"Immaculately kept hotel and exceptional service. Rooms are spacious and so beautiful. Very relaxing atmosphere. Location is not in the "happening" parts of Kyoto, but it is right next to Nijo Castle, and by extension 1 block away from public transportation. ON SITE THERMAL SPRINGS IS ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS I'VE SEEN AT A HOTEL!!! I didn't use the private onsen, but I felt very content after long walking days using the thermal springs."

"We had an amazing stay at Hotel Mitsui in Kyoto. From the moment we arrived, the experience felt incredibly private and refined. We were seated for check-in, served Japanese tea as a welcome drink, and personally escorted to our room where we received a thoughtful room tour. Every detail of the room and hotel design was intentional and beautifully executed — and everything was absolutely spotless. It’s truly one of the most beautiful hotels we’ve ever stayed in. In the evening, we decided to check out the bar after dinner nearby. While the cocktail menu looked impressive, we were a bit disappointed with the service. Our server struggled to fully understand our order, and we noticed another table receive the wrong item. For such a highly rated property, exceptional bartending and attentive service should be a given. That said, the onsen was the true highlight of the property — absolutely stunning and a must-visit during your stay. Overall, it’s a gorgeous hotel in a fantastic location. Despite the minor service hiccup, we would highly recommend Hotel Mitsui to anyone visiting Kyoto."

"The hotel is legendary. Being on the property of one of Japan's most prominent families, and right across from the Shogun's Palace back in the day, I have never imagined myself to be one day staying right next to Nijo Castle and have a direct view from my suite. I loved the private hot spring, and the other facilities on site. The hotel has art built into its architecture which clearly shows. The central garden is like an art that changes with the season. I appreciated everything built into the hotel, and its staff are warm and welcoming as expected from a hotel this caliber. With all that said, there was a used water bottle floating on the drain side of the private hotspring when we entered the facility, albeit a little hidden from plain sight. At breakfast, the spoon provided to us was clearly dirty. Although staff profusely apologized, I just don't understand how a 3 michelin key property can make such rookie mistakes."

"This hotel was amazing! The staff are all so friendly and welcoming. I would definitely bring a swim suit to take a dip in the hot springs beneath the hotel, they were very relaxing and perfect after a long day of travel. We dinned for breakfast and for dinner, the breakfast was good with a selection of an American breakfast or traditional Japanese breakfast. We also dinned at TOKI which is a fine dinning restaurant, we did not get the wine pairings although the food was still great. Overall, we had a great experience and I would definitely return to this hotel."

"I was lucky enough to spend four nights at The Mitsui last month with my wife. We have been reluctant to return to Kyoto to stay overnight because all the luxury properties are in the Gion area of Kyoto, which is inundated with hordes of tourist. The Mitsui, is in a much quieter area of Kyoto, directly across the street from the Nijo Castle. The beauty is you're far enough away from the hustle and bustle but just a quick walk to places like the Nishiki Market. I was so impressed with the property, itself, which is absolutely beautiful. The design and architecture is very attractive but there's a warm and welcoming feel. The garden is what really stands out with the property. It is especially beautiful at night. Our room was a garden view standard room. It was generous in size, and I especially liked that the bathroom had a double vanity sink. The bed was super comfortable, and the climate control worked really well. Breakfast each morning is Forni. The buffet wasn't huge compared to other breakfast buffets in Asia, but the quality was excellent and they offered the right items. If you wanted something specific, you can also order an item off the menu. Sara and her team in the morning did a fabulous job taking care of us and making sure we were fueled with enough matcha to get us through the day. We also had the opportunity to eat a "snack" at Forni one evening. We ordered the chicken sandwich and the fish and chips. While the chicken sandwich was very good, the fish and chips definitely were the highlight. Actually, their fish and chips were better than anything I've ever had in London! Service at The Mitsui was definitely on point and not overly intrusive. The thing that really made our stay was seeing our friends Eita and Shogo, two managers who we knew from our many stays at the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo. Both are exceptional gentleman, and it was so obvious that The Mitsui is under their leadership given the stellar service standards. They really care about hospitality and guest experience, and as a frequent traveller, I really appreciated that. The Mitsui represents an excellent value proposition. They offer a great hard product like many hotels in Kyoto, but it's the soft product what really sets it apart. We keep on talking about The Mitsui, and cannot wait to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary next January at the property! I just cannot recommend the Mitsui enough to those looking for a special, luxurious stay in Kyoto! Oh, and the thermal spring onsen on the property is a must!"