Singaporean hotel group Capella Hotels and Resorts will open its first property in Japan on 22 March 2026 in the Miyagawa-cho geisha district of Kyoto.

The new Capella Kyoto hotel is located near the Kenninji temple and the Kamo River.

It occupies the former site of Shinmichi Elementary School and forms part of a broader project on Shinmichi Street that includes the restored Miyagawa-cho Kaburenjo Theatre and a community centre.

The four-storey property will provide 89 rooms and has been designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates and Brewin Design Office.

Room categories range from Deluxe City Rooms to suites such as the Premier Theatre Rooms, which overlook the Kaburenjo Theatre, and two Gion Suites facing Kenninji temple.

Six Onsen Suites include private hot spring baths. The 206m² top-floor Capella Suite offers views over Higashiyama’s skyline.

Dining options at Capella Kyoto include SoNoMa by SingleThread, an intimate restaurant offering both a counter dining experience and a lounge bar.

Yoi serves late-night kappo cuisine with contemporary elements, while Lanterne is an all-day French brasserie.

For wellness services, Auriga Spa will operate as the hotel's facility with three private onsen rooms, wet and dry saunas, treatment rooms, and a fitness centre.

Capella Hotels and Resorts operations senior vice-president Clive Edwards said: “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.”

The hotel’s Capella Curates allows guests to participate in cultural activities such as attending performances at Miyagawa-cho Kaburenjo Theatre or private encounters at an ochaya with a maiko.