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[title]Kyoto is a very special place, but in recent years, its timeless charm can feel overshadowed by the growing crowds of tourists flocking to the ancient capital’s Unesco World Heritage temples and other historical attractions. Still, no matter how packed things get, there’s a way to experience the harmonious, meditative spirit Kyoto is renowned for – by splurging on a hotel that embodies this unique city’s Zen philosophy.
Despite being located just across from the perennially popular Nijo Castle, Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto has managed to create a bubble of serenity in the heart of the city. This is accomplished through thoughtful design by André Fu, one of the region’s leading names in hotel interiors, known for his work on luxury properties like The Upper House Hong Kong and Andaz Singapore. The four-storey, low-rise hotel is built around a gorgeous Japanese garden, which serves as the focal point and calming heart of the property.
Hotel The Mitsui is also steeped in history. The 250-year-old grounds on which it stands were once the residence of the affluent Mitsui family. The beautiful Kajiimiya Gate at the hotel entrance was originally built in 1703 and previously graced the Kyoto Imperial Palace grounds. Relocated to this site in 1935, it’s now a registered Tangible Cultural Property.
Upon entering the hotel through the aforementioned gate, you’ll step into an expansive lobby with a floor-to-ceiling picture window overlooking the lush garden, complete with a calming water feature. On fine days, the glass sliding doors are retracted to allow the lobby to flow seamlessly into the verdant outdoors. The evergreen landscape is home to a variety of trees, including graceful momiji and weeping sakura, thus ensuring that the scenery evolves with the seasons.
This relaxing atmosphere extends to the property’s 160 rooms and suites. Designed around soothing neutral tones and inspired by the traditional Japanese tea house, the hotel’s accommodations feature natural wood furniture and artisanal detailing, including kimono-style embroidered headboards and ceramic sculptures, for a sophisticated touch. More importantly, the rooms are equipped with deep-soaking stone tubs – perfect for unwinding after a day of exploring Kyoto – as well as sofa loungers by large windows offering views of the city, the central garden, or the iconic Nijo Castle.
Aside from drawing design inspiration from traditional Japanese and Kyoto culture – such as the walkway that evokes the torii gate tunnel of Fushimi Inari Shrine – Hotel The Mitsui is also adorned with exquisite handcrafted artworks, many of which were created especially for the hotel. The standout work is a wall piece made up of 3,000 tiny saucers of Kiyomizu-yaki, one of Kyoto’s signature pottery styles. You’ll find this stunning work of art in Forni, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant specialising in Italian cuisine.
To complement Forni, the hotel’s other restaurant, Toki, serves innovative French cuisine reimagined through the use of Kyoto ingredients and Japanese flavours. The flagship restaurant is led by chef Tetsuya Asano, who trained at the renowned Ritz Paris and was selected as Japan’s representative for the 2027 Bocuse d’Or International Culinary Competition.
However, the hotel’s most striking feature is undoubtedly the thermal spring in the basement. Designed by Yohei Akao, a specialist in hotel and dining interior design, this beautiful cavern feels calming and restorative. The pool-like bath is fed by a natural hot spring located deep beneath the hotel and is complemented by resort-style relaxation facilities. The predominantly black space features massive natural stone pillars and sleek strip lighting that accentuates the pool’s geometric proportions, while lounge beds surrounding the bath provide the perfect spot for a snooze between dips. It is, quite frankly, the chicest hotel onsen we’ve seen in Japan.
Another compelling reason to stay at Hotel The Mitsui is to access some of Kyoto’s most exclusive and authentic experiences. During our visit, we had the privilege of attending the limited-time Kyoto Noh Dining event and enjoyed an exquisite wine-pairing dinner prepared by chef Asano of Toki. The dinner was held at the historic Old Mitsui Family Shimogamo Villa, where we also learned about the multifaceted art of Noh theatre from a seasoned practitioner before witnessing a private performance.
Hotel The Mitsui regularly offers exclusive experiences like this. At the time of writing, the hotel is providing a private night tour of Toji Temple and an early morning tour of Kiyomizu-dera, both of which are Unesco World Heritage Sites. These intimate tours are conducted when the temples are closed to the public, allowing you to explore the iconic sites without the crowds and connect with the true essence of Kyoto.
So, if you’re looking to splurge – even for just one night – Hotel The Mitsui offers not only a sumptuous stay, but also rare access to an authentic side of Kyoto that few get to experience.
For more information, check the hotel website.