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About a kilometre north of Kyoto Station, the Kanra is a sleek blend of traditional Japanese and minimalist Scandinavian sensibilities. Rooms are airy and spacious, with a mix of wooden, granite and tatami flooring, plus light, natural tones and wooden furnishings. To that, little touches like locally made ceramic tea sets add a carefully curated feel, while the scented baths are almost like having an in-room private onsen.
Away from the 68 rooms, a laidback café-slash-bar serves traditional desserts alongside cocktails, as well as selling local crafts, but the most unexpected feature is the hotel’s kintsugi studio – here artisans use gold and silver lacquer.
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Bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[1.9 miles]
Kyoto’s historic Gion quarter is the place to see Japan’s mysterious and enigmatic geisha. Dressed in colourful kimonos, complimented by elaborate hairstyles and oshiroi make-up, they’ve been entertaining Japan’s wealthy and well-connected for centuries.
Best for ages: 10+ | Free
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[3.2 miles]
One of Japan’s most sacred shrines, Fushimi Inari’s thousands of torii gateways also make it one of the country’s most Instagrammable sights.
Best for ages: 6+ | £2
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[5.8 miles]
The stunning, gilded temple of Kinkakuji, casting its golden reflection onto an islet-studded pond, is the iconic Kyoto image. A UNESCO World Heritage site.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[8.4 miles]
The towering stalks and soft light of Arashiyama’s much-photographed bamboo grove make this iconic Kyoto sight an almost otherworldly experience.
Best for ages: 4+ | £3
Other worthwhile experiences in this destination if you have the time or the interest, closest first
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[1.4 miles]
Stretching along five shop-lined blocks, Kyoto’s oldest food market immerses visitors in Kyoto’s culinary heritage. Over 100 stalls and restaurants offer all and anything food related.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[1.5 miles]
Established in 1202, this temple at the southern end of Hanami-koji has traditional Zen gardens and incredible ceiling murals of dragons (added in 2002). It claims to be the oldest temple in Kyoto.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[2.1 miles]
The shrine that protects the Gion geisha district is one of Kyoto’s most distinctive sights. Entered through a roofed gateway painted a vivid vermillion, its grounds include a striking dance stage—used for performances during festivals—that’s adorned with several hundred lanterns lit each evening.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[6.9 miles]
A Buddhist Zen temple and UNESCO World Heritage Site best known for its unusual, atmospheric moss garden that circles a symbolically-shaped golden pond. Just getting in is an experience – you’re given a written sutra to copy it out onto another piece of paper to ensure you are pure enough to enter!
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Destination guides including or relevant to this place to stay
Kansai, Japan
Ancient temples and shrines, sublime cuisine, manicured gardens, colourful geishas and living history in spades – Kyoto is traditional Japan at its best.
