Hotel VMG Resort Kyoto

Where the Entirety of Japan’s Ancient Capital City Is Your Hotel

Concept

What is a hotel? At the Hotel VMG Resort Kyoto, we have expanded the meaning of that word to include a decentralized facility spread throughout one of Japan’s most famous cities. Enjoy a private, luxurious stay at Nene, a renovated building, formerly a ryokan (traditional inn), in Higashiyama, which is a fascinating part of Kyoto that exudes the city’s thousand-year-old history and culture. Or relax in the Ryoui guesthouse located along the scenic Kamo River. Then in the morning, take a short trip to the Heian Shrine in the Okazaki area, where you will be treated to outstanding dishes made from locally sourced Kyoto ingredients while appreciating views of the Shin-en Garden (garden of the gods), a 33,060-square-meter Place of Scenic Beauty.

The exploration of Kyoto doesn’t end after breakfast. Dine on Japanese-French fusion cuisine at either the Funatsuru Kyoto Kamogawa Resort, overlooking the Kamo River, or the Akagane Resort Kyoto Higashiyama 1925, the former residence of the owner of a copper-processing plant. When staying at Hotel VMG Resort Kyoto, the whole of Kyoto is your hotel.

Discover Kyoto

Kyoto, which served as the capital of Japan for more than a millennium, has the largest number of historical buildings in the country. We believe that you can learn a great deal about Japanese culture simply by spending time here—traveling through the streets of this ancient city and visiting many of the spots that people visited hundreds of years ago. Whether in centuries-old temples, pagodas, natural landscapes, private residences, or riverside venues, the soul of Japanese culture can be found everywhere in Kyoto, and we encourage our guests to explore the city and make a lifelong connection with it.

Expand Your Itinerary

Start by discovering the secrets of the thousand-year capital before traveling to Japan’s other great capital, Nara, the seat of the imperial court from 710 to 794. Marvel at the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, which includes Todaiji Temple, the world’s largest wooden structure, located on the grounds of Nara Park, the home of the city’s free-roaming deer. From there, journey over to Osaka and enjoy the city’s vibrant street life at night or its reconstructed Osaka Castle, a fortification with a history going back to the sixteenth century. Let Kyoto serve as your gateway to the whole of the Kansai region.

Our Story

The Nene guesthouse first opened its doors in 2020 along the cobblestoned Nene no Michi (Nene’s Road), named after the wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Napoleon of Japan, who built Osaka Castle. In March 2023, we added the Ryoui building in the Kiyamachi area, known for its kawayuka (elevated wooden terraces), thus expanding our hotel to include more of Kyoto for our guests. Our dining facilities can claim much grander histories, with Akagane Resort Kyoto Higashiyama 1925 having ties to a business begun in the Edo period (1603–1867) and the Heian Shrine having been built in the late nineteenth century to commemorate the 1,100-year anniversary of Kyoto as Japan’s capital.

Tangible History

Nene Copper Container: At the entrance to the Nene building, guests will quickly spot a striking copper container from Kaikado, the oldest manufacturer of tea caddies in Japan, displayed here as an objet d’art to give the building a dignified appearance. The decoration also links the guestrooms to the Akagane Resort Kyoto Higashiyama 1925, which was built on the fortunes of a successful copper-processing business.

Nene Interior: Nene’s interior design features traditional bamboo craftwork by the city’s emerging artisans and the highly ornate pottery called Kiyomizu ware produced in the area around Kyoto’s famous Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Also of note are splashes of peacock-blue coloring, an apt choice for the hotel because, in Japan, the peacock is associated with Kannon, the goddess of protection and compassion.

Ryoui Ceiling: The Ryoui building displays many examples of Kyoto craftsmanship, such as its coffered ceiling of square timbers assembled into a precise grid without the use of nails. Coffered ceilings were once found in places of high prestige, such as Buddhist halls and the quarters of the rich and powerful. The Ryoui ceiling reflects this prestige and is a living testament to the great skill required in the traditional crafts that emerged in Kyoto during its thousand-year history.

