The Imperial Hotel, Kyoto has announced a significant design preservation milestone for the Yasaka Kaikan, the historic 1936 building that forms the heart of the recently opened luxury hotel in Kyoto’s Gion district
Following review by Japan’s Council for Cultural Affairs, the structure’s status as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property has been retained under the new designation ‘Former Yasaka Kaikan’, recognising the extensive efforts undertaken to preserve the landmark while giving it new life as part of the Imperial Hotel.
“From the beginning, our goal was to honour the architectural and cultural significance of the Yasaka Kaikan while ensuring its relevance for generations to come,” explained Reiko Sakata, general manager of the Imperial Hotel, Kyoto.
“The continuation of its cultural property registration recognises not only the building’s history, but also the importance of preserving meaningful places through thoughtful restoration and reuse.”
The hotel’s construction preserved key architectural elements
Opened in March 2026, the Imperial Hotel, Kyoto was created through careful preservation and adaptive reuse of portions of the Yasaka Kaikan, a beloved local landmark that faced increasing challenges from age, deterioration, and seismic concerns.
Rather than demolish it, Imperial Hotel chose to preserve key architectural elements of the historic structure, integrating them into the hotel’s design while safeguarding the building’s legacy for future generations.
Led by Obayashi Corporation, the same company that built the original structure nearly 90 years ago, the 55-room hotel blends contemporary luxury and time-honoured hospitality with architectural preservation, giving guests the chance to experience one of Kyoto’s most historic buildings while supporting its continued stewardship.
Each room is thoughtfully shaped by the building’s history and spatial orientation –offering guests not just accommodation, but a layered experience of Kyoto’s past and present.
Speaking during the hotel’s construction, Masahiro Inoue, executive manager of the Architectural Design Department at Obayashi Corporation, said: “Some parts retain their 88-year-old look, while others use 88-year-old preserved materials. The building blends aesthetic appeal with preserved memories. That was our top priority.”
Original building materials were restored
Among the project’s most significant achievements was preserving the building’s iconic southwestern façade, long recognised as a defining feature of Kyoto’s historic streetscape.
Original exterior tiles and terracotta ornamentation were carefully conserved and reinstalled, while portions of the original structural framework were retained. The building’s distinctive copper roof and decorative metalwork were also reconstructed using traditional techniques.
Additionally, more than 16,000 original exterior tiles were restored, many of which were removed and reinstalled using ikedori, a traditional Japanese conservation technique that allows historic materials to be salvaged and reused without damage.
Additional preservation efforts included restoring the building’s decorative terra-cotta reliefs featuring traditional floral motifs, as well as conserving historic interior details in the entrance vestibule, including original etched glass detailing dating to the building’s construction.
Carrying forward a historic legacy
Completed in 1936, the Yasaka Kaikan was originally built adjacent to the Gion Kobu Kaburenjo and served generations of Kyoto residents as a theatre, performance venue, cinema, dance hall, and gathering place.
Its architecture blends traditional Japanese design elements with early twentieth-century construction techniques, making it one of Kyoto’s most distinctive cultural landmarks.
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