Sakura Terrace The Gallery

Filled with hushed gardens, temples, and shrines, Kyoto is smaller and more traditional than the futuristic and fast-paced capital. You’re here for the relative peace and quiet, and the best hotels in town help make that tranquil Japanese fantasy a reality. Sakura Terrace The Gallery is one of these.

The relaxing experience begins even before you get here, provided that you have a decent map: you won’t need a ride, as the hotel is a two-minute walk from the train station. After checking in, you can soak your weary muscles in the public bath and sauna. And perhaps get a temporary break from your traveling partner, as well: the baths, in the style of Japanese onsen, have separate facilities for men and women.

Indeed, befitting its location, Sakura Terrace The Gallery is a hotel that values tradition. But it’s not stuck in the past: the place is practically brand new, with hundreds of sleek guest rooms, a handy fitness center, and a stylish central dining space that morphs from coffee shop to cocktail bar to sushi restaurant as the day rolls on. You’re in Japan, so it’s no big surprise that the aesthetic is minimalist and the facilities state-of-the-art (read: the toilets have a lot of buttons besides ‘flush.’)

Guest rooms and suites are divided into two self-explanatory, if orthographically novel, categories: Standard x Simple and Luxury x Relax. Design-wise, about half of these feature natural wood and modern metallics, while others are more colorful, with gem-toned walls and framed artwork. Amenities vary, but all rooms have flat-screen TVs and free wi-fi, and almost all have some kind of outdoor space, even if it’s just a tiny balcony.

After breakfast at the lavish East-meets-West buffet, you could stroll over to Higashi Honganji temple, or hop on the train for a short ride to the lively Shijō neighborhood, or just poke around the side streets, on the hunt for a hidden temple. Or not. This is a hotel built around the pleasures of slow travel, so there’s public bath access and tea available all day, not to mention a complimentary welcome drink every evening. Leave the shopping and nightlife for Tokyo, if you like — Kyoto is the perfect place to slow down.