Ritz-Carlton Kyoto Review: A Riverside Base Steps From Gion

By Kelly Chang, TripMatters, a VIRTUOSO travel agency in Tustin, California

The location alone would sell me on this one. Here is my honest, room-by-room look at the Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto, and how it compares to our other Kyoto stay.

The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto opened in 2014 on the banks of the Kamo River at Nijo-Ohashi in Nakagyo, a riverside spot favored by Japanese nobility since the 17th century, with views toward the Higashiyama Mountains. It has 134 rooms and suites, a design that nods to Meiji-era architecture, and it has held the Forbes Five-Star rating for nine years running. It is polished and grand, and it leans corporate in the best sense, catering to meetings, conventions, and weddings alongside leisure guests.

The Location Is the Star

What I loved most was where it sits. The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto is within easy walking distance of Gion, the Teramachi shopping area, and Nishiki Market, so you can step out the door and be in the heart of the city. It is close to Kyoto City Hall Station on the Tozai subway line and Sanjo Station on the Keihan line, which makes the rest of Kyoto easy to reach. For a city where getting between neighborhoods can eat up your day, this central, flat, riverside position is a real advantage.

One thing to weigh when you choose where to stay. If your Kyoto is mostly about the historic Higashiyama area, the temples, Kiyomizu-dera, and the Ninenzaka lanes, that side of the city is a bit farther from here. But if your priority is shopping, Nishiki Market, and Gion, this is exactly where you want to be. I would pick your hotel based on what you most want to walk out the door to.

Checked In Without Leaving Our Room

The service made an impression from the very first minute. They checked us in right in our room, and that kind of welcome instantly makes you feel like a VIP. They also brought us sweet treats from the Pierre Herme boutique inside the hotel, along with seasonal fruits. Little touches like that, combined with the 400-plus pieces of modern Japanese art throughout the property, set a tone of quiet, confident luxury.

The Biggest Bed I've Ever Seen

We stayed in a Grand Deluxe Kamogawa room, a larger room with a river view and one king bed, and I am not exaggerating when I say it was the biggest bed I have ever seen.

The room was beautifully stocked. The deep bathtub got plenty of use, and the amenities were a cut above. Diptyque's Philosykos line, shampoo, conditioner, bar soap, and lotion, was set out alongside a bar of Japanese-made soap. A lacquer box tucked away all the extras you could need, from a hairbrush, comb, toothbrush, and toothpaste to an emery board, shoeshine kit, razor, mouthwash, and makeup remover pads.

Even the standard in-room provisions felt generous: complimentary bottled water, loose tea and teabags, Nespresso pods, and a minibar for a fee, plus teapots, teacups and saucers, wine and Champagne glasses, plates, and silverware. It is the kind of room that makes it easy to settle in.

The River View

The Kamogawa river view was absolutely beautiful. In the morning you can watch people out for strolls and riding bikes along the water, and it is a calming way to start the day before heading into the city.

An Honest Word on Breakfast

I will be candid here, because that is what I would tell a friend. Breakfast was just okay for me, mostly because the selection was not as extensive as other hotels we stayed at.

You can order a Japanese set meal or choose from a Western menu, everything from eggs Benedict to French toast, and there is a small buffet with pastries, fruit, and salad.

It is perfectly nice, there just is not a huge variety. If breakfast is a big part of your hotel experience, set your expectations accordingly.

Dining Worth Staying In For

Where the food really shines is at dinner. Japanese cuisine is served at Mizuki, which is split into four experiences: kaiseki with its many small dishes, sushi, tempura, and teppanyaki grilled to order. Tempura Mizuki holds a Michelin star, so it is worth booking.

La Locanda is a lovely Italian restaurant built around locally sourced ingredients, set among wood paneling and tatami. For something truly special, the Chef's Table by Katsuhito Inoue is offered Wednesdays through Fridays for just six guests, a farm-to-table experience fusing Japanese and Italian flavors that the hotel describes as a journey through Japan's 72 micro-seasons. There is also afternoon tea with Pierre Herme creations in the Lobby Lounge, and The Bar for a nightcap.

