With its dashing façade of crisp colours and handsome window blinds, the Kyoto Gion cannot be missed from where it sits in the city’s Higashiyama district. This pad is a great starting point from which to see the city’s revered sights, such as the Kamo River, Kiyomizu-dera temple and Kyoto’s national museum. Inside, its design infuses traditional Japanese architecture with modern-day functionality. One accommodation acts as a tea room, with local blends served in pottery cups. Its eatery, Yasaka Endo, provides a buffet breakfast and tempura, along with maiko dancing. For the health-conscious, the large communal bath and Kyoto-inspired garden should suffice.

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