The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto

Having stayed in many luxury hotels around the world and in context of the exorbitant amount we paid for our stay (over ¥300,000 / US$2,100 per room per night for a regular king room : US$8,500 for our 2 night stay for 2 rooms), we are EXTREMELY disappointed. This is the worst room we have stayed in at in any Ritz Carlton, or in fact in any luxury hotel in the world. We booked connected king rooms as we were traveling with our young kids. Unlike the photos advertised on the website and platforms like Trip advisor, our rooms overlooked a graveyard and a multitude of buildings with hundreds of windows looking directly into us vs. the beautiful river view advertised on the website and travel platforms. I have attached photos. It was eerie and absolutely disappointing to have this kind of a view at this kind of a hotel in a beautiful city like Kyoto. Again I want to reiterate, for the price paid, the room was not worth it AT ALL. Moreover given ~50% of rooms in the hotel have this morbid / graveyard view, we felt it was grossly mis sold and mis advertised as there are no photos of this anywhere. When we brought this up with the hotel manager Midori, at first we were told to pay an additional ¥60,000 per room per night to switch to connecting rooms with a river view, then it was suggested we move to a river view room (complementary) but separate from our children who they will not upgrade. Again for a Ritz Carlton and for the amount we had already paid, the service and the way they dealt with this issue was extremely disappointing. We regret picking this hotel. For this amount we could have picked any of the beautiful luxury hotels in Kyoto. I wish we had. This experience at the hotel really ruined our trip to Kyoto. Please check ahead about the room type and view before booking. And be aware that the staff will not be accommodating at all. I do wish to highlight that the concierge was very knowledgeable and helpful.

The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto was superb in every way. The service we received from the wonderful team, from check-in until we departed, was excellent. The entire staff was perfectly trained for their particular roles. The rooms and hotel facilities were impeccable, spacious, and beautiful. The food at the restaurants, including the glorious breakfast buffet, was sublime. I can’t recommend this magnificent hotel highly enough!

Hands down by far THE BEST overall hotel I have ever stayed at! The hotel is a nice property with very clean traditional but modern aesthetics. It’s located just a short walk outside of the tourist area along the Kanagawa River, which has a nice walking path to enjoy the outdoors. By far, what elevates the Ritz Kyoto to a whole other level is its customer service and attention to detail. It started with my email correspondence before my visit. Navigating direct Japan restaurant booking was somewhat difficult, so I emailed the hotel for help with finding a restaurant and booking it. The emails were always responded timely by the concierge staff and when I checked in, I was given restaurant directions to:from the hotel to give the taxi driver. When I entered or left the property, the staff went out of their way to ask me if I needed any assistance, whether it was directions, taxi service, restaurant recommendations, etc. They were always one step ahead of me offering assistance before I even realized I needed it! Megumi O in Guest Experience provided fantastic check-in experience, so helpful and accommodating. The absolute standout was N Sakamoto at the front desk. Thank you for providing such caring customer service for my friend who was fatigued and rested at the hotel while I was out. It was very much appreciated. The Marriott Bonvoy loyalty recognition is outstanding at this property! I could go on and on, but the bottom line, if you want the best, stay here!

The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto was truly one of the finest hotel experiences we’ve ever had. From the moment we arrived, the service was flawless, but the property itself is where it truly shines. It perfectly blends old-world Japan with modern luxury. The rooms, spacious for Kyoto, were beautifully designed and felt like a contemporary ryokan with sliding panels, natural textures, and elegant wood finishes. Thoughtful touches, like live Japanese string music, made the experience even more immersive. The location was another highlight—compared to the Park Hyatt and Four Seasons Kyoto, the Ritz offers a peaceful retreat away from tourist crowds, making it the perfect sanctuary after exploring the city. One downside was the subpar spa area and pool, which felt a bit underwhelming as they were located underground. However, we didn’t mind, as the overall feel of the hotel was just so incredible.

A haven in lovely Kyoto. The hotel looks calm and serene and most of the patrons look like they belong there. Lots of locals so it has that true Japanese feel. Funny but you feel lile you have to act calm yourself. Staff is extremely professional. Food is good and they have decent american options for lunch.