ANCIENT KYOTO WITH THE BEST TRADITIONAL HOTELS IN KYOTO AND LUXURY RYOKAN CURATED BY SECRET RETREATS

No visit to Japan would be complete without experiencing Ancient Kyoto and staying at the best traditional hotels in Kyoto or one of the many Luxury Ryokan (traditional inns) carefully selected for you by Secret Retreats. Once the ancient capital city of Japan, Kyoto holds a special place in the heart of the Japanese people due to its legacy of history, culture and religion. Once home to the Imperial Court, Kyoto is estimated to host 40 million tourists and visitors each year and it is easy to see why. With Secret Retreats you too can immerse yourself in the heart of ancient Japanese culture by staying in the traditional Japanese accommodation Kyoto has to offer. Whether this is the best affordable Ryokan in Kyoto or one of the boutique hotels Kyoto provides to its many visitors, Secret Retreats has hand-picked accommodation that combines tradition with comfort and style.

The Japanese Onsen

Elsewhere in the world we tend to bathe to cleanse our bodies but at the Japanese Onsen, bathing the traditional way is considered as a way of cleansing the soul. Taking time with one’s bath is as much a part of family life and tradition in Japan as the taking of time to produce the country’s amazing cuisine. Secret Retreats has sourced the best Onsen in Kyoto for our guests so that you can indulge yourself in the ritual of the Japanese bath – a place to relax, contemplate and let the world outside drift away altogether. These traditions are passed down through the generations and much as we view Japan as a very modern nation, tradition is never far from the heart of its people. Nothing is more traditional than the Japanese Onsen and Secret Retreats can provide the best Onsen hotel in Kyoto so that you can literally immerse yourself in tradition and culture.

Tea for Two or Tea for All of You – Japanese tea at Boutique Hotels Kyoto

Tea was first introduced to Japan from China as an aid to Buddhist meditation but the tea ceremony has long been central to every facet of Japanese culture for centuries. All boutique hotels, Kyoto and in fact all traditional Japanese inns, Kyoto will offer the ancient tea ceremony to their guests. ‘Sado’, the way of tea, follows a very specific and ancient routine. Guests will be greeted by a silent bow and then engage in removing their shoes and ‘purifying’ through the washing of hands and rinsing of mouths prior to moving on to the main ceremony within the tea house. Waiting areas are decorated with ancient scrolls and guests are summoned to the tea house by a gong and enter through a small opening to find all traditional utensils already in place. Sitting on the floor wearing a traditional kimono, you will be served ‘thick’ or ‘thin’ Japanese green tea according to your preference and this will be prepared by your server and handed to you. At the end of the tea ceremony you will be invited back to the decorative waiting area to remove your traditional garments, collect your belongings and return to the outside world, feeling serene and relaxed.  

A true sense of place staying in the best traditional Ryokan in Kyoto

Many guides refer to the many attractions of Kyoto and those best traditional Ryokan in Kyoto but not all will include reference one of those ‘hidden gems’ of the region. Secret Retreats suggests that no visit to Kyoto would be complete without a visit to the Miho Museum, located in the Shigaroki Mountains between Kyoto and Lake Biwa. We can organise your visit to this incredible museum, holding an unrivalled collection of Japanese art and ancient art from across Asia and beyond. Set amongst beautiful, natural surroundings the setting, buildings and gardens are a work of art in themselves, a harmonious blend of natural beauty, architecture and art this is a truly beautiful place and not to be missed. Both inside and out, the entire experience will complete your visit to this most ancient of regions and here at Secret Retreats we pride ourselves on providing our guests access to these most cultural aspects of life in Japan, where tradition meets modernity in a highly unique fashion. Experiencing the best accommodation in Kyoto and the bespoke journeys on offer from Secret Retreats will ensure that you have truly immersed yourself in the unique fabric of this most fascinating of cities. Contact the Secret Retreats Concierge to start planning your visit to Japan, we can provide tailor made stays, itineraries and experiences from the best traditional Japanese accommodation Kyoto has to offer to excellent dining – let Secret Retreats unveil the essence of Kyoto to you.