Hilton and Tokyo Tatemono celebrated the opening of ‘Hilton Kyoto’ on September 12th, and hosted an opening ceremony on October 9th to commemorate the launch.
The building, a nine-story structure with two basement levels, was constructed on the former site of Kyoto Royal Hotel & Spa. Under the concept of “Kyoto Synapse,” it embodies elements of tradition, innovation, history, and the contemporary. James Murphy, who has served as general manager at both Hilton Tokyo Odaiba and Hilton Fukuoka Seahawk, was appointed General Manager, and Mariangela Ruggero, former Executive Chef at Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa, has been appointed the first female Executive Chef in Japan’s Hilton hotels.
The hotel offers 313 rooms across 16 types and five categories, from 40-square-meter standard rooms to 121-square-meter suites, including 28 connecting rooms. The King type rooms can accommodate up to three guests with an extra bed. The design, inspired by Kyoto’s map and traditional crafts, features large windows and Shoji paper doors, creating a Japanese ambiance. All rooms are equipped with a 55-inch TV, an en-suite bathroom, and Nespresso machines.
Facilities include an executive lounge, eforea SPA – the first Hilton spa brand in Japan with three treatment rooms, a fitness center equipped with Technogym machines available 24 hours, an indoor pool approximately 18 meters in length, banquet and meeting rooms, and paid parking and bicycle parking spaces.
Guests staying in executive rooms or suites on the 8th and 9th floors, as well as Hilton Honors Diamond members, are eligible for check-in and check-out at the 9th floor executive lounge, where they can also enjoy breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails.
The hotel features four dining facilities: ‘Téori’ offers an all-day dining experience with a buffet that incorporates Kyoto ingredients into an internationally diverse menu; ‘7 EMBERS’ serves Mediterranean dishes including acqua pazza with fresh fish, grilled Omi beef, smoked Kyoto duck, and vegetable dishes made from Kyoto vegetables; ‘LATTICE LOUNGE’ offers a blend from Ogawa Coffee, light meals, and afternoon tea; and ‘CLOUD NEST ROOFTOP BAR’ provides original drinks like their signature Piña Colada.
To celebrate the opening, Hilton Honors members who stay at the hotel by February 28, 2025, will receive 1,000 Hilton Honors Points per stay.
At the opening ceremony, Jun Nomura, Representative Director and President of Tokyo Tatemono; Takaharu Matsui, Mayor of Kyoto City; Joseph Kaira, Representative for Hilton in Japan, South Korea, and Micronesia; and James Murphy, General Manager of Hilton Kyoto, were present and delivered speeches.
Jun Nomura, Representative Director and President of Tokyo Tatemono, stated, “This joint venture with Hilton marks our first. Hilton Kyoto is a hotel that provides quality and service suitable for this commemorative project, and we are confident it will deliver the best experiences to its users. Although construction began during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic has now subdued, and Kyoto city is bustling with tourists both domestic and international, foreseeing an increase in hotel demand and regional development. The area around Kawaramachi Sanjo, where the hotel is located, is vibrant with numerous eateries and frequented by locals and tourists alike. We hope Hilton Kyoto will become a new landmark in Kyoto, contributing not only to local revitalization but also offering tourists the unique charm and hospitality of ancient Kyoto.”
Joseph Kaira, Hilton’s representative for Japan, South Korea, and Micronesia, expressed, “I am immensely pleased to deliver our flagship brand to Japan’s cultural city, Kyoto, for the first time. Since entering Kyoto in 2021, we have opened four hotels over the past three years. The opening of Hilton Kyoto signifies Hilton’s commitment to continuous expansion in this beautiful city that attracts travelers worldwide. With the addition of this diverse portfolio from luxury brands to focused service brands, we are now able to offer a wide range of options for travelers.”
James Murphy, General Manager of Hilton Kyoto, shared, “I have been interested in Japan since my youth and have studied Japanese language and culture for 37 years. I visited Kyoto for the first time in 1973, and the strong impression I received then is still vivid in my memory. I was moved by the city’s beauty, history, traditions, culture, design, and hospitality. When I was asked to work as the General Manager of Hilton Kyoto, I immediately said yes. I was convinced that a Hilton flagship brand hotel opening in Kyoto, a city with a wonderful history and culture loved by people from all over the world, would be special. I want our hotel guests to experience the same emotions I felt in Kyoto. That is the origin of our concept ‘Kyoto Synapse’ and why we expressed it through the theme of textiles. From the loom in the first-floor elevator hall, we transmit Kyoto’s various thoughts, history, traditions, culture, design, and hospitality through lobby art. I am proud to launch this beautiful Hilton Kyoto as part of the Hilton brand, which spans around 8,000 hotels worldwide, carrying on and embodying the spirit of Hilton that has been beloved and trusted in Japan for 61 years.”
Access to the hotel is approximately a 15-minute drive from Kyoto Station, or about a 2-minute walk from Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station on the Kyoto City Subway Tozai Line. The Kamo River, Nishiki Market, and Gion are also within walking distance.
As a result, Hilton now operates five hotels in Kyoto: ROYU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Garden Inn Kyoto Shijo Karasuma, DoubleTree by Hilton Kyoto Higashiyama, and DoubleTree by Hilton Kyoto Station.
