The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto

We spent five incredible nights at The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary, and it was truly an unforgettable experience from beginning to end. We booked the Garden Terrace Suite (1 King, Mountain View), and the moment we stepped into the room, we were blown away. The room was beautifully appointed with every detail thoughtfully designed. From the elegant Japanese aesthetics to the perfectly curated amenities, everything reflected refined comfort. One of our favorite features was the sliding door that opened to the terrace—equipped with a screen, so we could leave it open to enjoy the fresh breeze and the soothing sound of the river. It was incredibly peaceful and relaxing. Every staff member made us feel special, but we would especially like to thank Chisa Koyama from Guest Relations, who went above and beyond to assist with our last-minute requests, including arranging an unforgettable kimono experience and much more. A heartfelt thank you to Catherine from Guest Activities, who made our kimono experience so meaningful—this is a memory we will cherish for a lifetime. And to Victoria Ng from the Guest Activities team, who led us on a wonderful complimentary cycling tour. She guided us to beautiful shrines and temples, explained the history behind each place, taught us the proper etiquette—what to do, how to pray inside—and even gave us thoughtful advice on what types of charms or souvenirs to get at each specific shrine. It made the experience so much deeper and more meaningful. The hotel’s location is perfect—right on the riverfront with stunning views and within walking distance to many of Kyoto’s most famous attractions. If you stay here, do not miss the Chef’s Table by Katsuhito Inoue. It’s an extraordinary dining experience where every dish is a masterpiece of flavor and presentation—truly exceptional. Also, the complimentary cycling tour is something you absolutely shouldn’t miss. It’s the most relaxing way to explore Kyoto without the crowds, while learning about the city’s rich culture and history from the knowledgeable Ritz-Carlton team. Our five nights flew by—we didn’t want to leave. We cannot wait to return to this incredibly special place. Thank you to everyone at The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto, for making our 20th anniversary so magical and memorable.

Stayed at Ritz-Carlton Kyoto with our adult children. We had two rooms: one with river view and another with garden view. Both were fantastic, very well furnished and spotless. Great location, where you can just walk out and stroll along the river. The staff is truly 5 stars! At check in, they had a couple of guests at the counter when we arrived. Rather then asking us to wait, they brought us to a bar/restaurant area, offered drinks, refreshing towels and completed check-in right there and then. This sort of attention to detail continued throughout our stay. The lobby level has an amazing outpost of Pierre Hermé Paris, not something you see every day not just in Japan but even in Europe. All pastries for breakfast were provided by Pierre Hermé and their glazed croissants, among others, were incredible. The only thing better was Pierre Hermé french toast! Overall, the breakfast setup and selection was superb. If you travels bring you to Kyoto, this Ritz-Carlton is not to be missed.

Lovely stay at the Ritz. I would probably rate a 4.5. Rooms were comfortable and the bed was huge! View of the River was very nice. Housekeeping was exceptional. Front Desk staff and Valet service were wonderful as well. Breakfast service was often slow and often took very long and ordered items were often forgotten. Had dinner at La Locanda and once again, very slow service.

This is a very fancy and very nice hotel. Check-in was obscenely long but that seems to be the case with all luxury hotels. Very nice breakfast selection, a little bit overly fancy, and I could imagine if I could eat the Japanese breakfast (I keep Kosher...) then it would be very good food. Very nice service. Great location.

It's a very good hotel. Well located, great suite with river view and attentive staff. Very welcoming. Only downside is a bar that closes sharp at 10pm with last orders at 930pm. As a Scotsman, where the law states that hotel bars stay open for as long as residents require - this is a MAJOR DOWNSIDE!