Soul of Kyoto

Soul of Kyoto guide is a refreshing approach to the art of travelling that consists of vagabonding around, chance encounters, and unforgettable experiences.

For ten years, we tested and kept a list of Kyotos most secret spots. Only 30 made the final cut. Here are the 30 unique and exclusive experiences that we believe reveal the soul of Kyoto.

• Discover the loveliest spot to picnic on the banks of the river without being harassed by eagles


• Have your own barbecue behind the fish market


• Attend a tea ceremony in a private home


• Meet the craftsman who has just revived the traditional Kyoto fan that had virtually disappeared for 50 years


• Head to a fishing village to discover the worlds first itinerant hotel


• Push open the door to a bar hidden inside a temple


• Eat the best egg sandwich in town


• Go to the public baths to reconnect with a local ancestral tradition


• Taste the aguri mochi that started a thousand-year rivalry


• Watch as a wood warehouse is transformed into an izakaya at nightfall

Soul of Kyoto was written by Thierry Teyssier, a travelling hotelier who likes to choreograph his dreams, and those of his clients. Here, he orchestrates encounters, discoveries, and shared moments to trace for us the soul of a city as beautiful as it is inaccessible.

The Soul of collection is a new approach to travelling that is all about wandering around, chance encounters, and unforgettable experiences. Guides for those looking to unlock the hidden doors of a city, find its pulse, and plumb every last nook and cranny to uncover its soul.

Hidden inside these guides, you will always find a very secret location, carefully selected, waiting to be discovered.

Are you up for a challenge?