Published date: April 25, 2025
HOTEL ANTEROOM KYOTO｜Stay in the Art Gallery of Kyoto and Write a Letter to Yourself
Room Type Stayed
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Experience of the stay
Kyoto is a place that makes you want to return again and again, with endless exploration of delicious food and venerable old shops.
And Anteroom Kyoto is my other home in Kyoto.
Leaving the hustle and bustle around Kyoto Station, Kawaramachi, and Kiyomizu Temple, this place is quiet and the pace is slow.
As a representative work of UDS’s early house renovation hotels, HOTEL ANTEROOM KYOTO has hosted various art exhibitions for many years. The large blank spaces serve as an exhibition area, allowing you to naturally slow down every time you enter or exit the hotel.
I’ve heard that many guests return regularly because each visit may feature new works.
This feeling of living in an art gallery can indeed be addictive.
While waiting to check in, the waiting time usually leads me to look around at the exhibits; the space here is beautifully distracting.
After dropping off my luggage, I observe the moss garden, and then take a stroll to a nearby public bath, allowing my body and mind to relax before returning to my room. The lighting, decor, and amenities in the room continue UDS’s consistent quality.
I especially love the wooden tray in the room, which holds a mug, a glass, and tea bags. Though these cups and tea bags should have been chosen separately, why is it that placed on this tray, they create a perfect match?
With beautiful cups and trays, brewing a cup of tea paired with snacks is a delightful afternoon tea.
In the evening, I can enjoy a drink and relish a moment of mild intoxication;
Then, I’ll take out stationery from the drawer to write a letter to myself.
Finally, in the lobby, I pick my favorite essential oils and bath salts; HOTEL ANTEROOM even thinks of the relaxation time while bathing.
Rather than just staying, I feel this is a complete healing journey.
Every step helps you to calm down and slow down.
Anteroom means "waiting room," acting as a transitional space connecting one journey to the next. I highly recommend arranging to stay here on the last night of your trip, to reflect on the joys of your journey and to organize your mind and body.
Although the location is about a 15-minute walk from Kyoto Station, it is this distance that distances you from the noise and crowds.
On the day I checked in, I took a taxi from Kyoto Station for about 500 yen; while leaving, I walked about 8 minutes to the Kyoto Kujo subway station. There was absolutely no inconvenience; in fact, I intentionally sought this kind of "deviation from the bustling area" pace.
This time, I stayed in a Semi Double room, but I heard that if there are vacancies, they will try to upgrade for free. I was indeed upgraded to a 25-square-meter room, which is very sufficient for a solo trip.
In conclusion, Anteroom Kyoto is like an old friend you want to see again, with surprises at every meeting.
I hope you have the chance to come here and experience that serene moment.
Experiences during the trip
I go to Kyoto more than five times a year, mainly for hotel tours and seeking delicious restaurants. Kyoto is not just a treasure trove of hotels but is also the city with the highest density of Michelin-starred restaurants in the world.
I would like to recommend two of my favorite restaurants.
I chose these two because they both possess a sense of "artistry"; it’s not just dining but more like appreciating a work where the cuisine takes center stage.
｜Gion Riki｜
I particularly love sitting at the bar, watching the chef prepare dishes while chatting with him.
I heard that he chose to open his shop here because there is a well. Regular tap water is not capable of boiling a good broth, and the quality of this well water is the key reason he opened his restaurant here.
Since then, he has been running this place alone for 42 years.
Now at 72 years old, he still jokingly says he won’t retire until he is 80.
Riki’s kaiseki cuisine has a simple presentation, emphasizing the original flavors of the ingredients.
My favorites are the steamed oysters and grilled taro, which are simple yet stunning.
I recommend going for lunch; the omakase set is about 5000 yen, and every dish will make your eyes light up with just one bite! I’ve eaten here more than three times and sincerely recommend it to everyone.
｜Daiwa Tachibana Cuisine Synager｜
This is a quiet and elegant creative cuisine restaurant, where every dish is full of surprises. The owner is very passionate about promoting the native Japanese citrus “Daiwa Tachibana,” even setting up distillation equipment in the shop to extract aromatic water.
Both the dishes and beverages incorporate Daiwa Tachibana elements.
The unique aromas and flavors that can only be found here leave a deep impression, making you wish to visit again.
The lunch set is about 10,000 yen and offers pairing options with tea or sake. I recommend it for those who want to seriously taste delicious food and experience a full awakening of taste and smell.
These two restaurants have dishes that are worth taking time to savor, perfectly resonating with the travel pace of Anteroom.
The room rates at Anteroom are already quite reasonable, allowing the budget saved to be used for truly enjoying Kyoto's cuisine!