Park Hyatt will follow Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton and Luxury Collection in opening a high-end hotel in the ancient Japanese capital Kyoto.

Construction and architecture firm Takenaka Corporation have been appointed to design the 70-room property, which will be surrounded by several UNESCO World Heritage sites in Higashiyama ward, including Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Tony Chi and Associates will create the interior design.

Park Hyatt Kyoto will be built as a low-rise structure to minimise its impact on the surrounding landscape, and the design concept is to create “an inspiring sanctuary” that “weaves Kyoto's rich culture and history with the Park Hyatt brand’s promise of rare and enriching experiences.”

Several historic buildings will be located on site, the oldest of which is a teahouse dating back 360 years.

In addition, the Kyoyamato company, which owns the acclaimed Sanso Kyoyamato restaurant on the site, has agreed a deal allowing Hyatt and the Takenaka Corporation to develop the land. As part of the agreement, it will continue to operate the 67-year old restaurant on site.

“Our goal is to restore the historic building of Sanso Kyoyamato and its surrounding gardens with an infusion of modern architecture,” said Toichi Takenaka, chair and CEO, of the Takenaka Corporation. “Together with Kyoyamato and Hyatt, we hope to create a hotel that exceeds the expectations of our community and a property that is best suited for one of the world’s most renowned cities.”

Construction on the hotel is scheduled to begin at the end of 2016, with a targeted completion date of 2019.

Hyatt will move into direct competition with fellow hospitality giant Four Seasons, which has just opened its own hotel – designed by architecture studio Kume Sekkei and interior design firm Hirsch Bedner Associates – with a similar intention to reflect a “contemporary evolution of traditional Japanese style”.

Kyoto is one of Japan's best-preserved historic cities, with intact palaces, gardens, 1,600 Buddhist temples, 400 Shinto shrines and 17 World Heritage Sites.