The author received a complimentary upgrade and dinner for 2 during their stay from ROKU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts. All opinions are the author’s own, and neither ROKU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts, nor its parent company had input in any part of this article.
My wife and I stayed at ROKU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts, in May 2026 and enjoyed our time there. The resort is steeped in cultural history and set in one of the most serene areas in Kyoto, Japan. With beautifully designed rooms, excellent staff and service, delicious dining options, and a peaceful mountain setting, there was plenty to love. Here’s a look at some of the highlights of my stay.
1. The Property Is a Great Hilton Award Redemption
During our 4-night stay at ROKU KYOTO, base-level rooms were about $1,000 per night, and our full stay would have cost about $4,100 had we paid cash.
Award nights were 140,000 Hilton Honors points per night, proving good redemption value. We booked using a combination of 2 Hilton free night awards and 280,000 points, yielding a redemption valuation of 0.73 cents per point and about $1,000 per free night award. That’s higher than Upgraded Points’ valuation of 0.5 cents per Hilton Honors point.
We each earned a free night award from spending on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, which offers a free night after you spend $15,000 on the card annually. Free night awards can be used at most Hilton properties worldwide for standard award availability regardless of the point price.
Hilton Honors is a transfer partner at a 1:2 ratio with the Amex Membership Rewards program and at a 1:1 ratio with Bilt Rewards. When you use points for 4 nights, you’ll get your fifth night free, though this doesn’t apply to bookings where you use a combination of points and free night awards.
2. The Location Has Tradeoffs
ROKU KYOTO is in the Takagamine mountain foothills in northern Kyoto, along the banks of the Tenjin River. It takes roughly 25 to 30 minutes to reach the property by car from Kyoto Station and the city center.
Staying a car ride away from Kyoto’s top tourist destinations, including Fushimi Inari and Kiyomizu-dera, required more travel time and taxi fares.
What we lost in convenience, we gained in seclusion and serenity. With rolling cedar-covered mountains, the sound of the Tenjin River running through the grounds, and quieter grounds than central Kyoto, ROKU KYOTO felt like a relaxing retreat after long days of exploring the city. It is still close to several tourist attractions, including Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion).
3. Our Onsen Garden Room Was Beautiful and Spacious
Our guestroom offered quiet sophistication typical of Japanese minimalist design. It had a calming, neutral palette, floor-to-ceiling windows framing the mountains, solid wood accents, wooden lattice partitions, a handcrafted ceramic tea set, a large walk-in shower, and, of course, a Japanese toilet.
I received a complimentary upgrade to the Onsen Garden Room King, which may be worth choosing over a suite. This room upped the ante on relaxation with a private onsen carved from beautiful black stone and opening onto a private Japanese-style garden. Having a hot soak in a private onsen after 30,000 steps a day exploring Kyoto felt like heaven.
4. It Featured One of My Favorite Hotel Breakfasts
ROKU KYOTO’s on-site restaurant, Tenjin, is named after the river that flows through the property. It’s beautifully designed and partitioned into 3 concepts: the chef’s table (featuring French-Japanese seasonal menus), all-day dining, and a bar area with an outdoor riverside terrace.
Breakfast at Tenjin each morning was a highlight of our stay. It’s a half-buffet, so we could choose a cooked-to-order signature hot dish, such as an omelet or a bowl of udon, and pair it with a buffet spread filled with local salads, pastries, fresh juices, artisanal cheeses, Kyoto-style curry bread, miso soup, rice, salmon, mackerel, and more.
5. The Design Was Artful
ROKU KYOTO exuded understated elegance. Clearly, plenty of thought went into the atmosphere. We were greeted with natural wood pillars, stone, soft lighting, expansive reflection ponds, floor-to-ceiling windows, and elegant architectural lines. The space felt warm and calming, seamlessly blending the property with the surrounding nature.
There seemed to be an intention to encourage guests to slow down, and it worked on me. One of the best parts of our stay was enjoying slow mornings, simply walking around the grounds, usually after breakfast, and taking in the tranquil landscapes.
6. Amenities Boosted Relaxation
One of the standout amenities of ROKU KYOTO is its geothermal pool, which draws hot spring water directly from natural sources on the property and is the only year-round outdoor thermal onsen pool in all of Kyoto.
Beyond that, the property includes the intimate Roku Spa, with 3 forest-inspired treatment rooms and a signature Tenjingawa stone massage performed with stones sourced from the nearby river, as well as a fitness center.
The hotel also offers cultural workshops in traditional washi papermaking and ceramics, along with staff-led meditation walks through the surrounding Japanese gardens, for guests who want a more hands-on connection to the area’s history.
Final Thoughts
ROKU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts, delivered a luxurious stay in Kyoto, where we experienced an elegant, relaxing side of Japan. While its secluded northern location meant we had to rely on taxis or buses to explore some of Kyoto’s top sights, the combination of beautiful design, spacious rooms, Hilton Honors benefits, delicious breakfasts, and serenity made for an excellent stay.