Capella Kyoto Launches Special Program to Support the Cultural Succession of Gion Matsuri

Photo cooperation: Kikusui-boko Preservation Association / Photography: Capella Kyoto

Capella Kyoto (Location: Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture; General Manager: John Blanco) will implement a special cultural experience program and contribute to the festival through patronage, aiming to support the cultural succession of Gion Matsuri, one of Kyoto's representative traditional events. The travel that Capella Hotels & Resorts values is one that elevates a stay into a deeper and richer experience through essential encounters with the culture, history, and people that breathe life into a place. To foster connections with local culture and deepen understanding and empathy, we offer special experience programs that allow guests to engage with the culture and traditions of various regions.

Connecting Kyoto's Culture to the Future

"As a hotel rooted in the historic city of Kyoto, Capella Kyoto values coexistence with the local community and deep respect for its culture. Gion Matsuri, a source of pride for Japan, is a precious cultural heritage of Kyoto passed down for over a thousand years. Its traditions have been preserved through the unceasing efforts of local residents and preservation groups who support the maintenance of the floats and the succession of festival events.

Capella Kyoto deeply respects the activities of these local people and will support the succession of culture for the future through patronage of activities for the preservation and succession of festival culture." - General Manager John Blanco

Cultural Experience Program

Chigiri-wa Making Workshop

During July, the period when Gion Matsuri takes place, we will hold special workshops for our guests to learn about the traditional culture related to Gion Matsuri in collaboration with local cultural bearers. In this program, you can experience making the "Chigiri-wa," the origin of Gion Matsuri's chimaki (a type of rice dumpling), while learning about its history, meaning, and the spiritual culture passed down in the region. The "Chigiri-wa" is a ring woven from reeds used in the "Nagoshi no Harae" (summer purification ritual), a Shinto rite to cleanse impurities from the first half of the year and pray for good health in the latter half. This circular ring embodies purification, renewal, and prayers for healthy days, and has been passed down with people's lives since ancient times. The completed Chigiri-wa can be taken home as a charm. Please enjoy this special moment to touch upon Kyoto's traditions through handcraft and feel the spiritual culture that breathes within.

*This program will be guided by hotel staff well-versed in local culture.

Furthermore, this year, with the cooperation of the Kikusui-boko Preservation Association, one of the representative floats of Gion Matsuri, we will offer an opportunity to view the float, allowing guests to experience the aesthetics of the floats, which sublimate the spirit of the townspeople into splendor. Capella Kyoto, in its first year of operation, is committed to sincerely learning about Kyoto's deep history and traditions, and bears the mission of correctly conveying the aspects of cultural preservation and traditional succession to domestic and international customers. By deeply engaging with the culture and sentiments of the people behind the festival, rather than simply "watching" it, we aim to become a "bridge of culture" that fosters understanding and empathy for Gion Matsuri together with our guests.

*There are a limited number of opportunities for float viewing.

Capella Kyoto Overview

Courtyard

Address: 130 Komatsu-cho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture

Phone Number: 075-541-8877

Number of Rooms: 89 rooms in total (including 29 suites)

Facilities: Signature Restaurant,

Bar & Japanese Restaurant, French Brasserie,

Pastry Boutique, Spa, Banquet Hall

About CAPELLA HOTEL GROUP

Capella Hotel Group continues to elevate exceptional hospitality with artistry and a spirit of succession. Based in Singapore, the group operates the luxury brands "Capella Hotels & Resorts" and "Patina Hotels & Resorts," creating travel experiences that foster deep connections with the land by reinterpreting historically significant locations as "living culture." Globally acclaimed, the group builds iconic hospitality based on respect for people and place.

For more details, please click here.

About CAPELLA HOTELS & RESORTS

Capella Hotels & Resorts is a luxury brand that embodies the essence of the craft of hospitality. Currently operating primarily in the Asia-Pacific region, with future openings planned in the Middle East and Europe. Each hotel serves as a custodian of the land's history, offering experiences that illuminate the essence of travel through careful restoration, meticulous design, and intangible artistry. Recognized as "Best Hotel Brand" for three consecutive years by the "World's Best Awards" in the prestigious U.S. travel magazine "Travel + Leisure," Capella Hotels & Resorts creates unique luxury experiences by blending exceptional craftsmanship with personalized service. Additionally, its signature wellness offering, "Auriga Spa," provides experiences that bring harmony to mind and body through a holistic approach inspired by the rhythms of the moon.

For more details, please click here.

Instagram @capellahotels | LinkedIn @capellahotels

About CAPELLA KYOTO

Opened on March 22, 2026, Capella Kyoto boasts a prime and rare location in Kyoto, situated near the Kamo River, directly facing Kennin-ji, a Zen temple with 800 years of history, and within the geisha district of Miyagawacho. The architecture, designed by Kengo Kuma Architects and Associates, features a low-rise structure that reinterprets traditional machiya (townhouse) architecture in a contemporary style, harmonizing with the streetscape of Higashiyama while merging the land's memory with new aesthetic sensibilities. Constructed in parallel with the reconstruction of the Miyagawacho Kabu-renjo (geisha performance hall), the hotel preserves and transplants existing trees with respect for the former elementary school site, thereby inheriting the region's history. The 89 guest rooms embody Capella's valued highly personal stay experience, inspired by Kyoto's 1200 years of tradition. Six suites feature private onsen (hot springs), and Auriga Spa offers wellness programs that bring regeneration and harmony. Furthermore, through its diverse dining options including the signature restaurant "SoNoMa by SingleThread," the French brasserie "Lanterne," and the bar & Japanese restaurant "Yoi," its collection of contemporary art throughout the property, and its cultural experiences, the hotel celebrates the enduring traditions of Kyoto.

Instagram @capellakyoto