Explera DMC Japan is following THE THOUSAND HIEI for small wellness groups in Kyoto in 2027. Keihan Hotels & Resorts is taking over L'Hotel de Hiei on Mount Hiei and reopening it in spring 2027 as a 33-room retreat built around the mountain's spring water, food as medicine, acupuncture and bathing.
It is the second hotel in the THE THOUSAND collection, after THE THOUSAND KYOTO by Kyoto Station. Keihan announced the project on 12 May 2026; the design company Suisei is working with Keihan on the concept and the guest programme.
What is THE THOUSAND HIEI?
- 33 rooms in the forest on Mount Hiei: 26 standard rooms and 7 suites and other larger rooms.
- Spring water at the centre of the stay. Keihan builds the retreat around a spring on the mountain that it calls Hiei no Reisui.
- A wellness programme, not just a spa menu. Keihan lists food-as-medicine cooking, acupuncture and bathing as the core experiences.
- A rebrand of an existing hotel. This is a new operator and a new concept for L'Hotel de Hiei, not a new site.
Keihan has given spring 2027 as the season for the grand opening, but not yet a date. We do not confirm a group here until the date is published.
Who should we send?
This is a place for a small group with a reason to slow down: an incentive for a senior team, a women's wellness tour, a yoga or meditation group, or a VIP add-on at the end of a busy Kyoto week. With 33 rooms it will not take a coach group, and it is not trying to.
Mount Hiei also carries its own meaning. Enryaku-ji, the head temple of the Tendai school, sits on the same mountain, and the views run east over Lake Biwa and west over Kyoto. A night up here puts a temple morning and a long view into the same programme, away from the crowds in central Kyoto.
How do groups reach Mount Hiei?
Most of our groups go up by coach on the mountain toll road, which is the simplest way with luggage. The cable car and ropeway from the Kyoto side and the Sakamoto cable car from the Lake Biwa side are a good experience for guests without bags, but their timetables change with the season, so we check them for the dates before we promise them.
For the rest of the programme, see our ryokan and onsen service and our Kyoto destination page. For related ideas, read our guides to Lake Biwa and Shiga, forest bathing and wellness in Japan and zen retreats and zazen.
Source: Keihan Holdings: THE THOUSAND HIEI release (12 May 2026, Japanese).
FAQ
When does THE THOUSAND HIEI open? Keihan Hotels & Resorts plans the grand opening for spring 2027. An exact date has not been published yet.
How many rooms does it have? It has 33 rooms: 26 standard rooms and 7 suites and other larger rooms.
What makes it different from a regular Kyoto hotel? It is a wellness retreat on Mount Hiei, built around the mountain's spring water, with food-as-medicine cooking, acupuncture and bathing as the core experiences.
Is it suitable for large groups? No. With 33 rooms it suits small groups, incentive winners and VIPs. Large groups stay in Kyoto and visit Mount Hiei on a day trip.
Planning a Kyoto wellness programme for 2027? Write to b2b@explera.jp, message the trade desk on WhatsApp at +66 93 656 8090, or register on the B2B portal. Proposals within 24 hours. IATA TIDS-registered (96215733), ASTA member 900408341.
