The coolest Kyoto pad mixes up the minimalist eye of architect Tadao Ando (also behind the Shinmonzen across the Kamo River) with serious gaming cred as the former HQ of Nintendo. The 1930s building has incorporated a mix of Japanese tradition with its signature contemporary edge. The library is packed with memorabilia charting Nintendo’s history, and the sleek bar is the perfect place to take a book. Plus, attentive staff are always on hand with the best city-wide recommendations and to help with bookings. You’re only a few streets away from the most much-loved corners of the city, but it’s a fair trade-off for staying somewhere so iconic.

A reimagined two-bedroom machiya (traditional wooden townhouse) in Kyoto, brought back to life by architect Uoya Shigenori. Dark wood beams, tatami floors, beautiful ceramics, a zen garden, and an onsen-style bath. You have the whole place to yourself, with breakfast drop-offs and local tips on hand. The open kitchen is sleek, crafted with traditional Japanese techniques.