Kyoto’s eastern hills of Higashiyama are home to narrow, sloping lanes of townhouses, temples, tea shops and shrines. This picture-perfect area of Kyoto is where you’ll find Park Hyatt Kyoto, with world-famous sites right on your doorstep.

Inside, the hotel feels warm, blending contemporary luxury with Kyoto’s rich craftsmanship heritage. With just 70 rooms, including nine suites, they have created an intimate atmosphere. Rooms are sleek and comfortable with local artisanal touches (think: low angular ceilings, herringbone motifs and wabi sabi ceramic teacups by local artisans). And the sense of calm that the interiors induce is enhanced by views of the hotel’s zen gardens.

With five food and beverage spots, hotel guests are spoilt for choice. There’s Kyoto Bistro, a casual café serving its food on ceramics handmade by a local pottery maker. Next, Yasaka is their Japanese teppanyaki restaurant where you can enjoy awe-inspiring views of the pagoda and city skyline to accompany the grilled wagyu. Kyoyamato is Kyoto’s famed Japanese kaiseki restaurant (around long before the hotel) and serves seasonal dishes with careful consideration on presentation – the ‘Nishiki-Kasane’, a two-tier lunch box, is a must.

At the spa, spiritual wellness is the order of the day. Inspired by the local bathhouse tradition, it offers a range of authentic therapies and traditional Japanese rituals to de-stress the mind and relax the body.