Capella Kyoto will open on 22 March 2026, just as Kyoto’s legendary cherry blossoms reach their fleeting peak. Set in the historic Miyagawa-cho kagai (geisha district), Capella Hotels and Resorts’ inaugural property in Japan is located steps from the Kenninji temple and the Kamo river, where kabuki was born.
*All details correct at time of publish (26 February 2026)
Designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates and Singapore-based Brewin Design Office, the 89-key hotel reimagines the city’s traditional machiya (townhouse) and reinterprets Kyoto’s characteristic spatial composition – the layered sequence of narrow alleys, hidden gardens, and interior thresholds.
“WHISPERS OF GION” OPENING PACKAGE
Capella Kyoto opens its doors on 22 March 2026. To mark the occasion, the “Whispers of Gion” opening package includes:
- Breakfast for two at Lanterne
- Hotel Credit: JPY 10,000 (approx. GBP 47) (Deluxe and Premium Rooms), JPY 20,000 (approx. GBP 94) (Junior Suite, Onsen Suite, Gion Suite, Capella Suite) per stay
- A curated gift handcrafted by Kyoto artisans exclusively for Capella guests – a rotating collection of limited works, from Orin bells and Kumiko trays to hand-turned wooden cups
Rates start from JPY 394,200 (approx. GBP 1,861++) for two pax, inclusive of taxes and service charges.
A MODERN-DAY MACHIYA
Clive Edwards, Senior Vice President, Operations, says: “Kyoto is one of the world’s greatest cradles of craft, ritual, and tradition, and Capella Kyoto has been conceived to honour that legacy in full.
“Japan has long been a destination we have deeply admired, and we have been intentional about introducing our brands here. Building on the success of Patina Osaka, which opened last year, we look forward to welcoming guests to Capella Kyoto as the next chapter in that journey, and the beginning of a deeper story in Japan.
“Every detail, from the unseen artistry embedded in the architecture to the most personal moments of service, reflects our belief that true luxury is the feeling of being deeply cared for, and being profoundly connected to a place and its living culture.
“Together, our properties are a heartfelt expression of Japanese culture that’s shaped by a genuine embrace of its traditions, people, and spirit.”
A HOTEL, A THEATRE, AND A COMMUNITY
Built on the former site of Shinmichi Elementary School, Capella Kyoto is part of a three-part development along Shinmichi Street together with the restored Miyagawa-cho Kaburenjo Theatre and a new community centre.
At the heart of the development is the Kaburenjo itself: for generations the private training ground of Kyoto’s geiko and maiko, and a defining symbol of the kagai. Now restored, it grants Capella guests access to performances, a living tradition Kyoto has guarded for centuries.
ACCOMMODATIONS
The 89-room property rises four storeys, with accommodations ranging from Deluxe City Rooms to the 206-sqm top-floor Capella Suite.
Among the most sought-after are the Premier Theatre Rooms – named for their outlook over the Kaburenjo – and the two Gion Suites, each with a direct view of Kenninji temple.
Six Onsen Suites feature private hot spring baths, while the Capella Suite commands the full sweep of the Higashiyama skyline.
From both the bedroom and the lounge, guests look out over the pagodas and rooftops of Higashiyama, with the iconic five-tiered silhouette of Yasaka Pagoda visible against the mountain ridge.
The suite’s elevation above Miyagawa-cho also places guests at the best vantage point for one of Gion’s most elusive sights: geiko and maiko, dressed for the evening, making their way through the laneway below to the ochaya where they are engaged.
CULINARY OFFERINGS
Capella Kyoto is home to SoNoMa by SingleThread, created in partnership with SingleThread, the Three-Michelin-starred restaurant based in Sonoma, California, by Kyle and Katina Connaughton.
As the signature restaurant of the property, SoNoMa by SingleThread offers an intimate 12-seat counter and a 20-seat lounge bar in the style of an ochaya (traditional teahouse).
Helming the restaurant is Chef Keita Tominaga, who will celebrate the seasonal agriculture of both Kyoto’s Kansai region and California’s Dry Creek Valley through the lens of local farmers and craftspeople.
SingleThread Entremets, a dedicated patisserie programme led by Executive Pastry Chef Emma Horowitz and Chef Miu Morita, formerly of Michelin Three-Star L’Effervescence in Tokyo, offers seasonal confections for onsite enjoyment or packaged takeaway.
Yoi is a late-night dining destination offering kappo with a modern twist. Chefs prepare and present seasonal dishes directly before their guests, elevated here by innovative handcrafted cocktails.
The space itself honours the local community through reclaimed timber and lighting fixtures sourced from the former Shinmichi Elementary School, quietly preserving the memory of the neighbourhood’s past.
Lanterne, the all-day French brasserie, reimagines Parisian café culture through Kyoto’s quiet craftsmanship, blending marble, herringbone floors, and pale woods with the serene sensibility of Japanese design.
AURIGA SPA
Wellness at Capella Kyoto is anchored by Auriga Spa, the brand’s signature sanctuary inspired by lunar cycles and holistic rituals. The spa features three private onsen rooms, wet and dry saunas, four treatment rooms, and a fitness centre.
Signature treatments draw from both Japanese tradition and contemporary wellness practices, offering guests pathways to restoration that are rooted in the rhythms of the ancient city.
CAPELLA CURATES
Through “Capella Curates,” the hotel’s signature cultural programming, guests are granted access to Kyoto’s most closely held traditions.
Front-row seats at the revived Miyagawa-cho Kaburenjo Theatre – the historic home of Kyoto’s geiko and maiko, and for generations the private heart of the kagai, allowing guests to witness the classical performing arts in the intimate surroundings where they are still taught and practised today.
A private ochaya encounter offers a more personal audience with a maiko, in a teahouse that remains by-invitation only.
A visit to a 150-year-old sandal atelier offers the chance to commission a bespoke pair, made by hand in the manner of old Gion. And a kintsugi workshop led by an urushi lacquerware master reveals the Japanese art of repairing what is broken.
More information available at www.capellahotels.com/kyoto.
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