Review: Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto, Marriott Luxury Collection

Resort The Mitsui Kyoto is a brand-new Marriott Luxurious Assortment property in Kyoto that opened in September 2020.

The Mitsui is the most recent flagship property by Japanese actual property powerhouse Mitsui Fudosan Group, becoming a member of the ranks of Kyoto’s spectacular array of luxurious motels.

The property seems visually charming from the skin, simply catching my eye as I used to be planning my Japan journey in September 2022 and tempting me into reserving a one-night keep. 

Amy additionally lately stayed on the lodge as effectively, and has shared her impressions under on this up to date assessment.

Resort The Mitsui Kyoto – Reserving

When redeeming Bonvoy factors, this property sometimes goes for round 100,000 Bonvoy factors per evening. Nonetheless, on the time of my journey, the lodge was providing a PointSavers fee on weekdays for 75,200 Bonvoy factors.

As I wanted a weekday keep, this labored completely for my wants, and I felt it was too good of a value to withstand. Certainly, money charges on the Mitsui Kyoto are fairly excessive, within the vary of ¥100,000 yen ($950 CAD) per evening.

These costs are on par with lots of Kyoto’s prime motels, which usually come at a premium, and made my redemption of 75,000 Bonvoy factors on the PointSavers fee really feel fairly worthwhile.

Outdoors of redeeming factors, it’s additionally value contemplating utilizing a Free Evening Award from the Amex US Marriott Bonvoy Good Card, which is value 85,000 factors, for a keep at this property – maybe together with topping-up the award by as much as 15,000 factors if vital.

Usually, it might probably tough to discover a lodge in Japan that may accommodate a household of 4, not to mention of 5, however we had no points with the Resort Mitsui on this entrance. The Deluxe Room Twin, which will be booked on Bonvoy factors, has two twin beds and is ready to accommodate a household of 4.

The dual beds are literally extra-large twin beds, and so are wider, and will be shared between an grownup and small youngster. Ought to you have to accommodate a household of 5 or desire an additional mattress within the room, you then’d must guide a Premier Room Twin, which is a barely bigger room.

Having made a factors reserving for the Deluxe Room Twin for 334,400 Bonvoy factors for 5 nights on a PointSavers redemption, I emailed the property beforehand to see what our choices had been.

We had been provided an improve to the premier room for ¥10,120 ($101 CAD) per evening. Had we wished an extra mattress within the room, there could be even be a price of ¥15,180 ($152), inclusive of tax and repair cost.

Do you have to be eyeing an improve into a set based mostly in your standing at check-in or by redeeming a set evening award, the excellent news is that many of the Resort Mitsui’s suites may accommodate as much as a household of 5.

At check-in, we had been already upgraded to the Deluxe Suite. The agent was additionally proactive sufficient to examine and discover that the Nijo Suite with two twin beds could be accessible on our second evening onwards, and blocked off the room for us for the rest of our keep.

Resort The Mitsui Kyoto – Location

This new Kyoto luxurious property has a chief location within the coronary heart of the traditional imperial capital. It’s nestled inside residential alleyways adjoining to houses which have been within the space for lots of of years.

The lodge stands on the former location of the Kyoto dwelling of the Kitake, which is the manager department of the Mitsui household. The household had maintained the residence right here for over 250 years.

Moreover, the lodge is correct on the doorstep of the seventeenth century Nijo Citadel, a UNESCO-listed web site that’s one of many metropolis’s hottest points of interest.

Inside a 25-minute strolling distance to the lodge is the Nishiki Market, the most effective markets within the metropolis, lined with avenue meals distributors and eating places. 

Different close by points of interest inside strolling distance embody the Kyoto Shibori Museum and the Mikane Shrine, each inside a five-minute stroll.

In case you’re trying to enterprise a bit additional, it’s 10 minutes to the Kinkaku-ji temple by automobile, and quarter-hour to the well-known crimson gates of the Fushimi Inari-taisha shrine.

Karasuma Oike station is the closest Kyoto Subway station, a few 10-minute journey by foot from the lodge, whereas the town’s central Kyoto Station is roughly a 10-minute drive.

This station is the place Shinkansen trains are available in from Tokyo, which is a standard route into Kyoto and the one we had taken on this journey. Arriving by Shinkansen, we took the subway north to Karasuma Oike after which walked 10 minutes to reach on the Mitsui.

Osaka Itami Airport is the closest airport serving the realm, usually dealing with home flights inside Japan, and is positioned 50 minutes away by automobile. However, it’s an extended two-hour drive to Kansai Worldwide Airport, which is the main worldwide port of entry into the Kansai area.

