"Sited across from the 17th-century Nijo Castle on historic Mitsui family grounds, the hotel’s 160 rooms by André Fu are arranged around a curated courtyard garden. Highlights include a thermal onsen pool that allows swimsuits, two private onsen baths, and refined dining led by chefs such as Tetsuya Asano (contemporary Franco-Japanese) and Fumio Yonezawa (Italian), with select rooms offering direct views of Nijo Castle." - Yukari Sakamoto, Adam H. Graham