Rooms

The Nene building has three guestrooms, one room with a capacity of two guests and two rooms able to accommodate up to four guests per room. Located in the middle of Higashiyama, one of the most popular sightseeing spots in Kyoto, the rooms overlook Kodaiji Temple, a historic temple associated with Lady Nene. The second-floor rooms on the south side also offer views of the five-story Yasaka Pagoda, long a symbol of Kyoto. The smallest room is sixty-one square meters, and all accommodations contain high-quality furnishings and amenities that will transport you into a world of luxury.

The Ryoui features seven guestrooms. Surrounded by historic inns and restaurants, this building puts guests in the heart of traditional Kyoto culture with easy access to popular sightseeing destinations, such as the Gion geisha quarter. Gaze at the seasonal scenery beyond your windows, and let your mind wander while listening to the murmurs of the Kamo River.

Restaurants & Dining

Heian Shrine Event Hall: In the morning, guests of the Hotel VMG Resort Kyoto travel to the Heian Shrine Event Hall for a breakfast served in the scenic Lobby Lounge. Enjoy the tranquil greenery of the garden of the gods reflected in a brilliant pond as you savor delicious dishes made from the bounty of Kyoto, connecting you to the land of Japan’s ancient capital.

Opening Hours: 8:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m. (L.O. 9:00 a.m.)

Restaurant Le Un Funatsuru Kyoto Kamogawa Resort: For guests staying with us between May and September, lunch and dinner are available on the Funatsuru Kyoto Kamogawa Resort’s kawayuka, a symbol of summer dining in Kyoto. Taste Kyoto ingredients prepared using traditional French techniques for a feast you won’t soon forget.

Opening Hours:
Lunch: 11:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. (L.O. 2:00 p.m.)
Dinner: 5:30 p.m.–10:00 p.m. (L.O. 9:00 p.m.)
Capacity: 48

Restaurant Le Un Akagane Resort Kyoto Higashiyama 1925: Dine like a great merchant of old in the resort’s main dining room with its high ceilings and rich copper decorations that gleam like red gold. The Japanese-French fusion meals are served with an unparalleled panoramic view of Higashiyama’s nature.

Opening Hours:
Lunch: 11:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. (L.O. 2:00 p.m.)
Dinner: 5:30 p.m.–10:00 p.m. (L.O. 9:00 p.m.)
Capacity: 50

KIWAMI Akagane Resort Kyoto Higashiyama 1925: Welcome to the chef’s counter where your meal will be prepared in front of you in an intimate setting with decorations by Jotaro Saito, Japan’s leading kimono designer.

Opening Hours: 5:30 p.m.–10:00 p.m. (L.O. 9:00 p.m.)
Capacity: 11

Our Difference

At Hotel VMG Resort Kyoto, we offer a concierge service to make your trip a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Trust our travel specialists with their extensive knowledge of Kyoto to customize a travel itinerary that is perfect for you. We consider it both our pleasure and our duty as a part of this great city to extend Kyoto’s world-famous hospitality to our hotel guests. We will also gladly help organize events or treats for your fellow travelers in order to make your stay with us as remarkable and special as the eternal city of Kyoto.

Welcome

Our mission is to present our guests with the gift of time. Time that flows endlessly through the nature and culture of Japan. Time set aside to make lifelong memories with your loved ones. Time that you will one day reflect back on with a smile. We strive to give you these experiences through the art of Japanese hospitality, the distinctiveness of accommodations that tell rich stories from Japan’s great past, and the breaking of language barriers by our English-speaking staff. We hope to see you soon.

Number of rooms: 10 (2 facilities)
Capacity: 1–4 guests per room
Check-in: 3:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Checkout: until noon
Languages: Japanese & English
Tel: +81 (0)120-210-289