Kyoto Deals
A thousand years as Japan's imperial capital left Kyoto with seventeen World Heritage sites, two thousand temples and shrines, and a rhythm of seasonal ritual the city still keeps. It is, by some distance, the most beautiful place in Japan — if you time it and stage it properly.
The staging matters because Kyoto's icons draw the world: the vermilion torii tunnels of Fushimi Inari, the gold leaf of Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama's bamboo grove. The counter-move is simple — stay central, start at dawn, and let a good guide swap one packed headliner for three sublime temples the buses skip.
Where you sleep is half the experience here. The lanes of Gion and Higashiyama hold machiya townhouse hotels and ryokan where dinner is a kaiseki procession and the garden is the television. One night of tatami, onsen and multi-course precision belongs on every first itinerary.
Cherry blossom (late March–early April) and autumn colour (November) are Kyoto at full power and full occupancy — the windows our deals will be built around, published months ahead. Off-peak, the city exhales: plum blossom in February, green maples in summer, and temple gardens you can hear yourself think in. Join below to be first when Kyoto goes live.
Kyoto deals are coming soon
We're negotiating directly with hotels in Kyoto right now — the same way every TravelPearls deal is done, with the inclusions written into the contract. Membership is free: join below and you'll be first to hear the moment our first Kyoto deal goes live.
See this week's live dealsKyoto — frequently asked questions
How many days do I need in Kyoto?
Three full days covers the essential circuits — eastern Higashiyama and Gion, the northwest's Kinkaku-ji and Ryoan-ji, and Arashiyama plus Fushimi Inari — with a fourth day for Nara's great Buddha and deer park, an easy 45-minute train away.
Should I stay in a ryokan or a hotel?
Both, ideally: a central boutique hotel as your base, plus one or two nights in a ryokan for the full tatami, onsen and kaiseki-dinner experience. Ryokan hold very few rooms and the best book out months ahead — another reason our Kyoto deals will be published early.
When is the best time to visit Kyoto?
Late March to early April (cherry blossom) and November (autumn maples) are peerless and packed — book far ahead. May and October offer superb weather with thinner crowds; February's plum blossom and winter's quiet temples are the connoisseur's window.
How do I avoid the crowds at Kyoto's famous sites?
Go at opening or after 4pm — Fushimi Inari at dawn is a different universe from Fushimi Inari at noon. Balance one headliner per day with quieter masterpieces like Nanzen-ji, Honen-in or the Philosopher's Path, which is exactly how our guided days are structured.
Get Kyoto Deals First
Our first Kyoto deals are being negotiated now. Membership is free — join and get the alert the moment one goes live.