There are the spacious rooms, of course, and the contemporary comforts that make it a classic Four Seasons, but in the little details you’ll also find nods to the city’s history and traditions. Like those floor-to-ceiling views of the hotel’s pond garden and its stone bridges and cherry blossom from the rooms, all 123 of them, or how they are designed like sanctuaries from which the tradition, artistry and natural beauty of Kyoto feels just a bit more enchanting. Dark hardwood floors, washi-paper lamps, hand-painted panels and fusama screen doors, each room feels like a modern cocoon infused with a hefty dose of traditional Japanese design. The lobby and restaurants are just as inviting with their creamy marble, cypress wood and extravagant floral designs by Nicolai Bergmann.There is the Michelin-starred Sushi Wakon that offers an intimate, 10-seat dining experience, and the Brasserie with a large waterside terrace and sleek bar. For a traditional Japanese experience, the Fuju lounge serves expertly brewed matcha tea to views of the 12-th century pond garden. Another highlight of the hotel is the sensational spa with its subterranean pool, wooden cabanas, bubbling baths and pine saunas. Specializing in Japanese wellness rituals like tanba salt scrubs and Sodashi gold-leaf facials, it’s a destination in its own right.