A Season for Serenity: Experience Winter in Japan’s Ancient Capital with Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto

In the heart of winter, Kyoto radiates a rare sense of tranquillity. As the crowds thin and the air turns crisp, the ancient capital transforms into a place of contemplative beauty – an ideal time to slow the pace, reflect, and reconnect. This winter, Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto welcomes guests to experience Kyoto at its most serene through culturally rooted encounters, accommodation offers and seasonal culinary excellence.

An Invitation to Linger

Winter in Kyoto reveals an array of poetic pleasures: temple gardens dusted with frost, morning mist drifting through historic lanes, and plum blossoms lending colour to the coldest days. A peaceful rhythm settles over the city, allowing its timeless essence to shine. With fewer visitors, there is space to wander unhurriedly, pause at shrines and immerse deeply in local traditions.

Nestled around an 800-year-old heritage pond garden, Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto is a sanctuary where guests can fully embrace this quieter season, surrounded by the soft splendour of nature and the warmth of heartfelt hospitality.

Culturally Rooted Experiences

At the core of the Hotel’s winter offering is a selection of cultural activities, thoughtfully curated by Cultural Ambassador Nao Yokoyama. Providing an intimate introduction to Kyoto’s living heritage, these experiences take guests off the beaten track to explore authentic local rituals, craftsmanship, and nature – all at a relaxed pace mirroring the spirit of winter itself.

Highlights include a guided hike to the iconic Fushimi Inari, winding through peaceful forest paths and hidden shrines known only to locals, and an after-hours visit to Sennyu-ji Temple, where guests can soak up imperial history and glorious gardens in blessed solitude.

Special Offers and Residential Suites

Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto welcomes guests to elevate their winter escape with special savings, thoughtful benefits and Residential Suites designed as a home away from home.

• Advance Purchase Offer: Receive up to 20 percent off the room rate when reserving a stay at least seven days in advance.
• Third Night Free Offer: Spend more time experiencing the best of Kyoto. Receive a complimentary third night when booking at least two consecutive nights.
• Residential Suite Stay: Ideal for extended stays or family travel, the Hotel’s Residential Suites provide generous living spaces that feel like home. Select suites also feature connecting rooms, allowing multi-generational travellers to enjoy a balance of privacy and togetherness. Residential Suites come with a plethora of enhanced benefits: extra room to relax and connect, a fully equipped private kitchen, and seamless services that bring warmth and ease to winter retreats.

Seasonal Flavours

Winter at Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto is also a time for exquisite seasonal dining. At the modern steakhouse EMBA KYOTO GRILL, guests can savour a menu that spotlights premium grilled meats alongside fresh seafood and local vegetables. Marrying global techniques with Kyoto inspirations, this umami-forward exploration unfolds along superb views of the Japanese pond garden.

This scenic setting also hosts the Strawberry Afternoon Tea, celebrating the season’s sweetest harvest with a selection of dainty sweets and savouries. Designed around premium strawberries, fragrant roses and winter produce, the menu features standouts like the Classic Fraisier made with Hokkaido strawberries, the delicately perfumed Strawberry Rose Mousse, and the Winter Soup with Kujo green onions – prized for their exceptional sweetness at this time of year.

Sushi Ginza Onodera, the specialty sushi restaurant, brings diners on a remarkable omakase journey prepared with equal parts finesse and flair. Each course reflects the inherent purity and balance of fresh fish and seafood procured from markets in Kyoto, Tokyo and Hokkaido, delivering a culinary experience as refined as the season itself.

Over at FUJU Lounge, traditional local sweets offer a subtle expression of winter’s gifts. The highlight of the season is the Hojicha Shirarama Zenzai. Opening with the rich, roasted aroma of hojicha from Marukyu Koyamaen, a renowned Uji tea producer, this Japanese dessert combines sweet azuki beans with candied chestnuts and soft rice dumplings.

Kyoto at its Most Atmospheric

This winter, Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto offers more than a stay – it offers a calm pause, beckoning guests to slow down and fully embrace the city’s tranquil treasures. For enquiries or reservations, visit the Hotel website here.