The Good Nature Hotel, Kyoto
- Jan 2
- 4 min read
An introduction to the Good Nature Hotel, one of the best design hotels in Kyoto
Overview
The Good Nature Hotel Kyoto has become one of the most popular hotels in Kyoto. It's a high-end lifestyle hotel that offers amazing value-for-money, it feels luxurious without the associated price tag. It's part of the larger Good Nature Station complex, a hub dedicated to healthy living, healthy food, and aesthetic design. The hotel’s philosophy revolves around "Good Nature" — connecting guests to the environment and their own well-being without sacrificing comfort.
It's the world’s first hotel to be Gold-certified by the WELL Building Standard, awarded for its health and wellness focused building design. It's also a pioneer for sustainable hotels in Japan, and is powered by 100% renewable energy.
In This Article
1.
Key Highlights
Location
Really convenient location in Kyoto's downtown area, within walking distance to notable attractions, restaurants, and train stations.
Circadian Lighting
Every room is equipped with a circadian lighting system that mimics the sun’s natural cycle. The light shifts from energizing blue-white tones in the morning, to warm, sleep-inducing ambers in the evening to help regulate your biological clock.
Integrated Complex
The hotel sits above an organic market, restaurants, and shops all sharing the "Good Nature" philosophy.
Michelin Star Restaurants
The hotel features several incredible restaurants, plus a patisserie and cafe. Two of the restaurants stand out for being awarded Michelin stars.
WELL Gold Certification
Verified high standards for air quality, water, lighting, and comfort. This certification proves the hotel has high standards for the well-being of its guests.
Sustainability Commitment
A robust "no disposable plastics" policy, healthy organic amenities, and the entire hotel runs on 100% renewable energy.
Wellness Features
Exclusive access to morning yoga, guided walking tours, and meditation sessions. Some rooms even come with their own sauna and cold bath.
Organic Toiletries
Instead of generic soaps, the rooms feature Nemohamo, the hotel’s own organic brand. These products are made from whole-plant extracts, such as ginseng and lavender, designed to be as kind to the skin as they are to the environment.
Price Range
$300 - $1000 per night
2.
Location
The Gion summer festival in downtown Kyoto. Image: Ollie Ronin
The Good Nature Hotel is located in the central downtown area of Kyoto. It's perfect if you want to be within walking distance to a wide range of restaurants, shops, attractions, and train stations. It's an ideal base and makes it easy to relax while spending a few days exploring Kyoto.
Gion & Pontocho Alley
A 5-10 minute walk to atmospheric alleyways and the historic geisha district.
Nishiki Market
Only a 6-minute walk.
Higashiyama Temples
Only a 15-minute walk to the historical streets of Higashiyama, famous for the Kiyomizudera Temple.
Kawaramachi Station - Arashiyama & Osaka
2-minute walk.
Gion-Shijo Station - Fushimi Inari & Osaka
7-minute walk.
3.
Rooms
The rooms are beautifully designed with natural materials, including wood flooring and organic cotton towels, with a focus on natural light and tranquility. All rooms feature a patented Circadian Lighting System designed to promote better sleep and help you wake up peacefully.
There area wide range of different rooms to cater to all types of visitors, such as couples, families, and solo travellers. Many of the rooms feature a private terrace, garden views, or attached kitchens. They also have three dedicated concept rooms. There's a meditation room with its own yoga and meditation space, a greenery room filled with plants, and my personal favourite, a sauna room with a cold bath and chill space.
4.
Restaurants
Dining within the Good Nature Station complex is its own unique experience. It's not just about healthy and sustainable food — they focus on incredible flavour, innovative cuisine, and providing it all in a visually pleasing environment. There are a total of 10 venues in the complex. Here are some of the highlights:
Erutan
All-day dining serving Italian-inspired cuisine. The breakfast buffet is especially popular.
Hyssop
A relaxed restaurant/bar with a garden terrace, focusing on vegan and herbal dishes, using vegetables and medicinal herbs.
Fine Dining
The two amazing Michelin-listed options are Velrosier (2 stars) for innovative Chinese cuisine, and Takayama (1 star) for creative Mediterranean dishes.
RAU Patisserie & Chocolate
Sophisticated pastries and bean-to-bar chocolate.
5.
Customer Reviews
I know how important real customer reviews are, so I've selected three descriptive reviews that have been verified on Booking.com. With such a high average review score, you can rest assured you won't be disappointed.
Average Review Score
9.2 ★ (2500+ reviews)
Reviews
"A unique hotel stay that puts wellness first. Loved the styling and the location. There are great fashion, homewares, cosmetic and food shops located within the building. The beds are super comfortable and having a kitchenette gave the room a lot more space. Incredible quality shampoo & conditioner in the bathroom."
"The location is excellent, offering easy access to any attraction you want to visit. The surrounding area boasts fantastic dining, entertainment, and shopping options. The staff are incredibly friendly, and the central rooftop garden is truly stunning."
"The hotel was beautiful! Every little detail was so thoughtful. Our rooms were perfect for our family. We loved the little touches, clean pajamas daily, fresh tea and coffee, and the welcome treats! The market and restaurants were convenient and the location was perfect. A 2 min walk to the subway, surrounded by shops and dining, and minute walks to markets, cafes, and more. This was a true gem!"
6.
Closing Comments
The Good Nature Hotel offers a refreshing change in a saturated industry, especially for those focused on optimizing their health, even while they're travelling. It's also perfect for vegan and vegetarian travellers, who often find Japan's cuisine to be a bit of a challenge. Its success and popularity are a clear signal that we're now seeking out more unique experiences from our hotels. If you're looking for a lifestyle hotel with a focus on health, wellness, and sustainability, then the Good Nature is one of the best in Japan.
