enso ango, kyoto‘s first dispersed hotel, connects travelers with the city’s daily life and authentic culture through its five distinct properties, scattered in five different locations. with a name and core philosophy rooted in zen, the hotel has been spread across several sites in order to adapt to the existing cityscape and coexist harmoniously with the local environment, instead of demolishing buildings to make space for one large premise. following designboom’s initial preview of enso ango (see previous coverage here), we recently traveled to kyoto to experience the hotel and its workshops first hand.
the entrance to the hotel’s fuya I property, which has been built on a site that previously housed a kyoto machiya
all exterior images by satoshi asakawa, all interior images by tomooki kengaku, unless stated otherwise
developed under the direction of uchida design inc, enso ango comprises five buildings, each with its own particular style, features, and functions, and all located within walking distance of each other in the central neighborhoods of kyoto. the properties are uniquely designed and feature works of artists from japan and abroad, while guests are encouraged to tour around all buildings to enjoy them and experience the innovative hotel concept to the fullest. besides visiting all the properties of the hotel, guests can also enjoy the various temples, ateliers, shops, and traditional townhouses located around the neighborhood, offering them an opportunity to interact with the local community and discover the city beyond its mainstream touristic attractions.
the terrace at the tomi II property
as kyoto’s first dispersed hotel, enso ango comprises five different buildings, among which guests can choose their accommodation: fuya I, built on a site that previously housed a kyoto machiya; fuya II, equipped with a tea room designed by the late shigeru uchida, as well as a meditation and event space, and a gym; tomi I, which is developed around the theme of communication and dining with a guest kitchen that families or groups can use for parties or gatherings; tomi II, which houses enso ango‘s only restaurant serving breakfast and dinner under japanese umbrella-inspired light shades; and yamato, the hotel’s smallest building, located in the bustling gion, kyoto’s geisha district. the five properties are located within walking distance of each other, while the hotel also offers a tour, which covers all the fascinating features of each building.
natural light enters the terrace through the open roof
another special feature that sets enso ango apart from other hotels is its connection to local artisans and experts, who offer hotel guests lectures and workshops on various techniques, such as kyoto-style kimono hand-dying, japanese tea ceremony, and obanzai cooking. furthermore, experiences offered include zen meditation by the acclaimed zen priest from the ryosokuin, kenninnji temple, one of the oldest temples in the city; morning and night yoga; as well as a kimono experience, where participants can dress in traditional japanese garments and stroll around the streets of kyoto. offering a more unique, profound experience than sightseeing, the hotel puts emphasis on preserving japanese traditions and culture, while revitalizing the local community and economy, since all its programs are offered by neighbors of the five properties.
a large tree grows in the middle of the tomi II terrace 
entrance at fuya II
zen meditation experience 
fuya II embodies the heart of japanese culture with a tea room designed by the late shigeru uchida
image © designboom 
image © designboom 
enso ango’s name and core philosophy are rooted in zen 
bar at tomi II
the lounge at tomi II provides a place to connect with a diversity of interesting people 
lamp detail at the lounge
the restaurant at tomi II features hanging japanese umbrella-inspired lighting 
the fuya II lounge overlooks an interior courtyard 
superior queen bedroom at tomi II 
superior king bedroom at tomi I 
bunk beds at the yamato building
ikebana workshop
during the kyo-yuzen or kyoto-style hand-dyed kimono experience
the instructor, who can work on a whole process of hand-dyeing yuzen that is unusual for kyo-yuzen, guides this program
participants at the kyo-yuzen experience make a table mat which they can keep as a souvenir
image © designboom 
japanese book making workshop
image © designboom 
participants have the chance to create their own design using different fabrics
image © designboom 
image © designboom
tools used for tatami making
nihon buyo japanese traditional dance 
buddhist rosary shop for workshop
project info:
name: enso ango
direction: uchida design inc.(kiyoshi hasebe)
architecture, interior & furniture design: uchida design inc. (rumi inagaki + shuichi narikawa)
local building design: akihiko soeda (soeda akihiko design office)
collaborators & featured creators: masanobu ando (fuya I), uchida design institute (fuya II), katsuhiko hibino (tomi I), atelier oï (tomi II), naoki terada (yamato I)
uniform design: akiko ando
branding vi design: philippe galowich
construction: daiangumi co., ltd.
total number of rooms: 229 guest rooms
location: 187 ebisuyacho, takatsuji-sagaru, tominokoji-dori, shimogyo-ku, kyoto 600-8062 japan
sofia lekka angelopoulou I designboom
nov 20, 2019
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