Hotel the Mitsui Kyoto. Set on historic grounds once belonging to the Mitsui family — one of Japan’s most storied and prominent business families — the former residence, adjacent to the Nijo Castle (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), retains architectural features dating back to the family’s stewardship, which began in the 17th century. At the same time, the hotel provides a level of modern comfort and sophistication.

If Aman Kyoto represents the all-encompassing luxury hotel, the Shinmonzen, on the other hand, is the luxe boutique. Set in the heart of the historic Gion district, its sleek, natural design was designed, in part by Tadao Ando, to resemble a classic machiya (wooden) townhouse, and the hotel appeals to travelers here for easy access to the city’s renowned sites and temples. The hotel provides guests the chance for a private rickshaw ride for a unique tour of Kyoto.

Surrounded by 80 acres of forest and gardens, Aman Kyoto's minimalist design prioritizes harmony with its spectacular natural setting in a quiet corner of the city — all while turning authentic Japanese features into the purest luxury, such as cypress-wood soaking tubs and green-tea-incorporating spa treatments.

The first Ace hotel in Asia is the Ace Hotel Kyoto, designed by Kengo Kuma and Commune Design. Kuma’s primary contribution as architect was his powerful revision of an early modernist telephone exchange by Tetsuro Yoshida, a departure from the minimalist-luxe concrete symphonies we’re used to. And Commune and Kuma together were responsible for adapting Ace’s eclectic, bohemian aesthetic to Kyoto, , paying tribute to this historic city without falling into shoji-screen clichés.

Hidden away in the neighborhood of Gojo-Kawaramachi on the banks of the Kamo River is Genji Kyoto, a hotel that is, despite its modesty, a hospitality-design tour de force. It’s a modern structure, but is suffused with traditional Japanese elements and unusual cross-cultural gestures, from the imprints of the cedar forms on the building’s concrete surfaces to the Verner Panton chairs, a perfect fit for sitting close to floor level in the hotel’s tatami rooms.

In a city as hallowed with history as Kyoto, refurbishing is an art unto itself. Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu wears its provenance proudly, retaining the 1930s brick-and-arch facade of its former life as an elementary school. Clean minimalism and rich tradition blend well in its public spaces, natural complements for contemplative tours of the shrines, pagodas, and temples within walking distance. Upstairs, guestrooms unleash a bit more luxury — spacious and in eggshell and cream tones.

Japan’s FUFU hotels are well known among insiders as a luxurious, modern evolution of classic Japanese hospitality. This is a style that’s subtle enough to be somewhat elusive at first glance, but FUFU Kyoto is, in its quiet way, a powerhouse: a 40-room establishment in the picturesque Okazaki district, marked by generously sized accommodations, thoughtful modern-classic comforts, and the painstakingly correct service for which the brand is known.

Travelers visit Kyoto for peaceful landscapes and traditional Japanese culture, and the Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto serves up both in ample measure. It doesn’t just have a beautiful setting in the wooded hills of Higashiyama Ward, it has its own bamboo garden; beyond its silent, elegant ryokan-style rooms with tatami mats and wooden bathtubs, the hotel is the only one in the city with a Noh stage that hosts kabuki and other centuries-old performance arts.

The Six Senses brand is more or less synonymous with lavish escapes in far-flung locations; its guests tend to expect a self-sufficient resort setting rather than a city-center luxury hotel. But Kyoto is, for a multitude of reasons, no ordinary city — and while the Six Senses Kyoto lies within the city limits, surrounded by walkable sights and picturesque neighborhoods, it’s perfectly capable of offering travelers a thoroughly transformative experience.

As the name might suggest, Dusit Thani is indeed a Thai hospitality brand, and Dusit Thani Kyoto does indeed bring a touch of Thai aesthetics and culture to this most traditional of Japanese cities. (It’s hard to imagine a much more fruitful collaboration from the perspective of service.) The rooms and suites are stylish in a soothing way, with visual nods to both cultures; the spa draws on both Japanese and Thai traditions.

Kifune Ugenta offers Kyoto's most intimate ryokan experience, set in the Kibune mountains. With just two suites, each featuring private indoor/outdoor baths, this ultra-exclusive property offers too riverside dining and immersive seasonal cuisine that changes with Kyoto's dramatic seasons.