One noteworthy factor about staying in Kyoto is that you simply’ll have a really completely different expertise when staying in several components of city. Certainly, afterward this journey, we’d try a couple of completely different components of the town, every with its personal distinctive benefits.

At Resort The Mitsui Kyoto, we appreciated being central and having many eating places and worthy points of interest inside strolling distance, particularly the well-known Nijo Citadel proper on our doorstep.

Resort The Mitsui Kyoto – Verify-in

Upon getting into the lodge, you’ll move by the Kajiimiya Gate, which has over 300 years of historic significance. After being restored with 80% of the unique components, it now serves as a grand entrance to welcome lodge company.

We arrived on the lodge round 7pm, following a delayed Shinkansen journey into Kyoto.

I had made this reserving underneath my companion Jessy’s account, as I used to be making an attempt to earn her some elite qualifying nights to resume her Platinum Elite standing. Earlier than our arrival, I had “suite-talked” with the lodge by way of the chat app a few suite improve.

I requested both the Deluxe Suite or the Onsen Suite, based mostly on what I noticed was accessible for the night. The lodge employees mentioned they had been pleased to supply us the Deluxe Suite.

Sadly, I used to be advised that the Onsen Suite is off-limits for complimentary upgrades – a call I’d later come to grasp, because it actually does look like a particular elevated room sort.

At check-in, we confirmed our Deluxe Suite, and had been then knowledgeable that our breakfast could be provided at Forni, the lodge’s primary restaurant.

We had been handed the keys to Room 440. As we accomplished our check-in and started making our option to the room, I instantly took observe of the breathtaking interiors and complicated design all through the lodge.

The foyer and visitor rooms had been designed by André Fu, a prestigious Hong Kong-based designer. 4 different famend architects and designers had been additionally introduced in to finish the lodge.

Specifically, the foyer is the place antiquity and modernity collide. A big ceramic sculpture fills the centre of the foyer, and sits under a extra conventional Shoji lantern on the ceiling, whereas the environment are fabricated from luxurious rustic components.

Resort The Mitsui Kyoto – Deluxe Suite

After perusing the lodge grounds, we lastly started heading as much as our room. Alongside the best way, I continued to be impressed by the completely gorgeous interiors throughout us.

The visitor room interiors on the Mitsui Kyoto had been impressed by Japanese tea homes with a contemporary twist, which is straight away notable upon entry.

As we entered the suite, the lobby was elegant, with the flooring adorned in white stone. Slippers had been laid out for us to vary into earlier than shifting by the remainder of the suite, which was lined with a pleasant, plush carpet.

Transferring previous the lobby, you’ll end up in a spacious dwelling space that feels clear, tranquil, and opulent throughout. T

Muted tones are thoughtfully used all through the house, with ethereal pure wooden reminiscent of walnut and birch. There’s a pure feeling to the dwelling atmosphere that blends effectively with its conventional Japanese motifs.

The dwelling space is spacious, that includes a mushy couch and armchair round a darkish oak espresso desk, which was kindly set with a small welcome reward upon our arrival.

A minibar will be discovered simply across the nook to the proper as you first enter the suite. Right here, you’ll discover espresso and tea, a number of spirits and whiskey, and a few wine within the drawer.

A spacious live-edge desk sits within the right-hand nook of the room, which was a stupendous contact. Constructed into the adjoining wall are a common charger and ample USB ports.

Instantly subsequent to the desk is a generously sized flat-screen TV mounted on the wall.

Transferring into the bed room by the passageway, you’ll discover a easy house internet hosting the king mattress, flanked by two marble-topped facet tables adorned with two elegant lamps.

USB ports and a common outlet are positioned on the partitions by all sides desk, along with a Bluetooth speaker, cellphone, and alarm clock.

On the right-hand wall is one other massive flat-screen TV. 

The beds in Japan and the remainder of East Asia are typically on the more durable facet, however the king mattress within the Deluxe Suite had an affordable diploma of softness to it.

A walk-in closet occupies the central space between the lounge, bed room, and toilet passageway.

The toilet is spacious and equally as elegant, with a surprising gray marble self-importance that includes double sinks and an expansive, warmly lit mirror.

My favorite characteristic of the toilet was the smooth-to-touch stone counter tops with a honed end. The spectacular detailing and crisp floor of the counters actually encapsulated the high-quality design and the tasteful supplies used all through the lodge.

The bathe and bathtub had been enclosed inside a single moist room, whereas the bathroom was tucked away in a separate space.

The onsen-style stone tub was particularly luxurious. It was fairly deep, with loads of house to stretch, and never solely was a shower pillow offered, however on the foot of the bathtub was a big TV.

