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This story is part of Cosmo’s 2024 Hot Hotel Awards package, where we recognize 10 next-level properties across the world with the inaugural distinction. Each hotel meets all of our criteria: incredible aesthetics, celebrity buzz, actually fun activities, delicious F&B, and killer amenities. We also personally visited and approved each spot after months of scouring online reviews and talking to travel experts. SEE THE FULL LIST OF HOT HOTEL AWARDS WINNERS
The trip from the United States to Japan is a marathon, not a sprint, so when my boyfriend and I arrived in Kyoto after 18 hours of travel, we resembled two dried sponges. We didn’t know what time it was and we were dressed in weird plane outfits, but still, the staff at Hotel the Mitsui Kyoto welcomed us with two small cups of tea and homemade candy. With a few sips, everything started to feel okay again.
We stayed at the Mitsui for the first three nights of our 10-day tour across Japan, and our biggest regret was not staying longer. Not only is the Mitsui serene, beautiful, and equipped with outstanding dining and spa features, but it’s also nestled amongst some of the historical landmarks that make the city so special, such as the iconic Nijō Castle.
If you’re planning on visiting Kyoto anytime soon (and if you aren’t, you should be, btw), please allow me to convince you why this is the place you’ll want to rest your pretty head at night. Read on for my full review of Hotel the Mitsui Kyoto, below.
THE QUICK HITS: HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO EDITION
Name: Hotel the Mitsui Kyoto
Cost Per Night: Starting at $1,053
Best For: Relaxing between sightseeing
While You’re Here, Visit: FORNI, their on-site restaurant, in the morning for a traditional Japanese breakfast served in a bento box
One-Word Vibe Check: Peaceful
Most Iconic Photo Spot: In the courtyard garden
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THE FIRST IMPRESSIONS
After you enter the premises of the Mitsui, you’re escorted to the lobby, which looks out into the central courtyard garden. On a nice day, the staff will open the floor-to-ceiling windows so the indoors and outdoors become one free-flowing space. (Fresh air! What a concept to a New Yorker like me!)
This courtyard, I just…🥲.HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO
In addition to the tea and treats I mentioned earlier, you’ll also be greeted with a priceless sense of calm. The modern and airy design of the seating area quieted my mind instantly, and I just felt a little more present. Our room wasn’t quite ready when we arrived, so the concierge managed our bags while we went out to explore. My boyfriend and I wandered to Nishiki Market to dive into authentic street food (highly recommend) and kickstart the first of many retail therapy sessions on our trip.
THE ROOMS
These pajamas were so cute I wish I could have taken them home.Mia Lardiere
If the Mitsui taught us anything, it’s that the best thing your hotel room can have after abysmal plane sleep is top-notch blackout shades. On our first morning, we woke up thinking it was 4 a.m. based on how dark it was…but it was actually 8 a.m.! We stayed in a Deluxe Room equipped with a king bed and a very large sunken bathtub that we soaked in every day after hiking around the surrounding cities. The Mitsui provided turn-down service complete with chocolates and candies every night (who doesn’t like to end their day with a little sweet treat?) and supplied us with VERY CUTE matching pajamas.
THE AMENITIES
You simply must make time to visit the Thermal Spring Spa at the Mitsui during your stay. If you’ve never experienced an onsen (a mineral-rich natural bath fed by hot springs) before, this is the place to do it. Put your phone on DND and force yourself to find true relaxation. (FYI, if you can swing it, splurge on one of the hotel’s Onsen Suites, which come equipped with private tubs surrounded by greenery.)
If you’re in the market for a spa treatment (duh), you can peruse through a menu that includes Kumano Brush Drainage Therapy, Hot Stone Therapy, Swedish Body Therapy, and more. And if you’re someone who works out on vacation (more power to ya), the spa has a gym, as well as a complimentary morning wellness breathing session led by an instructor. You sit overlooking the garden, and it’s a great way to get an energetic start to your day.
The spa is just 🤌.Miyuki Kaneko (Nacasa & Partners inc.)
THE FOOD AND BEV
The Mitsui has two public restaurants, TOKI and FORNI, located on the property. TOKI, which was featured in the 2024 Michelin Guide, is labeled as an “innovative Kyoto-French” eatery, serving a 12-course tasting menu with curated wine pairings (*chants* do it, do it!). FORNI, on the other hand, is an Italian spot that fires up incredible pizzas and delicious pasta dishes. I was blown away by the Bolognese Bianco with fresh casarecce noodles, and you should get it so we can talk about it.
In the mornings, you can find a Japanese and Western-style buffet at FORNI full of 0ptions, and at night, well-crafted drinks at the sultry and intimate Garden Bar will be calling your name. Oh, and did I mention room service is available 24/7?!
THE BOTTOM LINE
I’ll say it: A stay at Hotel the Mitsui Kyoto is not cheap. But—but!—it is well worth the premium you pay for the omotenashi, aka the tradition of mindful Japanese hospitality. Everything in the hotel was well thought out, and I felt more and more zen each step of our stay.
HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO
As my boyfriend and I quickly learned, the property is also located within walking distance of many train stops that can transport you to new cities, fascinating historic sites, and stunning scenery in record time. And, because it is a Mariott-Bonvoy hotel, you can supplement the cost of your stay by using Marriott Bonvoy loyalty points. If we find ourselves in Kyoto again, a second stay at this hotel is absolutely in the cards…and we’ll be taking more photos in our matching pajamas—no questions asked.
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