Stay For Good
Travel with purpose. Connect with the living culture of a city shaped by over a thousand years of history, tradition and artistry — and help carry its heritage forward.
NINNAJI LEGACY EXPERIENCE
In partnership with Ninnaji — an Imperial temple founded in 888 and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site — Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto presents an immersive programme that goes beyond sightseeing. Walk through spaces normally closed to the public, encounter centuries-old Buddhist sculptures and wall paintings up close, and engage in hands-on cultural practice under the guidance of master artisans.
A portion of the programme fee is dedicated to the restoration and preservation of Ninnaji's cultural properties, ensuring that your experience contributes directly to safeguarding Kyoto's heritage for generations to come.
- Advance reservation required (request-based)
- Duration: Approximately 4 hours
- Round-trip transportation between the hotel and Ninnaji included
- Reservations must be made at least 7 days prior to the desired date
- Advance payment by credit card after reservation confirmation; non-refundable
- Availability may be limited during temple ceremonies, festivals, Obon and year-end/New Year periods. Please provide multiple preferred dates.
Pricing:
2–5 guests: ¥125,000 per person (tax included)
6–10 guests: ¥105,000 per person (tax included)
Please contact us for details.
PRIVATE TEMPLE ACCESS
Step beyond the public gaze into spaces that have remained unchanged for centuries. Accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, explore areas of Ninnaji usually closed to visitors — encountering Buddhist statues, wall paintings and cultural treasures that have been devotedly safeguarded through the ages.
Standing quietly before these works is to feel the weight of time — and the care of countless hands that have preserved them.
BUDDHIST SCULPTURE PAINTING WORKSHOP
Under the guidance of a Buddhist sculptor, try your hand at painting a traditional statue — a contemplative art form passed down through generations. Feel the precision required of each brushstroke as you bring colour and expression to a sacred figure, gaining an intimate understanding of the devotion and skill embedded in Japan's spiritual heritage.
Each finished work is uniquely your own — a lasting memento of an art that connects past and present.
A TEMPLE THROUGH THE SEASONS
Cherry blossoms in spring. Vivid greenery in early summer. Crimson foliage in autumn. A hush of snow in winter.
Ninnaji reveals a different face with every season. As part of the programme, guests are invited to experience the beauty that each visit brings — a reminder that Kyoto's cultural landscape is not a museum piece, but a living, evolving presence best appreciated in the moment.
