The Mitsui is the latest flagship property by Japanese real estate powerhouse Mitsui Fudosan Group, joining the ranks of Kyoto’s impressive array of luxury hotels.
The property looks visually captivating from the outside, easily catching my eye as I was planning my Japan trip in September 2022 and tempting me into booking a one-night stay.
Amy also recently stayed at the hotel as well, and has shared her impressions below in this updated review.
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Booking
Ricky
When redeeming Bonvoy points , this property typically goes for around 100,000 Bonvoy points per night. However, at the time of my trip, the hotel was offering a PointSavers rate on weekdays for 75,200 Bonvoy points.
As I needed a weekday stay, this worked perfectly for my needs, and I felt it was too good of a price to resist. Indeed, cash rates at the Mitsui Kyoto are quite high, in the range of ¥100,000 yen ($950 CAD) per night.
These prices are on par with many of Kyoto’s top hotels, which typically come at a premium, and made my redemption of 75,000 Bonvoy points at the PointSavers rate feel quite worthwhile.
Outside of redeeming points, it’s also worth considering using a Free Night Award from the Amex US Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card , which is worth 85,000 points, for a stay at this property – perhaps along with topping-up the award by up to 15,000 points if necessary.
Amy
Often, it can difficult to find a hotel in Japan that can accommodate a family of four, let alone of five, but we had no issues with the Hotel Mitsui on this front. The Deluxe Room Twin, which can be booked on Bonvoy points, has two twin beds and is able to accommodate a family of four.
The twin beds are actually extra-large twin beds, and so are wider, and can be shared between an adult and small child. Should you need to accommodate a family of five or prefer an extra bed in the room, then you’d need to book a Premier Room Twin, which is a slightly larger room.
Having made a points booking for the Deluxe Room Twin for 334,400 Bonvoy points for five nights on a PointSavers redemption, I emailed the property beforehand to see what our options were.
We were offered an upgrade to the premier room for ¥10,120 ($101 CAD) per night. Had we wanted an additional bed in the room, there would be also be a fee of ¥15,180 ($152), inclusive of tax and service charge.
Should you be eyeing an upgrade into a suite based on your status at check-in or by redeeming a suite night award, the good news is that most of the Hotel Mitsui’s suites can also accommodate up to a family of five.
At check-in, we were already upgraded to the Deluxe Suite. The agent was also proactive enough to check and find that the Nijo Suite with two twin beds would be available on our second night onwards, and blocked off the room for us for the remainder of our stay.
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Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Location
Ricky
This new Kyoto luxury property has a prime location in the heart of the ancient imperial capital. It’s nestled within residential alleyways adjacent to homes that have been in the area for hundreds of years.
More Kyoto Hotels
Review: The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto
Review: Roku Kyoto, Hilton LXR
Review: Park Hyatt Kyoto
The hotel stands at the former location of the Kyoto home of the Kitake, which is the executive branch of the Mitsui family. The family had maintained the residence here for over 250 years.
Furthermore, the hotel is right at the doorstep of the 17th century Nijo Castle, a UNESCO-listed site that’s one of the city’s most popular attractions.
Within a 25-minute walking distance to the hotel is the Nishiki Market, one of the best markets in the city, lined with street food vendors and restaurants.
Other nearby attractions within walking distance include the Kyoto Shibori Museum and the Mikane Shrine, both within a five-minute walk.
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – View from Nijo Castle entrance
If you’re looking to venture a bit further, it’s 10 minutes to the Kinkaku-ji temple by vehicle, and 15 minutes to the famous red gates of the Fushimi Inari-taisha shrine.
Karasuma Oike station is the nearest Kyoto Subway station, about a 10-minute journey by foot from the hotel, while the city’s central Kyoto Station is roughly a 10-minute drive.
This station is where Shinkansen trains come in from Tokyo, which is a common route into Kyoto and the one we had taken on this journey. Arriving by Shinkansen, we took the subway north to Karasuma Oike and then walked 10 minutes to arrive at the Mitsui.
Osaka Itami Airport is the closest airport serving the area, generally handling domestic flights within Japan, and is located 50 minutes away by car. On the other hand, it’s a longer two-hour drive to Kansai International Airport, which is the major international port of entry into the Kansai region.
One noteworthy thing about staying in Kyoto is that you’ll have a very different experience when staying in different parts of town. Indeed, later on this trip, we’d check out a few different parts of the city, each with its own unique advantages.
At Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto, we appreciated being central and having many restaurants and worthy attractions within walking distance, especially the famous Nijo Castle right on our doorstep.
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Check-in
Upon entering the hotel, you’ll pass through the Kajiimiya Gate, which has over 300 years of historical significance. After being restored with 80% of the original parts, it now serves as a grand entrance to welcome hotel guests.
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Exterior
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Kajiimiya Gate entrance
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Entrance
We arrived at the hotel around 7pm, following a delayed Shinkansen journey into Kyoto.
I had made this booking under my partner Jessy’s account, as I was trying to earn her some elite qualifying nights to renew her Platinum Elite status . Before our arrival, I had “suite-talked” with the hotel via the chat app about a suite upgrade.
