Hotels With Stories: Three Openings With Main Character Energy
Imperial Hotel, Kyoto and the restoration of Yasaka Kaikan. (Credit: Yasaka Nyokoba Gakuen)
Opening in Spring 2026, Imperial Hotel, Kyoto, is the fourth property from Japan's esteemed hospitality brand, which is renowned for its hotels found in cultural landmarks. The first new Imperial Hotel to debut in three decades, it adds to the brand's portfolio of properties in Tokyo, Osaka and Kamikochi.
The new hotel has been carved out of the historic Yasaka Kaikan, a 90-year-old former theater and community center, with architectural ties to Frank Lloyd Wright. A sensitive restoration has seen the heritage building reimagined for a modern day traveler with sustainable luxury at its heart.
Interior design at The Imperial Hotel, Kyoto has been led by the New Material Research Laboratory. (Credit New Material Research Laboratory)
Originally built in 1936, by renowned architect Tokusaburo Kimura, the Yasaka Kaikan has long served as a cultural gathering place in Kyoto's historic Gion district. Breathing new life into the building, the boutique hotel fuses historic preservation with modern elegance, whilst celebrating the cultural importance of Yasaka Kaikan.
In a full-circle moment, the transformation, from cultural icon to characterful hotel, was overseen by the Obayashi Corporation, the same Japanese construction company that built the Yasaka Kaikan nearly 90 years ago in 1936. The restoration has preserved much of the building's original character, including 16,387 original exterior tiles. While traditional Japanese techniques, such as ikedori or 'live capture', where materials are carefully removed without damage for reuse, have been honored throughout the design.
The meticulous restoration uses modern-day technology for accurate preservation. (Credit: Obayashi Corporation)
'Some parts retain their 88-year-old look, while others use 88-year-old preserved materials,' says Masahiro Inoue, executive manager of the Architectural Design Department at Obayashi Corporation. 'The building significantly weaves together an aesthetic integrity and preserved memories. That was our top priority.' The exterior renovation included salvaging approximately 10% of the original decorative tiles and reproducing fragile terracotta ornamentation, using 3D scanning for accurate surveying, to restore the original, enabling the hotel to maintain continuity with its cultural roots.'
The hotel will offer guests a choice of 55 guestrooms and suites, with interiors designed by architect Tomoyuki Sakakida, director of New Material Research Laboratory, whose creative direction embraces the ethos of 'Old is New'. This philosophy reinterprets Japan's architectural past through a contemporary lens while honoring Kyoto's climate, materials, and traditional sensibility. The design features Japanese marble, Ōya stone, and Tamina-ishi, to give a nod to Japan's nature and the tactile elements of much of its architecture.
The Kyoto Imperial Suite with views over the city. (Credit: New Material Research Laboratory)
'Kyoto cherishes old things but also embraces new culture,' said Sakakida. 'That contrast is the soul of this project. Since the Industrial Revolution, artistic and cultural shifts, such as the Arts and Crafts movement in the UK and the Mingei folk craft movement in Japan, have marked a return to hand craftsmanship,' he explained. 'Now, more than a century after the advent of Modernism, there seems to be a certain sense of stagnation in the air, and a renewed appreciation for the old is taking hold. That, I believe, is why the concept of 'Old Is New' is resonating with people.'
Other design features are tied to Japanese ideas of wabi-sabi : understated beauty and impermanence—with natural Japanese tatami-mat flooring, minimalist furnishings and handcrafted textures in earth tones showcased in some of the bedrooms. Other rooms retain original beams, pillars and window frames of the Yasaka Kaikan—gently restored to show their age and patina, not conceal it. In several rooms, private balconies open onto the Gion Kobu Kaburenjo grounds, with guests able to hear the traditional melodies of shamisen and kouta music , creating an atmosphere of cinematic intimacy. These spaces are immersive by nature—giving guests the sensation of stepping into a story that began nearly a century ago.
Imperial Hotel, Kyoto has retained a theater and community center. (Credit: Yasaka Nyokoba Gakuen)
As well as a wellness offering, restaurants and a bar, the hotel is also committed to supporting local artisans and promoting immersive cultural experiences with its community centre and revamped theatre. It aims to contribute to Kyoto's tourism growth while mitigating environmental strain and overcrowding through sustainable practices. Penicuik House & Estate, Scotland
Found on Penicuik Estate, one of Scotland's finest, rural landholdings, is Penicuik House, a historic house available for holidays and short-stays, due to open its doors next month. Just a 30-minute drive from Edinburgh, and set against the magnificent backdrop of the Pentland Hills, the estate's 400-hectare grounds were originally designed to inspire its visitors through the marriage of nature and architecture, becoming a hub of the Scottish Enlightenment during the 18th century.
