Just as one can never tire of the ancient cultural city&rsquo;s sights and charms, I would stay at The Thousand Kyoto again in a heartbeat for its marvellous location, purposeful design and gastronomic delights.

Oftentimes, when it comes to overseas lodging, one has to either veer towards the convenience of being centrally located or prioritise aesthetics. Fortunately, I did not have to face this dilemma when making a short two-day stop in Kyoto &mdash; The Thousand Kyoto easily ticks both boxes. In fact, the property is situated right next to Kyoto Station, which is the major railway stop and transportation hub of the city. After disembarking from the Nozomi Shinkansen, which brought me from Tokyo, it took me a mere five minutes to walk to the hotel from the train platform. In terms of the quiet grandeur, arty ambience and tranquil visuals that one might expect from a hotel in the ancient cultural city of Kyoto, The Thousand Kyoto certainly delivers too.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Upon entering the premises, one leaves the hustle and bustle of the nearby Kyoto Station complex behind completely &mdash; a long corridor of precise wooden panels leads to a striking wind form exhibit featuring gently floating fabric, as well as the hotel&rsquo;s signature grand staircase, which is bathed in natural light in the day, and decorated with gently moving digital animations at night. Here, it didn&rsquo;t take me long to encounter Kyoto&rsquo;s beautiful red autumn leaves &mdash; the modern property&rsquo;s 602 square feet Garden Suite isn&rsquo;t just spacious and contemporary in its design and furnishings, but features its own large outdoor green terrace, which shifts in colour from season to season. A beautiful private space to contemplate and enjoy a cup of tea.

The Thousand Kyoto offers easy access to attractions like the neighbouring Kyoto Tower, Toji Temple and Kyoto Railway Museum too. Other places of interest that I chose to visit, such as Togetsukyō Bridge in the scenic area of Arashiyama, as well as the lesser known but stunning Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple and Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple were just 30 minutes away by taxi. With Kyoto Station positioned beside the hotel, it was a breeze for me to hop on the train or bus to Kyoto&rsquo;s most popular sights: the signature red gates of Fushimi Inari Shrine, the wonderful Golden Pavilion that is Kinkaku-ji, the vast Kiyomizu-dera Temple, and the iconic Yasaka Pagoda were each short rides away. With time saved from unnecessary travelling, I made it to the popular Gyoza Taizo for made-on-the-spot gyoza, and Panel Cafe for fluffy pancakes that melt in your mouth, with hours to spare.

Not that one needs to step out of The Thousand Kyoto for a good meal though. The property offers breakfast treats including Rice Flour Mochi Pancakes with maple syrup, and Monte Cristo Sandwich at its Italian restaurant Scalae. A delightful dinner experience awaits at the hotel&rsquo;s signature Japanese restaurant Kizahashi. I tried the Kaiseki Course with wine pairing, which included the dining establishment&rsquo;s signature soup of minced crab dumping and mushrooms; flounder, prawn and vegetable tempura; as well as Hassun, which featured a most delicious serving of persimmon and apple with tofu paste.

Beyond its unbeatable location and culinary surprises, constantly warm and friendly service truly set my stay here apart. Contemporary and refined in design, and full of zen and artful allure, The Thousand Kyoto will undoubtedly be front of mind when I plan a return to Kyoto.&nbsp;

Rates at The Thousand Kyoto, a member of Preferred Hotels &amp; Resorts' L.V.X. Collection, start from USD167 per room per night, based on two sharing. For more information, visit <a href="https://preferredhotels.com/">www.preferredhotels.com</a>. I Prefer members can earn points and enjoy benefits at The Thousand Kyoto and over 650 hotels in 80 countries when they join.

Countless Reasons to Settle into The Thousand Kyoto

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