As the light breaks through the leafy canopy, it’s easy to forget that the city’s bustling streets are but half an hour away. That’s the spell that Aman Kyoto casts; a total escape from reality crafted of Ryokan-esque pavilions housing calming rooms and steamy mineral-rich onsens. A 32-hectare sea of Japanese maples and Kitayama cedars ensures this spell isn’t broken easily either. Once an art village established in 1615, the hotel’s gardens burst into seasonally changing life, connecting guests with the wider woods that welcome painting classes and forest bathing.  

Yet Aman Kyoto isn’t the only one hiding in the trees. This spot is famed for its cluster of temples, including the famous Golden Pavillion and Ryoanji temples both within 30 minutes' walk (but cycling is the best way to explore). In true Aman style, all these qualities don’t go to waste, cultivating a true sense of place through nurturing the inquisitiveness of their guests. Buddhist monks teach meditation overlooking beautiful gardens and horticultural experts demonstrate the art of Ikebana (flower arranging) and mini Japanese garden design. Ever-charming, though, Geisha steal the show quite literally in Kyoto’s oldest hanamachi – Kamishichiken – with a performance and tea ceremony.