Assessment: Roku Kyoto, Hilton LXR

Throughout my September 2022 journey to Japan, Roku Kyoto turned the third of three luxurious accommodations that we checked out whereas staying in Kyoto.

After exploring each Marriott and Hyatt’s top-tier properties within the type of The Mitsui and the Park Hyatt, we then ventured over to Hilton’s greatest property within the space, positioned on town’s northern outskirts.

The brand-new Hilton property opened in September 2021 and is the primary LXR Inns & Resorts property below the Hilton model within the Asia-Pacific, in addition to Hilton’s first foray into Kyoto’s world-class luxurious lodge scene.

Roku Kyoto – Reserving

Happily, I might use a Hilton Free Evening Reward to guide our one-night keep right here at Roku Kyoto. In any other case, it will’ve price me 110,000 Hilton Honors factors, equivalent to ~$660 (CAD) as per our Factors Valuations – which is actually not an inexpensive redemption.

Hilton’s Free Evening Rewards can be utilized on weekdays and never simply weekends by means of the remainder of 2022. This labored completely for my itinerary, and since I occurred to have a couple of Free Evening Rewards floating round, I opted to make use of one right here at Roku Kyoto.

Money charges at this property received’t come low cost both, beginning at 64,000–77,000 yen ($600–720 CAD) for the standard room, and reaching 190,000 yen ($1,780 CAD) for a set.

All components thought of, utilizing a Free Evening Reward made probably the most sense right here, slightly than paying the exorbitant money costs or with factors.

I’d observe right here that, after staying, I believe the lodge is pretty overpriced in each the money and factors classes. Roku Kyoto tries to compete with different top-tier properties comparable to The Mitsui or The Ritz-Carlton on worth; nevertheless, as I noticed all through my keep, the standard doesn’t fairly attain the identical heights.

Roku Kyoto – Location

The resort is located on the northern outskirts of Kyoto, resting among the many inexperienced foothills of Takagamine Sanzan. 400 years in the past, the placement was dwelling to an artists’ village.

Roku Kyoto is located on the grounds of the Shozan Resort, an enclave of Japanese gardens, historic temples, tea homes, and Michelin-starred eating places unfold out over 29 acres.

The property can be conveniently positioned close to the well-known Kinkaku-ji, often known as the Golden Temple, which is just a fast 15-minute stroll south from the lodge. As well as, the Koetsuji and Genkoan temples are a couple of 20-minute stroll away.

Different close by sights embody Arashiyama, Japan’s most well-known bamboo forest and one of the crucial photographed locations in Kyoto. This fashionable web site is a 20-minute journey away by car.

It’s value noting that public transportation isn’t precisely inside strolling distance when staying on this a part of Kyoto. The closest Kyoto Station is Kita-Oji station, a 10-minute taxi journey away, and Kyoto Station is additional, taking about 20 minutes to achieve by automotive.

Roku’s resort campus could be very visually pleasing by way of its general location, because it’s immersed in nature, with stunning swimming pools of water and small streams flowing by means of the grounds.

The pure setting and minimalistic Japanese structure of the resort is actually an instantly obvious robust level as you arrive on the property. 

Roku Kyoto – Test-in

Upon arrival, we have been invited to examine in on the Tea Home, a superbly serene central lounge for visitors. The house boasts high-pitched ceilings fabricated from lacquerware and pure wooden, impressed by the area’s historic structure.

Our affiliate then confirmed my Hilton Diamond standing and welcomed us to the lodge, providing us a couple of welcome drinks to sip on as we sat down for check-in.

At first, there was no improve forthcoming by way of a set, and even an upgraded room. Nevertheless, as a Hilton Diamond member staying at one of many model’s most aspirational properties, I felt that this was one thing value pushing again on.

To be truthful, the lodge solely has two “true” suites, they usually have been each occupied for the night. As an alternative, I used to be aiming for the Backyard King Room, which is the one room sort with a non-public onsen.

I might see from the Hilton app {that a} Backyard King Romo was out there that night. Nevertheless, the affiliate gave me a good bit of pushback, informing me that it was unavailable and that they might solely provide the Deluxe King Room that I had initially booked.

This is able to be one of many uncommon events once I pulled out the app and confirmed that the room was nonetheless bookable on-line. I expressed that it will imply quite a bit to us to get the improve and expertise the onsen, so if the affiliate might double-check and attempt to make it occur, I’d be infinitely grateful.

With that, the affiliate left briefly after which returned. She defined that there have been some small defects within the remaining Backyard King Room, but when we have been effective with it, they’d be blissful to improve us.

We fortunately took the improve, and after we arrived, there weren’t any main seen defects from what we might inform. Moreover, even when there have been small defects, the room was finally nonetheless out there on the app – so on precept, if the room is nice sufficient to promote to a paying visitor, it must be adequate to offer a Diamond member as an improve.

Sadly, this led to a poor first impression at Roku Kyoto. Nonetheless, I used to be blissful to have gotten the improve to the Backyard King Room in the long run, and was trying ahead to having a non-public onsen within the room.

