Suiran, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto

First impressions count for a lot, and the one you’ll get at Suiran, A Luxury Collection Hotel doesn’t disappoint — to get here, you’ll walk down a narrow cobbled riverside street alongside Old World boats and pass under a thatched gate into perfectly manicured Japanese gardens. Located in the scenic district of Arashiyama on the far western side of Kyoto, Suiran is a traditional hotel with 39 guest rooms. This intimate setting allows you to experience authentic Kyoto hospitality for which the city is known. Set alongside the Hozu River, the hotel is a picture-perfect example of historic Kyoto architecture, and yet still has all the conveniences and comforts a modern traveler wants. It is a beautiful mix of a traditional Japanese ryokan, or guest house, with wooden accents, shoji screen doors and polished onyx furnishings, while other parts of the hotel have a contemporary Western feel.