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“It was designed to embrace the essence of nature while inviting deep relaxation.“

The Azure Road Take

Onsen bathing, a time-honored Japanese tradition typically enjoyed at riverside or mountain retreats, finds a rare city center home at Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto. Here, a new signature treatment at its Thermal Spring Spa promises a deeply restorative experience. “Combining ancient massage techniques with modern aromatherapy, it was designed to embrace the essence of nature while inviting deep relaxation,” explains Director of Rooms Tomoko Mizukoshi. 

Collaborating with aroma designer Tomoko Saito on the concept was a natural fit. Tomoko San developed three bespoke essences to enhance the treatment, building on her previous work creating the hotel’s signature scent, which was inspired by the red and black pine trees in the courtyard garden.

Sustainability Chops

One of only two properties in the city with a private on-site spring, the Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto’s spa uses geothermal waters drawn from deep underground. The property also generates its own solar power, ensuring a share of its electricity directly supports clean energy use and the pursuit of net-zero goals. 

Tradition is honored throughout the hotel’s sleek and minimalist design. Rooms and public spaces reflect classic Japanese aesthetics with the use of natural materials like walnut wood and heritage craftsmanship. At the entrance, a meticulously restored 300-year-old Kajiimiya Gate, built in 1703 at the original Mitsui family residence, welcomes guests to the property.

The Treatment

My Thermal Spring spa experience began with a solo soak in Haru, one of two private onsens reserved for hotel guests that offer a traditional bathing experience. In Japan, onsen bathing is typically communal and divided by gender, so the privacy of this experience felt like an intimate indulgence. 

After two days in Tokyo and a train ride to Kyoto that afternoon, my tension melted as I eased into the hot spring bath. Light from a courtyard garden softened the suite-like space, which opened into a lounge and relaxation area with a steam shower, robes, and a double vanity stocked with skin and haircare products from the hotel’s namesake line.

When my hour was up, an attendant arrived to guide me through a quiet corridor into the spa proper, where I was introduced to the therapist who would lead my Signature Treatment.

The experience opened with a warming foot bath enhanced with Himekawa Yakuseki volcanic stones — believed to possess healing properties. Next came the selection of one of Tomoko Saito’s bespoke essences: invigorating TSUKI with lavender, ginger, and ho wood, or a refreshing citrus blend of either KAZE or HANA. Delicately layered with yuzu, kuromoji, and hinoki, HANA — meaning relaxation — resonated most. 

Massage styles were also named in Japanese; instead of the shiatsu-inspired HIKARI (light) or traditional Swedish OTO (sound), I chose KAORI (scent), designed with gentle, unhurried movements to reduce stress. All three of the body therapy styles stem from an ancient form of Japanese massage called anma, which utilizes seven traditional techniques, including grasping, kneading, and tapping, on “vital points” around the body.  

The feather-light pressure of warm herbal balls guided me into a dreamlike state — much like a silent reiki session, almost more energy work than massage. After the treatment ended, I drifted back with some herbal tea, rice chips, and seasonal fruit jelly. A quiet sense of calm lingered, and that night I slept more deeply than I had in months.

The Location

Set on the former Mitsui family estate in the city’s northern Nakagyo-ku ward, the hotel and spa sit steps from UNESCO-listed Nijo Castle and within walking distance of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. This area is also dotted with traditional temples and Shinto shrines, such as Kitano Tenmangu, while popular shopping streets, including Nishiki Market and Teramachi, are nearby.

Spa Vibe

Conceived by Kyoto-born architect Yohei Akao, the Thermal Spring Spa feels less like a hotel amenity and more like a hidden realm. Its wood-arched entryway, echoing the torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine, makes a striking first impression, while a vast underground communal onsen — a moodily lit sanctuary of stone and water — cocoons the senses. 

In addition to the private onsen suites, four treatment rooms overlook serene gardens, offering therapies and facials featuring coveted skincare lines by Mikimoto and French brand Alaena.