Imai Construction Launches Own Hotel Brand "solmu kyoto"; Two Buildings to Open Sequentially in Shijo Karasuma Area

Imai Construction Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City; President and CEO: Takashi Imai) will launch a new hotel brand, "solmu kyoto (Solmu Kyoto)", and sequentially open two hotels in the Shijo Karasuma area of Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto City. "solmu kyoto" is a lifestyle hotel with the concept of Kyoto's "introduction culture" (introduction culture), incorporating connections with local shops, culture, and people into the stay experience. It aims to be a place where new relationships are born between people, and between travelers and the city, allowing guests to experience the charm of Kyoto that cannot be encountered by simply visiting tourist spots.

STARMINE Co., Ltd. is in charge of brand production for this project. Starting with market research and target design, they handled everything from brand strategy planning, space design, experience design, to design supervision.

▲ Interior image (solmu kyoto shijo karasuma)

*The interior images shown are current conceptual renderings and may be subject to change.

What Local Companies Can Do for a Changing Kyoto

Kyoto receives an increasing number of visitors each year, and the way people interact with the city is changing significantly. While many people visit from all over the world, individual shops, culture, and human connections rooted in the city are becoming less visible through tourism alone. Imai Construction has been involved in urban development in Kyoto for many years. Through this work, they have come to feel that Kyoto's charm lies not only in its buildings and famous sites, but also in its daily life and relationships with people. As a company rooted in the city, they believe they can play a role in connecting travelers with the true charm of Kyoto. "solmu kyoto" was born from this desire.

We want to open hotels not just as places to stay, but as places to encounter the city anew, creating opportunities for travelers to naturally connect with Kyoto's daily life, culture, and people.

Weaving Gentle Connections, Kyoto's Knot.

The brand name "solmu" means "knot" in Finnish. Inspired by Kyoto's introduction culture, it embodies the desire to be a place that connects travelers with the city and people with each other.

The symbol mark is a motif of a knot formed by pulling both ends of a single line. It symbolically represents the moment when different entities are gently tied together, creating new relationships.

City and Traveler. Local and Global. People and People.

Various encounters intersect, and new relationships are born.

"solmu kyoto" embodies this sentiment.

For Those Who Travel Kyoto Deeply

"solmu kyoto" envisions a journey to discover one's own unique Kyoto. It is for those who visit Kyoto repeatedly yet seek new discoveries, those who want to experience shops not listed in guidebooks or Kyoto's daily life, and those who enjoy the journey itself through culture, food, and encounters with people. "solmu kyoto" re-edits Kyoto's rooted introduction culture into a stay experience for such travelers. Through conversations with staff, encounters with the city, and unexpected discoveries, guests will naturally connect with a Kyoto that cannot be found through tourism alone. This is the kind of stay experience they aim for.

▲ Every step further leads to an unknown Kyoto ▲ Red weeping cherry blossoms blooming at Bukkoji Temple

About Collaboration

"solmu kyoto" is not a brand that is confined within the hotel. It aims to be a place where travelers can encounter new charms of Kyoto through the culture, activities, and connections with people rooted in the city. To achieve this, collaboration with various people active in this city is essential. We welcome collaborations with those who resonate with the philosophy of "solmu kyoto" and wish to deliver Kyoto's charms together, regardless of genre or scale, including food and beverage, cafes, bars, traditional crafts, art, wellness, and local culture. We want to nurture this brand while valuing the possibilities that arise from new initiatives and chance encounters.

Message from the Representative

Takashi Imai, President and CEO, Imai Construction Co., Ltd.

For 60 years since our founding, we have been based in Kyoto and involved in local urban development through the development of our own condominium brand "Parador" and housing supply. Through our business rooted in the local community, we have come to feel that Kyoto's charm lies not only in its buildings and scenery, but also in the lives, culture, and connections of its people.

This hotel brand, "solmu kyoto," was born from our desire to be more deeply involved not only in building structures but also in the "time" and "experience" that follow. As a company that has been rooted in Kyoto for a long time, we believe we can play a role in connecting its charms to travelers.

We hope that "solmu kyoto" will become a knot connecting people, and travelers with the city, and grow as an gateway to understanding Kyoto more deeply.

◉ Facility Overview

solmu kyoto shijo karasuma

(Solmu Kyoto Shijo Karasuma)

Location: Motoakujiko-cho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture

Number of rooms: 24

Opening: Scheduled for January 2027

Access: Approximately 2 minutes walk from Shijo Station on the subway

solmu kyoto takakura bukkoji

(Solmu Kyoto Takakura Bukkoji)

Location: Higashi-iru, Takakura, Bukkoji-dori, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture

Number of rooms: 52

Opening: Scheduled for around Summer 2027

Access: Approximately 4 minutes walk from Shijo Station on the subway

◉ Company Overview

Imai Construction Co., Ltd.

Location: 4-2 Saiin Yasutsuka-cho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City

Representative: Takashi Imai, President and CEO

Established: April 1967

Business Activities: Planning, development, and management of condominiums and hotels; ownership, purchase, sale, lease, management, brokerage, and consulting of other real estate.

URL: https://imai-kensetsu.co.jp/

<Contact Information>

Imai Construction Co., Ltd.

Contact: Shijo Karasuma Hotel Opening Preparation Office

TEL: 075-312-1199