Design: While the site itself has a history stretching back more than a millennium, the hotel has been built around a century-old Meiji-era villa (that now houses the restaurant) and an equally distinguished house, once a gathering place of poets (where you’ll now find the café).  The 39 rooms, 17 of which feature their own private open-air hot spring bath, have been tastefully integrated into the site: the whole thing feels like you’ve set up home in a private palace. Even better, you can lap up the luxury while still getting an authentic experience in one of the traditional Japanese rooms, complete with tatami mats and futon.

 

Rave: Looking out over that river takes some beating, but it’s even better over dinner at restaurant Kyo-Suiran, which brings French influence to traditional Japanese Kaiseki and Teppanyaki. And the two in-house spa treatment rooms, one featuring a cypress bathtub, the other one made from stone, are a pretty good place to put your feet up: Kyoto may be one of the world’s great walking cities, but after your fourth World Heritage site of the day (there are 17 in total) you’re going to want a rest.  

 

Rant: Arashiyama really is a beautiful place and a real change from downtown Kyoto, but it does put you a long way from some of the major sights. There’s a nearby train line connecting you with the center in only 20 minutes or so, but taxis to and fro, especially after a meal downtown, aren’t going to come cheap.

 

Price: From JPY 70,000 ($854)/night, excluding 10% tax and 8% service charge. Make a reservation here.