Heading to Kyoto, Japan?  Make sure to check out the Hotel Screen as they’ve got some real funky design/traditional Japanese setup to refreshen your travel stays.  (Just opened January 2008)

A striking example of modern Japanese design, Kyoto’s Screen Hotel is steps away from both the ancient temples of Termachi-dori (literally, “temple down street”) and the shops and bustling nightlife of the Sanjo and Shijo districts. Fascinating history, chic clothing and exciting cocktails are all within easy reach; there’s something, as the saying goes, for everyone.

The same can be said of Screen’s accommodations. Each of the hotel’s 13 guest rooms was individually conceived by a different artist or designer, so that no two guests will have the same experience on any given night. For those in search of a wistful dreamland, Sam Liu’s Softroom is the perfect choice; those seeking a more modern aesthetic will love Hikaru Katai’s dramatic Petit Prince Room for its monochromatic minimalism. Hotel facilities include a banquet hall, spa, chapel, open-air sky lounge and select shop, which sells, amongst other things, traditional Kyoto goods made by local craft artists as well as the Screen’s “soundtrack,” a specially-produced, hotel-inspired compilation album. At the ground-floor restaurant, guests can enjoy Kyoto nouvelle cuisine, a fusion of new French cooking and traditional Kyoto gastronomy, made with fresh, organic ingredients from local growers. And once a week, they can relax at “Candle Night” in the lounge, part of Screen’s energy-saving eco-luxe concept of respecting the environment without forsaking comfort.