Flânons

Kyoto · Japan · To stay

The Mitsui

Location & practical

A Gate with a Previous Address

  • A gate from 1703 opens opposite Nijō Castle.
  • Old stone lanterns look onto a new courtyard garden.
  • At TOKI, French stock starts with Kyoto water.
  • €891–1,838 / night
  • 160 rooms
  • Nijō Aburanokōji, Nakagyō-ku

The Kajiimiya Gate had already celebrated its two hundredth birthday by the time it came to live with the Mitsuis. Built in 1703 for a Buddhist court, it was moved to the family’s Kyoto residence in 1935. When carpenters took it apart ahead of the hotel’s opening in 2020, more than four fifths of the timber could be put back. The old roof tiles that survived are held in place with wire. From the pavement, you’d never know.

Nijō Castle is just across the road. In 1867, the return of political power to the emperor was proclaimed there. The Mitsuis, meanwhile, had spent much of the previous century and a half overseeing textile shops and money exchanges from this address. It was a consequential stretch of road even before anyone thought to put a hotel on it.

André Fu took a bamboo grove as his cue for the lobby, but it’s Shunsaku Miyagi’s courtyard that makes you linger. Stone lanterns from the family garden stand among new plantings, beside a shallow basin that reflects the sky. At the edge of the garden is Shiki-no-Ma, a reconstruction in Japanese cypress of the family’s inner reception room. In rain, that would be the seat to ask for.

At TOKI, chef Tetsuya Asano makes his French stock with Kyoto water. It’s a small detail, until you consider how often a chef tells you where the beef came from and how rarely anyone mentions what went into the pot first.

  • Urban setting Nijō Aburanokōji, Nakagyō-ku
  • Garden
  • Spa
  • Gym
  • Restaurant
  • Bar

Rooms.

The Flânons choice

Which room would we choose?

Garden Room. The courtyard is the best part of the hotel to wake up to. Book this room for a window onto the old stone lanterns and a chance to watch the garden change between breakfast and dusk.

All 10 room types

Deluxe Room

Up to 3 guests

43–51 m²

City view · Connecting rooms

Entry-level room category facing the city.

Premier Room

Up to 3 guests

50–67 m²

City view · Connecting rooms

More floor space across a range of city-facing layouts.

Garden Room

Up to 3 guests

47–61 m²

Garden view · Connecting rooms

Courtyard view. King or twin beds. Extra beds are available.

Nijo Room

Up to 3 guests

50 m²

Castle view

Faces Nijō Castle. King or twin beds. Extra beds are available.

Deluxe Suite

Up to 3 guests

55–65 m²

City view · Connecting rooms

The smallest suite category, with city views.

Executive Suite

Up to 3 guests

78–86 m²

City view · Connecting rooms

City-facing suite with more space.

Garden Suite

Up to 3 guests

95–97 m²

Garden view

Suite overlooking the courtyard garden.

Nijo Suite

Up to 3 guests

112 m²

Castle view

Suite overlooking Nijō Castle.

Onsen Suite

Up to 3 guests

101–111 m²

Private onsen · Garden view · Separate living room

Private open-air bath fed by the on-site spring, with a small garden. King or twin beds. Extra beds are available.

Presidential Suite

Up to 3 guests

213 m²

Castle view

The largest suite, facing Nijō Castle.

The Nijo Room faces the castle. Onsen Suites have their own open-air spring bath and small garden. Connecting rooms and the wheelchair-adapted room should be requested when booking.

Good to know.