The Spa and the Pool

For downtime, the hotel is home to Asia's first La Prairie hotel spa, with six treatment rooms plus a spa suite, a soothing waterfall feature, a steam room, and a dry sauna. There is also a heated 20-meter indoor swimming pool and a fitness center, which is more than the traditional-style Kyoto hotels tend to offer.

What a Night Costs

Here is the honest pricing picture. The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto is one of the most expensive hotels in the city, and it is priced like the Forbes Five-Star property it is. As a general guide, entry-level rooms tend to start somewhere around $700 to $1,000 a night and average higher, climbing well beyond that during peak cherry blossom season and autumn foliage. Suites cost significantly more. Rates move a lot by season and date, so treat these as a rough guide and confirm current pricing for your dates.

If you want to get the most out of your stay, book with a travel advisor at TripMatters.

Through luxury booking programs, we can often add perks like breakfast, a room upgrade when available, and a property credit at the same nightly rate you would pay booking direct. At this price point, having an advisor working for you genuinely pays off.

Who I'd Send to the Ritz-Carlton Kyoto

The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto is for the traveler who wants a polished, central, riverside base with the best walking access to Gion and Nishiki, and for anyone here for business, an event, or a wedding. The big, comfortable rooms also make it a great pick for couples and families who want space.

It is a real contrast to the Park Hyatt Kyoto, our other Kyoto hotel. The Park Hyatt is discreet, deeply traditional, and set in the hilly Higashiyama lanes, while the Ritz-Carlton is grander, more central, and flat along the river.

If you want atmosphere and seclusion, lean Park Hyatt. If you want location, space, and easy access to the city, lean Ritz-Carlton. Matching the right one to the right traveler is exactly what I do. If you are in Orange County and planning Japan, stop by our Tustin office or schedule a free consultation.

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Frequently Asked Questions - Ritz Carlton Kyoto Review

Is the Ritz-Carlton Kyoto worth it? If you value a central riverside location, spacious rooms, and five-star service, yes. It has held the Forbes Five-Star rating for nine years running, sits within walking distance of Gion and Nishiki Market, and the service, from in-room check-in onward, is excellent. Breakfast selection is a little limited, but the dinners and location more than make up for it.

Where is the Ritz-Carlton Kyoto located and what is nearby? It is on the Kamo River at Nijo-Ohashi in Nakagyo, within walking distance of Gion, the Teramachi shopping area, and Nishiki Market. It is close to Kyoto City Hall Station on the Tozai subway line and Sanjo Station on the Keihan line, making the rest of the city easy to reach. The historic Higashiyama temple area is a bit farther, so if shopping and Gion are your priority, this is the spot, and if temple-hopping is, you may want to be closer to that side.

What are the rooms like at the Ritz-Carlton Kyoto? Rooms are spacious and beautifully appointed. We had a Grand Deluxe Kamogawa room with a river view and an enormous king bed, a deep soaking tub, Diptyque Philosykos amenities, and a lacquer box stocked with every extra you could need.

What is breakfast like at the Ritz-Carlton Kyoto? You can order a Japanese set meal or choose from a Western menu with dishes like eggs Benedict and French toast, plus a small buffet of pastries, fruit, and salad. Honestly, the selection is more limited than at some other hotels, though the quality is fine.

Does the Ritz-Carlton Kyoto have Michelin dining and a spa? Yes. Tempura Mizuki holds a Michelin star, and the hotel also has La Locanda for Italian, an exclusive six-seat Chef's Table by Katsuhito Inoue, and a Pierre Herme boutique. The spa is Asia's first La Prairie hotel spa, with six treatment rooms, a sauna, a steam room, and a heated 20-meter pool.

How much does the Ritz-Carlton Kyoto cost per night? It is one of Kyoto's priciest hotels. As a rough guide, entry-level rooms tend to start around $700 to $1,000 a night and rise well beyond that in peak cherry blossom and autumn seasons, with suites much higher. Rates vary a lot by date, so confirm current pricing. To get the most out of your stay, book with a travel advisor at TripMatters.