Hotel Kanra

About a kilometre north of Kyoto Station, the Kanra is a sleek blend of traditional Japanese and minimalist Scandinavian sensibilities. Rooms are airy and spacious, with a mix of wooden, granite and tatami flooring, plus light, natural tones and wooden furnishings. To that, little touches like locally made ceramic tea sets add a carefully curated feel, while the scented baths are almost like having an in-room private onsen.

Away from the 68 rooms, a laidback café-slash-bar serves traditional desserts alongside cocktails, as well as selling local crafts, but the most unexpected feature is the hotel’s kintsugi studio – here artisans use gold and silver lacquer.