Mume

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Mume

Style: Modern Design

Atmosphere: Lively

7 Rooms

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The conventional wisdom would have it that Kyoto is the center of all things traditional in Japan, the classic counterpart to hypermodern Tokyo. And in large part the hotels do tend to follow suit — the postcard image of a Kyoto hotel would be a traditional tatami-style inn. So a hotel like the Mume can’t help but stand out.

From the outside it’s clear this is something out of the ordinary — one look at the narrow four-story facade establishes that. Packed in what looks scarcely larger than a townhouse are seven rooms in four different styles, all of which somewhat defy categorization. Though chock full of period references and antique-style furniture, they’re far too vibrant and graphic to be considered traditional. And yet in spite of the bold prints and the sleek modern bathrooms, they’re equally as far from the stereotypical contemporary design hotel.

In the end the point of the Mume is not that it’s up-to-date, or old-fashioned, or any combination of the two. It’s a highly individualized experience, a hotel with a strong personality, one that defies the stereotypes about Kyoto. That’s not to say you won’t still see plenty of this lovely city, though — the Flower Suite, in particular, is ideally placed, with views of the river and the mountains from its balcony.