【京都】世界が認めた高級ホテル 細部までこだわりぬいた最高級 HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO
Hello, this is Taka from Zipang55. I’m currently at Nijo Castle in Kyoto. This time, I’d like to introduce the Mitsui Kyoto Hotel, awarded a five-star rating by Forbus magazine. Standing on the former site of the Mitsui family’s residence, I’ll be showcasing this iconic Mitsui hotel. This channel primarily focuses on introducing hotels and other tourist spots around the country. Please subscribe and like, as it encourages me to continue making videos. So, without further ado, let’s get started. The Mitsui Kyoto Hotel is located near Nijo Castle, about a 15-minute drive from Kyoto Station. The Mitsui family residence existed for over 250 years in a place associated with the Mitsui family. On this former site, the hotel offers 160 guest rooms, designed with carefully selected natural materials and exceptional craftsmanship, modeled after Japanese tea rooms. I’ll be taking an art tour of the hotel later, so I’ll share more details there. There were artworks by contemporary artists at the front desk. There’s a lounge in the back, where you can wait for check-in while overlooking the garden. The courtyard is also beautiful. The approximately 1,300-square-meter courtyard was designed by garden designer Shunsaku Miyagi. It’s said to be modeled after the garden of the former head of the Mitsui family. While waiting for check-in, I enjoyed tea and candy. I arrived around 3:00 p.m., and it was quite crowded. Check-in was done in the room, so I sipped tea while waiting for my guide. The tea was refreshing and easy to drink. Since I was a Marriott Platinum member, I was upgraded from a Deluxe Room to a Deluxe Suite. Now, let’s head to our room. This time, our room is on the fourth floor, and we took the elevator. Because Mitsui Kyoto Hotel is located near Nijo Castle, building heights are limited to 15 meters. This limited the building to four floors, but the hotel made every effort to maximize ceiling height, such as by arranging the wiring horizontally instead of bundling it. The hallway has a calming, modern color scheme. Since check-in had just been completed, I’d like to introduce our room. The entrance hall was quite spacious, so it felt a bit lonely with only two people’s shoes there. There was a minibar next to the entrance. There was a beautiful moss ball, and the natural greenery was very calming. There were teacups, a cast iron kettle, and a coffee machine on the desk. There were beautiful glasses and mugs in the drawers. They also had wine and whiskey, but these were available for an additional fee. TWG tea was available, which was free . The accompanying snacks seemed to be available for an additional fee. There were drinks in the refrigerator, but these also required an additional fee. The items I bought were large enough to cool down a little. There was also a kettle. The living room had a large sofa and desk. This area was also quite spacious. There were welcome sweets on the desk. There were three types, all of which looked delicious. In front of the sofa was a TV and work desk. The TV was 65 inches, which was quite large. The desk was made of walnut wood, and apparently it was an authentic one. There were also about four types of postcards available. Apparently , the lattice design between the ceilings was meant to reduce the feeling of low ceilings. Next to the living room was the bedroom, with a king-size bed. The beds are Simmons and feature the hotel’s original mattresses. There’s also a TV in the bedroom, which makes it nice to relax. There’s a phone and notepad next to the bed, and the room lights can be controlled. There’s also a Bose Bluetooth speaker next to the other bed. The closet is spacious and has plenty of hangers. The bathroom has two marble sinks, which are convenient for getting ready in the morning. Hand soap and body soap are provided. The hand towels look very fluffy. The amenities include basic items like a toothbrush, razor, and room brush. The toothpaste comes in paper pouches. Apparently, this is becoming more common overseas to reduce plastic use, but I’m not used to it, so it was a bit difficult to use. There were bath towels under the sink. There were cleaning bags and a hair dryer in the drawer. The hair dryer is made by Panasonic. There’s even a makeup mirror. The bathroom was clean and spacious. Bathrobes are provided, so you can relax after a bath. This is the bathroom. It’s nice that you can watch TV from the bathtub. There were two types of showers: rain shower and handheld. The bathtub was not only deep but also wide, so it seemed like a great place to relax. Bath salts were also provided. I stayed in this room for one night. There were various room types, including one with a view of Nijo Castle. Even the non-suite rooms were 50 square meters, so they were quite spacious. The pillow service allowed guests to choose their preferred pillow from a selection of pillows. There were several activities available, both free and paid. These included morning yoga, an art tour of the building, a tea ceremony experience, and a walking tour of the city. Free activities could be reserved on the day if there was availability, but paid activities require advance reservations, so please check. One thing to note is that there was no lotion or milk in the room. While