KYOTO, Japan – November 10, 2026 – Keihan Hotels & Resorts Co., Ltd. announced today that reservations have opened for ‘THE THOUSAND HIEI ── Mui no Okuyama,’ a 33-room wellness retreat set to open on Mount Hiei on March 31, 2027. Located on the sacred mountain home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Enryaku-ji Temple, the new property introduces a restorative hospitality concept grounded in Eastern philosophy and the region’s 1,200-year history of healing practices. Buddhist monk Saicho brought continental healing knowledge to Mount Hiei alongside Buddhism, and Yakushi Nyorai, the Medicine Buddha, has long been enshrined there.
Official Website: https://www.keihanhotels-resorts.co.jp/the-thousand-hiei/en
The retreat’s conceptual framework centers on the Buddhist meditation principle of SHIKAN — calming the mind (shi) and observing things as they are (kan). With SUISEI Inc. contributing to the property’s core concept, THE THOUSAND HIEI welcomes guests aged 13 and older to ensure an atmosphere of quiet reflection. Guest rooms intentionally omit televisions and multimedia screens, directing attention toward the surrounding natural landscape. The 33 rooms comprise Superior and Deluxe rooms, Premier rooms, and suites. All rooms feature Shigaraki-ware ceramic bathtubs, while all suites include private tea rooms.
A central feature of the retreat is its collaboration with Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. At the on-site Chigusa Laboratory, guests can formulate their own botanical bath blends (yōjō-yu) using traditional medicinal herbs for in-room use. At the adjacent Chaseki (tea space), guests can enjoy original herbal teas prepared with a variety of herbs and traditional Japanese and Asian botanicals, engaging the five senses through their aromas and flavors.
The property also features:
● Mui no Okuyama HO-MA: Named after a traditional Buddhist fire ritual, the restaurant emphasizes mindful eating (shoku-yōjō) through wood-fired cooking, fermentation techniques, and local ingredients from Kyoto and Shiga. The restaurant operates under the supervision of Chef Ken Sakamoto of Michelin-starred cenci.
● Mizuno-niwa (Garden of Water): An open-air water terrace overlooking Lake Biwa, where guests can experience Hie no Reisui, exceptionally soft water.
● Wellness & Contemplation Facilities: The property offers acupuncture and moxibustion, oil treatment, a thermal stone bed stone bed (Ondō), a darkness retreat designed to block out light and sound (Andō), a wellbeing sanctuary (Shodō), and Hie Yakushudo, a bar serving herbal liqueurs and craft spirits.
Reservations for THE THOUSAND HIEI are now available via the official website.
About Keihan Hotels & Resorts Co., Ltd.
Keihan Hotels & Resorts operates its flagship hotel, THE THOUSAND KYOTO, as well as Biwako Hotel and Nidec Kyoto Tower, promoting sustainable hospitality and contributing to the development of local communities.
