The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto
Kyoto · Japan
Prices
Next 365 nights · updated daily
Daily price line
Hover any point for the rate
Calendar heatmap
Hover any day for its rate
Reviews
Character and identity
Set discreetly along the Kamogawa River, this 134-room property opened in 2014 as Kyoto's first full-service international luxury hotel and remains the most polished in the city. The seven-storey structure (two floors sunken to respect the low-rise skyline) layers contemporary architecture with kumiko latticework, urushi lacquer, silk textiles, and over 400 artworks themed around The Tale of Genji. A three-storey waterfall runs from the lobby down to the basement pool. Dining spans modern Italian at La Locanda, washoku at Mizuki, and an eight-seat Chef's Table by Katsuhito Inoue. Kimono-clad staff deliver ryokan-style omotenashi at international hotel scale.
Who's it for
Best for:
Design-literate couples and culturally curious travellers who want Kyoto's craft heritage filtered through contemporary luxury, with a serene riverside base for temple-hopping. Food-focused guests will find genuine range across Italian, kaiseki, sushi, tempura, and teppan. Families are quietly well-catered for despite the grown-up register, with origami and furoshiki workshops on offer.
Should look elsewhere:
Travellers seeking an authentic ryokan experience with tatami, futons, and onsen ritual should book a traditional inn instead. The hotel's polished international scale, however thoughtfully Kyoto-inflected, is the opposite of intimate machiya stays.
Bottom line
What sets this property apart is the seamlessness of the fusion: a global luxury operation that genuinely absorbs Kyoto's craft, art, and service traditions rather than decorating around them. Couples should stretch for a river-view room or, budget allowing, Suite Tsukimi with its moon-viewing deck. Book the Chef's Table well ahead, and lean on the concierge for the temple and artisan access that justifies the rate.
Location
What this place offers
- 24-hour room service
- Gym
- Indoor pool
- Meeting rooms
- Restaurants
- Spa
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi in public areas
- Public internet workstation
- Restaurant
