The Mitsui Kyoto

Stepping through the 300-year-old Kajiimiya Gate into Hotel The Mitsui feels like crossing into another world entirely. This extraordinary sanctuary has been meticulously crafted on the former estate of the Mitsui family—property they maintained for over 250 years—by passionate hoteliers who understand that true luxury lies in honoring the past while embracing the future. Every weathered stone, every carefully curated garden view, every thoughtful detail pays homage to Japan's imperial capital while creating something entirely transformative.

Nestled directly across from UNESCO World Heritage Site Nijo Castle, The Mitsui offers something increasingly rare: true escape in the center of it all. The hotel sits where you can step from your serene room with its garden or castle views directly into centuries of history, where natural spring water flows through on-site thermal baths, and where the central courtyard garden becomes one with the lobby when floor-to-ceiling windows open to let nature flow freely indoors.

What we love most about Hotel The Mitsui is how it embodies the Japanese concept of "omotenashi"—the art of mindful hospitality where every gesture has meaning and every moment invites deeper connection. It doesn't just offer accommodation; it offers transformation, reminding us that true luxury isn't about what you can buy—it's about how it makes you feel.