Elite Traveler Summer 2023

EXPLORE KYOTO

GUIDETO KYOTO

In his 1958 travelogue Meeting With Japan , Fosco Maraini wrote: “The things that matter in Kyoto are tucked away in little valleys, in green alcoves between the folds of the hills. Its beauties do not present themselves, but have to be sought out.” It’s a city whose past and present collide and unravel into a dazzling display that’s a marvel to seek out and behold; Kyoto’s glittering golden temples and vermilion-painted pillars and palaces have long contributed to its reputation as one of Japan’s most desirable destinations. For more than a century from 794 to 1869, Kyoto — which means ‘capital city’ — served as the epicenter of Japan’s spiritual, cultural and political universe. You can spend weeks exploring the city’s thousand-plus temples, Zen gardens, Shinto shrines and 17 Unesco World Heritage Sites and still only scratch the surface of the birthplace of Japan’s geisha culture. If you’re eager to capture a unique glimpse into Kyoto’s rich cultural heritage, a wave of luxury hotels have been popping up in and around the city, and while they’ve been quick to master the art of Omotenashi — a uniquely Japanese concept of hospitality — they’re also o ff ering guests a chance to experience some of Kyoto’s most time-honored traditions and philosophies. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and, while there’s no shortage of enriching ways to discover the many wonders of this imperial city, from the ancient cobblestone corridors and lantern-lit alleyways of Gion, to the verdant valleys and rolling hills of Higashiyama, if you’re willing to dig deeper, you’ll be delighted by what you might fi nd.

by Michelle Gross