Want a Kyoto hotel where everything still feels brand new?
10 Newly Opened Hotels 2023-2026
Six Senses · Banyan Tree · Capella 2026

The fourth Imperial Hotel property in Japan opened on Mar 5, 2026 — the newest hotel in this list. It is a restoration of Yasaka Kaikan, a nationally designated cultural property built in 1936 by architect Tokusaburo Kimura, in the heart of Gion. Obayashi Corporation — the original constructor — returned to restore it after nearly 90 years, using a 'live capture' technique to preserve the original 16,387 individual ceramic tiles. Interior design by Tomoyuki Sakakida (New Material Research Laboratory) follows the philosophy of 'old is new'. Just 55 rooms across five categories — Premier, Grand Premier, Junior Suite, Suite, and Signature Suite — plus spa, indoor pool, gym, French restaurant 'Neri' open to outside guests, wood-fired 'Yasaka' dining room, and the Old Imperial Bar carrying the heritage of the original second-generation building.

The first Capella in Japan opened on Mar 22, 2026 — right at the peak of Kyoto's sakura season. Located in Miyagawa-cho, one of the five geisha districts that has preserved its atmosphere most intact, the building occupies the site of a former elementary school. Architecture by Kengo Kuma & Associates + Brewin Design Office uses natural materials in muted tones that acknowledge, rather than compete with, the geisha quarter around it. 89 rooms including 6 suites with private in-room onsen. The signature restaurant is a collaboration with SingleThread (Michelin 3★ from Sonoma, California) — chefs Kyle Connaughton and Katina bring farm-to-table technique into dialogue with kaiseki tradition. Kenninji Temple (the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto) and the Kamo River are both walking distance.

The first Courtyard by Marriott in Kyoto opened on Aug 27, 2025 — a rebrand and renovation of The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Shijo, now operated under Marriott by JR Tokai Group. 125 rooms across 9 floors above ground. One minute walk from Shijo Station (Karasuma Line) — the best transit position in this roundup. Gion is 12 min east on foot. Design blends modern Marriott standards with traditional Kyoto motifs. All-day dining in-building, fitness centre, flexible workspace. Marriott Bonvoy points and status honoured. Starting at ¥42K, it undercuts Hilton and DoubleTree while matching or exceeding their transit convenience. Well-suited for business travellers and those using Kyoto as a base for broader Kansai day trips.

Holiday Inn returned to Kyoto on Jan 29, 2025 — a rebrand and renovation of Alanvale Hotel Kyoto under IHG. This is Japan's 11th Holiday Inn + IHG's 3rd hotel in Kyoto (alongside ANA Crowne Plaza and Six Senses). 183 rooms, 3 min walk from Gojo Station (Karasuma Line), 1 stop to Kyoto Station — the most practical transit base for day trips outside the city (Nara 45 min, Osaka 15 min, Universal Studios 15 min). Facilities include: lobby lounge + cafe bar, upmarket restaurant, banquet rooms, Japanese daiyokujo communal baths (large onsen-style bath house), gym. IHG One Rewards points and status apply. The property has 16 months of operation behind it — score 8.8 from 612 reviews, well-stabilised.

The first Hilton in Kyoto under the flagship brand opened on Sep 12, 2024. 313 rooms across 9 floors at Sanjo-Kawaramachi, central downtown Kyoto — 5 min walk to Kamogawa River, Imperial Palace, Yasaka Shrine, and Gion. The Standard Room at 40 sqm is the largest base room in the newly-opened 4-5★ Kyoto group. 16 room types across 5 categories, 28 connecting rooms for families, Junior Suite 75 sqm, Presidential Suite 121 sqm. Full facilities: indoor pool + spa + fitness, executive lounge on floor 9, rooftop bar (seasonal) with Kyoto skyline views, 4 dining outlets. Design integrates Kyoto tradition (washi, cypress, sliding doors) with modern luxury. Hilton Honors points and status honoured. Open 20 months — score 9.1 from 1,247 reviews, fully stable.

