Capella Hotels and Resorts Expands Into Japan

WHY IT RATES: The Capella Kyoto will signify the brand’s first property in Japan. —Janeen Christoff, TravelPulse Senior Writer

Opening in mid-2025, Capella Hotels and Resorts will be making its debut in Japan with Capella Kyoto. Designed by world-acclaimed architect firm, Kengo Kuma and Associates, the luxurious two-basement, four-story, 92-room hotel will be located in the Miyagawa-cho district, an important geiko (geisha) and maiko (apprentice geisha) neighborhood and cultural treasure in Kyoto.

Defined by the flourishing of Japanese arts, Capella Kyoto mirrors Higashiyama’s culture through its curation of Japanese artworks and artifacts. Each unique piece and its story are framed by the interior design and architecture of the hotel, providing a showcase of Higashiyama’s aesthetic pleasures. The guest rooms themselves draw focus to fundamental aspects of Japanese culture — such as the tea ceremony — providing guests a more personal, immersive experience.

Sitting adjacent to the famed Kenninji Temple and a stone’s throw away from the vibrant Nishiki Market and the prominent Yasaka Shrine, Capella Kyoto fully embodies its surrounding locale. As guests navigate through the hotel, they will find intimate spaces contrasted with larger vistas. The layers of space they are brought through echoes important elements of Japanese art and architecture such as composition, balance and harmony. Combined with the soothing hues and textures of Capella Kyoto’s interior design, guests can expect a calming atmosphere where time seems to slow down. The Japanese garden courtyard that lies in the center of the hotel was designed with this exact sentiment in mind. Dubbed ichigo-ichie (one life, one moment), the bamboo forest, Japanese Maple and pebbled shoreline create an idyllic setting.

Beneath the Japanese garden lies the Capella ballroom, a beautiful pace with an internal multi-story rock garden serving as a pre-function area. Capella’s signature Auriga Spa sits right beside it, with spa rooms for guests to be fully pampered while enjoying a taste of Japan’s renowned bathing culture – relax in the comforts of the private Ofuro rooms.

Dine at the Main Restaurant, organized around the garden alongside the signature Capella Living Room; or the Japanese restaurant, nestled in the hotel’s south-eastern corner. Other dining options include the hotel’s patisserie as well as its feature lobby bar.

Developed by NTT Urban Development Corporation, a comprehensive real estate company within the NTT Group, Capella Kyoto is the hospitality component of a development that cements it between Miyagawa-cho Kaburenjo, an opera house that showcases famous female geiko and maiko dances such as the Kyo-Odori, and Miyagawa Maiko Performance School.

“Our partnership with Capella Hotel Group, which operates luxury hotels around the world, has been extremely exciting and we can’t wait to open the first Capella Hotel in Japan, in the ancient district of Kyoto. Built on the site of the beloved Shindo Elementary School, Capella Kyoto will be one that will live out the memory and culture of the region and create new values,” said Hiroshi Tsujigami, President and Chief Executive Officer of NTT Urban Development Corporation.

“We are delighted to work with NTT Urban Development Corporation in bringing Capella’s unique offerings and immersive experiences to Japan,” said Cristiano Rinaldi, President of Capella Hotel Group. “Filled with culture and heritage, Kyoto is the perfect place for us to establish a presence in Japan as the city is very much aligned with the group’s visionary curation of culture and experience.”

SOURCE: Capella Hotels and Resorts press release.