The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto
Contemporary Japanese luxury with Meiji-era architectural references. Low-rise and riverside, the aesthetic is restrained — floor-to-ceiling windows, Japanese motifs, traditional crafts. Some suites go full tatami-and-futon; most rooms are sleekly modern with Japanese accents.
Suite TSUKIMI and The Ritz-Carlton Suite are not eligible for upgrades — book them directly if you want them.
Why It Matters
Asia's first La Prairie Spa hotel. Nine consecutive Forbes Five-Star ratings (2018–2026). Michelin-starred Tempura Mizuki on-site. The building sits on a riverbank site favored by Japanese nobility since the 17th century. At an average of 50 sqm, rooms are the largest in Kyoto. Check-in over Japanese tea and 409 pieces of modern Japanese art set the cultural tone from arrival.
Japan's ancient capital finally got a proper luxury hotel when the Ritz-Carlton opened here in February 2014. But this one kept things quiet. The building sits low by the Kamogawa River, deliberately designed to blend in rather than dominate — no neoclassical fanfare, no towering atrium. Check-in happens over traditional Japanese tea. There are 409 pieces of modern Japanese artwork throughout the property. Guest rooms average 50 sqm, the largest of any hotel in Kyoto, and the hotel has now earned nine straight Forbes Five-Star awards. It's a Ritz-Carlton that actually tries to fit its city.
Where You'll Stay
10 room types available
Corner Suite
Corner-positioned suites with panoramic views. Available in several configurations: MINAMI (mountain views), KITA (garden views), and TATAMI (river views with traditional futon beds on tatami flooring). The Tatami version is the Japanese-purist option with a hinoki wood bathtub.
Deluxe Garden Room
Garden-facing rooms with views of the Japanese garden and Higashiyama Mountains beyond. Quieter-facing position than river rooms.
50 sqmDeluxe Kyoto Room
A nod to Kyoto's aesthetic traditions — these rooms feature traditional Japanese decorations and crafts integrated into the modern layout. Views face the surrounding Kyoto cityscape.
50 sqm
Deluxe Room
Entry-level rooms that still average 50 sqm — the largest standard hotel rooms in Kyoto. Floor-to-ceiling windows with views of either the courtyard or surrounding neighborhood. Sleek, modern Japanese aesthetic with 600-count linens, Diptyque bath amenities, Imabari bathrobes, and handmade Kyoto soaps.
50 sqmGarden Terrace Suite
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the private Japanese garden with Higashiyama Mountain views beyond. Each suite has a personal terrace deck — one of the quieter, more meditative room options in the hotel.
Garden Terrace Suite TATAMI
A full Japanese-style suite experience: traditional futon beds on tatami mats, a separate living room, and a private terrace with views of both the Japanese garden and Higashiyama Mountains. 62 sqm. Maximum occupancy 3 adults with extra bed.
Two Japanese futon beds · 62 sqmGrand Deluxe Kamogawa River View
Same generous footprint as the Deluxe, but with unobstructed views over the Kamogawa River toward the Higashiyama Mountains. Available with king or double beds. These are the rooms you want if the river view is the reason you're here.
50 sqmSuite KAMOGAWA
A 126 sqm river suite with panoramic views of the Kamogawa River and Higashiyama Mountains from a private balcony on the 2nd floor. Separate bedroom and living area. The name says it all — this is the river-front showstopper among the non-top-tier suites.
126 sqm
Suite TSUKIMI
The moon-viewing penthouse. Perched atop the hotel with sweeping Higashiyama Mountain views including 'Daimonji.' Features a private open-deck moon-viewing terrace, a Japanese garden lit by traditional lanterns, separate dining area, and a work desk. Not eligible for upgrades.
The Ritz-Carlton Suite
The flagship. At 212 sqm (2,281 sq ft), this is the hotel's largest accommodation, overlooking the Kamogawa River and Higashiyama Mountains. A sophisticated living room, separate dining room with a private service kitchen, a cozy fireplace, and an expansive private balcony. Not eligible for upgrades.
212 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
9 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
A guided cycling route through Kyoto's historically significant sites, passing Kyoto Imperial Palace, Shimogamo Shrine, and Fushimi Inari Shrine with its thousands of torii gates. The city's calm streets make this a genuinely good way to cover ground.
A guided tour of the hotel's 409-piece collection of modern Japanese artwork displayed throughout the property.
Learn basic kenbu (sword dance) moves with a real samurai sword, dressed in traditional costume. A stage performance by a kenbu master closes the session.
Create your own moss ball (kokedama) using seasonal plants from the hotel's own grounds, guided by the hotel's expert gardener. A meditative activity connecting guests to Kyoto's seasonal rhythms.
A signature combination experience beginning with temple chanting followed by a spa treatment at LA PRAIRIE SPA.
Learn traditional Japanese paper folding — paper cranes, jumping frogs, ninja throwing stars. Suitable for all ages and families.
Wheel-throwing session guided by a master ceramicist rooted in generations of Kyoto craft. Shape clay and experience the asymmetrical beauty of Japanese pottery firsthand.
Create your own woodblock-printed paper and postcards with an artist who made the hotel's fusuma sliding door and woodblock ceiling. Uses magnolia wood blocks with centuries-old traditional patterns.
A map styled as a Japanese picture scroll leads children through the hotel searching for hidden treasures. A special gift awaits at the treasure box.
On-site sake tasting experience showcasing Japanese sake traditions.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Five event spaces including the TAKANE ballroom and KOCHO chapel. Can accommodate receptions, parties, meetings, exhibitions, and seminars.
Complimentary in-room Wi-Fi for Marriott Bonvoy members who book direct. Available throughout the property.
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Equipped with cardio machines, ellipticals, exercise bikes, treadmills, free weights, and strength equipment. Under 16 not permitted. No staff between 10PM-6:30AM.
On-site Japanese garden, including traditional tsukimidai moon-viewing deck elements. Used for kokedama workshops and serene relaxation.
Ground floor parking available. On-site: ¥6,000/day (¥1,200/hour). Valet: ¥4,000/day. Reservation required.
Heated indoor pool open daily 6:30AM-10PM. Towels provided. Swim caps required (rentable free). Children 4-15 must be accompanied by parents; under 4 not admitted. No pool toys or fins permitted.
24-hour concierge desk. Staff speak Japanese, French, English, Chinese, and Spanish.
Dry and steam saunas on the pool side. Mixed-gender facility requiring swimwear. Hot tub in both changing rooms.
BUILD YOUR THE RITZ-CARLTON, KYOTO PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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