First Look: Hotel the Mitsui Kyoto

Mitsui Fudosan Co. Ltd. and Mitsui Fudosan Resort Management Co. Ltd have announced that Hotel the Mitsui Kyoto will open its doors in November 2020. Part of The Luxury Collection by Marriott International, the property will mark the companies’ first flagship.

“Hotel the Mitsui Kyoto represents the true essence of Japan framed alongside contemporary aspects,” comments Manabu Kusui, General Manager. “This essence is expressed in our concept ‘Embracing Japan’s Beauty’, and is embodied throughout the property as we have merged tradition and modern philosophy across design, wellbeing, garden artistry and gastronomy.”

Developed by a prestigious team of specialists, the guestrooms and lobby are designed by André Fu, the landscape by Shunsaku Miyagi, and the spa and restaurants by Yohei Akao. The entire team has been led by Akira Kuryu, Master Design Advisor, recognised for his pursuit of architectural designs that blend with the surrounding environment.

Traditional Japanese culture and the heritage of the Mitsui family are translated into a modern design, creating a space where tradition and innovation meet. The property features a total of 161 guestrooms, including 22 suites. Each room is a contemporary reimagining of traditional Japanese tea rooms, fashioned from natural materials and fitted using time-honoured techniques.

Hotel the Mitsui Kyoto is the only luxury property in Kyoto city centre with its own natural spring water source. Since ancient times, onsen bathing has been associated with maintaining healthy skin, alleviating muscle pain and relieving fatigue and stress. The hotel’s spa features a communal Thermal Onsen Spring, two additional private natural onsen spring baths and four treatment rooms. Onsen guest rooms feature natural outdoor hot spring baths set in private garden quarters.

Designed to appeal to both domestic and international guests, the hotel features two restaurants: Toki – which combines the traditions and techniques of French and Japanese cuisine to create a new gastronomy teppan experience; and the all-day dining Italian Forni.

Toki will open with Tetsuya Asano as its Signature Restaurant Chef, whilst Executive Chef Tadahiro Takagi, who was previously Executive Sous Chef at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Tokyo, will oversee all aspects of culinary service at the hotel. In addition to the two restaurants, the hotel features The Garden Bar, which provides the perfect setting to view the landscaped grounds.

The timber-framed Shiki-no-ma room, made of Japanese Cypress, is a faithful yet modern reconstruction of part of the former residence of Kitake, the executive branch of the Mitsui family, and will be available for guests to use as a private dining area, and to host traditional tea ceremony gatherings or traditional Maiko performances.

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