Location
284 Nijōaburanokōjichō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-0051, Japan
Open map & directions
Check-in & check-out
Check-in from 15:00, check-out by 12:00
Parking
On-site valet parking costs approximately €23 (¥4,000) per night for hotel guests. Spaces are limited.
EV charging
On-site electric vehicle charging is listed by Marriott. Check connector compatibility and any charge with the hotel before arrival.
Getting around
Nijōjō-mae Station on the Tōzai subway line is a three-minute walk from exit 2. Karasuma Oike Station is about ten minutes on foot from exit 2.
Arriving
The entrance for guests and vehicles is on Aburanokōji Street. Allow around 15 minutes by taxi from Kyoto Station.
Pets
Marriott lists service animals as welcome. Ask reservations about nearby pet boarding.
Accessibility
The main entrance, restaurants, spa entrance and fitness centre have accessible routes. Lifts and accessible parking are available. The hotel lists one wheelchair-adapted guest room and a limited number of loan wheelchairs. Request either ahead of arrival.
Travelling with children
Children aged 4–12 can use the shared Thermal Spring from 09:00 to 17:00 with an adult. Children under 4 cannot use it. At TOKI, parties with children aged 12 or younger must book a private dining room.

Worth knowing

  • Allow about €891–€1,838 per room per night for two, based on the middle half of published rates for 1 October 2026 to 16 March 2027. The estimate includes consumption tax. Kyoto’s accommodation tax is charged separately. Rates vary by date and room category.
  • Bring swimwear for the shared Thermal Spring. Reserve a Private Onsen separately if you want a bath to yourself.

A few places to make it your own.

Nijō Castle

To discover · Kyoto

Nijō Castle

At Kyoto’s Nijō Castle, tigers prowl across gold-leaf sliding doors and the palace floorboards chirp underfoot. In the grand hall, Japan’s last shogun gathered his retainers in 1867 to discuss returning power to the emperor.

Discover this place
KOSA(コウサ)

To eat · Kyoto

KOSA(コウサ)

At Ace Hotel Kyoto, Kōsa pairs exceptional Japanese beef with the vegetables and rice of local growers. A bright, garden-facing dining room and partner chef Katy Cole's Californian farm-to-table instincts make it a relaxed alternative to formal Kyoto dining.

Discover this place
Auction House Kogire-kai

To shop · Kyoto

Auction House Kogire-kai

Every two months, Kyoto auction house Kogire-kai holds a two-day public preview at Miyako Messe in Okazaki. Look closely at tea bowls, folding screens and samurai armour before the sealed bids are opened.

Discover this place
About this edit · 19 sources
  • About the hotel Opening date, room count and former Mitsui family site. · Read 2026-11-11
  • Rooms and Suites Room categories, sizes, views and direct booking link. Individual room pages linked from this index list guest capacities. · Read 2026-11-11
  • Garden Room Capacity, bed choices and connecting rooms. · Read 2026-11-11
  • Nijo Room Capacity, bed choices and castle view. · Read 2026-11-11
  • Onsen Suite Capacity, layout and private outdoor bath. · Read 2026-11-11
  • Hotel FAQ Check-in and checkout, family policies, parking, accessibility and breakfast service. · Read 2026-11-11
  • Property details 24-hour front desk, accessibility, service animals and EV charging. · Read 2026-11-11
  • Hotel reservations contact Reservations email in the hotel’s 2026 press release. · Read 2026-11-11
  • Location Subway exits, approximate taxi time and entrance street. · Read 2026-11-11
  • Breakfast Breakfast menu, prices and service hours. · Read 2026-11-11
  • Thermal Spring On-site spring, swimwear and access rules. · Read 2026-11-11
  • Private Onsen Private bathing and guest access. · Read 2026-11-11
  • Kajiimiya Gate Construction, relocation and restoration. · Read 2026-11-11
  • The Garden Courtyard, historic stones and cypress reception room. · Read 2026-11-11
  • TOKI Chef, cooking, Kyoto water and private dining policy. · Read 2026-11-11
  • CHAKYO Tea ceremony and school. · Read 2026-11-11
  • Published room-rate sample 25th–75th percentile: ¥158,000–¥326,000 for one room for two per night, equivalent to about €891–€1,838. · Read 2026-11-11
  • Euro foreign exchange reference rates 10 November 2026 reference rate: ¥177.38 per €1. · Read 2026-11-11
  • Kyoto City Accommodation Tax Separate accommodation tax from 1 March 2026. · Read 2026-11-11