Today's beer is from Kyoto, "Tokyu Harvest Club Kyoto Takamine & VIALA". I am embarking on a long-awaited 2-night Kyoto sightseeing trip. However, the weather is unfortunately rainy today. In fact, the TV is warning of disaster-level heavy rain at certain times. I was looking forward to enjoying the "kawadoko" dining experience after visiting Kifune Shrine, but it may be canceled. I will have to reconsider my sightseeing route. Nevertheless, I have been to various Tokyu Harvest hotels before, but this one might be the best. Located in the mountains on the outskirts of Kyoto, this hotel is built on a slope with two buildings stacked on top of each other. To reach the south building with the hot springs, there is a slope car (mini cable car). It's quite exciting and thrilling. Inside the hotel, there are foot baths, a library, and plenty of spaces to relax. The front desk in the main lobby is also very luxurious, with a spacious layout. The fact that this luxurious hotel is available for around 4,000 yen for corporate members is a super deal. After exploring the hotel, I will relax in the hot springs and sauna, and then toast with a beer purchased from the hotel shop. It's a moment of pure bliss.

We enjoyed visiting Katsura Imperial Villa and Shugakuin Imperial Villa in the morning, and for dinner we stayed at Harvest Takamine, a familiar resort with beautiful gardens. The owner's lounge offers self-service coffee, tea, orange juice, and apple juice. Our room had a private outdoor bath and was spacious and comfortable. We enjoyed tea with sweets before heading to the warm and relaxing hot spring. Overall, we had a great time exploring the area with cable cars, traditional Kyoto crafts and sweets shops, and enjoyed a mini getaway.

While listening to the soothing sound of the river, I enjoyed a delicious traditional Japanese meal. I also had the chance to watch a maiko dance and chat with her. She is 17 years old and from Tanegashima. The fatty tuna sashimi was particularly delicious.

I had Italian food at Ortevo in Tokyu Harvest. It is one of the few hotels where pets are allowed. The dishes such as fish and scallops, cutlassfish, spaghetti, and roasted Okutamba chicken were all delicate and elaborate, and my wife and I praised them. The food was even more delicious than expected. The atmosphere was nice, the service was polite, and we enjoyed a relaxing dinner. The breakfast the next morning was also good.

As expected. Dining out might be more enjoyable.

This resort is the best!

There are two breakfast venues available and reservations are not accepted. Since it was the beginning of autumn foliage, it was very crowded, so I chose the regular buffet over the slightly more upscale one to avoid waiting. The buffet offers a variety of Japanese dishes as well as bread. Options include rolled omelette, simmered fiddleheads, simmered hijiki seaweed, spinach, nikujaga (meat and potato stew), and more. There are plenty of vegetables to enjoy as well. I couldn't resist the homemade tofu and ended up taking too much... I skipped the rice and opted for a little bit of porridge instead. Everything was gently seasoned, so skipping the rice was not a problem! I decided to check out the lounge for the owners. Here, you can enjoy coffee and other beverages. You can travel between the North Tower and South Building using this gondola-like transportation.

I came on a trip with my cat. I chose the Italian three-year anniversary menu. I'm glad there is a pet room, but I'm still worried about leaving my cat alone in the room. I quickly enjoyed the delicious Italian cuisine. Despite the small portions, I savored the deliciousness. The chef's specialty, matsutake mushroom tempura with a sauce, lotus root dish, and well-prepared vegetables were all delicious. The bath water was smooth and felt very nice. It may not be enough for a foodie like me, but I guess that's expected for a high-end Italian restaurant. The doneness and tenderness of the main dish, Japanese beef, were excellent. The price was high, but it made for a great birthday celebration for my husband.

In Kyoto, there are many tourists looking for traditional Japanese cuisine, so I decided to try Italian food instead. The restaurant I chose had a high level of quality at a relatively low price. The atmosphere inside was elegant and there were families with children as well as regular elderly customers. The bread was delicious and the appetizers, made with Kyoto vegetables, were impressive. Although the dishes were not particularly surprising, the restaurant made sure not to disappoint diners looking for Italian cuisine in Kyoto. The full course meal was rich in variety and well-crafted, with a satisfying dessert like tiramisu. I opted for the cheaper set menu, which cost 7,000 yen for a dinner. Overall, it was a restaurant that did not disappoint in terms of quality and value for money.