there was one in the basement spa, which I’ll introduce later, there was none in the room, which was a bit disappointing. There was also no lounge, so food and alcohol were not available. So, I decided to take the free art tour of the building and explore the area. During the art tour, staff will explain the building and the artists’ works. The entrance features a restored version of the 300-year-old Kajii Palace Gate, designated a Registered Tangible Cultural Property. The land was confiscated by GHQ after the war when the zaibatsu (financial conglomerates) were dissolved. After several other companies, the land was repurchased by Mitsui. The gate was originally located elsewhere, but to faithfully recreate the original location of the Mitsui family’s former residence, it was dismantled and reassembled here. The hotel ‘s theme is “inheritance and rebirth,” honoring the memory of time while reviving it for the present. Since the entire hotel is designed to resemble a teahouse, the entrance also features a replica of the one in front of the teahouse. This “Sword Stone” is a replica of the rock on which samurai placed their swords when entering the teahouse. It’s rare to find a rock this large. The stone pavement was created by fitting together pieces of stone without modifying the actual stone. As a result, it took approximately three months to create this single stone pavement. It’s amazing that they didn’t even cut off the edges of the stones, but instead searched for stones that matched the shape. The line in the hotel logo is the Chinese numeral for one, representing the number one hotel. 1679 is a memorable year for Mitsui, as he opened kimono shops in Osaka and Edo. Apparently, the font used that year was specially imported from Europe. Artworks can be seen throughout the hotel, including wind-inspired artwork and bamboo art depicting kimonos. Near the lobby, there’s a library where guests are free to browse. It features books related to Kyoto and the Mitsui family. Mitsui Kyoto Hotel has been awarded a five-star rating by Forbes Travel Guide for three consecutive years. This is a world-renowned, first-class hotel. The walls are decorated with artwork created by folding cloth like origami and dipping it in ink. The coloring technique is impossible to replicate, making each piece unique. Apparently, in the past, it was customary to place talismans inside the gate to ward off evil spirits. This talisman was placed here over 200 years ago, and the box was replaced in 1930 when the hotel was passed on to the Mitsui family. The missing parts are intentionally there to represent the wish that people complement each other, as no one is perfect, and that if they were perfect they would not prosper any further, so the wish that they would continue to prosper. The garden recreates both modern and past gardens, and is designed to give the feeling of the passage of time. It seems that flowers bloom according to the season. The Shiki Room is a partial reproduction of a shoin-style building that once served as the residence of the Mitsui family’s head. It’s apparently also used for meals and morning yoga. The hallway leading to the breakfast restaurant features asymmetrical columns to minimize the perceived low ceiling. There was also an art piece depicting the twelve-layered kimono (Japanese traditional ceremonial kimono). The furniture was designed by Andre Fu, a Hong Konger, and features an Oriental feel in places. The fire hydrant was also recessed into the wall, as a protruding part was considered unattractive. This piece is said to evoke the view of the sky from the garden. It’s truly beautiful. The art tour was very educational and worth participating in. It’s free daily, so if you’re interested, make a reservation at check-in. Next, I headed to the spa in the basement. I contacted the spa from my room beforehand to confirm it was okay to visit. It’s fine to wear a bathrobe. The thermal spring, which uses natural hot spring water from approximately 1,000 meters underground on the premises, is a unisex natural hot spring pool where bathing suits are allowed. The path to the spa is designed to allow guests to enjoy the sounds, lights, and other elements with all five senses. Just looking at the water is refreshing. There’s also a gym on the way to the spa, where basic equipment is provided. Deodorizing spray, water, and towels are also available. Towels and complimentary swimsuits are available at the spa reception. There’s a shop nearby, selling hotel merchandise and snacks. Now, let’s head inside the spa. After changing into your swimsuit in the changing room and showering, you can enter. The spa is spacious and has a capacity limit, so it doesn’t feel crowded. There are several areas to lie down around the spa. There are also two jacuzzis, so you can relax. Water and bath towels are provided for free use. Digging hot springs in Kyoto is difficult due to the hard bedrock, but the hot spring was dug over a long period of time during the hotel’s construction period. The water is a sodium-calcium monochloride spring, and is said to be effective for cuts, sensitivity to cold, depression, and dry skin. The water is set to drip once every 15 minutes, apparently acting as a clock. Such thoughtful touches are appreciated. There was also a mist sauna-like room. It was large enough for about