Japan has got its first property under Accorhotels’ boutique MGallery by Sofitel brand with the opening of the MGallery Kyoto Yura Hotel on Tuesday, May 21.
The new hotel is located in Kyoto’s Higashiyama area, approximately an hour’s drive from Osaka’s Itami International Airport and an hour and a half by car from Kansai International Airport. Nearby notable attractions include the Gion geisha district, Yasaka Shinto Shrine and the Kawaramachi downtown district.
True to the brand’s boutique focus, the new Kyoto property isn’t huge, with a reasonably modest 144 guestrooms. These are split across five room categories and a single suite category, ranging from the 22-sqm Classic Room to the 54-sqm Kyo Suite.
All guestrooms have been devised with a “contemporary classical design”, according to Accor, that has a particular focus on local artwork and heritage. This can be seen in the hotel’s use of local “Nishijin-ori” textiles in the guestrooms and traditional tatami mats in the seating area.
“Kyoto is the cultural heart of the country, renowned for its popular temples and shrines,” said Kazunori Tanaka, the hotel’s general manager.
“The MGallery brand is inspired by the destination enriched through arts, history and cultural experiences.”
The MGallery Kyoto Yura Hotel’s dining options in particular pay attention to the city’s heritage, with its international all-day dining restaurant, 54th Station Grill, named after the ancient route connecting Kyoto with Tokyo. After breakfast, the restaurant changes into “a unique kaiseki, tapas, grill-style dining experience”.
Meanwhile, the lobby’s 1867 Bar takes inspiration from the Samurai era and serves modern cocktails using traditional flavours and styles.
This being a boutique property, it doesn’t have a swimming pool, though there is a fitness centre.
Accorhotels’ MGallery brand now comprises 101 boutique properties, with a further 48 in the pipeline.
