The Ritz-Cartlon Spa, Kyoto was designed to ensure you have a place to relax away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Its wellness concept focuses on running water and supplying utter tranquility.
The location along the Kamogawa River all but guarantees you will be busy throughout the day — you’ll be within walking distance of the subway for immediate access to the Kyoto’s temples and gardens — and the spa tucked away on The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto’s bottom level offers a place of refuge and relaxation.
The location along the Kamogawa River all but guarantees you will be busy throughout the day — you’ll be within walking distance of the subway for immediate access to the Kyoto’s temples and gardens — and the spa tucked away on The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto’s bottom level offers a place of refuge and relaxation.
Our Inspector's Highlights
- The three-story waterfall that you see in the lobby level of the hotel runs all the way downstairs into the spa’s glistening blue 65.6-foot swimming pool.
- The common area décor is clean and simple, with sultry low lighting accented with soft beiges, browns and creams, ensuring the blue of the pool pops in the center.
- In the treatment rooms, accent lighting and sleek straight lines, be it in the wood paneling or the closet doors, grab your attention.
- The theme of running water also makes a charming appearance in the bathroom and changing room — be sure to listen for the babbling brook sound machine as you settle in before a treatment.
- The mark of a great spa is its ability to incorporate local culture into its therapies. In this case, the Japanese affinity for green tea rightfully spills over into the treatment rooms at the Ritz.
Things to Know
- The spa’s signature green tea-themed ritual is unique and the most locally themed option on the menu, so unless you know exactly what you want, this is an excellent treatment to choose.
- The Kyoto spa uses products from ESPA, a world-renowned skincare line, in all of its treatments.
- A 24-hour fitness center offers all the essentials for working up a sweat, but the dark underground locale can be a bit of a downer.
The Treatments
- Hailed for its healing nature, green tea forms the cornerstone of the spa’s featured Ryokucha Serenity Ritual, where the antioxidant properties of locally grown leaves are used to improve wellbeing during a gentle, flowing massage.
- If you’ve got upper body tension and headaches, soothe your ailments and book the Higashiyama Vigor — the service uses potent essential oils during a volcanic stone pressure point massage.
- The rest of the menu leans toward what we’ve come to expect of Western-style offerings, including Swedish, deep tissue, hot stone massages, facials, body treatments and a shiatsu massage that can be taken in your guest room.
The Facilities
- The Kyoto spa has seven sleek treatments rooms in total, including one spa suite.
- You’ll also find a dry sauna, steam room, relaxation area and the glistening blue pool surrounded by plush lounge chairs.
- A small boutique can be found by the reception area, built into the rock-like wall of the hallway and beautifully lit.
Getting There
Kamogawa Nijo-Ohashi, Hotori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, 604-0902 Japan
TEL81-75-746-5554
TEL075-746-5554
TEL075-746-5554
