Located in Kyoto’s lively Nakagyo district, Ace Hotel Kyoto blends the retro charm of the 1926 Kyoto Central Telephone Company building with contemporary design by Kengo Kuma and Commune Design. As the first Ace Hotel in Japan—and all of Asia—it brings the brand’s signature creativity into a new cultural landscape while still feeling at home within Kyoto’s historic streets.
What sets this property apart is its deep connection to local art and craftsmanship, paired with a natural, thoughtful approach to inclusive travel. The lobby and public spaces feature collaborations with artists from Japan and abroad, along with regular community events and seasonal exhibitions that make the hotel feel like a living cultural hub.
Ace Hotel Kyoto is especially committed to supporting inclusive and safe travel for LGBTQ+ guests—as well as fostering a welcoming environment for its own staff community. It hosts LGBTQ+ events throughout the year, including “Diverse Love,” “Queer All Year,” and “fancyHIM,” and offers several dedicated stay packages such as the LGBTQ+-supportive “Eternal Pride” plan, which donates 10% of the room rate to Japan-based LGBTQ+ foundations. The hotel is also family-friendly for guests traveling with dogs, offering exclusive pet plans and perks.
Ace Hotel Kyoto features 213 guest rooms across nine styles, from “Historic” rooms that echo the building’s past to vibrant “Ace” and “Tatami” suites that blend modern comfort with Japanese design. Guests can enjoy a 24-hour concierge with multilingual support, an all-day cafe, a boutique shop, a stylish bar and lounge spaces, and three dining venues: Mr. Maurice’s Italian Restaurant & rooftop bar, Mexican cuisine’s PIOPIKO, and Kosa, which serves Californian and Kyoto-inspired cuisine.
Ace Hotel Kyoto was awarded the Best LGBTQ Travel Award 2025 by the Japan Travel Awards.
Accessibility
The Ace Hotel Kyoto entrance is completely step-free with automatic doors. Accessible parking spaces are designated on-site. An elevator serves all seven floors of the building, and the entire hotel features wheelchair-accessible corridors with minimum widths of 120cm connecting the registration desk, restaurant, lounges, and all guest areas. Common area have wheelchair-accessible toilets with grab bars as well as ostomate-compatible facilities.
The hotel offers two wheelchair-accessible Tatami Suite rooms. These suites feature doorways with an effective width of 85cm and interior pathways measuring 80-90cm wide. The rooms are entirely level without any steps or raised thresholds. In place of beds, a tatami area is raised to a height of approximately 55cm from the floor, positioned to facilitate transfers onto traditional futons. The washroom entrance measures 77cm wide, while the toilet door is 67cm and the bathroom door is 62cm wide.
The bathroom configuration separates the shower area from the bathtub, allowing guests to use the shower independently without needing to navigate into a tub. Horizontal grab bars are installed in the bathing area for stability and support. A handheld shower with adjustable height settings provides flexibility for seated or standing use. The hotel can provide shower chairs and non-slip bath mats upon request. Note the toilet does not have grab bars, and the sink features a standard vanity design.
Staff members can provide water and food bowls for service animals, and the hotel has established procedures for accepting assistance dogs. When needed, team members are available to guide guests from the reception desk to their rooms. The hotel can facilitate written communication through writing boards or using tablets and smartphones for guests who are deaf or hard of hearing. During emergencies, the hotel broadcasts voice announcements throughout the building and individual rooms. Staff can arrange wheelchair rentals and call accessible taxis when requested.
Room lighting adjustability allows guests to control brightness levels according to their preferences. The hotel has implemented noise reduction measures to minimize disturbances. Common areas like the lobby and hallways are fragrance-free, without strong scents from perfumes or aromatics.
The hotel’s restaurant can accommodate various dietary requirements with advance notice. Available options include gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, kosher, and low-allergen meals that avoid common triggers like nuts, dairy, and shellfish. Guests should request these accommodations when making reservations to ensure proper preparation.
Staff members speak multiple languages to assist international guests, including English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Bahasa, French, and German. The hotel maintains a relationship with Kyoto Shinmachi Hospital for medical coordination when needed.
Ace Hotel Kyoto holds official recognition as an Accessible Hotel (No.0094) under the City of Kyoto’s Yasashii Oyado program, which designates accommodations that actively work to serve elderly guests and travelers with physical and intellectual disabilities. The property is also listed on the Kyoto Universal Tourism Navigation website and is a registered Kyoto City Tangible Cultural Property as part of the historic Shinpūkan building complex. The hotel has earned recognition as an excellent business promoting sustainable Kyoto tourism and meets Eco Mark certification standards established by the Japan Environment Association.
