Kyoto Holidays

For first-time visitors, the Higashiyama district is hard to beat - you'll be within walking distance of Kiyomizu-dera, Gion and some of the city's loveliest streets. Downtown around Kawaramachi and Nishiki Market puts restaurants and shopping on your doorstep, while the area near Kyoto Station is handy for day trips to Osaka and Nara by Shinkansen. For something special, stay in a traditional ryokan with tatami floors and a hot-spring bath. Pop into your local branch and we'll match the right neighbourhood to the holiday you have in mind.

Kyoto is a year-round city, but spring and autumn are its showstoppers. Late March to early April brings cherry blossom along the Philosopher's Path and Maruyama Park, while November sets the temple gardens ablaze with red and gold maple leaves. Summer is warm, lively and full of festivals, including the famous Gion Matsuri. Winter is quieter and atmospheric - frost-dusted temples, fewer crowds, and easy access to the northern slopes, which makes Kyoto a clever base for ski holidays. Whenever you go, there's always something new to discover.

No holiday in Kyoto is complete without its temples and shrines. Begin at Fushimi Inari, where thousands of vermilion torii gates wind up the hillside, then marvel at the gold-leaf Kinkaku-ji and its mirror-still pond. Climb the wooden terraces of Kiyomizu-dera for views across the city, admire the raked gravel of Ginkaku-ji, and tour the moated grandeur of Nijo Castle. With more than 1,600 temples and 400 shrines, Kyoto is the ultimate city break for anyone who loves history, architecture and quiet moments of calm.

Head west to Arashiyama and wander the towering bamboo grove, cross the Togetsukyo Bridge and ride the scenic Sagano Romantic Train through the river gorge. Kyoto's gardens are an attraction in their own right, from moss-carpeted courtyards to the serene strolling garden at Tenryu-ji. In the cooler months, this is also where Kyoto's winter side comes into play: the slopes of Biwako Valley are a short hop away, and the celebrated snow of Nagano and Hakuba is a Shinkansen ride north - a brilliant combination of culture and ski holidays from a single base.

Kyoto is where Japan's traditions feel most alive. Join a tea ceremony and learn the graceful ritual behind a single bowl of matcha, then slip into a hired kimono and stroll the old streets as the lanterns flicker on. As evening falls, make for Gion, the city's historic geisha quarter, where you might glimpse a geiko or maiko hurrying to an appointment along the wooden-fronted lanes. It's not just sightseeing - it's stepping into living history and creating memories you'll never forget.

Kyoto is a food lover's dream. Treat yourself to kaiseki, the city's refined multi-course cuisine, where every plate is a small work of art. Graze your way through Nishiki Market - "Kyoto's Kitchen" - sampling pickles, sweets, fresh tofu and skewers, then warm up with a bowl of ramen or udon. Matcha turns up everywhere, from frothy tea to silky ice cream and delicate wagashi sweets. Whether you're after a Michelin-starred table or a cosy counter in Pontocho, you're in for a treat.