Potel connects guests and locals, helping them discover hidden Kyoto

Even though it is located in the tourist destination of Kyoto, the time flows slowly here. We discovered a unique facility where both travelers and locals are engrossed with local charm. Their Fermentation Factory and nostalgic bathhouse are great features to reflect the concept. While rooted in the local community, this facility, which has a hotel, aims to be a gateway for interaction between people from both domestic and international backgrounds.

Umekoji Potel Kyoto (below Potel) took over the unused land for a railway yard that was owned by JR and built the facility in a not-so-touristy area of the city. In fact, though very near Kyoto Station, the hotel sits on the edge of Umekoji Park, a destination popular with local families and nature lovers, especially for its large playground, open fields, Japanese garden, walking paths, cafes and even a beautiful aquarium. The park is also situated next to the popular Kyoto Railway Museum. So this area, though often frequented by locals, may not have been a common destination for foreign tourists before.

Since Potel’s opening in 2021, it has aimed to tackle the city’s over-tourism issue from its own perspective while providing original experiences for its guests. The Zenbird editorial team stayed at Potel to explore its offerings.

What sets apart Potel from many hotels in Kyoto?

The concept of Potel is derived from the idea of it being a place, like a port where ships come and go, where valuable encounters occur. It connects these encounters to create what they have called a “circle of destiny,” emphasizing the hotel’s unique significance.

Staying at Potel allows you to effortlessly discover new books, maps, music, food, traditions and people, as it is designed to facilitate such encounters. Though I grew up in Kyoto, I found myself discovering new and old attractions in the ancient city as well as in Japan more broadly during my stay.

Aeru rooms wow guests with one-of-a-kind stay experience

Potel offers a diverse range of hotel rooms, allowing guests to select based on their mood or purpose of stay. For instance, the Western-style rooms facing Umekoji Park with a terrace provide an excellent opportunity to establish a strong connection with the expansive green park. Here, the guests can feel a sense of brightness and openness. However, I should note that rooms deserving special attention are referred to as the “aeru room,” named after the Japanese term meaning to “blend” the wisdom of our predecessors with our current perceptions.

Potel works with its partner “aeru,” a brand producing original daily necessity products that feature traditional craftsmanship, to design these “aeru rooms.” They allow you to experience the traditions passed down in the region through five senses. Unraveling the history and culture of the area, they decorate and continuously update rooms within hotels or ryokan in collaboration with local artisans. Potel is one of the few lodging facilities in Japan offering such a stay. They created rooms where you can encounter and directly experience the origin of fine craftsmanship that has thrived in Kyoto for centuries.

For generations, materials have been sourced from numerous regions across Japan, giving rise to a diverse range of traditional industrial products. While the spotlight often shines on the finished goods, their success is ultimately a testament to the array of raw materials from throughout the country that contribute richly to the beautiful products featured in the hotel.

Kyoto materials and artisans featured in guest rooms

Potel’s aeru rooms are named SILK, FOIL, WOOD and BAMBOO after each traditional craft or material original to Kyoto. SILK – Tango Chirimen Room features the Tango region known as “Kyoto by the sea,” located in the northern part of Kyoto. This room is adorned with panels created using the traditional Tango chirimen tie-dye technique, which has been nurtured for generations in Tango. It also incorporates tools and craftsmanship specific to the area. The peaceful appearance of Tango blue paint in the afternoon sunlight and the softness of the traditional horsetail paintbrush on your fingertips are additional benefits for those staying in this room.

Fermentation Factory offers visitor-friendly workshops

On the first floor, in front of the sento bathhouse, Umekoji Fermentation Factory is situated for anyone to stop by. They manufacture their own koji for the products they sell. This is a rare place to explore Japanese traditional food and culture, koji and fermentation. The factory aims to share one of the most renowned Japanese sustainable forms of wisdom through the five senses.

The factory offers koji-making workshops varied in length, price and experience. The workshops take place in the “koji room,” a pleasant glass-enclosed space, so those not attending can still observe the process. One workshop takes three days to make koji, which comes with tastings of Kyoto vegetables and sake (reservations required). Another workshop is a walk-in style where participants make their original koji seasonings in a short period of time.

A casual bar inside the factory also attracts visitors to savor local drinks such as amazake, sake and wine…on swings! They installed the swing chairs to maximize the space. They don’t need to push the chairs under the table either. (Not surprisingly, many children love the swings and gently sway in them while adults enjoy shopping or tastings.)

The shop showcases original fermentation-related items which many take home as souvenirs. I tried their koji bath additive from the shop at home. Simply wrapped in a cloth, white color essence from natural koji spreads in the hot bath water as you rub the cloth pouch. It has no scent, yet Koji is said to be effective for smooth skin, making it certainly worth a try.

Hotel to connect community and visitors

Potel has deliberately created the traditional-style public bathhouse (“sento” in Japanese) on the property. It serves as a relaxing space where you can unwind, connecting those staying at the hotel with the local community. You can engage in conversations with people you meet amidst the steam and unwind after a long day in the bath.

Additionally, they have prepared exclusive spaces for staying guests, called “Awai-no-Ma.” There are various activities in theme-based spaces with books, board games, records and more.

On the third floor, at the game space, you may completely lose track of time. From children to adults, and sometimes even overcoming language barriers, you can enjoy delightful moments of play with players you meet for the first time.

The hotel offers its original map “Pomap” with the theme “Inviting You to Unseen Kyoto.” You can explore all six sample areas and pick up the Pomap of your choice at the front desk. Moreover, at Moku, a lounge space on the fifth floor, guests create Pomaps with other guests by adding their favorite places on the maps.

Potel as a new Kyoto destination

Potel’s intended mix of staff’s heartful hospitality and omission of some typical hotel services can take some visitors by surprise. They want you to make yourself at home, slowing down, to spend time. Instead of drinking out of plastic bottles in the room as we are accustomed to, the hotel guests make trips to refill water or to self-serve welcome drinks from the shared area on the floor. They welcome the challenge of replacing oft-overlooked convenience with thoughtful design that can last longer and leave a deeper, more fulfilling impression.

Some guests may perceive this shift as a bit of an inconvenience, but the point is worth communicating with our younger generations. They are also planning workshops for children such as upcycling projects to teach them about resources and repair in the near future.

Potel feels like a community space where you can spend leisurely moments and would want to return again and again. At the same time, it strives to be a place that serves as a gateway to discovering the hidden side of Kyoto, challenging conventional tourism. They will welcome you with inspiring ideas and unexpected experiences, so you might want to add Potel to the itinerary for your next Kyoto trip.