Ranked #1 - Park Hyatt Kyoto: The 2-Michelin-Star Breakfast We Still Think About
We thought we were booking a beautiful hotel in Kyoto. We didn’t expect a breakfast that would bring us back again and again.
Words I Don’t Say Out Loud Often
Exquisite. If I had to describe this property in one word, that would be it. But let me add a small disclaimer: this feeling is in part shaped by my bias toward Kyoto over Tokyo.
Even so, this hotel is on another level entirely.
Located in Kyoto’s historic Higashiyama district near Kiyomizu-dera, Park Hyatt Kyoto is often described as one of the city’s most beautiful luxury hotels.
The way they incorporate Kyoto architecture into the rooms and common areas is breathtaking.
The attention to detail (the lobby ceiling design, for example) and the hotel's ambiance are truly fascinating and perfectly suited to its historic surroundings.
It felt like sophistication embraced by simplicity - a poised, purposeful kind of luxury.
Click to enlarge photos
The common area that spills over from the main lobby - I’ll have to get a photo of the ceiling in the lobby next time. You’ll see what I mean when you see it!
Almost every corner has a beautiful presentation with a back drop of quaint Kyoto
Beautiful garden to stroll through around the property (I was told this is where the Kyoyamato breakfast comes through if you order room service)
Loved every window, every view
The snow, like powder sugar, on the temple and mountaintops
Every angle is like a mural - changing with the seasons
Woah - stole this one from Cory’s camera roll
If you stay in the winter, it’s a touch cold when you walk through the outdoor hallways. But, every step is so peaceful and serene, we had no complaints (I think)
Enter… the room!
Every detail is refined, yet soothing - achieving the perfect blend
Absolutely loved the calming, elegant wood design
The thoughtful layout of the room makes it possible to see outside - from the tub!
True, luxury isn’t about the marble. But I must’ve really liked it because, sadly, I have more pictures of the bathroom tub than the room
This Breakfast Lives in My Head
Now, before I get too poetic, I want to share why this place left such an impression on me.
Simply put, it was the food offering. Yes, the rooms are magnificent, the staff are top-notch, but the breakfast being offered was exceptional.
I consider myself a foodie and often rave about food, but I rarely consider hotel breakfasts to be exceptional.
The truth is, it’s not really hotel food. There is a 2-Michelin-star Japanese Kaiseki restaurant, Sanso Kyoyamato, right near the hotel, and it offers an exclusive breakfast for Park Hyatt Kyoto guests!
You need to contact the hotel ahead of time to reserve this special Japanese breakfast, and it will set you back about 7,000 yen per person - but it is so worth it!
Alternatively, you could get their lunch for 22,000-38,500 yen or their dinner for 38,500-66,000 yen. The breakfast seemed cheap in comparison!
We ate in the hotel's common breakfast area, but you can also have it served in your room privately.
Served with a little breakfast envy on the side
Breakfast on a subsequent visit - just as dreamy as the first!
Can You Trust My Palate?
A little aside on my food background - very important if you want to trust my gut-feeling, no pun intended.
Although I grew up in the States, my mum worked hard to find the ingredients to cook Japanese meals for my family of 5.
My wife and I both truly love her amazing cooking skills, as they have helped us appreciate the effort and expertise that goes into seemingly simple Japanese dishes.
With that said, my wife and I were not huge on kaiseki on our first few visits to Japan - plus, Kyoto flavorings tend to be sophisticated and subtle - perhaps due to the fact that it was the capital for so long, many people enjoy lighter, polished flavors.
On the other hand, both of my parents are from the northern part of Japan, and as such, flavors tend to be strong and salty - perhaps to encourage eating more rice, which is cheaper than eating mainly meat or fish.
Temarizushi is Kyoto style sushi - exuding elegance in its petite and polished form
Screams dainty Kyoto (to me)
Aaand this is more like the homemade Japanese food I grew up eating!
We do some fancy stuff on occasion - temaki is one of our family traditions
Trying So Hard Not to Believe the Hype
I remember going into this breakfast thinking to myself that I don’t want to get my hopes too high. I had seen a lot of rave reviews, and they all seemed so genuine - I was really hoping it was true.
I often do that to myself, overhyping it in my mind and looking at all the food photos, only to be disappointed by the actual meal.
But wow was I wrong. I was utterly blown away by the breakfast. My wife, who has a more sensitive and refined palate than I (aka she is picky), loved the breakfast as well.
Often, in kaiseki, a traditional multi-course Japanese haute cuisine, there are 7–14 dishes served with rice, so some are familiar while others may feel unfamiliar or experimental to the average person.
Even Japanese people have strong preferences for kaiseki dishes, and it would be difficult to find someone who loves every dish that is served.
In full disclosure, my wife and I traded a few dishes we realized we liked more than the others, but overall, this was an eye-opening meal. And really, how often do you have a meal and feel that way?
Even the seemingly simple part of the meal, the rice, was cooked to perfection. Each grain of rice was light and distinct, with a pearlescent sheen, screaming special.
Based on the reviews, it appears that a wide range of people from different food cultures enjoyed this breakfast as well.
That’s uncommon for a cuisine with such deep cultural nuances.
Some of the other kaiseki we’ve enjoyed
We Had No Choice but to Return
Would we visit again? Absolutely! We’ve been to Park Hyatt Kyoto twice more for this very reason - we simply cannot get the Japanese breakfast out of our heads.
We unequivocally love the hotel and location, but the reason this hotel ranked at the very top of all the hotels in Japan for me is simply because it was delicious.
Next: Ranked #2 - The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto: The Hotel That Changed How We See Luxury in Japan
Also in this series:
The Top 3 Luxury Hotels in Japan - Ranked by What Matters Most
Ranked #3 Andaz Tokyo - The Legendary Sky Suite Upgrade We Never Expected
