What The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto Means to Us
Set along Kyoto’s Kamo River, this was more than a hotel for us - it was the beginning of our honeymoon and a tradition we’ve returned to ever since.
A Hotel That Meant More From the Start
This hotel has an unfair advantage over most of the others - it has great sentimental value because it was part of our honeymoon itinerary, which we planned entirely using miles and points.
The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto was opened on February 17th, 2014, and I had my eyes glued to it the moment news hit of its grand opening.
Situated right along the picturesque Kamo River, which glides through the heart of Kyoto, the hotel is beautifully located with rooms offering a view of the river and the changing seasons.
Cory enjoying the view - from our trip in 2024
The view in late April- I swear some of those bare trees were pink during peak spring season
A Cherry Blossom Honeymoon Dream
With our honeymoon in mind, I had banked enough Marriott points to book several nights at this hotel in April - cherry blossom season - and my mind was absolutely racing at the thought of being able to visit this grand hotel during the most beautiful time.
It was hard not to do too much research - I didn’t want to know too much or see all the photos of the hotel before seeing it myself - but of all the hotels we went to on our honeymoon, I knew this one would be special.
It didn’t disappoint. The moment I stepped onto the tranquil stone walkway and into the hotel lobby, I could tell this place was in a completely different class from any other hotel I had been to.
And this is true because growing up, our family didn’t really stay in hotels when we visited Japan - we always stayed with my grandparents or relatives’ homes - simple, cozy, and nostalgic. The occasional ryokan was great, but they weren’t Hoshinoya or anything.
No, we didn’t walk on water. The actual stone path is to the left - I’m upset I never took a good photo of it, so you’ll just have to go see it for yourself!
First Impressions and an Unexpected Elevator Lesson
I still remember feeling nervous in the hotel lobby as our friendly receptionist, clad in a luxuriant Japanese kimono, explained the hotel and its many amenities in perfect English.
Moments later, to my great embarrassment, I had to go to the front desk to ask for help as the elevator did not seem to work.
The gentleman there kindly came to the elevator and tapped the black plate with our room key card - bowed politely, and wished us a fantastic visit.
I’m sure there are cameras on those elevators, but the look my wife and I exchanged as we went up in the elevator was absolutely unforgettable, as we doubled over laughing at how stupid we were.
I mean, could the elevator really be unresponsive at such a nice hotel?
We really should have thought about it a bit harder but everything was so amazing that it was a blur.
A quick search reveals that such fancy elevators were around since the 1980s, a decade before either of us was born, adding to the rather hilarious reality of how clueless we were in 2016.
Inside the Room: Details We Still Remember
After surviving the elevator, we entered our rooms and explored every inch, oohing and aahing.
The vanity mirror with a TV screen embedded captured my wife’s imagination - as seen in the photo below (yes, she’s mindblown).
We loved the walls in the bathroom and admired it from our bathtubs - a beautiful cherry blossom motif etched into the wall.
The view from our garden view room. It was beautifully lit up at night! (2016)
Still one of my favorite photos of Cory (2016)
Our room in 2017
That window was a nice touch! Not all rooms have them.
Breakfast, Pastries, and the Croissant That Won
Everything we tried was exceptionally good: the little pastry shop by PIERRE HERMÉ PARIS Boutique, the breakfast, the restaurants.
The only thing that surprised me - I have a pretty strong preference for Japanese-style breakfasts (since we don’t really make that at home - who has time for that anyway?) - but I remember thinking to myself that the Western option was better.
And even on subsequent visits, I have never been wowed by their Japanese breakfast option, but rather by the exorbitantly priced croissants, which they hand out as the Western option. I believe it was 1,400 yen per croissant in 2016, roughly $13.
Oddly, that sounds reasonable considering today’s economy, but still… Bottom line, you should try it at least once. I think it’s better than an overhyped bakery in Europe.
The macaroons were also sooooo good - and I’m upset I couldn’t find a croissant photo for the life of me. Must have devoured them, or I was going through one of those phases where I wanted to “document it in my mind and live in the moment” instead of taking photos all the time. I have my regrets.
They boxed it up for us and left it in our min-fridge since we were on our way out
Becoming part of Kyoto, even briefly
Something we don’t do enough is take advantage of the unique experiences that luxury hotels quietly offer.
All too often, these curated experiences come with a hefty price tag. But this was our honeymoon, so we went for it. In 2016, the experience cost $60 per person, and even a full decade later, in 2026, it’s still about $70 at current exchange rates.
