The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto

I’ve had my finest Ritz-Carlton stay here. The anticipatory service stood out: they sorted things out before I even knew there might be a problem, which is what I expect from a five-star hotel. Plenty of places calling themselves five-star fall short of that. The property has three Michelin keys, well deserved in my view. My Grand Deluxe Kamogawa River View room was quiet and spacious, with floor-to-ceiling river views. If privacy and calm matter to you, I think the river-facing rooms are worth the extra cost over city-view rooms. The architecture is stunning, mixing international luxury with the intimacy of a traditional Ryokan. Walking in from the street past the waterfall to the lobby felt world-class. The small details were excellent. They gave me curated taxi cards for major attractions, with maps, travel times, and the hotel address in Japanese for the return trip. The spa lockers had quality wet swimwear bags, a small but meaningful detail that hotels at this price can miss. Check-in was seamless. The team greeted me by name at the curb and handled it privately in my room. They also proactively arranged the Japanese breakfast reservation during arrival, and that breakfast is a must.

The view from my room of the Kamogawa River and Higashiyama mountains was breathtaking. The room felt calm and elegant, and the staff were warm and thoughtful in a way that felt true to the Ritz-Carlton spirit. Breakfast was exquisite, with beautifully prepared dishes made using local ingredients. Everything felt well considered, and the mix of luxury and serenity made the stay memorable. Kyoto’s beauty and hospitality came through throughout my visit. A truly special, peaceful place to stay.

We stayed at the Ritz-Carlton Kyoto in June 2025, and our Garden Suite had lovely Japanese details and a walk-out terrace. It felt serene, elegant, and incredibly relaxing. Along the Kamo River, the location is beautiful and peaceful while still close to the places we wanted to explore. We enjoyed walking to nearby restaurants and cafés by the river each evening. The Japanese breakfast was exquisite, and every meal we had was a five-star experience. Staff were warm and attentive from the moment we arrived, anticipating what we needed with real care and professionalism. It’s one of the best Ritz-Carltons I’ve stayed at, with luxury, culture, and tranquility coming together beautifully.

We spent one night here on our first visit to Kyoto, at the end of our Tokyo trip. It was easy to reach from the Shinkansen and centrally located. Everyone was friendly and made us feel welcome, and the room and views were great. I used Bonvoy points and was extremely pleased with the stay. It was phenomenal.