The hotel was constructed by the Tokyo-based Kajima Corporation and designed by Japanese-American architect Hayahiko Takase.

It was sold to 3D Investments in August 2007, who brought in Crestline Hotels & Resorts to manage the property, which was renamed the Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens on November 30, 2007.

[2] Following bankruptcy proceedings, the Kyoto Grand was again rebranded as a DoubleTree by Hilton in July 2012, following renovations.

[3] The hotel features 434 guest rooms on 21 floors with three restaurants: Garden Grill, Thousand Cranes, and the Azalea.

In 2011 electronic producer Skrillex named a song on his new EP Bangarang "Kyoto" because he produced the whole song on his notebook in one of the hotel rooms and even recorded the vocals there.