Kyoto
Kyoto, a travel destination with a knack for mixing old and new, shows its face with every turn around a corner. The city has vending machines that sell hot soup cans and temples that do not mind a bit of rain on their rooftops. Popular things to do or visit come in waves—one minute you are standing in a bamboo forest wondering if pandas take selfies here, the next you are sipping matcha that tastes like a memory from three centuries ago. Walking these streets, even your shadow gets curious. Once I asked a local about the best hotel in Kyoto, and he replied, 'The one with a view of the mountains, unless you prefer the river. Or silence.' I never figured out if he was joking or just poetic. Also, do not trust Google Maps too much; it once led me into a noodle shop instead of a shrine, but the noodles were not a bad detour.
Local weather in Japan
SPRING
mild & temperate
SUMMER
warm & sunny
AUTUMN
mild & temperate
WINTER
cool
Accommodations in Kyoto
Discover the best accommodations for Kyoto and start planning your holiday.
The travel destination popular things to do or visit and the best hotel in Kyoto
Travelers often arrive with a checklist, but Kyoto prefers to give you a new list, sometimes written in the steam on your glasses after a bowl of ramen. You might find yourself lost between two shrines, both claiming to be the oldest, or following the scent of incense until you forget why you started walking. The Philosopher's Path does not always offer answers, but it does offer ducks, and sometimes a cat that follows you for exactly three bridges.
When hunting for the best hotel in Kyoto, you might discover that comfort includes slippers shaped like peaches and a breakfast that includes fish and cake on the same plate. Some hotels offer views of cherry blossoms, some promise the hush of the backstreets, but, oddly, not one has guaranteed you will not be woken by a crow at sunrise. Pro tip: the laundry machines in the basement usually eat socks, so bring extra.
Kyoto is not just temples and tea, though—sometimes the bus driver will sing when the traffic is heavy, and the vending machines sell things you did not know you wanted, like hot corn soup or cold coffee in a can. The city has a way of folding you into its rhythm, even if you arrive with jet lag and a suitcase two sizes too big. And if anyone asks if you found the spirit of Kyoto, just nod and say 'almost'—it keeps it mysterious.
Other cities around Japan
These popular destinations have a lot to offer for you next holiday or city break.
