Luxury Hotel Photography at Capella Kyoto

Photographing Capella Kyoto, which opened its doors in March 2026, was truly a dream.

Designed by Kengo Kuma, the hotel is infused with the type of quiet exquisite craftsmanship that one can come to expect from a hotel of this calibre in Kyoto. Natural textures such as woven linen, raw silk and tatami add a tactile element, while the light filtering through the shoji fills the space with a soft luminosity that changes throughout the day.

I was only there for 24 hours, but I remember the rooms being welcoming and cozy. I made time to have an indulgent bath, and as I put on the hotel’s pyjamas (which were so soft I considered asking if I could buy a pair) I fell into a deep, deep sleep. This is very rare for me. One of the cruel ironies of being a hotel photographer and experiencing some of the most stunning properties across Japan is that I often cannot sleep in them. But I slept soundly at Capella Kyoto.

For food lovers, the property’s crown jewel is its flagship restaurant, SoNoMa by SingleThread. Helmed by the team behind California’s three-Michelin-starred SingleThread, the space bridges Sonoma County's farm-to-table ethos with Kyoto’s hyper-seasonal kaiseki traditions.

Something I really love about this hotel are the vast range of cultural experiences that guests can participate in, especially for those who are visiting Japan for the first time. On the first day a maiko (apprentice geiko) performed in the lobby. On the second day we participated in a bonsai workship.

From the location to how it made me feel, I loved everything about this hotel.

I’m a Tokyo-based luxury hotel photographer. Whether I’m on location for luxury hospitality photography in Kyoto or back home in Tokyo, capturing spaces that evoke this level of feeling is why I love what I do.

Here are a few favorite frames from the shoot.