Hotel Review: ROKU Kyoto, LXR Collection
Introduction | Roku Kyoto
We’re back for a second time at the LXR Roku Kyoto! Last time, we came around March with my parents and had one of the best stays of our lives, which I reviewed here. (March 2023, LXR Roku Kyoto Review). This time around, we’re back with some of our close friends to witness the full bloom of sakuras in Kyoto.
A quick introduction: Roku Kyoto was the first property launched in the region under Hilton’s newest luxury brand LXR Hotels & Resorts, which Schroeder oversees along with other current and upcoming properties in the region from Conrad Hotels & Resorts and Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts.
There are many reasons to love this property. More luxury resort than city hotel—and pretty spacious by Kyoto standards—this modern icon not only showcases an elegant Japanese design lifestyle it dubs “Kyoto Simplicity,” but it’s also a place to slow down, unwind and just bask in nature after the (typically exhausting) intensity of ticking off a plethora of must-see sights in central Kyoto. It’s this very reason why we’re back here for a 2nd time.
Hotel Grounds | ROKU KYOTO
As part of the Shozan Resort, there are various places to explore and surprisingly a ton of fun hidden gems scattered across the property. It is home to a string of winding and romantic walkways, gardens and several high-end Japanese restaurants, along with a bonsai shop and a rather decked out gift shop. One good way to explore this is to embark on a meditation walk with the Spa team or yourself - here you wander through the scenic Japanese garden near the hotel, with clusters of vertical branches that seemingly shoot into the sky, or witness the cherry blossoms scattered across this lush garden.
LOCATION | ROKU KYOTO
Roku Kyoto is situated closer to the northern portion of Kyoto, nestled in the mountain hills. It’s not subway accessible nor is it necessarily friendly on foot, but that’s to be expected for these types of resorts. As mentioned before, the Roku Kyoto is situated on the grounds of the Shozan Resort, a series of Japanese restaurants, hotels and a secretive Japanese garden that is probably the hidden gem in this resort. If there’s only one true negative - it’s not really friendly in terms of easy transportation, but if you’re coming from the Kyoto Train Station - it would take around 20-30 minutes by taxi or private limo.
While not the greatest for those looking for quick transportation methods, it is conveniently located near Kinkaku-ju aka Golden Temple (15 minutes by foot) and another 15 minutes by foot to Ryoan-ji, famous for its rock zen garden and Japanese garden. I highly recommend having breakfast first at ROKU Kyoto and then embarking on your walk towards the Golden Temple right before it opens at 9am, where you can beat the vast majority of the crowds during busy season.
Furthermore, you can easily walk around the massive 29-acre Shozan Resort, which features a expansive array of gardens, temples and restaurants. Furthermore, there is a on-site convenience store, and a 7-Eleven about 8-10 minutes walking distance. It’s one of my favorite places to just walk around and relax, with so many hidden gems and spots to just admire nature.
The Room | ROKU Kyoto
There’s something so relaxing about the ROKU rooms. Infusing both traditional Kyoto design and modern Japanese aesthetic in calming earthy tones, the 114 guest rooms offer a peaceful sanctuary that depicts the beauty and simplicity of Japanese materials and craftsmanship.
This time around, we were on the top floor overlooking the hotel grounds, which was fantastic during the sunrise and sunset. The room itself is still just as magniificent as ever. Refined washi paper accents are utilized as the main wall, with light woods and natural metallic elements flowing throughout the room. There’s a walk-in closet and a half-bathroom upon entering, and the main bathroom to your left. The king bed is flanked by two tablestands, along with the main room controller and a Balmuda sound system.
Near the bed is a beautiful minibar, which comes with Nespresso and various tea selections. A massive flat-screen TV is mounted opposite of the bed along with another entrance to the bathroom. Woven headboards with abstract motifs, bespoke tea ceramics and wooden lattice partitions add various layers of luxury and warmth to the rooms. A pro tip here - these rooms do get hot quickly if you leave the blinds and sheers open, so if you want to keep your room cold, I’d make sure they’re closed when you leave the room.
