Kyoto, Japan

Capella Kyoto

Name: Capella Kyoto
Address: Kyoto

Ryokan-inspired hotel in Kyoto’s historic geisha district

A Capella Kyoto guest room with wooden walls, a daybed, and a large window looking out onto a traditional temple complex.

Contemporary design retreat with tea culture and traditional onsen

Set in Kyoto‘s historic Miyagawa-chō district, Capella Kyoto is a luxury hotel in Gion known for its teetering wooden houses. Narrow stone lanes, timber machiya townhouses and lantern-lit alleys surround the hotel.

Its central location is within easy reach of Kyoto’s cultural experiences and landmarks, such as Kenninji Temple – Kyoto’s oldest Zen temple – and the food stalls of Nishiki Market. Capella Kyoto incorporates Japan’s traditional ryokan design, using wooden screens, textured plaster, handmade washi paper and finely detailed joinery.

The rooms and suites are decorated with minimalist furnishings, warm wood tones and artful details. Several have deep soaking tubs or private onsen hot spring baths. Large windows frame Capella’s garden courtyards, with stone pathways and carefully placed plant life that shifts with the seasons. At the Auriga Spa, you can bathe in a traditional onsen and choose from a menu of contemporary spa treatments, including massage and skincare.

At the main restaurant, SoNoMa BY SINGLETHREAD, dining is rooted in a collaboration with the team behind California’s acclaimed SingleThread. The result is a thoughtful, ingredient-led approach to the table. There are also a French-style brasserie, hand-crafted cocktails in the sultry Yoi lounge and a daytime patisserie serving desserts and confections.

Tea ceremonies and guided neighbourhood walks let you experience the ancient Japanese rituals. Through Capella’s in-house ‘Culturists’, you’ll visit local ateliers and artisans, such as a renowned lacquerware master and a sandal maker. Nearby, a highly regarded kabuki theatre immerses you into the art, music and performance of the Edo period.

Highlights

Stay in a ryokan-inspired room crafted with traditional Kyoto artisanship

Soak in a deep bath or private onsen in your room, or partake in a Japanese wellness treatment

Explore nearby Kenninji Temple, Nishiki Market and Kyoto’s historic geisha districts

Take part in a tea ceremony and visit local artisan masters to learn about Kyoto’s traditional craftsmanship

Sample fine dining combining Californian and Japanese cuisines at Capella’s restaurant, SoNoMa BY SINGLETHREAD

Interior bedroom with neutral-toned bedding and soft lighting with traditional Japanese screen walls.

Private onsen tub steaming with water; the bathroom has dark tiles and there are windows overlooking an outdoor bathing terrace surrounded by a bamboo or rattan fence.

View down a long dining table set with plates and wine glasses. In the background are walls and banquettes and artwork with muted tones.

Dark wood bar and high barstools in the background with a long table in the foreground and round tiered hanging lights above.

Interior suite with neutral-toned softa, chairs and rugs and soft lighting with a wall of windows overlooking a temple and greenery.

Dark stone soaking bathtub with a tray of toiletries in a room with grey stone tiled walls.

Interior bedroom with neutral-toned bedding and soft lighting with a wall of windows overlooking a temple and greenery.

Exterior view of the hotel at night lit from within showing a Japanese screen wall with a bonsai plant illuminated.

Lobby reception with a welcome table made of wood fossils on top of which are a large vase with a floral arrangement and a decorative book open on a stand.

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Places to combine Capella Kyoto with

Tokyo

Aman Tokyo

Embracing the minimalism of traditional Japanese architecture, Aman is a stylish, bespoke hotel that will offer you an array of amenities and easy accessibility to the city’s sights.

Each of the 84 guest rooms and suites have unique layouts with uncompromising city views and every contemporary convenience. You’ll find the design inspiration evident throughout the hotel, from traditional Japanese residential structures to the use of classical materials such as camphor wood, washi paper and stone alongside modern luxurious fabrics. The hotel also offers an exquisite dining experience in their elegant mediterranean fine dining restaurant on the 33rd floor with views of the Imperial Palace Gardens and Mount Fuji.

Take a dip in the infinity pool on the 34th floor, high above the hustle and bustle of the city or head to the spa to relax after a long day of exploring the city. You’ll also enjoy Ginza, the upmarket shopping area just a pleasant 15 minute walk away.

Mount Fuji

Hoshinoya Fuji

Nestled within a pristine red pine forest overlooking Lake Kawaguchi and Mount Fuji is Hoshinoya Fuji, a beautiful glamping hideaway that allows guests to enjoy the tranquility of their natural surroundings.

On arrival at reception guests are presented with a camping kit containing binoculars, headlamp, map and blanket before being driven up to the main site. Here you will find the cabins, restaurant and the Cloud Terrace – a network of walkways and wooden platforms seemingly suspended in the air.

You’ll find 40 cubic concrete blocks nestled with the forest, minimalist in design but featuring everything you could possibly need. Large windows look out over the beautiful landscape and every cabin features a balcony where you can light a fire. Lighting in the cabins is soft, and around the site only the pathways are illuminated so as not to detract from the natural environment.

The main restaurant features a grill station in the middle where chefs cook up succulent steaks which are served with a seasoning rack. Alternatively, head up to the top of the Cloud Terrace and have a go at cooking in the wood-fired oven. For complete privacy, you can choose to dine in the comfort of your cabin.

Volcanic activity 10,000 years ago created a landscape of craters and ice caves, and the surrounding area is ripe for exploring. Canoe on the lake, go horse riding through the forest or take a lesson in stargazing and marvel at the night sky.

Yamashiro and Yamanaka

Araya Totoan Ryokan

Dating back over 800 years, this ryokan is immersed in Japanese history. Relax in the hotel’s onsen which have won international acclaim.

In authentic Japanese Sukita style, the 18 luxury guest rooms face the tranquil zen-designed garden. The natural beauty of the garden is echoed in the rooms, where the traditional Japanese use of light and space is evident, from the washi-paper sliding doors and tatami-mat flooring, you’ll find yourself emerged in this rich culture.

During your stay you will dine in on an abundance of local cuisine, tasting delicacies from the nearby sea and the bountiful land that surrounds the area. Find yourself totally emerged in local culture, even down to your clothing, this will be an experience you will never forget.

Hakone

Gora Kadan Ryokan

Immerse yourself into the ancient Japanese way of life at Gora Kadan, the former retreat of the Imperial Family. Situated in the heart of Hakone National Park, this traditional Japanese ryokan – meaning inn – echoes the country’s longstanding cultural emphasis on beauty and purity of form, and was designed to exist in harmony with the nearby mountain range.

With just 39 guest rooms and suites, this luxury ryokan provides a retreat from the often-hectic pace of city life through the use of Japanese Zen minimalism. You’ll find sliding walls made of rice paper, fragrant floral incense and modern luxury commodities. This calming retreat is located in an area known for its hot springs from which mineral rich water flows into the open-air baths.

During your stay enjoy the traditional Kaiseki cuisine, consisting of a variety of small dishes, which will be served in your room for complete tranquility.