The bathe had each a rain bathe and a handheld bathe head. The water strain was glorious, with an all-consuming blast of water coming from everything of the round rain bathe. 

Two very plush and fluffy bathrobes had been offered, together with a set of pajamas for sleeping, as is customary at Japanese motels.

Lastly, this north-facing Deluxe Suite provided restricted views of Kyoto’s residential environment from the home windows, with a bamboo partition taking on many of the house for privateness. 

Resort The Mitsui Kyoto – Backyard View Room

I had the possibility to tour a couple of different room varieties on the property.

The Backyard View Room is typical of the lodge’s commonplace rooms, and it’s one step above the base-level Metropolis View rooms. Because the title implies, this room faces the inside gardens, and I believed it was very well-appointed.

The king mattress is the centrepiece of the house, sitting over a muted inexperienced carpet.

A settee lounger is well-placed by the window, making a peaceable nook overlooking the gardens.

The desk sits within the backyard room sits simply in entrance, additionally alongside a powerful view whereas getting some work executed.

The bogs within the base-level rooms join the doorway and the bed room by way of a set of sliding doorways. It’s simply as elegant as the toilet within the Deluxe Suite.

With regards to completely different views, the most effective rooms on the lodge are going to be the west-facing ones that look straight in the direction of the Nijo Citadel.

There are each Nijo Rooms and Suites accessible, and in the event you can snag one in all these, you’ll undoubtedly end up with some spectacular views of this historical landmark. 

Certainly, on our reserving, we had initially been upgraded to a Nijo Room; nonetheless, we determined that we most well-liked the additional house and bought the Deluxe Suite as an alternative. Sadly, the Nijo Suite combining the most effective of each worlds wasn’t accessible on the night of my keep.

Although I didn’t get an opportunity to expertise it myself on this keep, it’s undoubtedly value making an attempt to get a view of the Nijo Citadel in the event you can, until you’d desire the trade-off of a bigger suite with a much less spectacular view as an alternative. 

Resort The Mitsui Kyoto – Nijo Suite

We had been upgraded to the pleasant Nijo Suite from the second evening onwards of our keep. The suite was extremely spacious, with a big sitting space separated from the bed room. 

The lounge had a big live-edge espresso desk, in addition to a settee, arm chair, and a small dinette and bar to the facet. 

The bed room had two twin beds, virtually facet by facet, and a big live-edge desk with a Japanese calligraphy set. 

The suite had massive home windows all through, conserving it vibrant and wam within the room. In addition they gave us a pleasant though barely obstructed view of the the Nijo Citadel, throughout the road.

The bed room opened up right into a spacious, open closet and into the toilet.

Reasonably than pay for an additional mattress for our third youngster within the Nijo Suite, we opted to simply order additional blankets and bedsheets. Ultimately, our youngsters made their very own sleeping preparations within the sitting space of our suite, with one in all them taking the sofa, one other the massive padded bench, and the final one taking the ground.

Within the night, appropriately-sized pyjamas and slippers had been ready for the youngsters.

Child-friendly toiletries and toothbrushes had been additionally offered.

A bit of stuffed tiger was additionally offered as a memento for every child. The tiger is a key image representing the Nijo Citadel positioned throughout from the property.

Resort The Mitsui Kyoto – Breakfast

Breakfast is hosted in Forni within the mornings, positioned on the western facet of the backyard.

I couldn’t assist however as soon as once more pay attention to the considerate inside design of Forni. You’ve bought some tables on the entrance going through out into the inside courtyard, after which others additional again sitting on an elevated stage with the identical garden-facing views. 

Breakfast is complimentary for Marriott Platinum Elite members and above. There’s a selection between a Japanese or Western breakfast, and naturally, we each opted for the Japanese set breakfast.

There was the choice between miso cod or salmon as your fish merchandise, after which a selection between rice and congee. We determined to attempt a bit of every.

The miso cod was silky and tender; it got here with slightly soy sauce to drizzle excessive for an general wealthy flavour.

Jessy additionally completely loved her salmon dish and every thing that accompanied it.

Espresso, tea, and juice had been accessible, in addition to refreshing smoothies and freshly-baked croissants (the latter of which was handed out by roaming attendants within the breakfast room).

I opted for a tropical mango smoothie, which was fruity and scrumptious.

All the things on our plates tasted scrumptious, and the amount of meals on the plate was spectacular in itself too. Total, the Mitsui’s breakfast is definitely befitting of the standard of the lodge as an entire. 

 

As a Platinum member or above, breakfast is included freed from cost for 2 adults and as much as two kids, which is one other nice perk. There’s a Western and Japanese choice for teenagers at breakfast.