The Hoshinoya hotels — part ryokan, part luxury hotel — are all similar in their basic concept. But while the monumental Hoshinoya Tokyo stands in a skyscraper in the heart of the capital, Hoshinoya Kyoto could hardly be more different. It’s small, a mere 25 rooms, distributed among a collection of low-profile buildings. And despite its name, it’s set not in Kyoto proper, but a 15-minute ride up the river in a traditional wooden boat.

The ryokan tradition might be one of the world’s longest-running hospitality genres, but in Japan, there’s a distinction between “traditional” and “old-fashioned.” And while Kanamean Nishitomiya has plenty of connection with the past — for one thing, it’s a 19th-century townhouse, a rarity in Kyoto — a stay here isn’t a trip back in time so much as it is an experience of Japanese hospitality stripped down to its essence.

If you want a quick comparison of the differences between Japan’s modern capital and its historic one, you could do worse than to look at a pair of Park Hyatts. The Park Hyatt Tokyo, of course, is the ultramodern skyscraper-topping luxury hotel made famous in Lost in Translation; the brand-new Park Hyatt Kyoto, while at least as luxurious, keeps a much lower profile, its low-slung interconnected buildings spread out like a hillside village in the city’s historic Higashiyama district.

Family-friendly ROKU KYOTO stands out for its access to what is considered Kyoto's only outdoor natural onsen thermal pool, open year-round. Within the confines of the city but set in the foothills of the Takagamine Mountains, this modern five-star property offers a perfect base for history lovers — Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion) is just a 15-minute walk away.

Back in the urban center, The Ritz-Carlton masterfully blends traditional Japanese design with contemporary luxury. The property offers culture seekers onsite workshops ranging from tea ceremonies to kid-friendly origami and is conveniently positioned about a mile from Kawaramachi Street's shopping and dining district.

Set in a verdant riverside location in western Kyoto, at the foot of the Arashiyama Mountains with a commanding view of the Togetsukyo Bridge, Muni Kyoto hardly feels like a city hotel at all. Where you might expect a very traditional ryokan you instead find a very contemporary luxury boutique hotel, with luxe and elegant guest rooms decked out in the gray and cream tones (and B&B Italia furnishings) you’d expect from a place like Milan.

The setting is urban, but only just, with the Kamo river on one side and Mount Higashi on the other, and with several historic and cultural sites within walking distance. The soaring stone-clad double-height lobby, with its floor-to-ceiling windows and curvaceous modern furniture, sets an impressively stylish tone. The rooms, meanwhile, split the difference between modern luxury and tatami tradition.

For an authentic ryokan experience, family-owned Hiiragiya consistently delivers — you'll find personalized service as genuine as it was when the inn opened in 1818. This serene gem, located within walking distance of Kyoto's highlights like Nishiki Market, transports guests to the Edo period through artisanal woodwork and stained glass details. The complimentary kaiseki meals and reservable bathhouse create a traditional ambiance that has captivated travelers for over two centuries.

Hidden in the west end of Kyoto, Suiran awaits guests with the promise of an unforgettable visit in the city renowned as the cultural center of traditional Japanese aesthetics. Set upon the lazy Hozu River, Suiran is cast against the Arashiyama hill, a backdrop famous for its bamboo forest and evocative maple groves. Suiran’s collection of rooms and suites, housed in a three-story Japanese estate, are a seamless blend of traditional décor and modern comforts.

Equally well-known for exceptional service, The Four Seasons takes a different approach, creating a serene oasis with spacious rooms and a coveted spa built around an 800-year-old heritage pond garden. The location places guests just a five-minute walk from Kyoto National Museum and a 13-minute walk from the photogenic Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

Not a castle itself, but not far off — Garrya Nijo Castle Kyoto is a stunning contemporary structure containing a one-of-a-kind 25-room luxury hotel, directly facing the UNESCO World Heritage Site that is Kyoto’s Nijo Castle. It’s both rooted in tradition and unashamedly modern; a seemingly simple space, following the precepts of classic Japanese residential architecture, is also a warren of gardens and courtyards, its interior spaces decorated with surprising furnishings and finishes.