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.

Tags: ancient temples, banquet hall, chic clothing, compilation album, craft artists, french cooking, gallery hotel, japanese design, kyoto japan, minimalism, nouvelle cuisine, organic ingredients, petit prince, sam liu, sanjo, select shop, shijo, sky lounge, softroom, striking example

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 at 9:30 pm and is filed under Hotels, Travel Asia, Travel Info.