Kyoto

A canvas-bag maker since 1905, hand-cutting and sewing durable totes, backpacks and aprons that age beautifully. A Kyoto craft institution.

Ace's first Japanese hotel, in a Kengo Kuma-expanded 1920s mall, with Commune Design interiors weaving Western and Japanese sensibilities. A lively, design-led base downtown.

A Zen sub-temple of Kenninji dedicated to seated meditation, with zazen sessions open to all, including non-Japanese speakers. A rare hands-on encounter with Zen.

A Tadao Ando-designed open-air gallery, mostly sunk below ground, where eight famous paintings — including Monet's Water Lilies — are reproduced on porcelain. A quietly clever concept.

A modern reinterpretation of the ryokan, hidden in forested Arashiyama and reached by boat along the Oi River. Mountain views, cedar bathtubs and serene riverside suites.

A 200-year-old shop serving Kyoto's landlocked saba-zushi — pressed vinegared mackerel — alongside other local styles. Eat in or take some for a Kamo-side picnic.

Kyoto's oldest Western-style cake shop, run by the same family since 1907. Come for the jam-topped Russian cakes and orange-jelly kozubukuro.

Fragrance brand Apothecary Fragrance in a restored 120-year-old machiya, with perfumes, candles and incense amid exposed brick and beams. Don't miss the Kyoto-exclusive furoshiki.

The main store of a yatsuhashi maker selling Kyoto's koto-shaped rice sweets near Shogoin temple since the 17th century. The soft, cinnamon version is the classic souvenir.

Sonya Park's Arts & Science, a two-floor shop of considered womenswear, jewellery and imported goods around a small garden. Calm, refined and characterful.

Akira Minagawa's distinctive textile label in the preserved 1927 Kotobuki Building, with garments, homeware and chair covers. Quietly joyful design.

A beloved Ichijoji bookshop of 25,000-plus titles on art, fashion and travel, with lifestyle goods and a gallery. A pilgrimage for book lovers.

A celebrated stationery, incense and calligraphy shop on Teramachi since 1663, in a Hiroshi Naito-designed space. Over a thousand beautiful, artisan-made wares.

The outdoor brand's first Kyoto shop, by New Material Research Laboratory, linking garden and interior with natural materials. Home to the main and experimental Goldwin 0 lines.

A landmark 1933 Imperial Crown-style museum, renovated in 2020, with 4,000-plus works of Kyoto modern art and ambitious shows. A cornerstone of the city's art scene.

A refreshing retreat in the leafy northeast, with riverside rooms, private steam-bath saunas and a tranquil garden. Local-herb breakfasts and dinners in a serene dining room.