoto Gion by Hoshino Resorts allows you to enjoy a stay in this town as if you were living there.

This hotel, operating under the concept of "Living in Gion Today," is filled with the charms of the Gion area. The public space, "OMO Base (Travelers' Fun Lounge)," is like a teahouse where you can take a break while traveling. The soft tatami seating is soothing to sit down on. Various tools related to life in Gion are also displayed at the counter in the same space.

The guest rooms are also equipped with shelves decorated with lanterns that are lit on the eaves of town (in the five geisha districts, including Gion, it is customary to light lanterns with different patterns on the eaves of houses), as well as a dirt-floored space to place your luggage. The "Chanoma" type rooms also have a bedroom, living room, and kitchen, allowing you to experience traveling as if you were living there.

Every morning, the "Gion Beautiful Morning Visit" tour is held with an OMO Ranger who takes you through the streets of Gion. While strolling through the gorgeous streets, you can learn about the history and seasonal events of the development of the geisha district in the temple town. The tour ends with a visit to Yasaka Shrine, which is said to bring good luck, and a cup of "Okousen" (Japanese incense tea). It's sure to be a great start to your day!

Other activities include the "Nighttime OMO Tea Party," which allows you to experience Gion life through tea and Japanese sweets. Another service is where OMO Rangers introduce you to recommended shops in Gion. Please be sure to check them out!

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OMO3 Kyoto Toji by Hoshino Resorts: Enjoy the Fantastic Autumn Foliage Illumination at the World Heritage Site of Toji Temple

OMO3 Kyoto Toji by Hoshino Resorts is an 8-minute walk from the World Heritage Site Toji Temple. Toji Temple boasts a history of over 1,200 years and is the only remaining structure of Heian-kyo, present-day Kyoto. The five-story pagoda, a landmark tower representative of Kyoto, is about 55 meters tall and is the tallest wooden building still standing.

One thing you should definitely visit at Toji Temple is the nighttime illumination of autumn leaves, which takes place from late October to early December (18:00-21:30 *Admission until 21:00). You can enjoy the whimsical sight of illuminated autumn leaves alongside impressive Buddha statues.

In Japan, a gardening technique called "mizukagami" (water mirror) allows you to enjoy autumn foliage reflected on the water's surface. At Toji Temple, you can enjoy the magnificent water mirror reflected in the gourd pond. (As an aside, at HOSHINOYA Kyoto, which we introduced earlier, there is also a garden where you can enjoy the autumn leaves reflected on polished stones called "stone mirror," which applies the mizukagami technique!)

The concept of OMO3 Kyoto Toji by Hoshino Resorts is "a time-space trip for the soul." At the entrance, there is a Go-KINJO Map (Local guide map) that shows the Toji area, both past and present. It features a modern map on the front side and a Heian period map on the inside. By opening and closing the sliding door, you can switch between eras and enjoy the Toji area seen from the past and its present-day appearance. Don't miss out on famous shops that OMO Rangers discovered while walking around that are not listed in guidebooks!

Many activities allow you to intimately experience Japanese Buddhism, such as the "Toji Mandala Walk," which takes you around the World Heritage Site Toji Temple, and the "National Treasure Morning Walk—Awakening Mandala Circle Exercise," which involves morning exercises on the lush grounds (you will have the opportunity to purchase Toji mochi, a Toji specialty, on the way to the hotel after the exercise!).

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Enjoy the Autumn Foliage of Kyoto from Late October to Early December

The time when the leaves change color in Kyoto varies by area. They start changing color in Keihoku, close to the mountains, then move to the Takao area and finally downtown. Some areas begin changing color early in late October, peaking in November and continuing through early December. In other words, Kyoto's autumn leaves can be enjoyed over a long period.

November is a hectic month, so we recommend booking a hotel a little later than usual or viewing the area at a different time, such as early morning or night when the streetlights are on! Enjoy a memorable trip to Kyoto at a nice hotel while enjoying the autumn foliage!