As Hilton Diamond members, we have been additionally handled to a beneficiant ¥10,000 expertise credit score as a part of our keep. This may very well be used on eating, room service, the bar, minibar, or spa remedies; nevertheless, this credit score additionally led to a considerably disappointing expertise, as we’ll see in a while.

Roku Kyoto – Backyard King Room

The Backyard King Room includes a bed room, its personal personal onsen, and a non-public backyard. Gentle woods and pure parts are used for the interiors, impressed by conventional Minka Japanese properties.

Regardless of the nice interiors, the association of the Backyard King Room is a bit odd. Instantly upon getting into the room, there’s a walk-in closet to your proper, and a half-bathroom to your left.

The house then opens as much as the king mattress, which sits in opposition to a refined washi paper accent wall, flanked by two bedside tables.

To the correct of the mattress is a well-stocked minibar, which comes with a beneficiant choice of tea and a Nespresso machine.

The flat-screen TV is mounted to the alternative wall. Touches of Japanese motifs, comparable to kyo-karakami, a woodblock printed paper made by Kyoto artisans, could be seen close to the baseboards.

Reverse the king mattress is a slim hallway that opens up into the lavatory.

The bathe sits in the course of the hallway, with two separate vanities on both sides. Every includes a stone vessel sink and a tall mirror lit by modern lights on both sides.

So as to add to the oddity of the format, there’s truly no rest room on this house – basically, the Backyard King Room has two half-bathrooms that add as much as an entire. Nevertheless, it’s good that the room has double sinks, as you usually solely discover that with suites.

Regardless of the odd association, the lavatory within the Backyard King Room is sort of completely fabricated from stone, which ends up in a modern and opulent really feel.

In the long run, there’s cause for the odd association of the lavatory: it’s to accommodate the stone onsen on the finish of the hallway. The onsen sits in a zen-like sunroom, with a skylight and floor-to-ceiling home windows providing views of the personal backyard.

This bathtub poured pure sizzling spring onsen water instantly from the faucet, and was actually the spotlight of the room. I appreciated having an illustration of Japan’s robust onsen tradition proper right here in my room, and I’d say this factor of the Backyard King Room is without doubt one of the most tasty parts of Roku Kyoto as an entire.

Should you’re staying at Roku Kyoto, the Backyard King Room is unquestionably the most effective room sort to request. We spent fairly a good period of time within the mornings and evenings bathing within the sizzling spring.

Lastly, the bed room opens up right into a semi-terrace and backyard. This personal Japanese-style backyard options stone partitions, moss, and seasonal bushes positioned round small stones that fill the house.

Roku Kyoto – Deluxe Twin Room

In the course of the course of my keep, I additionally had the possibility to tour the Deluxe Twin Room, which is the commonest room sort on the lodge.

The lodge has each Deluxe Rooms and Premier Deluxe Rooms, that are each out there with twin and king beds. These are in actual fact the identical room sort, however merely differ by way of the advantages that visitors obtain when staying in a single. 

Moreover, there are a handful of Poolside Deluxe Rooms, and above these are two specialty suites that will be fairly troublesome to get an improve to, given their restricted quantity.

The Deluxe Twin Room has a design theme in line with the Backyard King Room I stayed in, consisting of sunshine pure woods and loads of Japanese motifs for an general trendy setting.

A small desk and chair are to the correct of the mattress(s), and behind is a window nook overlooking the rolling hills. The benefit of the Deluxe Rooms over the Backyard Rooms is the gorgeous views of the mountainside reverse the resort.

The toilet can be fabricated from darkish stone, however with a extra conventional association. There’s a double self-importance and a single moist room for the bathe, and a onsen-style bathtub – although with common sizzling water, slightly than pure spring water.

Similar to the Backyard King Room, the bathroom is housed in a separate space with its personal sink and mirror.

Roku Kyoto – Breakfast

Apart from the Backyard King Room, sadly, the remainder of the lodge was a considerably disappointing expertise general.

Breakfast is served in the principle restaurant, Tenjin, each morning. As a Hilton Diamond member, breakfast is complimentary, with a alternative between a set Western or Japanese breakfast, together with a buffet choice.

Alas, the buffet providing was very weak, with just a few chilly cuts, salad, and pastries. Having sampled many different buffets at top-tier properties in Japan and realizing what they’re able to, this one was actually on the extra restricted aspect.

I discovered it weird that there have been quite a few accompaniments laid out, comparable to mustard, wasabi, and lots of forms of salts and chilli peppers, however only a few significant buffet gadgets to go together with it.

I additionally was disenchanted to search out that there wasn’t a conventional Japanese rice bowl unfold, which, for me, is a minimal expectation at high-end lodge buffets in Japan.

In fact, this could’ve been a negligible criticism if the set breakfast have been fulsome, however sadly, it wasn’t. When it got here to the set Western breakfast, the Eggs Benedict was meagre. 

The Japanese breakfast was tasty, but additionally restricted in its choices. There have been solely three aspect dishes out there to accompany the central slice of fish, rice, and miso soup – in comparison with different Japanese set breakfasts I loved on this journey, the place I used to be handled to 6, eight, or much more aspect dishes.