Compared to the average cost of a full-day kimono rental, that may seem steep. In reality, it was worth every bit for us, as the photos below show.
Afterward, the hotel’s experience team guided us around the property for outdoor photos, which turned out to be some of our best photos of the trip.
I slightly regret not joining her, as many friends and family still harass me to this day. But it was a hot afternoon, and I assumed we’d try it again someday.
For better or worse, it was so perfect the first time that we never felt the need to repeat it. Maybe we could’ve done it again for our 10th anniversary. But we were too busy celebrating to think about kimonos—and that feels about right.
Bottom line: some hotel experiences truly justify the premium - and this one, especially with the Ritz touch, is an easy, wholehearted recommendation.
The entire process was seamless, and Cory was elated to choose her favorite kimono from a beautifully curated selection.
Aaaand almost done!
Ta-daaaa!
Valuable image of that elusive stone walkway
For those of you who want a complete view of the all-important kimono bow
They let us sit on the rickshaw! Though they didn’t take us anywhere.
I had to add this not-so-perfect photo of myself for a reality check (not that I look perfect in any of these). It was 80 degrees and humid outside, and after 30 minutes of photos, this was one final shot on the bridge. I’m glowing!
Staying on Points — and Feeling Slightly Out of Place
This was our first luxury hotel stay together, and as such, there were times when we felt a bit guilty for staying on points - maybe you know what I’m referring to as well, if you’ve redeemed points for an exclusive hotel or flight.
But the alternative would be to fork over well over $1,200+ per night (spring cash rates were insane then and are still insane today) and we were not about to blow our entire Japan trip budget on a few nice nights!
The exact moment we felt slightly out of place was when a well-dressed young boy with beautiful hair - no older than seven or eight - walked out from the afternoon tea area, glanced at his notebook and mumbled to himself, “Hm, I actually preferred the cake at the Four Seasons in Tokyo.”
My wife and I silently conversed with our eyes.
Yikes.
But the staff there truly made us feel at home and went above and beyond, never batting an eye at our rather normal travel clothes - as there were plenty of other guests who looked like they could be related to the Duke of Westminster, or with their avant-garde fashion, owned the breakfast area as they picked up morsels with their sharp nails.
I digress.
But really, if you are interested in meeting such one-percenters, visiting high-end hotels is certainly a good start.
Returning Again and Again: 2017 to 2024
As the years progressed, we visited the Ritz again in 2017, and most recently in 2024, when we celebrated our 9th anniversary there.
We’ve never seen the quality of the hotel’s services or rooms decline - and comparing it even to our very first visit in the spring of 2016, the rooms and hotel overall have aged very well.
If anything, the personnel have been consistent and solid since its inception, but today it feels even more settled in its stately Kyoto elegance.
2024 - Finally got upgraded to a Kamo River view room!
The view of the hotel from the other side of the river. Plus some late spring cherry blossoms!
Cherry blossom trees line the pathway right below our room
Anniversary lunch at the Ritz-Carlton restaurant Mizuki
The two waitresses dressed in kimono threw rose petals into the air and sang, “Happy 9th anniversary!” (We all exchanged a funny chuckle at the unexpected celebration)
Is The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto Still Worth the Points?
Is this a bucket list hotel?
Absolutely.
Is it still bookable with points?
Yes and no.
Marriott has two high-end credit card partnerships in the U.S. - The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card by Chase and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card.
In a nutshell, both cards offer an annual 85,000 point free night certificate. You can further top these certificates off with up to 15,000 points, making the maximum 100,000 points per night.
I used two of these the last time we stayed in 2024 (my wife’s and mine), but at least for 2026, availability looks tough as the pricing has climbed. You can still use 108,000+ Marriott points to stay there, but it will feel more like a splurge compared to staying with a free night certificate from a credit card.
When we first visited The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto in 2016, Marriott charged what was then the maximum amount of 70,000 points per night. Today, the rates are higher, often sitting above 100,000 points per night.
But with the right credit cards a two-night stay would be quite easy - and if traveling as a couple, staying four nights becomes a possibility.
Final Thoughts: A Hotel That Became Part of Our Story
If you already enjoy being in Kyoto and love walking the Kamo River area and shops, I highly recommend staying here at least once in your future visits.
No doubt this hotel will always hold a special place in our memories - and I hope one day it becomes part of yours, too.
