As you enter the Four Seasons, there will be one word on your lips: paradise. Built alongside an 800-year-old pond garden, splendid with cherry blossoms, bubbling pools and a maze of pathways, the hotel brings this sublime atmosphere into every space. Light cypress wood and shoji paper lanterns, tall ceilings and vast windows, and large floral displays see to that. The Four Seasons sits within Kyoto's temple district, and there will be plenty of opportunity to explore whether that's on one of the hotel's curated tours or a sightseeing bicycle ride. And there's always time for enjoying a taste of Kyoto's kappo cuisine.
Sleek beyond measure, every space at the Four Seasons is a delight to behold. Helmed by the renowned chef, Rai Masuda, the intimate Sushi Wakon restaurant offers one of the best dining experiences in the city with plate after plate of succulent seafood on offer. With views over the pond garden, The Brasserie's sunlit terrace is the perfect breakfast spot, while the moody Lounge & Bar serves a mean Kyoto-inspired cocktail. But, we may have saved the best for last; the spa is a Zen cocoon with a subterranean pool and heaven-sent treatments.
The Four Seasons has a selection of rooms that balance the traditional – hand-painted floral panels and fusama screen doors – with modern finishes, including remote-controlled drapes, customisable beds and in-mirror TVs. The spacious bathrooms boast enormous bathtubs, monsoon showers and high-end amenities - and you must try one of the yuzu fruit soaks. All rooms feature King beds and a lounge area, but some also have a private balcony. The largest by far are the Residential Suites, which have their own kitchen too.
Kyoto is all about the temples and shrines (the city is home to 2,000 religious sites), palaces and museums, yet it also boasts 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites that reveal a deep and fascinating history. Enjoy a geisha performance in one of Kyoto's flower towns (or the Four Seasons' own tea house), learn the intricacies of a traditional tea ceremony, take a lesson in the art of Budo, or visit a local home to try your hand at ikebana (flower arranging).
The spa is an utter dream, complete with bubbling hot tubs, pine saunas and delicious treatments including tanba salt scrubs and Sodashi gold leaf facials.
Rent a bicycle from the hotel and go exploring like a local – there's so much to see nearby.
The Four Seasons is certainly luxe but families mustn't feel put off as there are Residential Suites with added space and child-friendly activities like ninja training and Maiko make-overs.
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Get a glimpse of age-old traditions in Japan's erstwhile capital, a city of 1,000 temples.
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