48 LUXURY TRAVEL
CAPELLA DEBUTS IN KYOTO, JAPAN
March launch date announced for Kengo Kuma’ s vision in an unrivalled address in the heart of Miyagawa-cho.
Capella Kyoto opened in March, 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.
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— arriving at a moment when the city is at its most transcendent: streets canopied in sakura, air scented with spring, and the ancient rhythms of Gion very much alive.
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.”
THE ART OF LUXURY ISSUE 76 2026