three people, so it seems designed for small groups. The changing room also had water, spare bath towels, and bathrobes. There were multiple sinks, so it seemed like we could get ready at our leisure without crowding. There also seemed to be private hot springs. It’s quite pricey at 24,500 yen for 60 minutes, but if you’re interested, give it a try. Children under 13 are not allowed after 5 PM, so if you prefer a quieter experience, it might be a good idea to visit at night. The lobby at night had a different atmosphere than before. It was lovely, as the lobby’s appearance changed depending on the time of day. When I returned to my room, turndown service was underway. The snacks I’d bought to eat in my room and even the plastic bags were neatly arranged. It was a little embarrassing. It was the most well-organized turndown service I’ve ever experienced. Aroma room spray was also available for use. Pajamas were also placed on the bed. These can also be purchased at the convenience store. There was also a room service breakfast menu that guests could enjoy in their rooms. While Marriott Bonvoy Platinum and above members receive complimentary breakfast, room service breakfast is an additional charge. I’ll rest for now. Good morning. I’ll head straight for breakfast. I’ll have breakfast at the restaurant “FORNI.” It seems they serve Italian food in the evening. I sat by the window, where I could see the beautiful garden as the morning sun streamed in. There were three breakfast options: a Japanese or Western-style set meal and buffet, or just the buffet. Since I could choose any of the free breakfast options, I chose the Japanese breakfast. The buffet alone was extensive enough to satisfy my cravings. There was salad, ham, salmon, and cheese. There were roasted pumpkin, carrot rabe, marinated red cabbage, firm tofu and avocado salad, marinated Kyoto vegetables, and vegetable couscous. There was pumpkin soup , creamed chicken, stewed green beans, sausages, gratin, steamed vegetables with bacon, and potatoes. There was a wide variety of breads, from French bread to sweet rolls. The croissants were large and delicious. The bread was warmed, and jam and butter were also available. Fruits included orange, kiwi, melon, and dragon fruit. Other options included smoothies, chia seeds, yogurt, roasted green tea jelly, melon shortcake, and matcha roll cake. There were several types of cornflakes, and you could add your own toppings. There were also a variety of juices, including orange, grape, and apple. The buffet alone had a wide variety, and it seemed like it would fill you up. Of course, everything was delicious, and I could have easily eaten a lot. This is the Japanese meal. It came with an explanation. It included a full range of Japanese dishes, including rice, miso soup, fish, and pickles. The portions were generous, so even skipping lunch wasn’t a problem. The overall flavor was light, so it wouldn’t leave you feeling heavy in the morning. Apparently, you could have refills on the rice and miso soup. By the time we got to the final dessert, I was pretty full. It might be nice to have a leisurely breakfast and relax in the morning. After resting in my room, I headed to my reserved tea ceremony experience. For 2,500 yen per person, you can experience matcha in a tea room with table seating. First, you choose the tea bowl you’ll use for your matcha. You can choose from Mitsui Kyoto originals or Kyoto specialty bowls. After a brief explanation of tea, we were shown how to make tea. I’d like to take a quick look at this process. Each step has its own meaning, and we were taught how to make it. We were then shown simple tea etiquette as we drank it. Since the tea wasn’t too strict, we kept things simple and enjoyed the matcha. We were also given some tea snacks to go with it. The inside had a refreshing citrus flavor, making it easy to eat. It wasn’t as heavy-tasting as it looked. The matcha and sweets were delicious. It was a bit disappointing that I didn’t get to hear much about tea, and we ended up chatting the whole time. Perhaps it would have been better to talk a little more about tea. I was expecting a tea ceremony similar to the one I experienced at KAI Tamatsukuri in Shimane, which I previously visited, so this one was a bit simpler. Since the tea was made by a hotel staff member, it might have been difficult to have a deep conversation. Now, I’d like to enjoy the remaining tea. So, what did you think of this Mitsui Kyoto Hotel? It was a hotel that truly represents Mitsui, with attention to detail. Its various details also made me think about what luxury means. If you visit Kyoto, please consider staying here. I hope this video helps you with your travels, even just a little. Please subscribe, like, and give it a super thanks, as it encourages me to continue making videos. Thank you for watching until the end. See you in the next video~ Bye ~
*多言語字幕対応しています。
今回は京都にある、三井京都ホテルをご紹介します。
00:00 opening
00:07 二条城
00:43 HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO
01:17 ロビー
01:29 中庭
02:16 お部屋
07:16 館内アートツアー
11:27 サーマルスプリングSPA
14:10 ターンダウンサービス
15:10 朝食
18:07 お茶体験
19:51 ending
【関連動画】
・リッツカールトン福岡
・琵琶湖マリオットホテル
・大阪マリオット都ホテル
・メズム東京
【情報】
・HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO
https://www.hotelthemitsui.com/ja/kyoto/
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