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Which to choose · Kyoto

The Ritz-Carlton or Dusit Thani, Kyoto?

The Ritz-Carlton, opened in 2014, sits on the west bank of the Kamogawa at Nijo-Ohashi, looking across the river to the Higashiyama hills and within walking distance of Gion; Dusit Thani, opened in September 2023, is set around a courtyard on Nishinotoin-dori in the temple quarter near Nishi Hongan-ji, 850 metres from Kyoto Station. The Ritz-Carlton has the river, larger rooms and Japanese restaurants under the Mizuki name; Dusit Thani brings Thai cooking and Ayutthaya to a Kyoto plan.

The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto

Nijo, Kyoto

The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto

Opened 2014 · 117 rooms

Dusit Thani Kyoto

Shimogyo, Kyoto

Dusit Thani Kyoto

Opened 2023 · 131 rooms

In short

Choose the Ritz-Carlton for a river room facing the Higashiyama hills, Gion on foot and the Mizuki restaurants; choose Dusit Thani for Thai cooking at Ayatana, a courtyard in the temple quarter and Kyoto Station 850 metres away.

  • A first visit to Kyoto

    The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto

    Gion, Teramachi and Kawaramachi are within walking distance, and the river rooms face the Higashiyama hills.

  • Day trips by train

    Dusit Thani Kyoto

    Kyoto Station is 850 metres away, and the Kansai airport bus stops at its Hachijo side.

  • The food

    Dusit Thani Kyoto

    Ayatana holds Thai SELECT three stars, and Chef's Table Kōyō serves omakase by the 24 micro-seasons.

The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto

Choose The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto for

  • Grand Deluxe Kamogawa River View rooms, 55 sq m, face the river, and the Kamogawa and corner suites add the Higashiyama mountains
  • Tempura, kaiseki, sushi at an 11-metre lacquer counter and teppanyaki under the Mizuki name, a chef's table and La Locanda for Italian
  • Asia's first La Prairie Spa beside a four-storey waterfall, and a heated 20-metre indoor pool

Dusit Thani Kyoto

Choose Dusit Thani Kyoto for

  • Ayatana, contemporary Thai with Kansai ingredients, the first Thai restaurant in Japan given Thai SELECT three stars
  • 850 metres from Kyoto Station, the easier base for day trips by train, with the airport bus from Kansai stopping at the station
  • Interiors that mix Kyoto with Ayutthaya, the old Thai capital, around a central courtyard, and a Devarana spa with Thai and Japanese therapies

Side by side

Where
Nijo
Shimogyo
Opened
2014
2023
Last renovated
–
–
Rooms
117, 17 of them suites
131, 16 of them suites
Room sizes
50–62 sq m
40 sq m
Restaurants and bars
9
5
Pool
Yes
Yes
Hot spring
–
–
Awards
1 MICHELIN Key, Forbes 5 stars
1 MICHELIN Key, Forbes 4 stars
Design
Peter Remedios and Spin Studios
–
Airport
Osaka Itami (ITM), 60 km
–
Brand
The Ritz-Carlton
Dusit Thani
Booked through us
Marriott STARS
Our own perks

The rooms

The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto

Which to book. Ask for a Grand Deluxe Kamogawa River View room, the hotel's signature category facing the river; the Kamogawa and corner suites add the Higashiyama mountains, and the Garden Terrace Suites have rooftop gardens of their own.

Dusit Thani Kyoto

Which to book. All three room categories are 40 sq m, so the view is the choice: the Premier Garden Room looks onto the garden, the Premier Room onto the city or courtyard.

