Hilton signs Japan's first Motto by Hilton for Kyoto
Hilton and Heiwa Real Estate Co. announced an agreement on 28 September 2026 to develop Motto by Hilton Kyoto Shijo Karasuma. The hotel carries 108 guest rooms, opens in 2029 and will operate under Hilton management. Heiwa owns the project and announced it earlier, on 6 August 2026.
Hilton's Kyoto count reaches seven
The group opened ROKU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts in 2021. Hilton has opened five hotels in the city over the past five years. Hilton's release states that an upcoming Curio Collection by Hilton property and this signing take its Kyoto portfolio to seven hotels.
The Motto pipeline
Thirteen Motto hotels trade today. Hilton's release puts more than 24 Motto hotels under development. The brand page puts more than 20 additional properties under development. Recent Motto signings sit in Paris, Shanghai and Sydney.
The project filing
Heiwa's filing names the development the Kyoto Shijo Karasuma Project. The building runs 10 floors above ground. The site area is about 580 square metres and the gross floor area about 4,300 square metres. Takenaka Corporation holds the basic design. The address is 54 Tsukihokocho, Shijodori Shimmachi Higashi-iru, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto.
Hilton dates the opening to 2029. Heiwa dates it to fiscal 2029, the year that runs from April 2029 to March 2030.
The site and the catchment
The hotel sits a two-minute walk from Shijo Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Line and Karasuma Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line. The release names Nishiki Market, the Gion and Higashiyama districts and the Shijo Kawaramachi shopping and dining area as nearby draws. Kyoto Station is reachable by rail from the site.
The brand terms
Motto by Hilton sits inside Hilton's lifestyle set. The brand's connecting guestrooms run to nine rooms. Motto by Hilton Kyoto Shijo Karasuma takes part in Hilton Honors. Hilton carries 28 brands, more than 9,400 properties and nearly 1.4 million rooms across 144 countries and territories.
The executive statements
Hirohisa Fujimoto, vice president of development for Japan and Micronesia at Hilton, said the debut reflects Hilton's commitment to one of its key growth markets. He said the hotel is designed for families and friends travelling together and for solo guests.
Alex Shockley, senior director of lifestyle and collection brands for Asia Pacific at Hilton, said the hotel will offer a locally rooted stay that encourages gathering.
Kiyoyuki Tsuchimoto, president and chief executive officer of Heiwa Real Estate, tied the project to the company's long-term vision, WAY2040, and to the hotel business as a new area of growth.