Stéphane Durand
Travel to Japan: 5 places to discover Kyoto's unique charm
Between culture and nature, Japan's former imperial capital is as attractive as ever
Steeped in history and spirituality, Kyoto is home to thousands of temples and shrines nestled in the heart of parks and forests.
Plume Travels invites you to immerse yourself in the soul of Japan with these five bucolic and enchanting addresses.
The only city to hold the record for the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites, Kyoto boasts the most beautiful Shinto and Buddhist temples and shrines on the planet. And when you consider that the city is home to over 30 verdant parks, it becomes the idyllic destination for nature lovers. Come with us to discover the distinctive charm that permeates this unique city.
Staying at the Sowaka Kyoto
Luxury, tranquility, and pleasure. A winning trio from Sowaka, a luxury hotel located in the heart of Gion, Kyoto's historic district. The establishment, whose Sanskrit name means "happiness," was a respectable tea house for over a century. Today, it houses 23 rooms with modern comforts while respecting the purest Sukiya architectural tradition.
And while each room has its own unique atmosphere, we are particularly fond of those offering views of the mountainous Higashiyama district.
Like a miniature forest, yet richly furnished, the Sowaka's garden reveals its wonders during a gustatory stroll in the establishment's restaurant, Gion Loka, whose dishes oscillate between tradition and modernity. It's a mix of genres, as can be seen in this neighborhood, where young Japanese women don't hesitate to don a traditional Geisha costume for a richly photographed afternoon, while strolling through the narrow streets and Maruyama Park, just a stone's throw from the hotel. In a word: a change of scenery!
Sowaka Kyoto
Overnight stay from €920
Sowaka Hotel, 480 Kiyoichō, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0821
Discover the flavours of warabimochi in Rokujuan
Right in the heart of Kyoto, a stone's throw from Nijo-Jo Castle, the Kubo family invites you to discover one of their gastronomic treasures: warabimochi. Forget the traditional mochi (and its icy French version, which, we remind you, is anything but Japanese), warabimochi forgoes rice dough in favor of fern starch coated or dipped in kinako, a roasted soy powder.
Rokujuan offers recipes as beautiful as they are delicious, and delivers plates in which we hardly dare devour these sweet beauties, so impressive is the spectacle. The surrounding green setting, overlooking the beautiful garden of this ryokan (as traditional Japanese inns are called) is in itself another dish to be eaten without hunger. Our favorite recipe? Hanawarabi, a translucent mochi with an edible flower in the center: a true gustatory communion with nature.
RokuJuan
〒604-8217Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Nishirokkakucho, 101
Treat yourself to a relaxing break at the Six Senses spa
Inaugurated last spring, in the Higashiyama district, the Six Senses Kyoto and its contemporary design offers a breath of fresh air to visitors wishing to encounter tradition while enjoying modern luxury. Proof of this is its state-of-the-art spa, which never forgets to respect tradition to the letter. For example, the onsen area, a tribute to traditional Japanese baths, is a delight to discover.
We are invited to enter in the simplest of garments to enjoy the benefits of spring water heated to nearly 40 degrees. Like an Omakase dinner, where the chef decides what you're going to eat, we advise you to rely on the establishment's beauty experts, who will be able to provide you with the care you need according to your current needs.
And if you want to stay in control, let yourself be lulled by the Ah-Un ritual, whose massage, while applying pressure to your acupuncture points, will invigorate you after a traditional incense ritual. An escape for the mind that concludes with a cup of tea to awaken all your senses.
Massage from €193, overnight stay from €915
Six Senses Kyoto
431 Myohoin Maekawacho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0932
Aoi: Kyoto's best soba noodles
A true culinary institution, soba noodles are to Japan what pasta is to Italy: it's impossible to visit the Japanese archipelago without tasting these delicious buckwheat noodles. One of our favorite places to eat them is just a few meters from a peaceful temple that is well worth a visit: Aioi-no-yashiro. This shrine, one of the oldest in the city, dates back to the 12th century and is nestled in the heart of a magnificent forest.
We recommend ending your bucolic stroll at Aoi, a soba noodle restaurant that doesn't strictly adhere to tradition, as its signature dish, "Fluffy Tororo Soba," combines meringue with noodles and crushed sesame seeds. The tempura is also of high quality, as is the decor, which combines Japanese simplicity with modernity by playing on light woods and minimalism, earning this lovely restaurant a selection by Gault & Millau.
Aoi
52-1 Shimogamo Matsunokicho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-0816, Japan
Enjoy exceptional sushi at Sushi Sakura
Maruyama Park, Kyoto's largest public garden, is renowned for its famous cherry trees (which are a pleasure to stroll through during the spring sakura season) and is home to a magnificent shrine: the Yasaka-jinja. This idyllic setting is home to a sushi restaurant on the east side of the park, with an enchanting decor that looks like something out of a Miyazaki cartoon. Surrounded by trees, greenery and nature, Sushi Sakura, inaugurated in 2020, doesn't just delight the eye: the chefs also prepare top-class sashimi and sushi. And to ensure that the experience remains unique, the establishment forbids taking photos of the plates. Sometimes it's good to let the magic happen.
Sushi Sakura, Japan
〒605-0071Kyoto, Higashiyama Ward, Maruyamacho, 7-3