I requested either the Deluxe Suite or the Onsen Suite, based on what I saw was available for the evening. The hotel staff said they were happy to offer us the Deluxe Suite.
Unfortunately, I was told that the Onsen Suite is off-limits for complimentary upgrades – a decision I’d later come to understand, as it really does seem like a special elevated room type.
At check-in, we confirmed our Deluxe Suite, and were then informed that our breakfast would be offered at Forni, the hotel’s main restaurant.
We were handed the keys to Room 440. As we completed our check-in and began making our way to the room, I immediately took note of the breathtaking interiors and intricate design throughout the hotel.
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Outdoor covered walkway
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Outdoor pond
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Outdoor pond
The lobby and guest rooms were designed by André Fu, a prestigious Hong Kong-based designer. Four other renowned architects and designers were also brought in to complete the hotel.
In particular, the lobby is where antiquity and modernity collide. A large ceramic sculpture fills the centre of the lobby, and sits below a more traditional Shoji lantern on the ceiling, while the surroundings are made of luxurious rustic elements.
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Lobby
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Lobby lounge
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Deluxe Suite
After perusing the hotel grounds, we finally began heading up to our room. Along the way, I continued to be impressed by the absolutely stunning interiors all around us.
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Elevators
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Hallway
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Room 440
The guest room interiors at the Mitsui Kyoto were inspired by Japanese tea houses with a modern twist, which is immediately notable upon entry.
As we entered the suite, the foyer was elegant, with the flooring adorned in white stone. Slippers were laid out for us to change into before moving through the rest of the suite, which was lined with a nice, plush carpet.
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Deluxe Suite foyer
Moving past the foyer, you’ll find yourself in a spacious living area that feels clean, tranquil, and opulent all around. T
Muted tones are thoughtfully used throughout the space, with airy natural wood such as walnut and birch. There’s a natural feeling to the living environment that blends well with its traditional Japanese motifs.
The living area is spacious, featuring a soft sofa and armchair around a dark oak coffee table, which was kindly set with a small welcome gift upon our arrival.
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Deluxe Suite living area
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Deluxe Suite living area
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Deluxe Suite welcome gift
A minibar can be found just around the corner to the right as you first enter the suite. Here, you’ll find coffee and tea, a selection of spirits and whiskey, and some wine in the drawer.
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Deluxe Suite minibar
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Deluxe Suite minibar
A spacious live-edge desk sits in the right-hand corner of the room, which was a beautiful touch. Built into the adjacent wall are a universal charger and ample USB ports.
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Deluxe Suite desk
Immediately next to the desk is a generously sized flat-screen TV mounted on the wall.
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Deluxe Suite desk & TV
Moving into the bedroom through the passageway, you’ll find a simple space hosting the king bed, flanked by two marble-topped side tables adorned with two elegant lamps.
USB ports and a universal outlet are positioned on the walls by each side table, in addition to a Bluetooth speaker, phone, and alarm clock.
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Deluxe Suite bedroom
On the right-hand wall is another large flat-screen TV.
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Deluxe Suite bedroom
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Deluxe Suite bed
The beds in Japan and the rest of East Asia tend to be on the harder side, but the king bed in the Deluxe Suite had a reasonable degree of softness to it.
A walk-in closet occupies the central area between the living room, bedroom, and bathroom passageway.
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Deluxe Suite closet
The bathroom is spacious and equally as elegant, with a stunning grey marble vanity featuring double sinks and an expansive, warmly lit mirror.
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Deluxe Suite bathroom
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Deluxe Suite bathroom
My favourite feature of the bathroom was the smooth-to-touch stone countertops with a honed finish. The impressive detailing and crisp surface of the counters really encapsulated the high-quality design and the tasteful materials used throughout the hotel.
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Deluxe Suite bathroom countertops
The shower and bathtub were enclosed within a single wet room, while the toilet was tucked away in a separate area.
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Deluxe Suite toilet
The onsen-style stone tub was especially luxurious. It was quite deep, with plenty of space to stretch, and not only was a bath pillow provided, but at the foot of the tub was a large TV.
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Deluxe Suite bathtub
The shower had both a rain shower and a handheld shower head. The water pressure was excellent, with an all-consuming blast of water coming from the entirety of the circular rain shower.
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Deluxe Suite wet room
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Deluxe Suite shower
Two very plush and fluffy bathrobes were provided, along with a set of pajamas for sleeping, as is customary at Japanese hotels.
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Deluxe Suite pajamas
Lastly, this north-facing Deluxe Suite offered limited views of Kyoto’s residential surroundings from the windows, with a bamboo partition taking up most of the space for privacy.
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Views from Deluxe Suite
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Garden View Room
I had the chance to tour a few other room types at the property.
The Garden View Room is typical of the hotel’s standard rooms, and it’s one step above the base-level City View rooms. As the name implies, this room faces the interior gardens, and I thought it was very well-appointed.
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Garden View Room room overview
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto – Garden View Room interior garden view
The king bed is the centrepiece of the space, sitting over a muted green carpet.
