Capella Kyoto is set to open its doors on March 22, just as Kyoto’s 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.
Designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates and Singapore-based Brewin Design Office, the 89-key hotel is a reimagination of the city’s traditional machiya (townhouses). Built on the former site of Shinmichi Elementary School, Capella Kyoto is part of a development along Shinmichi Street 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 (geisha) and maiko (apprentice), and a defining symbol of the kagai. Now restored and reopened, it remains a working theatre and Capella guests are among the few granted front-row access to its performances.
Accommodations
The 89-room, four-storey property offers accommodations ranging from Deluxe City Rooms to the 2,200-square-foot, top-floor Capella Suite. From both the bedroom and 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 location 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 lane below to the ochaya (traditional teahouse) where they are engaged.
Capella expects the Premier Theatre Rooms, named for their outlook over the Kaburenjo, and the two Gion Suites, each with a direct view of Kenninji temple, to be among the most popular. Alternatively, six Onsen Suites feature private hot spring baths.
Wellness
Wellness at Capella Kyoto is anchored by the brand’s signature Auriga Spa, inspired by lunar cycles and holistic rituals. The spa has 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.
Culinary Offerings
Kyle Connaughton
Capella Kyoto is home to SoNoMa by SingleThread, created in partnership with SingleThread, the Three-Michelin-starred restaurant based in Sonoma, CA, by Kyle and Katina Connaughton. As the signature restaurant of the property, SoNoMa by SingleThread offers a 12-seat counter and a 20-seat lounge bar in the style of an ochaya. 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.
SingleThread Entremets, a patisserie program led by Executive Pastry Chef Emma Horowitz and Chef Miu Morita, formerly of Michelin Three-Star L’Effervescence in Tokyo, offers seasonal confections. Additionally, Lanterne, the all-day French brasserie, reimagines Parisian café culture.
Yoi is the late-night dining destination offering kappo with a modern twist. Here, chefs prepare and present seasonal dishes directly before guests. The space itself honours the local community through reclaimed timber and lighting fixtures sourced from the former Shinmichi Elementary School.
AloJapan.com