LUXURY TRAVEL 49
A HOTEL, A THEATRE, AND A COMMUNITY
Built on the former site of Shinmichi Elementary School, Capella Kyoto is part of a threepart development along Shinmichi Street together with the restored Miyagawa-cho Kaburenjo Theatre and a new community centre— carrying forward a legacy of learning, culture, and community.
At the heart of the development is the Kaburenjo itself: for generations the private training ground of Kyoto’ s geiko and maiko, and a defining symbol of the kagai. Now restored, it grants Capella guests access to performances— a living tradition Kyoto has guarded for centuries.
ACCOMMODATIONS
The 89-room property rises four storeys, with accommodations ranging from Deluxe City Rooms to the 206-sqm top-floor Capella Suite. Among the most sought-after are the Premier Theatre Rooms— named for their outlook over the Kaburenjo— and the two Gion Suites, each with a direct view of Kenninji temple. Six Onsen Suites feature private hot spring baths, while the Capella Suite commands the full sweep of the Higashiyama skyline. From both the bedroom and the 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 elevation 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 laneway below to the ochaya where they are engaged.
ISSUE 76 2026 THE ART OF LUXURY