I believe the breakfast right here at Roku Kyoto providing has loads of room for enchancment, particularly contemplating the worth level that the lodge is seeking to cost. I’m hopeful that Roku will have the ability to spruce up its breakfast providing sooner or later, particularly as worldwide travellers arrive at this new property with excessive expectations.

Roku Kyoto – Eating

There’s actually just one eating house at Roku Kyoto, which is one other potential weak level. 

Tenjin, the place breakfast is served, additionally affords all-day eating within the centre of the resort. You’ll be able to order by way of an à la carte menu or select a set course for lunch and dinner, with each Japanese and French-inspired menus out there.

A chef’s desk expertise additionally happens in a separate space of the restaurant, with simply 13 seats. Right here, the chef and his group placed on a culinary efficiency with a 10-course meal, and reservations must be made prematurely to safe a seat.

Lastly, there’s the Tenjin Bar out there behind the restaurant, serving up drinks within the evenings.

The house follows swimsuit with the foyer by way of design, with high-pitched ceilings, extra pure wooden, and floor-to-ceiling home windows that provide a brilliant, ethereal eating setting.

Tenjin appeared like a pleasant house for a meal, and we had needed to have dinner right here on the night of our keep to make use of up our ¥10,000 expertise credit score. Nevertheless, we have been disenchanted to listen to that the restaurant was totally booked for the night. 

We then tried to order room service as a substitute, however found that it will possibly solely be ordered off the TV in our room, and the one supply occasions out there have been two and a half hours from after we needed to order.

This was a really irritating and dysfunctional setup, making the ¥10,000 expertise credit score that I used to be handled to as a Hilton Diamond member fairly troublesome to make use of.

We weren’t in a position to make use of it on the restaurant, room service, and even the bar that night, because the lodge was solely internet hosting a free-flowing Champagne occasion and weren’t serving some other drinks.

Out of sheer frustration that night, we ended up ordering some scrumptious curry rice to the lodge for dinner by way of Uber Eats, and to make use of up our ¥10,000 credit score, we merely raided the minibar the next day.

What might’ve been a robust amenity on the lodge’s half was finally soured by poor execution. I actually suppose the Roku would profit from a wider vary of eating services and, if not attainable, not less than higher administration of room service with constant availability.

Roku Kyoto – Different Services

The Tea Home, the place we first checked in, is split by a set of picket pillars from the foyer. There’s an extended desk for intimate tea ceremonies, and the lounge affords 5 distinctive forms of tea that you just received’t discover in your room, out there on a complimentary foundation.

The health centre is spacious and well-lit, that includes loads of cardio gear and free weights.

The resort includes a 25-metre thermal pool, which is located in a ravishing set of environment on the base of the close by rolling hills. The handful of Poolside Deluxe Rooms are located right here, going through out on to the pool.

Along with the pool, Roku additionally affords spa therapy rooms and saunas, however no thermal bathtub services past the outside pool. Since we have been staying within the Backyard King Room, we had our personal personal onsen, so this wasn’t a lot of a priority; nevertheless, it’s one thing to pay attention to in the event you don’t have this specific room sort.

Lastly, I’d say that Roku Kyoto’s most tasty asset is its stunning and zenlike resort grounds. A collection of outside corridors are surrounded by gardens and a peaceable and idyllic central water characteristic, which was particularly stunning to get up to within the mornings.

Moreover, Roku Kyoto sits on the location of Shozan Resort, whose personal gardens are located a couple of five-minute stroll away. Lodge visitors have free entry to the gardens just by exhibiting their room keys.

Beforehand, there was a bowling alley belonging to the Shozan Resort the place the Roku at the moment sits, earlier than this part was purchased out by the present house owners and was a separate resort by itself.

Regardless that my keep was disappointing in some ways, I couldn’t assist however suppose that the lodge has a lot potential by way of its bodily attractiveness. The excellent visible aesthetics of Roku Kyoto doubtlessly function the premise for its excessive pricing for the time being; nevertheless, the remainder of the smooth product has extra methods to go to justify these costs.

Conclusion

I had excessive expectations of the Roku Kyoto, following glorious experiences at different Kyoto resorts. Sadly, nevertheless, I used to be left fairly disenchanted by the expertise.

The preliminary pushback I obtained for an improve to the Backyard King Room as a Hilton Diamond member had set the tone for the keep. Then, the restricted eating choices and underwhelming breakfast choices solidified my lukewarm emotions concerning the lodge.

I’d say it’s value staying right here if you’d like a non-public onsen in your room or in the event you’re a devoted Hilton loyalist visiting Kyoto. One more reason can be the spectacular pure setting and the shut proximity to Kinkaku-ji, as this is without doubt one of the few luxurious accommodations on this a part of city (except for the Aman Kyoto, which is in a wholly separate league of its personal by way of pricing).

Apart from these mitigating components, nevertheless, I don’t really feel this lodge justifies a go to forward of The Ritz-Carlton, The Mitsui, and the Park Hyatt Kyoto, all of that are at a comparable worth level. Nevertheless, Roku Kyoto is comparatively new to the scene, and hopefully we’ll see some enhancements because the lodge welcomes extra guests and finds its place amongst its competing top-tier properties.