Elegant and sophisticated, with a strong link with traditions, Kyoto is the perfect destination to discover Japanese culture but also to devote yourself to parentheses of well-being.
Located on the island of Honshu, the “city of a thousand temples” is famous for both classical Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, for its picturesque and elegant gardens and for the imperial palaces which blend harmoniously with traditional wooden houses. The deep-rooted Japanese traditions and culture that can be breathed here, have also allowed Kyoto to enter UNESCO-regulated sites, but the former capital (until 1868) of Japan is also an ideal destination for regenerating stays in the shadow of its borders avenues and long banks of the Katsura River.
Discovering Kyoto on two wheels
The best way to get around is by bike, an ecological vehicle that benefits from traffic-free areas. The city on two wheels offers time to appreciate the urban landscape, made of modern buildings and traditional houses. The bicycle tours offered by The Ritz-Carlton add extensions outside the city, from the green mountains to the vast plains of the Kansai. The hotel, from which the itineraries are free and guided by the trained staff who can provide insights on the places visited, is located in a strategic and picturesque place of the city, along the Kamo river. (Price per night per person of the Grand Deluxe Kamogawa River View suite starting from € 785.00).
Relaxing scrub with green tea
Located along the river of the Hozu River and among green hills, Suiran is an elegant timeless resort with 39 rooms overlooking magnificent gardens, which embody the ancient practice of shakkei, the landscape on loan: a landscaping technique typical of Oriental Chinese and Japanese gardens which consists in incorporating external elements of the landscape into the composition of a garden. The property offers breathtaking views of peaceful stone and bamboo gardens which enhance the splendid reliefs of Arashiyama. A perfect place to walk and relax your mind, but also to regenerate yourself with treatments that combine local and traditional elements. The green tea scrub is one of these: massaged on the feet and on the lower leg, the powder not only has natural antioxidant properties but also anti-fatigue properties. The treatment is followed by a foot bath with organic soap and a massage with aromatic oils. (One night with breakfast and scrub included € 1000.00 per person).
Hinoki bath to find a good mood
In the world of design, the Japanese minimalist aesthetic is embodied by the blond and delicate wood of hinoki, the cypress. A versatile wood and also known for a series of beneficial effects on health; its perfume, for example, positively influences blood circulation as well as improving mood. At Hyatt Regency in Kyoto, Riraku Spa offers a menu of personalized treatments that celebrate the natural wealth of the Kansai region, including an abundance of hinoki. Specifically, the Kousoyuku (dry therapeutic bath in fermented hinoki powder), which uses aromatic floral extracts and 100% natural powder extracted from the Yoshino cypress, in nearby Nara, free of impurities and rated among the best hinoki in the country. (From € 245.00 per night per person)
(https://kyoto.travel/it)
Credits @KyotoTravel
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