The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto

Why book

For an escapist immersion in the most luxurious side of Kyoto, fusing pitch-perfect contemporary elegance and traditional hints of Japan plus high quality cuisine and a subterranean spa – all in a serenely hushed setting (perfect for post-temple fatigue recovery). Added to the mix? Deep concierge services and luxuriously bespoke experiences.

Set the scene

Its location is key. Central yet quiet (an enviable quality in popular Kyoto), the hotel discreetly overlooks the flow of the Kamogawa River and beyond, with tiled rooftops and mountains wrapping around the city’s edges – yet it’s just a short stroll from countless highlights, such as Teramachi and Gion. Arriving marks a smoothly subtle transition from city to urban sanctuary: a modern stone pathway descends past water features, a weeping cherry tree and vertical landscaped gardens. Doors open onto a sequence of crafted details mirroring hints of traditional Kyoto, as guests venture deeper into the hotel: picture a minimalist white wall of 7,000 ceramic shippo motifs, a traditional symbol of harmony; an oversized bonsai plant surrounded by clean-lined wooden lattice screens; a sparkling sculpture by Kyoto artist Kohei Nawa; and a reflective glass bamboo forest by artist Ritsue Mishima (among 400-plus works scattered through the hotel). Here, high luxury harmonises with low-key Kyoto discretion – a place where off-duty Hollywood celebs sip tea or crafted cocktails alongside generations-old Kyoto crafts families.

The backstory

The hotel made a politely elegant splash when it opened its doors in 2014, as Kyoto’s first big-hitting international luxury hotel. Inspired by the concept of miyabi – the Japanese art of subtly refined beauty – the hotel discreetly spans a seven-level structure, two floors of which are sunken (to harmonise with Kyoto’s low-rise cityscape). Smoothly integrated into the structure are hidden Zen gardens, water features and vertical landscaping (including a waterfall flowing from the upper levels all the way down to the basement). Today, the hotel continues to shine bright as a layered contemporary expression of ancient Kyoto, fusing ryokan-style omotenashi hospitality from kimono-clad staff with a luxury international hotel scale – complete with 134 guest rooms and suites, four restaurants and bars, plus a wellness floor, all expressed in a modern take on Kyoto craftsmanship, through material touches of kumiko latticework, urushi lacquer, silk textiles.

The rooms

Luxuriously comfortable and elegantly layered, the spacious guest rooms are an elegant showcase of modern design riffing on Kyoto’s rich heritage, with deep layouts inspired by the city’s traditional machiya townhouses. There are sakura cherry blossom motifs dotted across plush carpets and silk cushions (crafted by Kyoto’s Nishijin kimono textile artisans); the clean lines and curves of crafted wood panelling, abstract calligraphic artworks, traditional tea ceramics and, centre stage by the window, a perfectly pruned bonsai (yes, one in every room). The luxury touch continues in bathrooms, home to sweeps of black marble, the sweet fig layers of Diptyque’s Philosykos amenities, hand-made Kyoto gold-flake soap and cherry blossom motifs floating across walls (look out for the discreet white petal motifs inside the base of the bathtub too). Beds have a cloud-like level of comfort, courtesy of 600-thread count linens (plus Pierre Hermé Paris downturn chocolates – the makers have a shop on the hotel’s ground floor). There are 11 different room types, offering an array of views and layouts (the river view is a personal favourite). An aspirational highlight? Suite Tsukimi – whose name, meaning moon-viewing, offers a clue into its essence: it’s home to an outdoor moon-viewing deck and lantern-lit Japanese garden, with mountain views looming in the background.

Food and drink

The hotel’s gastronomy taps into Kyoto’s status as food nirvana – with a luxury edge. The buzzy heartbeat is La Locanda, where modern Italian is fused with seasonal Japanese ingredients, served against curved sweeps of leather seating, monochrome marble tables and scattered sculptural artworks – all flowing around a central Zen garden. Just next to it is The Bar – the perfect spot for sipping a smoothly mixed Kyoto Martini (a heady mesh of Kyoto Kinobi gin, Calvados, sake, St-Germain and cinnamon), with live music several times a week. Breakfast also unfolds at La Locanda, beautifully served in compartmentalised lacquer (including Wabisuke eggs, soy milk yuba, and pickled plums) – or Western-style (an array of eggs, plus local Kyoto pork sausages and bacon), topped with deliciously crafted Pierre Hermé pastries and fresh fruits. Next to La Locanda is a deluxe private dining space rooted in the city’s heritage, a historic century-old Kyoto townhouse reconstructed (with a modern twist) on site.

