Beneath the lantern-lined streets of Gion, the Imperial Hotel, Kyoto has introduced a new spa, indoor pool and fitness gym within the restored 1936 Yasaka Kaikan.
Reserved exclusively for hotel guests, the wellness facilities blend architectural preservation with sensory ritual, positioning the 55-room boutique hotel as one of Kyoto’s most considered luxury stays.
Opened on 5 March 2026, the spa and pool reflect a distinctly Kyoto approach to restoration, shaped by stone, incense, sound and stillness.
The SPA at Imperial Hotel, KyotoTHE SPA At Imperial Hotel, Kyoto
Set within the nationally registered Tangible Cultural Property of Yasaka Kaikan, THE SPA at Imperial Hotel, Kyoto draws on Kyoto’s seasonal rhythm and the refined traditions of Gion Kobu.
Signature treatments are guided by the traditional balance of Ki, Blood and Water. Each experience begins with Monko, the art of incense appreciation, encouraging controlled breathing and mental quiet before treatment begins. Traditional Japanese bells mark the transition into ritual.
Signature TreatmentsSilent Serenity
A meditative body experience incorporating sound vibration through meditation balls, designed to release physical stagnation and restore energetic flow.
Deep Stone Revive Therapy
A restorative treatment using heated stones and deep tissue techniques to ease travel fatigue and improve circulation.
The spa also partners with British skincare brand OSKIA, integrating bio-nutrition formulations into tailored facial and body rituals. Treatments include AHA exfoliation with lactic acid, enzyme therapy, vitamin C infusion, LED light therapy and cryo-lifting. Each facial is adapted to individual skin condition, blending hands-on techniques with advanced skincare science.
Facilities include single and twin treatment rooms, a Spa Experience Zone and a heat experience area. The limited number of treatment rooms ensures privacy and calm, reinforcing the hotel’s emphasis on attentive pacing.
The Indoor Cave Pool at Imperial Hotel, KyotoIndoor Pool Designed By Tomoyuki Sakakida
Located on Basement Level 1, the 17.5-metre indoor pool has been conceived as a cavern-like retreat.
Architect Tomoyuki Sakakida of New Material Research Laboratory shaped the pool using Kitagi stone sourced from Shiraishi Island. The same stone was used on the exterior walls of the 1936 Yasaka Kaikan, creating material continuity between the historic façade and the wellness spaces below.
Soft, indirect lighting enhances the raw stone surfaces, creating an atmosphere that feels carved rather than constructed. The result is a restrained, contemplative swimming environment aligned with the spa’s focus on recovery and stillness.
The SPA at Imperial Hotel, KyotoGuest-Only Fitness Gym
Completing the wellness facilities is a discreet fitness gym available exclusively to hotel residents.
Designed as a continuation of daily rhythm rather than a performance-driven space, the gym supports personal routines in a calm, inward-looking setting.
The SPA at Imperial Hotel, KyotoWellness Shaped By Place
Situated steps from Hanamikoji Street in Kyoto’s historic Gion district, Imperial Hotel, Kyoto is the fourth property in the Imperial Hotel portfolio and the brand’s first in Japan’s ancient capital.
With 55 rooms set inside the restored Yasaka Kaikan, the hotel balances preservation with contemporary comfort. The spa, pool and fitness spaces extend this philosophy underground, offering moments of restoration within one of Kyoto’s most culturally significant neighbourhoods.
For more information, visit: imperialhotel.co.jp/en/kyoto
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AloJapan.com