A RAREFIED BLEND

A first visit to Kyoto with Hibiki becomes an exploration of Japanese artistry through ritual and craftsmanship.

- Words: JOSEPH LOW

Before this trip, I had never been to Japan. By Singaporean standards, that felt unusually late. I had long heard friends share tales of Tokyo's pace, Hokkaido's winters or Osaka's food culture, but Kyoto had always existed somewhere more distant in my imagination: quieter, slower and slightly harder to define.

I arrived in the former Japanese capital in April with Hibiki, the Japanese whisky brand by The House of Suntory. The drive from Kansai International Airport unfolded beneath grey skies. Along the way, wooden shrines stood beside brick homes and glass towers. Nothing felt overly polished or staged, yet somehow seemed familiar, perhaps because of the anime that I had watched during my teens. The city revealed itself gradually.

For the next four nights, guests on this trip stayed at Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto. Entry begins through the Kajiimiya Gate, an imposing wooden structure with more than 300 years of history tied to the Mitsui family. Passing through the gate, we followed a narrow bamboo-lined path that opened into the lobby. Designed by Hong Kong-based architect André Fu in 2020, the hotel balances contemporary restraint with traditional details, from the soft glow of shoji lanterns around the reception area to the presence of staff dressed in kimono. In that moment, it felt as though we had stepped into a different rhythm — one that moved with greater calm and intention. Beyond the reception sat a quiet courtyard garden anchored by a cherry blossom tree still holding onto a few pale blooms. Some petals had drifted into the water. Nothing about it demanded attention, yet everyone paused to look.

That restraint would become a recurring theme throughout the trip.

PAUSES WITH INTENTION