On the far side of the Zen garden is a hidden culinary gem: Chef’s Table by Katsuhito Inoue, an immersive, beauty-steeped dining experience for just eight people. Chef Inou gently transports guests on a food journey inspired by Japan’s ancient calendar of 72 microseasons. Menus – creative and deeply rooted in nature with a free-spirited edge – change every two weeks, tapping into the chef’s deep network of food producers in Kyoto and beyond, all served on bespoke abstract ceramics by artist Kasho Morioka san (guests can also try their hand at pottery at his studio, upon request), with the added beauty of decorative touches from nature – be it autumnal maple leaves or clouds of spring blossoms.

Meanwhile, the beauty of Japanese cuisine is centre stage at Mizuki, home to four areas of washoku cuisine: kaiseki, sushi, tempura and teppan. Anchoring the space is a ten-seat sushi counter crafted from lacquerware, featuring vividly sculptural scatterings of ikebana arrangements and views of the waterfall garden to the rear. To the left is Tempura Mizuki, with an intimate eight-seat granite counter, where chef Taisuke Kojima serves up a deliciously crafted medley of tempura using safflower oil and tastes of the seasons (highlights from a recent visit? Sesame tofu with sea urchin, lotus root; a perfect round Kyoto-style aubergine; and the unexpected sweetness of a fig).

Meanwhile, The Lobby Lounge is a serene and gently humming space layered with light-filtering contemporary lattice wood screens, where Afternoon Tea unfolds with tiered platters of seasonal treats – from foie gras and local Kyoto fig canapes with cinnamon and ginger to lemon scones by Pierre Hermé Paris.

The spa

It’s all about escapist relaxation below ground level, where dark corridors lined with abstract washi paper and ceramic artworks transport visitors into the wellness facilities. Here, there is a swimming pool, sauna and fitness centre overlooking the base of the waterfall from the vertical garden outside. It’s also home to an intimate spa with seven cocooning treatment rooms. Here, experiences are rooted in the layers of Kyoto’s rich cultural heritage – as reflected in the deeply relaxing Ryokucha Serenity Ritual, a soothingly rhythmic massage using warm poultices of green tea leaves from Kyoto’s famed tea region Uji.

The neighbourhood

The hotel’s peaceful riverside spot is perfect for all moods – whether exploring key sites, either on foot or by bicycle (the hotel has an impressive fleet for rental), or for a run along the riverfront green. Kyoto Station is about 20 minutes by taxi.

The service

Warm and deeply attentive, this is ryokan-style omotenashi in a shiny deluxe Kyoto setting – from the smoothly personalised in-room check-ins to the gently bowing kimono-clad staff throughout the hotel, who comfortably address you by name and seem to know where you are meant to be, at all times, before you know it yourself. Concierge services are also excellent: it’s worth tapping into their deep network of local contacts before setting off to explore, while high-quality activities range from private early morning prayers with the head monk at Myokaku-ji Temple to a mini washi umbrella making workshop with a fifth-generation Kyoto craftsman.

For families

The hotel is unwaveringly welcoming to children of all ages (despite the grown-up luxury edge). Amenities include rubber ducks at bathtime, sticker collecting (plus ice cream rewards) and activities such as Treasure Hunt, plus Kids Balloon, Origami and Furoshiki workshops.

Eco effort

In addition to more mainstream practices, such as switching from plastic bottles to aluminium, the hotel has a number of initiatives that fuse Kyoto-style sustainability with luxury hospitality – including the pouch given to guests upon check-in, crafted from old kimono textiles and reused wood from Kyoto bridge construction.

Accessibility

There is one wheelchair accessible guest room – a deluxe king with garden views.

Anything left to mention?

Stop and savour the hotel’s impressive art collection – by taking part in a hotel art tour, uncovering the stories behind key works among the 400-plus pieces scattered throughout the hotel.