The first Banyan Tree in Japan opened on Aug 1, 2024 — a luxury onsen ryokan experience perched on the Higashiyama hilltop. Architecture by Kengo Kuma & Associates frames it as a 'sanctuary at the boundary between forest and city', with the trademark geometric latticework at the entrance. 52 rooms across 6 types. 8 rooms have private onsen in-room. Interior design by Yukio Hashimoto (designer of Hotel Toranomon Hills Tokyo) uses genuine Japanese craft materials: large cypress bathtubs, tatami mats, natural wood elements, gold leaf accents. The defining feature unique to this property: a Noh stage atrium — a traditional Noh theatre inside the building, with private performances arranged for guests. 6 min walk to Yasaka Shrine, 12 min to Kiyomizu-dera.

The first Six Senses in Japan opened on Apr 24, 2024 — part of IHG's luxury brand portfolio — on Higashiyama's southern hills, becoming Six Senses' first property in East Asia. 81 rooms and suites ranging from 42 to 238 sqm. The defining experience: an Eastern-philosophy wellness spa designed around principles of Yin-Yang and Qi flow, emphasising a sensory journey of reconnection. Every room has a private outdoor space and receives a Wellness Welcome Ritual at check-in. Interior design by BLINK Design Group weaves Kyoto cultural craftsmanship into the Six Senses signature aesthetic. The Six Senses Suite at 238 sqm is the largest suite in Kyoto luxury, with private garden, onsen, and dining room. Sanjusangen-do + Kyoto National Museum are 5 min walk.

The first DoubleTree by Hilton at Kyoto Station opened on Mar 29, 2024 — a rebrand and renovation of Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto Grande under Hilton. 5 min walk from Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit — perfect base for Shinkansen day trips (Osaka/Universal Studios 15 min · Nara 45 min · Tokyo 2h 15 min). 266 rooms split across 16 types in 5 categories: floors 2–6 retro-modern Kyoto-inspired design, floors 7+ Executive Rooms and Suites in classical serenity design. The Deluxe Tatami Suite at 81 sqm provides a traditional Japanese tatami experience at full Hilton comfort standards. Executive lounge on floor 9. DoubleTree signature warm chocolate chip cookie welcome. Hilton Honors points and status. Open 26 months — score 8.9 from 1,840 reviews.

Fauchon L'Hotel — the second Fauchon Hotel in the world (the first is in Paris) — opened in Mar 2024. The brand brings 130+ years of French gastronomy into a boutique hotel format in central Kyoto, near the Kamogawa River. The centrepiece: every guest has access to a Fauchon Gourmet Bar, 24 hours a day, stocked with Paris-made pastries, macarons, champagne, and Fauchon tea selection. The Grand Café Fauchon serves French cuisine prepared with Kyoto seasonal ingredients. Rooms start at 35 sqm with the signature Fauchon pink-gold aesthetic. Spa uses Fauchon Beauty signature products. Member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World + Hilton Honors partner network. 5 min walk to Nishiki Market, 8 min to Pontocho.

Dusit Thani Kyoto opened in Sep 2023 — the oldest entry in this list, but still within the 'newly opened' window and fully pristine. It is the first Dusit-brand hotel in Japan, blending Thai gracious hospitality (siwadi service culture) with Japanese omotenashi. Located in Hanganji Monzen-machi, between the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Nishi Honganji and Higashi Honganji, a 10-minute walk (850 m) from Kyoto Station. Design fuses Kyoto's material palette with subtle Thai influences — chedi-inspired motifs that reference Ayutthaya without dominating. 147 rooms, 5 dining outlets, spa with Thai signature treatments, indoor pool. Notably, it received the Michelin Key 2024 — the first Thai-brand hotel globally to earn it. Open 32 months — score 9.1, fully stable.