Songtei Kyoto Joins Shangri-La’s Ultra-Luxury Signatures Collection

Shangri-La Group has announced Songtei Kyoto, Shangri-La Signatures, a 77-key ultra-luxury hotel opposite Nijo Castle in Kyoto.

The property is scheduled to begin welcoming guests in late 2026, with additional facilities opening progressively before a full unveiling in early 2027. It will become the second address in Shangri-La Signatures, the group’s most exclusive collection.

A small-scale arrival opposite Nijo Castle

The location places Songtei Kyoto beside one of the city’s most important historic sites, making architectural sensitivity and a strong sense of place particularly important to the project. Shangri-La says its Signatures collection is built around properties shaped by the provenance and character of their destinations.

At 77 keys, Songtei Kyoto is considerably more intimate than a conventional large urban luxury hotel. The scale aligns with a wider shift in Kyoto’s top-end market towards highly serviced, design-led properties that compete through privacy and cultural context rather than room count.

The phased opening means travellers should distinguish between the hotel’s initial late-2026 debut and the completion of its full facilities in 2027.

Source: Shangri-La Group announcement, September 2026.