A new 77-room hotel is coming to one of Kyoto’s most recognisable historic locations, with Shangri-La Group announcing Songtei Kyoto, Shangri-La Signatures.
The hotel will be located opposite Nijō Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is expected to begin welcoming guests from late 2026. More facilities will open in stages before the property is fully unveiled in early 2027.
Songtei Kyoto will be the second property under Shangri-La Signatures, the group’s ultra-luxury hotel collection. The first was The Silk Lakehouse, Shangri-La Hangzhou, which opened on the shores of West Lake in China.
The Kyoto hotel is being built on the former residence of the Kyoto Shoshidai, an important administrative post during Japan’s Edo period. Its location will give guests views of Nijō Castle’s Kita Ote-mon, or Great North Gate, as well as its gardens.
The hotel will have 77 rooms and suites, along with a range of wellness and dining facilities.
Its wellness facilities are set to include a private spa, indoor and outdoor hot baths, an indoor pool and a gym.
There will also be several food and drink outlets, including an all-day dining lounge, a Chinese fine-dining restaurant, a kappo-sushi counter and an evening bar.
The hotel’s name comes from “Song”, meaning pine, and “Tei”, referring to a residence or home. Shangri-La says the name reflects the property’s connection to Kyoto and its historical setting.
Some facilities will open ahead of the hotel’s full launch. Shangri-La has not yet announced room rates or reservation dates.
Further details on room categories, restaurants and bookings are expected in the coming months.
