Hotel The Celestine Kyoto Gion
Modern Japanese luxury with strong ryokan sensibility. Think clean contemporary interiors filtered through washi paper light, Kiyomizu ware tea sets, and yukata rather than bathrobes. Calm, low-key, and genuinely local in character.
Book the free concierge Walking Tour immediately at check-in — slots fill fast, especially the English sessions on Wednesday and Friday
Why It Matters
1 Michelin Key hotel operated by Mitsui Fudosan — Japan's largest real estate company. The on-site restaurant Yasaka Endo traces its lineage back 100 years to a Gion tea house. The hotel is tattoo-friendly, which is still uncommon for Japanese onsens. And the complimentary concierge walking tours of Gion/Higashiyama are a standout free guest amenity.
Opened in September 2017, the Celestine Kyoto Gion is the flagship property of Mitsui Fudosan's Celestine Hotels collection — and it earns a 1 Michelin Key for good reason. It sits on Yasaka-dori in Higashiyama, with Kennin-ji Temple a 5-minute walk away and Kiyomizu-dera about 15 minutes on foot. The building wraps a soaring stone-clad double-height lobby in Tanba stone, dressed with Japanese red pine, mountain cherry, and maple trees designed by Toshiya Ogino Landscape Architects. It's unmistakably a contemporary luxury hotel, but the ryokan spirit runs through everything — from the Ippodo matcha in every room to the complimentary Large Public Bath in the basement.
Where You'll Stay
10 room types available
Accessible Twin
Fully accessible room designed for wheelchair users and elderly guests. Functional layout with full safety features while maintaining the hotel's standard amenity set including Nespresso, Ippodo tea, and yukata.
2 beds (W 1,230mm each) · 30.5 sqm
Deluxe Twin
More floor space than the Superior Twin. Shoes-off zone near the bed area. Modern Japanese interior. Good balance of size and value for couples or two traveling companions.
2 beds (W 1,230mm each) · 35.5 sqmDeluxe Twin with Daybed
Same layout as the Deluxe Twin but with an added daybed, making it one of the few room types that can accommodate up to three guests. Good option for families or a guest traveling with a child over 5.
2 beds (W 1,230mm each) + daybed · 35.5 sqmExecutive Twin
A spacious step up from the Deluxe category. The bathroom, toilet, and vanity are split into three separate areas — a genuine luxury in Japanese hotel design. Shoes-off zone by the beds. Nespresso, Nespresso and electric kettle included. Good for guests who want room to spread out without jumping to suite pricing.
2 beds (W 1,230mm each) · 43 sqmJunior Suite – Celestine Higashiyama
The most premium room type, themed 'Kyoto spirit.' Natural light filters through washi paper panels while the palette stays in muted, layered tones. Comes with a BOSE speaker, BD player, and Nespresso machine alongside the standard Ippodo tea set in Kiyomizu ware. Bathrobe, yukata, tea haori, and furoshiki are all included.
2 beds (W 1,400mm each) · 65 sqmJunior Suite – Celestine Yasaka
Themed 'Tea Room,' this suite leans into Kyoto's tea culture with matcha served from Ippodo, the city's most respected tea specialty store. Slightly more compact than the Higashiyama suite, but equally well appointed with BOSE speaker, BD player, and the full amenity suite of yukata, furoshiki, and Kiyomizu ware.
2 beds (W 1,230mm each) · 61.1 sqmStandard Queen
The entry-level room and the most compact option in the hotel at 25.7 m². Themed around 'surprise in simplicity.' Functionally complete — Nespresso, washlet, Ippodo tea, yukata — but the footprint is genuinely small. Fine for solo travelers or a couple planning to spend most of their time exploring the city.
1 queen bed (W 1,640mm) · 25.7 sqmSuperior Queen
A step up from the Standard Queen with more floor space and the same 'surprise in simplicity' concept. Meticulous attention to amenity detail. A good solo traveler or romantic couple choice.
1 queen bed (W 1,640mm) · 29.9 sqm
Superior Twin
The most common room type in the hotel — a modern Japanese interior that keeps things clean and uncluttered. Recommended for couples and families. Comes with Nespresso, Ippodo tea in Kiyomizu ware, yukata and tea haori. Honest note: rooms on the smaller side, though still large by Kyoto city standards.
2 beds (W 1,230mm each) · 32 sqmSuperior Wide King
A wide king bed in a compact footprint — window views of the Kyoto cityscape make this room feel more open. Best for couples who want a king bed over twin configuration. Nespresso, washlet, and the full in-room amenity set.
1 king bed (W 2,460mm) · 32 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
4 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Concierge-led walking tour exclusively for hotel guests. North Course covers popular Gion highlights — Hanamikoji, Yasaka Pagoda, Nene no Michi, Ishibekoji, and Ninenzaka — plus lesser-known historical spots that only a local guide would highlight. English on Wednesdays and Fridays, Japanese on Thursdays and Saturdays.
Concierge-led walking tour of the Higashiyama area's back alleys and historically romantic sites: Kenninji Temple, Rokuharamitsuji Temple, Miyagawacho, and Ajiki Alley. Maximum 6 guests. Apply at front desk by 21:00 the day before.
The 1F Guest Lounge provides origami materials and one-stroke paper (a traditional Japanese art form) for guests to try during their stay. Kyoto-focused books and magazines also available. Complimentary.
A special seasonal walking tour running daily during cherry blossom season (late March–early April). Departs from Kennin-ji Temple, walks along illuminated Hanamikoji Street, and ends at Maruyama Park's famous weeping cherry trees. English language. Maximum 6 guests. Complimentary for hotel guests.
Open-to-all-guests communal Japanese bath in a modern Japanese space on B1. Free of charge, open 15:00 to 10:00 the next morning. Tattoo-friendly. Complimentary cosmetics amenities provided post-bath.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Wireless LAN available in all guest rooms and throughout the property.
On-site currency exchange for USD, GBP, EUR, HKD, KRW, CNY, and AUD.
The hotel does not have a swimming pool or dedicated fitness center. The Large Public Bath serves as the primary wellness amenity.
Extensive rental inventory including memory foam pillows, buckwheat husk pillows, HDMI cables, curl dryers, trouser press, humidifier, shoe dryer, champagne glasses, wine coolers, nursing chairs, wheelchairs, and children's amenity sets. Request at front desk.
Multilingual concierge staff who can arrange reservations, recommend local experiences, and run the complimentary walking tours.
Day laundry service. Orders received by 10:00 AM delivered from 17:00 same day.
Online pre-arrival check-in available in English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese.
All guest room TVs support casting from personal devices — stream your own apps on the in-room screen.
Miniature Japanese garden on 1F, designed by Toshiya Ogino Landscape Architects. Tanba stone exterior walls with Japanese red pine, mountain cherry, and Japanese maple. Visible from lobby and guest room corridors. Open 24 hours.
Flat parking lot for guests only. 20 cars maximum. Reservation required. 2,000 yen per night.
Pick-up service from Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit to the hotel.
BUILD YOUR HOTEL THE CELESTINE KYOTO GION PLAN
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