Penicuik House is an exclusive-use hire home in the middle of a vast Scottish estate. (Credit: Penicuik House)
The main hub of the estate is Old Penicuik House. Built in 1760, it served as the family home until it burned down in 1899. After being left in ruins for over a century, it was saved from collapse through an eight-year conservation project. Completed in 2014, it is one of the largest projects of its kind in Scotland and has become a major heritage attraction with over 150,000 visitors a year. Having been under the stewardship of the same family since 1654, the estate is now entering a new chapter with the opening of its flagship property, Penicuik House, allowing visitors to be able to stay on the estate in glorious surrounds. There is also an initial collection of restored cottages and lodges, with many more planned over the next few years.
The House is ideal for group gatherings, for weddings or special occasions. (Credit: Penicuik House)
Carved out of the estate's stable block, Penicuik House sleeps 32 across 16 en suite bedrooms. Its characterful interiors have been overseen by designer, Charles Orchard, and feature antiques and art sourced from Old Penicuik House. Two grand reception rooms and a formal dining room make it perfect for special occasions, such as weddings or private events.
Nearby is High Pond Reserve, a waterside location where guests can go wild swimming and use the 'natural sauna' which will include a sauna, cold plunge and hot tub.
Smaller cottages offer cosy interiors. (Credit: Alexander Baxter)
The collection of smaller cottages have interiors designed by Edinburgh studio Fantoush. Each property includes a state-of-the-art kitchen, sitting room with a wood burner and en suite bedrooms. Outside, there are private terraces with outdoor wood burners, Big Green Egg barbecues, and secluded cedar hot tubs.
On offer are hand-delivered food services, including organic breakfast and BBQ hampers, and private chefs to prepare tailor-made meals in the houses. A haven for outdoor enthusiasts, activities include 20 km of walking and cycling trails and hiking in the Pentland Hills.
Colours in the cottages reflect the nature outside. (Credit: Alexander Baxter)
Currently under development at the estate is also a range of nature and heritage-led experiences, including whisky and gin tasting with local distilleries, spa treatments, yoga classes, mountain biking, wild swimming, and private heritage tours around the estate, which will be available soon upon request. Ubuyu, A Banyan Tree Escape, Tanzania
Opening at the end of this year is Obuyu, the first African safari park from hospitality group, Banyan Tree. Found at the heart of Tanzania's Ruaha National Park, a stay here allows guest to embrace the vast wilderness of Southern Tanzania. It is home to one of Africa's largest elephant populations, the world's highest concentration of lions, and one of the last refuges for the endangered African wild dog and more than 570 bird species.
Ubuyu takes its name from the Swahili word for the fruit of the baobab tree, Africa's iconic Tree of Life, and the new outpost symbolically has baobab trees framing its entrance to greet you. Revered for its resilience and longevity, the baobab has offered shelter, nourishment and healing for generations.
Ubuyu, A Banyan Tree Escape, Tanzania is the brand's frist African safari outpost. (Credit: Banyan Tree)
Made up of six artisan-crafted villas, the hotel has been designed to blend into the surrounding terrain with sweeping views over the savannah. One- and two-bedroom villas draw inspiration from traditional Maasai circular dwellings, featuring open-air showers, private plunge pools and decks positioned to capture sunrise light and wildlife movement. The three-bedroom Retreat follows the organic curve of the Ruaha River and is centred around a firepit with a rooftop terrace designed for stargazing and storytelling. Each villa is solar-powered and constructed using natural materials including timber, thatch, clay and locally-carved Mninga wood furniture, crafted by local artisans.
At the heart of the retreat lies the Living Room, a free-flowing communal space, while the Open Kitchen presents a plant-forward, zero-waste menu that celebrates seasonal ingredients sourced from nearby farms and villages. Above, the rooftop Mganga Bar serves elixirs infused with native botanicals, paired with sweeping views of the river and surrounding bushland. Set along the riverbank and open to the breeze, the Maji Spa invites restoration through rituals grounded in indigenous healing, using local oils and herbs to soothe, balance, and renew.
Since it was founded in 1994, Banyan Group has long been a pioneer of sustainable, purpose-driven hospitality and the new opening looks set to continue that drive rooted in regenerative tourism.
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