Just checked out this AM from Roku Kyoto - we did 5 award nights and a 6th night using a cert. Thanks to flyertalk, we were able to navigate the planning and set expectations accordingly. Based in the US with a half dozen trips to Kyoto, so this Shozan area was a wonderful change. Agree I wouldn't recommend it for a first trip to Kyoto. Overall, I really loved our stay. The grounds and room were spectacular.

Hilton Diamond - was offered both Garden and Top floor rooms. Took the Garden room with the private onsen. Yes, it's amazing. They nailed modern Japanese design.

Most of the information on flyertalk is correct and up to date. I will add the following. We did the Chef's Table at Tenjin...while you would get 25% off dining on property, the Chef's Table is excluded. Also while you can charge other Shozan restaurants to your room, there is no discount. Mini-bar not included as well, but you probably knew that.

We got the 35K JYN in experience credit for 6 days and expect the Aspire $250 resort credit to go through. Finally, there is no actual "bar". There's only a 60 minute all-you-can-drink experience. It's not a special occasion...it's actually just how they run the "bar" every night. You pay 8800 JYN pp for 60 minutes of booze. While it is a beautiful space, that's not our style of drinking. We opted instead to hit the bar scene in Gion and Pontocho which is always amazing. Tips for anyone into mixology or wine: Alchemist, Finlandia, Kenzo Estate, and komorebino. No "members-only" BS and reasonable cover if any.

Final note, don't let them recommend Senjukaku which is on the Shozan Resort grounds. While the food is decent, the ambience is pretty terrible. You can get a far better tasting menu experience off property for a fraction of the cost. Pricing wise, you can say the same for Chef's Table at Tenjin, but at least the execution from food to ambience to service is on point. Senjukaku feels like the cafeteria of a nursing home...albeit a nursing home in rural Japan