INFORMATION
- 2020.07.01
- CAFÉ AALTO business hours information
ABOUT
MAJA HOTEL KYOTO is designed by Finnish industrial designer Harri Koskinen who’s main concept is to create a space that evokes feelings of coziness and warmth at home. From the texture of natural wood to the lighting, there are many carefully crafted details at MAJA HOTEL KYOTO that you will want to experience time and time again. Located in the central Kyoto neighborhood of Kawaramachi, the hotel is within walking distance to popular destinations such as Nishiki Market.


Maja Hotel Kyoto, located in the central Kyoto neighborhood of Kawaramachi, is a capsule hotel designed by Finnish industrial designer Harri Koskinen. The hotel comprises 60 capsules, called huts, which come in two sizes and feature a distinctive triangular roof modeled on the shape of a house. Harri Koskinen is responsible for all creative design related to the facility, including its interiors, graphics, and related products. Maja, which means “hut” in Finnish, is aiming “to create a cosy and warm home-like experience” for its guests.

The first floor of Maja Hotel Kyoto houses the first branch of the Finland-based Cafe Aalto, a cafe located inside Helsinki’s Academic Bookstore, which is the work of renowned Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. The Kyoto branch of Cafe Aalto is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and serves Finnish-style cinnamon rolls, coffee, and traditional Finnish delicacies such as salmon soup. The chairs, tables, and other furnishings used in the cafe are the first reproductions of the furniture designed by Alvar Aalto exclusively for Cafe Aalto in Helsinki.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR
HARRI KOSKINEN
Harri Koskinen (born in 1970) has an uncompromising, bold design aesthetic that has gained him international renown since the early days of his career. Practicality, a spare style and a conceptual approach to product and spatial design are Koskinen's trademarks. In 2009, Koskinen launched his first namesake collection, Harri Koskinen Works. In January 2012 Koskinen was appointed Design Director of the Iittala brand. Koskinen's works have been on display in exhibitions around the world. He has been awarded several major design prizes, such as the Kaj Franck Design Prize (2014), the Torsten and Wanja Söderberg Prize (2009), the Pro Finlandia Medal (2007) and the Compasso d'Oro prize (2004).
ROOM
The hotel features two types of capsule rooms: sleep-in huts and walk-in huts. Their distinctive triangular roofs, lights and switches, textiles, and other design features are all the work of Harri Koskinen, down to the smallest details.
"Marimekko for MAJA HOTEL KYOTO" Original Pouch Plan
Be the first to enjoy MAJA HOTEL KYOTO. Book the opening special plan and receive a limited-edition “Maja Kioto” Marimekko amenity pouch.

FACILITY
Lounge, lockers, and shower rooms are available for hotel guests only.
Breakfast for hotel guests is served at Cafe Aalto.
- Free WIFI
- 16-seat lounge exclusively for guests
(electric kettle, microwave oven, fridge, tableware, self-serve drink corner) - Personal locker (Size: W39 cm * L35 cm * H44 cm)
- Shower room (Equipped with 5 showers and 2 unit bathrooms with hairdryers)
- Fully automatic Washing and Dryer machine 2 (coin-operated)
AMENITY
- Sleepwear, indoor slippers
- Bath and face towels
- Bottled mineral water, tote bag
- Shampoo, conditioner, body soap
- Toothbrush, earplugs, hairbrush, razor (available from the reception)

Marimekko
for MAJA HOTEL KYOTO
Finnish lifestyle design company Marimekko’s original textile pattern “Maja Kioto” is designed by Harri Koskinen and featured in items such as the roll-up curtains and jacquard-woven bed linens, which are used in Maja Hotel Kyoto, and pouches, tote bags, and cushion covers, which are sold at the hotel shop.
Pouch ¥6,000
Tote bag ¥4,500
Cushion cover ¥4,500
The first floor of Maja Hotel Kyoto houses the first branch of the Finland-based Cafe Aalto, a cafe located inside Helsinki’s Academic Bookstore, which is the work of renowned Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. The Kyoto branch of Cafe Aalto is modeled on the original in Helsinki, and features reproductions of the marble and wooden tables and black leather and brass frame chairs designed by Alvar Aalto exclusively for Cafe Aalto. In a tribute to Aalto, the Kyoto cafe’s distinctive blue tiles reproduce the architect’s signature wall tiles.

Open from 7 a.m., Cafe Aalto in Kyoto serves breakfast, Finnish-style cinnamon rolls and blueberry pie, traditional Finnish delicacies such as salmon soup, and coffee, wine, and other beverages selected by Cafe Aalto owner and sommelier Marco Saracino. The cafe, which is supported by leading Finnish tableware brand Iittala, uses mainly the Raami line of tableware designed by British product and furniture designer Jasper Morrison.
CAFE AALTO
7AM - 10PM
FOOD L.O. 9PM / DRINK L.O. 9:30PM
BREAKFAST 7AM - 11:30AM
JOURNAL
How did Maja Hotel Kyoto come about,
and why did Café Aalto open a branch in Kyoto?
We asked designer Harri Koskinen
and Café Aalto owner Marco Saracino to share their stories.
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Interview
Harri Koskinen Vol.1What's in the ‘Maja’ name? Learn about the pursuit of comfort expressed through this name and about the design concept developed by Harri Koskinen, the designer of Maja Hotel Kyoto.
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Interview
Harri Koskinen Vol.2Timeless Nordic design – we sat down with Harri Koskinen to discuss the thought processes that underlie Finnish design, which Koskinen incorporated into the hotel.
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Interview
Marco SaracinoLearn about Café Aalto, the long-established, well-loved Finnish café, with owner Marco Saracino, who lets us in on the origin of the name, how Café Aalto earned its reputation, and why Kyoto was chosen to host the café's first overseas branch.
SIDE STORY
MAJA HOTEL KYOTO offers original
and unique features with quality of elements.
This Side Story introduces some of the features of the unique elements.
FAQ
ACCESS
92 Tsuchiya-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-8112MAP
1F CAFE AALTO
/ 2F〜4F MAJA HOTEL KYOTO
From Kyoto Station, take either the Karasuma subway line to Karasuma Oike Station or the Tozai subway line to Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station. The hotel is a 6-minute walk from either station. It is an 8-minute walk to the hotel from Karasuma Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line, a 9-minute walk from Sanjo Station on the Keihan Main Line, or a 12-minute taxi ride from Kyoto Station.

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ACCESS From Itami -
ACCESS From KIX -
ACCESS From Osaka-umeda Sta.