Kyoto, Japan

A 1,000-year-old history. Countless shrines and temples. Geishas strolling down ryokan-lined streets. It’s easy to see why this former imperial capital of Japan was voted the world’s best city in 2015 by Travel + Leisure readers. Kyoto’s romance peaks in April, when the country’s famed cherry blossoms blanket the landscape in pink. The place to stay is Hoshinoya Kyoto, a century-old riverside villa opening this month with not one but two landscaped gardens where one can take in the foliage after a traditional kaiseki meal. For a further retreat into nature, head two hours southeast to the Mie Prefecture, where the minimalist Amanemu, Aman’s new hotel inspired by the classic Japanese onsen experience, looks out over tranquil Ago Bay.

 

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