Kyoto rewards the traveller who slows down. With more than a thousand temples and shrines, the secret is not to see everything, but to see a few places beautifully.

When to go

Spring brings cherry blossom and autumn brings the maple colours — both are magical and both are busy. Late autumn and the quieter weeks of early spring offer a gentler balance of beauty and calm.

Start early

The most famous sights, such as the Fushimi Inari gates and the Arashiyama bamboo grove, are at their most peaceful in the first hour after sunrise. An early start with a private guide changes the experience completely.

Experiences worth arranging

• A private tea ceremony with a tea master.

• An evening walk through Gion with a local guide.

• A kaiseki dinner — Kyoto's refined, seasonal multi-course cuisine.

• A night or two in a traditional ryokan with an onsen bath.

Pair it with

Kyoto sits comfortably alongside Tokyo by bullet train, and a few days in the countryside — Hakone or the Japanese Alps — makes a perfect contrast.