The first room

The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto

Deluxe Kyoto (King)

Deluxe Kyoto (King)

50 sq m · inner court or courtyard view

Dusit Thani Kyoto

Deluxe Room

Deluxe Room

40 sq m · king or twin

The room to ask for

The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto

Grand Deluxe Kamogawa River View (King or Twin)

Grand Deluxe Kamogawa River View (King or Twin)

55 sq m · Kamogawa river view · the hotel's signature rooms

Dusit Thani Kyoto

Premier Garden Room

40 sq m · garden view · king or twin

The largest suite

The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto

The Ritz-Carlton Suite (Presidential Suite)

The Ritz-Carlton Suite (Presidential Suite)

212 sq m · river view · one bedroom, living room, balcony, fireplace

Dusit Thani Kyoto

Imperial Suite

Imperial Suite

173 sq m · separate living room

Dining

The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto

  • Tempura Mizuki · tempura restaurant

  • Kaiseki Mizuki · kaiseki

  • Sushi Mizuki · Edomae sushi counter

  • Teppan Mizuki · teppanyaki

  • Chef's Table by Katsuhito Inoue · kaiseki-style tasting menu

  • La Locanda · Italian restaurant

  • The Lobby Lounge · lobby lounge · afternoon tea

  • The Bar · bar

  • Pierre Hermé Paris Boutique · pâtisserie

Dusit Thani Kyoto

  • Ayatana · contemporary Thai restaurant

  • Chef's Table Kōyō · Japanese omakase and sushi

  • Kati · all-day restaurant · garden level (B1F)

  • Den Kyoto · cocktail bar

  • Dusit Gallery · afternoon tea · afternoon tea

The spa and the pool

The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto

La Prairie Spa, the first in Asia, with seven treatment rooms including a private spa suite, set beside a waterfall; a heated 20-metre indoor pool, a steam room, a dry sauna and a 24-hour fitness centre.

Dusit Thani Kyoto

Devarana Wellness spa with Thai and Japanese therapies and hydrotherapy, an indoor pool and a 24-hour gym and studio.

Where they are

The two stand 2.9 km apart, as the crow flies.

The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto

On the Kamo river at Nijo-Ohashi, within walking distance of Gion

  • Osaka Itami Airport

    58 min by bus, airport limousine bus, booking required; 60 km

  • Kansai Airport

    105 min by bus, airport limousine bus, booking required; 100 km

Dusit Thani Kyoto

In the Hongan-ji temple-town district near Nishi Hongan-ji, 850 m from Kyoto station

  • Kyoto station

    11 min on foot, 850 m

  • Kansai Airport

    85 min by bus, Airport limousine bus to Kyoto station (Hachijo side), 85–90 minutes; then 850 m

The building

The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto

Opened in 2014 by The Ritz-Carlton and developer Sekisui House as Kyoto's first international luxury hotel. The building keeps the character of a traditional Meiji house and courtyard, and the listed Ebisugawa-tei is preserved as La Locanda's private dining room; interiors by Peter Remedios and Spin Studios use patterns made by local artisans, karesansui rock gardens and a four-storey waterfall. Forbes Five Stars for nine consecutive years to 2026.

Dusit Thani Kyoto

Opened on 1 September 2023 as Dusit's second hotel in Japan; interiors draw on the classic aesthetics of Kyoto and on Ayutthaya, the old Thai capital, with nods to its chedis, around a central courtyard.

Booked through us

The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto

The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto

Marriott STARS

  • A room upgrade on arrival when one is available

  • Daily breakfast for two

  • A US$100 hotel credit each stay

  • Early check-in and late checkout when available

On the hotel's flexible public rate.

Dusit Thani Kyoto

Dusit Thani Kyoto

Our own perks

  • A room upgrade on arrival where one is free

  • Breakfast for two each day

  • A hotel credit to spend on dining or the spa

  • Early check-in or late checkout when the hotel can give it

Become a client

Still deciding? Tell us your dates and what matters most, and we will say which we would choose, and book it at the hotel’s own rate with the perks above.

Questions

The Ritz-Carlton: Gion and the Teramachi and Kawaramachi shopping streets are within walking distance of its riverside site. Dusit Thani is in Shimogyo near Nishi Hongan-ji, 850 metres from Kyoto Station, on the other side of the centre.

All three room categories are 40 sq m, so the choice is the view: the Premier Garden Room looks onto the garden, the Premier Room onto the city or courtyard. The suites run from 80 sq m to the 173 sq m Imperial Suite.

Yes, both have an indoor pool. The Ritz-Carlton's is heated and 20 metres long, beside a steam room and a dry sauna; Dusit Thani's sits with its Devarana spa and a 24-hour gym.

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