Kyoto is a city for the serious gourmet. It has many excellent establishments including some of the finest kaiseki restaurants in Japan. However, few offer the unbeatable combination of great steaks, a stylish atmosphere and one of the best views in Kyoto.

UNIQUE RESTAURANT IN KYOTO

In this sense, the Yasaka restaurant of the Park Hyatt Kyoto is in a category all its own. It offers a contemporary version of teppanyaki to diners sitting around two massive wooden counters, both with 180-degree views of the Yasaka Shrine.

The atmosphere alone is most impressive, as the hotel that houses it. The Park Hyatt Kyoto is a modern structure inspired by traditional Japanese design. It’s all 21st century and at the same time 18th century. Moreover, it stands out for being a design innovator. However it also blends seamlessly into the background of one of Kyoto’s most famous and most picturesque neighborhoods.

AMAZING VIEWS OF YASAKA SHRINE

The Yasaka restaurant has a similar concept. It is disarmingly simple in design. In fact, you will not be aware that it exists unless you have already booked your seats for dinner. Otherwise, you will never see it during your stay. It’s tucked away in one floor of the hotel that you would never go to unless you are dining here or drinking at the bar.

Once you set foot in the restaurant, though, it is quite impossible to forget it. The view of Yasaka Shrine and the city of Kyoto in the background alone is the kind you will remember forever. And moreso because you will have had a perfectly grilled steak to go with it. The chefs here certainly know how to cook meat exactly as each diner wishes.

READ ABOUT A NEW HACIENDA HOTEL IN SPAIN

THE BEST TEPPANYAKI IN KYOTO

Part of the fun of a teppanyaki dinner is being able to sit around a counter and watch the chef cook your meal. The movement, colors and aroma all combine for some great entertainment. Then, of course, the food at a teppanyaki restaurant is served the same minute it is done. So this ensures the best possible conditions for dinner.

Eating at the Yasaka restaurant of the Park Hyatt is food and art and also theater all at once. In fact, it is a most dramatic theater. And arguably the best seat in Kyoto every evening,

Read more about the Park Hyatt Kyoto in Travelife Magazine.

The post Great steaks with a view appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

A Destination in its Own Right: Kyoto Train Station

This striking steel and glass structure is an Instagram-worthy attraction in its own right. It also boasts a 15th-floor observation deck, several performance spaces, a multitude of restaurants, and a department store. From the station you can hail an English-speaking taxi driver to help you explore further afield too.

Forest-bathing in Arashiyama Bamboo Grove by day

Autumn is a great time to visit Kyoto as the weather tends to be warm and dry. This is also the best season to try shinrin-yoku (forest-bathing); the Japanese art of spending time in nature to reduce stress and increase a sense of wellbeing. Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is spectacular, as the bamboo stalks reach to the sky and surrounds in a boundless way.

Then Take a Stroll Around Gion at Night

Gion is Kyoto’s entertainment and famed geisha district, which is a mix of the historically beautiful and modern architecture. In Gion, modern entertainment establishments mix with traditional 17th-century teahouses.

The district has beautiful streets like Shimbashi illuminated at night; and if you are lucky you may spot a geiko or maiko in this area. While they’re known as geishas in Tokyo, in Kyoto the correct term is geiko, which means “women of art”. Geiko spend at least five years in training as an apprentice – also known as a maiko – to perfect their abilities, including to play musical instruments, dance, and host games for guests.

Visit a Temple

With 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, over 1600 Buddhist temples and over 400 Shinto shrines (Shinto is a unique ancient Japanese faith system), Kyoto is one of the world’s most culturally rich cities.

Kyoto Traveler’s Inn is well-suited for those who want to see the cultural sites of Kyoto since many of the city’s shrines and temples are located within walking distance from the hotel. These include the Shoren-in Temple, Ginkakuji, Heian Jingu Shrine and the Yasaka Shrine. The Yasaka Shrine is one of the most famous shrines in Kyoto and accessible in just 15 minutes by foot.

Explore Kyoto’s Pantry: Nishiki Market

Enjoying the cuisine in Japan is an important part of any trip there, so a great Kyoto institution to explore is Nishiki Market in downtown Kyoto. There you will find a vast array of foods on display and to try, and the engaging market stall holders will make new visitors to the market feel very welcome.

The post The top 5 places to see in Kyoto appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.