See six to eight sights that put Kyoto on any traveler’s bucket list, like the wood-built streets of Higashiyama and the city’s nearby geisha district, Gion, where you’ll find lantern-lit izakaya and street entertainment. Explore ancient architecture – from the Kyoto Imperial Palace to hilltop Kiyomizu-dera – and see those less-frequented, like Yasaka Pagoda and its secret upstairs viewpoint.

For a history lesson in central Kyoto, head to Fushimi and Nishijin – the old sake brewing and weaving districts – and visit the centuries-old Nishiki Market for the best street food. You’ll experience Kyoto’s popular pastimes with your host–from watching the Kamo River sunset to taking a 30-minute train ride north to the Kurama onsen, Japan’s natural hot springs.

You could sit down for Kyoto’s famous Uji green tea in the city’s best-kept secret, Rakusho teahouse, with views of the owner’s tranquil garden and award-winning koi pond. Perhaps catch a kimono show in Nishijin, sample sake at an old factory in Fushimi, or, if you’re visiting during spring, join in the tradition of a festive hanami picnic beneath blooming cherry blossoms in the botanical gardens.

Explore historical Higashiyama, where narrow streets lead to shrines tucked between storefronts, and let the smells of street food lure you down Nishiki Market. As the sun sets, search for mesmerizing geishas in lantern-lit Gion, where winding down with your host over a multi-course kaiseki dinner or draft beer in an intimate izakaya is the perfect way to end a perfect day.