About the Kyoto State Guest House

The place that offers the finest hospitality where the best essence of Japanese traditional skills are integrated

Kyoto State Guest House was built in 2005 as facilities to welcome distinguished guests from all over the world with the warmest hospitality and allow them to deepen their understanding of, and cultivate friendly relations with, Japan in Kyoto, which symbolizes Japan's history and culture.
In order to make the structure harmonize with its historic landscape and surrounding natural environment, its external appearance draws on half-hipped roofs and the sukiya-style, a simple and austere style used in tea ceremony houses, creating a noble Japanese appearance.
Craftsmanship of a wide variety of traditional skills that represent Kyoto is applied to the building and furniture, including sukiya carpentry, plastering, landscape gardening, kirikane (metallic foil cut into strips or other shapes to form decorative motifs), Nishijin brocade and makie (lacquerwork) to name but a few.

Facility Overview

Location

23 Kyoto Gyoen, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto

Site Area

Approx. 20,140m²

Structure of the Main Building

Reinforced concrete; one above and one below ground

Total Floor Space

Approx. 16,000m²

History

1990

To commemorate the twelve-hundredth anniversary of the establishment of the ancient capital of Heian-kyo in 1994, the momentum toward building a Japanese-style guest house in Kyoto gained force.

October 1994

Cabinet approval obtained for "the construction of a guest house facility"
The government decided to build a state guest house within the Kyoto Gyoen National Garden.

March 2002

Construction of Kyoto State Guest House (main structure) started

February 2005

Construction completed

April 2005

Kyoto State Guest House opened

July 2016

Kyoto State Guest House's all-year public opening started

For those who wish to pay a visit

Japanese Governments Internet TV

• Kyoto State Guest House