Hotel the Mitsui Kyoto
Kyoto, Japan
Pre-pandemic, Kyoto’s mini hotel rush saw a handful of off-beat stays open doors in the historic city. Hotel the Mitsui was one, a discreet, smartly designed spot that pairs Japan’s globally renowned hospitality with its on-the-pulse design kudos. Enter the hotel’s courtyard, opposite the 17th-century Nijō Castle, to feel transported into former centuries. The hotel name refers to an ancient family clan, and a stretching cherry tree fills in a central quad that looks to the past in its planting, proportions and well-crafted accents. Here and there, however, edge is added through modern sculpture and clean-lined modernity. Despite its 161 rooms, Mitsui feels intimate. Big names were called in to perfect the nonchalant feel: André Fu oversaw the bedroom design, blending Kyoto craftsmanship with pale wood accents, and Japanese architect Akira Kurya was involved in the timeline spanning external design. Descend into the sultry basement onsen and you’ll find traditional Japanese thermal springs and massage treatments offered among rough rock boulders. Upstairs, two restaurants overlook the cherry tree. The hotel’s signature dining experience is Toki. Head there for a French-Japanese tasting menu from Ritz alumni Tetsuya Asano. Forni, meanwhile, delivers casual Italian plates – a modern counterpoint to Toki’s traditionalism.
Key Information
- Rooms: 160
- Starting Rate: $672
- High Season: Mar- Apr
- Dining: Toki
- Drinking: The Garden Bar
- At the Hotel: Spa, fitness centre, tea ceremonies, art tours, meeting space
- 81754683100
- Visit Hotel the Mitsui Kyoto's Website
Location
284 Nijoaburanokoji, Kyoto, 604-0051
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