Imperial Hotel, one of Japan’s most storied luxury hospitality brands, has announced plans to open a new property in Kyoto in spring 2026, marking its first expansion in three decades.
The opening comes as the company celebrates 135 years since its founding in 1890, when Eiichi Shibusawa and Kihachiro Okura, under the guidance of Foreign Minister Kaoru Inoue, established the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo as Japan’s private guest house for visiting dignitaries.
For more than a century, the Imperial Hotel has embodied omotenashi — the Japanese philosophy of heartfelt service — while also pioneering cultural firsts. It hosted Japan’s first hotel wedding following the Great Kanto Earthquake, and in 1958 introduced the nation’s first buffet-style restaurant, the Imperial Viking.
Its guestbook reads like a history of the 20th century, welcoming figures such as Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin, Helen Keller, and Babe Ruth. More recently, it served as headquarters for the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings in 2012.
The new Imperial Hotel, Kyoto will be the brand’s first new property in 30 years, expanding beyond its flagship in Tokyo and long-established Osaka presence. The move signals a significant step in the company’s future strategy, blending its renowned heritage with the cultural richness of Japan’s ancient capital.
Executives said the Kyoto opening would build on the Imperial’s deep-rooted reputation for excellence while creating a new landmark for both domestic and international travellers.
As the group looks ahead to its Kyoto debut, it continues to distinguish itself as more than just a hotel company: a symbol of Japanese modernisation, culture, and global hospitality.