Yeongwol, Boeun and Naju regeneration sites still seek solutions
Seibu Prince Hotels Worldwide achieves successful upgrade
Former elementary school becomes The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu
Ace Hotel Kyoto, built in old telephone exchange, wins global praise
A former elementary school annex in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, has been reimagined as a geo-museum spreading the humanities of the Paleozoic National Geopark to the public.
In Naju, Nampyeong Buk Elementary School was converted into a cafe doubling as an art gallery, while a school in Boeun became a cafe and glamping site called "Ilsanghwa."
All of these projects succeeded in regeneration, yet they still face challenges in linking with other tourism resources, developing new content of their own and marketing to draw visitors.
A new benchmark for urban regeneration tourism has now emerged in Kyoto, Japan.
The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu, converted from a former Kyoto elementary school, and Ace Hotel Kyoto, housed in a former telephone exchange building, each received a One Michelin Key in the "Michelin Guide Hotel Selection 2026" — repeating the recognition they earned last year.
According to Seibu Prince Hotels Worldwide (SPW) on Thursday, The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho and Ace Hotel Toronto in Canada also retained the same rating for the second consecutive year.
The Michelin Key is a hotel rating system the Michelin Guide has published since 2024. Hotels are evaluated on architecture and interior design, service, personality and originality, value for price, and connection to the local community, and are awarded one to three keys. In 2026, a total of 2,832 hotels across 79 countries received a Michelin Key.
The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu stands on the hillside path through Higashiyama leading to Kiyomizudera temple.
The hotel opened in 2020 after the three-story building of the former Kiyomizu Elementary School, built in 1933, was preserved and renovated. The arched windows, staircases and corridors that remained after the school closed were retained, and the hotel now operates 48 guest rooms.
Guests can view the old school's windows and corridors from inside the hotel, and climbing to the rooftop reveals a sweeping view of Higashiyama. The rooftop K36 Rooftop offers a panoramic look at Yasaka Pagoda and the surrounding tiled rooftops.
The hotel operates a guest lounge and also houses Benoit, a bistro by French chef Alain Ducasse.
Kiyomizudera, within walking distance of the hotel, will hold a special autumn night viewing from Nov. 21 to Nov. 30. Visiting hours run from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with last admission at 9 p.m.
Visitors can plan an itinerary that takes in the Higashiyama alleyways by day and the illuminated Kiyomizudera by evening.
Ace Hotel Kyoto is the first Asian outpost of the Ace Hotel brand, located within Shinfukan, a mixed-use complex on Karasuma Street in central Kyoto.
The hotel opened in 2020, connecting the 1926 former Kyoto Central Telephone Exchange building — designed by modern architect Yoshida Tetsuro — with a new annex.
Japanese architect Kengo Kuma contributed to the architectural design, while Los Angeles-based Commune Design handled the interiors.
The involvement of leading architectural experts in urban regeneration projects is a lesson South Korea would do well to absorb.
Viewed from the street, the brick facade and arched windows of the old telephone exchange remain intact. Inside, the hotel displays Kyoto crafts and works by local artists. The lobby features a coffee bar, and some rooms are equipped with record players. Nishiki Market and the Kyoto International Manga Museum are both within walking distance.
Joining the two Kyoto hotels among the One Michelin Key recipients is The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho, a Luxury Collection Hotel, situated on floors 30 through 36 of Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho, near Akasaka-mitsuke and Nagatacho stations.
The 250-room hotel was designed around the concept of a "sky gallery" capturing Tokyo's skyline and cityscape. From the 36th-floor lobby and bar, guests can take in the city's greenery and skyline by day and its nightscape after dark.
Ace Hotel Toronto in Canada is operated by Ace Group International alongside Ace Hotel Kyoto. SPW incorporated Ace Group International into its group in September 2025. This year's selection featured four hotels in total: two operated by SPW in Tokyo and Kyoto, and two operated by Ace Group International in Kyoto and Toronto.
abc@heraldcorp.com