Each bedside has easily accessible master switches and do not disturb/make up room buttons. There were USB Type-C ports as well. If you need the older Type-A ports, they’re located in a pull-out drawer beneath the bedside table, together with another universal power outlet and a HDMI port. Wifi is blazing fast over here.
Our king size bed was extremely comfortable - we fell asleep so fast on the first day that we were more than sure our jetlag was cured upon waking up. There was a bedside table on either side of each twin bed as well as in between, which provided plenty of space to charge devices as well as organize reading materials and tea trays.
In the bathroom, the hairdryer that was included was apparently expensive, as pointed out by my wife - it was a Repronizer 4D Plus, which retails for a whopping $520 USD! No wonder she enjoyed taking her sweet time in the shower during our stay, haha. Unfortunately, they’ve stopped utilizing Votary as their amenities brand and went in the direction of room bottles, which was a disappointment. For this price range, you would expect top notch quality and toiletries that one can enjoy and bring home to you remind you of your stay.
Amenities | Roku Kyoto
Th tea house continues to be my favorite place to go. Custom-designed tea cabinets house a industry grade nespresso machine with various pods, and on the other side houses the various teas and hot water machine. One can easily unwind here and enjoy the outdoors or catch up on some newspapers. We frequented here during the downtime or before we headed out for dinner.
With floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the gardens, the 24-hour fitness center was impressively equipped with several treadmills, an elliptical, bike, and an array of weight machines and free weights. You can connect your own Bluetooth headset or fitness tracker to the TechnoGym system, and watch YouTube/Netflix while you work out.
The swimming pool was also fantastic. Start your day with warm-enough waters of the 82-foot outdoor thermal pool, before heading to one of three treatment rooms—cocooning enclaves of forest green tiles, light woods, and dim lights. There were a half-dozen loungers that deck the swimming pool, and it’s easily reservable via a quick trip to the spa center.
The Roku Kyoto’s spa is open from 10.30 a.m to 9 p.m daily, with the last treatment commencing at 7.30 p.m. A total of three rooms are available: two singles, and one couple room with an onsen bath. For those interested in the spa, treatments begin with an unusual ritual, which I discover when I’m politely ordered to toss a scattering of small pieces of cedar-scented washi paper over my shoulders, a peaceful purification process. Treatment highlights include the Signature Tenjingawa stone massage, with stones first soaked and “purified” in the nearby Tenjin River, before being used to heated muscle-melting effect in an aromatic oil massage.
Food & Drinks | Roku Kyoto
Named after the Tenjin River, the French restaurant Tenjin welcomes guests to embark on a unique epicurean journey and indulge in French-style dishes made from the finest locally sourced seasonal ingredients. Similar to last time, one would select an entree as their main and would include the buffet. The main buffet table had salad, pickled vegetables, fruit, and cold cuts. I’ve gotten used to the spread and while it may look limited, the food quality and the health focus on each dish was greatly appreciated. I never felt so healthy eating breakfast in Japan!
Make sure you order the Japanese set as always, as it features a grilled fish of the day, tofu skin and red miso soup. Additional rice and soup can be requested for free.
At the Chef’s Table within the restaurant, guests can witness first-hand the art of cooking by the masterful chefs as they present an exclusive seasonal menu inspired by the history and culture of the Rinpa school. At the bar, guests can sip on signature cocktails made with local ingredients or enjoy seasonal afternoon tea. Alternatively, guests can lounge at the ‘Engawa’, where they can listen to the sounds of the river by the indoor patio and take in the views.
Conclusion | Roku Kyoto
Without a doubt, the most impressive feature of The Roku Kyoto is its ability to transport you away from all the busyness of life. With its striking design, mountain setting and relaxing amenities that surround you, the Roku aims to provide you a wellness moment that you can’t get anywhere else. From its large heated swimming pool, a curated spa, fitness center and various gardens and hidden restaurants, one can easily just stay here and not worry about anything else.
