So I'm scoping out a trip for mid April 2019 between the cherry blossom peak and golden week and wondering about the Four Seasons Kyoto vs. RC Kyoto. Is there anyone who has stayed at both who wants to opine on the tradeoffs between the two? [Possible slow concierge @ RC shows up in this thread a bit :-) ]

FWIW, I've stayed at RC Kyoto in late 2015 (before the FS opened) in a "Luxury river view" room. I thought the RC Kyoto hotel hard product was great: the decor was dramatic in kind of a showy "feast for the senses" way but not gaudy. Also, wow, those pastries. I'd love to stay there again but they haven't posted their rates for the week I want to travel. They're currently blocked out from late March to April 22nd as "high season rates not available yet". I booked a room at the FS for now. It looks like the design aesthetic of the FS is a bit more "western luxury" in the bathrooms, etc. (lots of marble vs. wood)? It also looks like the RC tends to charge more than the FS too if you look at comparable room categories.