Asian wellness-focused luxury hotel company Banyan Tree has made its Japan debut with a collection of new and existing brands, including the world-wide launch of Garrya. Described as a collection of “modern, minimalist havens in emerging destinations for sophisticated travellers seeking spaces to recharge”, Garrya was unveiled last year with plans for three inaugural properties: one in Kyoto and two in China.
Set amid peaceful lawns adjacent to Kyoto’s iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site, Garrya Nijo Castle Kyoto is home to just 25 rooms and suites with private terraces overlooking bamboo groves and the castle walls. Built in 1603 as the residence for the first shogun of the Edo Period, Nijo Castle is a sprawling complex of palaces and gardens woven with tree-lined walking trails and picturesque corners.
Two upcoming Banyan Tree-branded resorts in Kyoto and Hakone are due to open in 2024 and 2026 respectively, blending local culture and sensibilities with the brand’s own signature style and service. Located on a hilltop in the Gion geisha district, Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto promises 52 luxurious rooms and suites affording spectacular views of the city, and will be the first luxury hotel in Kyoto with its own Noh stage for traditional performances. Banyan Tree Ashinoko Hakone will tap into the area’s fabled hot springs in an area next to Lake Ashino, affording jaw-dropping views of Mount Fuji.
Banyan Tree’s lifestyle brand Dhawa made its debut in June with Dhawa Yura Kyoto, and millennial-focused hotel-cum- serviced apartment brand Cassia has signed a management agreement for a new-build property in Japan’s leading ski resort, Niseko, set to open in 2025, with 50 guestrooms and 113 residences.
