This Tranquil 5-Star Hotel Has Kyotoâs Most Spectacular Hidden Thermal Baths
![This Tranquil 5-Star Hotel Has Kyotoâs Most Spectacular Hidden Thermal Baths This Tranquil 5-Star Hotel Has Kyotoâs Most Spectacular Hidden Thermal Baths](https://i3.wp.com/imageio.forbes.com/specials-images/imageserve/65d928bf917df4c3b1c80181/0x0.jpg?format=jpg&height=900&width=1600&fit=bounds&w=780&resize=780,470&ssl=1)
Hotel the Mitsui Kyoto’s subterranean natural thermal pools are fed by an on-site spring
Kyoto, Japan has become one of the hottest destinations around the globe in recent years, and for good reason. Surrounded by lush mountains, rivers, and bamboo groves, and studded with exquisite gardens, the cityâs natural beauty is positively enchanting.
Kyoto is also known as Japanâs cultural capital. Having served as Japan’s capital and the emperor’s residence from 794 until 1868, the well-preserved city is a treasure trove of ancient temples, shrines, geisha districts, warrens of charming narrow alleyways, and other historic landmarks. So itâs ideal for travelers looking to experience what the former Imperial capital looked like a hundred â or even a thousand â years ago.
The 250 year-old entry gate is a nod to the propertyâs storied history
And while thereâs no shortage of hotel options in this city known for its incredible hospitality, Hotel the Mitsui Kyoto stands out for its singular blend of stellar design, service, and amenities. You enter the property through an ornate 250 year-old gateway that once marked the entrance to the property when it was the residence of the Mitsui family, a household name in Japan. After a few hundred years, the land fell out of the familyâs ownership in 1945, but remarkably was purchased by the familyâs real estate company in 2015, opening as a 5-star luxury hotel in 2020.
The entrance to Kyoto’s Hotel the Mitsui
A blooming cherry tree in the hotel’s inner garden
While the elaborate entry gate is a nod to the propertyâs storied history, the sleek modern lobby that guests enter next showcases how that heritage blends with the contemporary, design-driven side of todayâs Kyoto. The sumptuous, all-glass lounge looks onto the immaculate central courtyard garden, where stone lanterns and other artifacts from the days when the Mitsui family lived there decorate the mossy landscape. A cherry tree bears delicate pink blossoms in spring during Kyotoâs world-famous sakura season, but the garden is magnificent year-round.
The hotel boasts nearly 11,000 square feet of sleek, modern subterranean spa and pool space
From the garden to the lounge, library, two restaurants, and garden bar, the hotel is comprised of elegant and restful spaces. But none are more jaw-dropping than the nearly 11,000 square foot subterranean spa and thermal pools fed by an on-site spring. The sexy, dimly-lit corridors and treatment rooms create an underground oasis along with the gorgeous thermal pools that feature stone walls, contemporary lighting, low loungers, and modern misters that rain water down at regular intervals. At the center of the co-ed pools is a striking, sculpture-like boulder sliced in half and polished. Even in a city with countless onsen options, this space is special, and is worth the visit to Hotel the Mitsui on its own.
Views of the castle at sunset from the presidential suite
Location
Hotel the Mitsui Kyoto is centrally located in the heart of Kyoto, Japan, less than two miles away from Kyoto Station. The hotel is walkable to Kyoto Imperial Palace and many other popular attractions. Itâs also directly across the street from the must-see NijÅ-jo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates back to 1603.
A Nijo room overlooking the 17th-century castle
Number of Rooms & Suites
161
Forni’s dining room looks out onto the serene garden
The Vibe
Elegant, serene, and perfectly polished.
While there are some families with young children, the refined atmosphere tends to attract an older crowd, with smartly dressed couples, business travelers, and sophisticated jetsetters from Japan and around the globe.
The presidential suite’s stylish living room
Architecture and Decór
The sublime interiors were designed by Hong Kong-based architect and designer Andre Fu. The aesthetic that runs throughout the guest rooms, suites, restaurants, and common spaces is elegant, sophisticated, and calming, with art and other artifacts that showcase Japanese culture and traditions both ancient and contemporary.
The entrance to Hotel the Mitsui Kyoto in autumn
Highlights
- Central location adjacent to NijÅ-jo Castle and walkable to many attractions
- Tranquil inner courtyard garden with a cherry tree that blooms in sakura season
- 5-star service and hospitality
- Destination-worthy dining at Toki
- Stunning subterranean spa and natural thermal springs for soaking
- Opulent guests suites with private outdoor onsen
- Extensive art collection
The living room of a deluxe suite
Rooms & Suites
There are five room categories to choose from, which overlook the castle, gardens, or the picturesque rooftops of Kyoto. All feel tranquil and spacious, ranging from 462 to 721 square feet, with oversized windows and generously sized bathrooms with deep stone tubs.
The ultra-pampering onsen suites offer private soaking tubs open to the sky
There are also five types of suites ranging from a roomy 592 to 1205 square feet. The ultra-luxe onsen suites are extraordinary, with private soaking tubs surrounded by gardens and open to the sky. Pampering bath amenities are prepared by a Japanese master perfumer.
The presidential suite is one of the largest and most luxurious in the city, boasting unparalleled views of the castle, a separate living room, dining room that can accommodate 10 guests, and an impressive 2292 square feet of living space.
Toki restaurant, as seen from the central garden
Dining
Toki is the hotelâs signature fine dining restaurant, which blends both local and French traditions, techniques, and ingredients. Kyoto has been known as Japanâs âwater capitalâ for thousands of years, and its soft water that flows from the surrounding mountains is revered for making flavorful dashi. The signature 12-course tasting menu is exquisite, and each innovative dish showcases fond, or stock, made with the prized local water.
Wagyu with charred onion at Toki
No matter the season, the hotelâs calming interior gardens are on display from every seat at Forni. At breakfast, order traditional Japanese breakfast spreads or coffee and classic European pastries. At lunch and dinner, the restaurant serves handmade Italian dishes like pizza, risotto, pasta, oven-roasted fish, and perfectly-cooked wagyu.
The garden bar
The Garden Bar is another beautiful and relaxing space perfect for enjoying a creative cocktail at the end of a busy day spent exploring.
Who Itâs Best For
- Couples
- Business travelers
- Groups
- Solo travelers
- Multi-generational families with older children
NijÅ-jo Castle
Whatâs Nearby
- Across from the must-see NijÅ-jo Castle
- Walkable to Kyoto Imperial Palace and the Kyoto Gyoen National Garden, ââNishiki Market, and loads of other landmarks, temples and shrines, museums, and shopping destinations
For more information, or to book a stay, visit Hotel the Mitsui Kyoto.
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