I visited on a holiday night. It was my first time staying at Tokyu Harvest. I wanted to experience the difference from Excel, and although Excel has slightly better room quality, Harvest is still calming. The cost performance is not bad, so I may use it in the future. For dinner, I went to the Chinese restaurant Sakura Ran. I had a course with all-you-can-drink, but it was disappointing that things like french fries were served, which didn't really match the atmosphere. Sometimes the dishes we ordered didn't come out, but they brought them quickly when we asked. It's nice to be able to eat and drink on the terrace in the mountains of Kyoto. If you ever stay at Tokyu Harvest in Kyoto, definitely give it a try.

Stayed at Kyoto Takamine VIALA. The hotel is located right in front of the mountains and has a luxurious overall design. The entire property is spacious with lots of trees, creating a nice atmosphere. There is also a large garden. They have planted plenty of maple trees, keeping the autumn foliage in mind. The hot spring in the room is surrounded by a deep hinoki cypress scent when you close the blinds. It's a privilege of a new hotel as the scent quickly disappears if not maintained. The breakfast buffet costs a little over 2000 yen. Being a Tokyu Harvest hotel, the food is decent. It's quite tasty. However, there was no service for made-to-order omelets. They offer a variety of pickles, which taste authentic, perhaps reflecting the location of Kyoto. Apologies for only having one photo of the meal.

Kyoto Takamine, Shozan Resort Kyoto Located within the Tokyu Harvest Club Kyoto Takamine, a members-only resort hotel with a chic traditional Japanese atmosphere where you can relax and unwind. The food is decently tasty but a bit on the expensive side. ----- Visit in May 2015 On this day, I had some business in Kyoto. As a side trip, I visited the newly opened Tokyu Harvest Club Kyoto Takamine. Beyond the Golden Pavilion, further north in a residential area with narrow old-fashioned streets, the hotel's exterior suddenly appears. It is part of the Shozan Resort, but it seems that you enter the hotel from this side. Despite the surroundings, once inside, it has a quite calming atmosphere. While the front faces a residential area, the back overlooks the mountains and the Shozan Resort garden, creating a relaxed ambiance. The hotel interior, unified in a bright traditional Japanese style, is lovely. To reach the accommodation from the lobby, you take a kind of simple gondola-like ride. It's nice at first, but you might get bored after a while. After a relaxing bath, I had a reservation for dinner at Ristorante ORTIVO. We started with a toast of champagne and then began our meal. The dishes included prosciutto with melon, lobster and seared bonito, a warm dish of turban shell, abalone, and scallop, spaghetti with salted hair crab and white asparagus, roasted Imari beef with seasonal vegetables, and a special dessert selection. The pasta was delicious, and the Imari beef was incredibly tender and juicy. The breakfast, served in the same venue, offered a choice of egg dishes and a main plate of freshly grilled items. The buffet included bread, salad, fruits, and soup. Overall, it was a satisfying stay at a hotel where I could truly relax. Thank you for the wonderful experience.

I visited Ristorante Ortivo located in Tokyu Harvest Kyoto Takamine & VILA, a members-only resort hotel where some areas allow pets to stay. The restaurant itself does not allow pets. The place exudes luxury and cleanliness, making it a great choice for those who want to travel with their pets but have reservations about staying in a pet-friendly hotel. I tried the Teppanyaki course content (Bliss) for 10,800 yen, which features local vegetables and Kyoto beef. The standout for me was the deliciousness of the Kyoto vegetables, particularly those from Higuchi Farm. The sweet and delicious flavor of the sweet potatoes left me in awe. I also had a great time chatting with the chef about the vegetables. Overall, I was very satisfied with the marinated lobster, meat, and dessert. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

A resort hotel located at the foot of Takagamine in northern Kyoto. With a spacious garden, natural hot springs, restaurant, spa, and more, you can relax and unwind in comfort.

Continuing from last year, my second visit to Tokyu Harvest Takamine was amazing. Breakfast, of course, was a buffet. We lined up before the opening at 7:05 in the morning. There were three groups ahead of us, all looking determined. We were seated at a nice spot with a view of greenery and headed straight to the food area. The introduction of various Kyoto restaurants with side dishes was fantastic. The red rice and porridge were exquisite. The morning curry had a rich flavor. The bread from Shinshindo was great. The cold soup was incredibly tasty. Desserts like melon and watermelon were fantastic. The iced coffee and vegetable juice were delicious. My stomach and heart were full. To be honest, it's my favorite buffet. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.