My youngsters loved each kinds, together with the each day fruit smoothies and freshly baked croissants. If in case you have greater than 2 kids, breakfast will likely be charged as per the menu costs for every further youngster, though a pleasant server might waive the additional meal for you.

Resort The Mitsui Kyoto – Different Services

The inside courtyard backyard is a focus of the property, providing stunning bushes and water options that create concord between nature and the constructing.

The expansive Japanese backyard includes a set of bushes within the center that show vibrant, blooming cherry blossoms within the spring. Nonetheless, the gardens had been designed in order that the foliage has one thing stunning to supply it doesn’t matter what time of yr it’s.

The eating places and bars at Resort The Mitsui Kyoto are composed of three separate sections, every surrounding the central courtyard gardens.

Forni, the place breakfast is held, additionally affords a extra relaxed eating expertise with all-day Italian eating. Choices embody reimagined wood-oven hearth pizzas and grilled dishes utilizing a Japanese kamado-style cooking vary.

As well as, two eating places alternate between lunch and dinner, sharing the identical house however swapping out restaurant indicators.

Yui serves Japanese delicacies throughout lunch, and within the night, the house turns into Toki, which affords modern French dishes with a Japanese twist.

The Backyard Bar is a soothing atmosphere for night cocktails whereas overlooking the gardens. The bar has a big selection of cocktails, spirits, whiskeys, wine, and sake.

In the course of the day, the bar serves as a spot for peaceable afternoon tea.

The lodge’s in-house spa, the Thermal Spring Spa, is the one luxurious lodge spa in Kyoto with its personal supply of flowing pure spring water.

The house is unequivocally stunning, in line with the remainder of the lodge. Scattered boulders are submerged within the thermal baths of the dimly lit massive open house, making a serene expertise for anybody coming for a dip.

You might primarily traverse by completely different sections of the baths inside the water. There are two jacuzzi areas with scorching water, whereas the remainder of the bathtub has a extra reasonable heat temperature.

These thermal baths are communal, which I discovered fascinating, as sometimes the onsens in Japan are typically separated by gender. Notice that if in case you have tattoos, you’ll be requested to cowl up them up with rash guards whereas utilizing the baths.

Moreover, the lodge has two non-public tub suites that may be booked out at round 19,500 yen ($184) per hour. You’ll get your personal non-public onsen, sitting space, and bathing services.

Renting one in all these tub suites might be a worthwhile addition to your keep in the event you’re in search of a extra non-public bathing expertise.

In the meantime, the lodge additionally affords two Onsen Suites as their very personal room sort – that are much like the non-public tub suites in that they’ve their very own massive non-public onsen inside them – and so it’s fairly comprehensible that these suites gated off from complimentary elite upgrades.

Lastly, the health centre at Resort The Mitsui Kyoto is well-appointed and fashionable. Cardio gear included treadmills, bikes and an elliptical, after which there have been free weights as effectively.

The property onsen pool is offered for teenagers to make use of in the course of the hours of 11am to 4pm. It’s a tranquil setting although, and the employees attempt to implement that it isn’t a swimming pool per se.

Children are free benefit from the onsen pool, however no swimming or leaping is permitted. The water is relatively heat, so it is probably not comfy or acceptable for all youngsters.

Having the general public onsen was nice for us dad and mom too. After a day of sightseeing, we had been capable of take pleasure in it as a option to unwind whereas our youngsters loved a little bit of TV in our room. 

The lodge doesn’t provide any youngsters program, however they do have a small scavenger hunt for teenagers, the place they discover solutions to questions across the property.

Answering them appropriately wins you a stamp from a employees member. Amassing all of the stamps earns you a cute cookie from the concierge desk.

Conclusion

Resort The Mitsui Kyoto is a top-tier lodge that’s effectively well worth the splurge, and a stupendous addition to each Marriott’s Luxurious Assortment portfolio and Kyoto’s star-studded lodge scene.

I had been blown away after I had beforehand stayed at The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto a couple of years in the past, and would say that the Mitsui is definitely on par with, if not stronger than the Ritz, attributable to its spectacular high quality, design, and repair throughout. 

The Deluxe Suite was a beautiful house that’s set inside an equally gorgeous property, the elite breakfast was beneficiant, and the thermal baths with pure spring water are distinctive to this property.

Moreover, the lodge has an unbeatable location, sitting inside a stone’s throw of Nijo Citadel within the coronary heart of the town. In case you’re trying to expertise the most effective of Kyoto’s high-end hospitality whereas remaining central to all the metropolis’s points of interest, there’s no more sensible choice of place to remain.