Hilton Brings Motto Brand to Japan With 2029 Kyoto Debut

Hilton said it has signed an agreement with Heiwa Real Estate Co. to bring the Motto by Hilton brand to Japan for the first time, with a 108-room hotel planned for Kyoto's Shijo Karasuma neighborhood. The property, called Motto by Hilton Kyoto Shijo Karasuma, is scheduled to open in 2029 and will be managed by Hilton, according to the company's announcement.

The hotel will include an all-day dining restaurant and a lounge with an open terrace, Hilton said. It sits roughly two minutes on foot from Shijo Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway's Karasuma Line and from Karasuma Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line, putting it within reach of Nishiki Market — often called "Kyoto's Kitchen" — as well as the Gion and Higashiyama districts and the Shijo Kawaramachi shopping and dining area. The location also offers connections to Kyoto Station, positioning the property for both domestic travelers and visitors arriving from abroad.

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Kyoto portfolio set to reach seven hotels

The Motto signing is part of a wider build-out of Hilton's footprint in Kyoto, where the company's portfolio is expected to expand to seven hotels spanning multiple brands, including a forthcoming Curio Collection by Hilton property, per Hilton's release. Hirohisa Fujimoto, Hilton's vice president of development for Japan and Micronesia, said the Motto debut reflects the company's continued focus on Kyoto as one of its priority growth markets. He said the hotel is designed to serve a mix of guests, from families and groups traveling together to solo travelers exploring the city independently.

Kiyoyuki Tsuchimoto, a representative for Heiwa Real Estate, framed the project as part of the developer's long-term growth strategy, known internally as WAY2040, which includes expanding into the hotel business. "Through Motto by Hilton Kyoto Shijo Karasuma, the first Motto by Hilton property in Japan, we will pursue 'Bazukuri,' including operations such as construction of buildings, creation of community and opportunities," Tsuchimoto said.

Brand expansion follows Nashville and Brazil openings

Motto by Hilton positions itself as a brand built around compact, design-forward rooms and communal social spaces meant to put guests close to a destination's street-level culture. Hilton said the Kyoto signing follows recent Motto openings in Nashville and Brazil, plus previously announced signings in Paris, Shanghai and Sydney. The company currently counts 13 Motto hotels operating in urban, resort and adventure locations worldwide, with more than 24 additional properties under development, according to Hilton.

No specific construction timeline or booking date has been released beyond the 2029 target. Hilton's broader Kyoto expansion, including the Curio Collection project, has not been given a firm opening schedule either. Travelers interested in the Shijo Karasuma property will likely need to wait for Hilton to release reservation details closer to the opening.