Winter is a magical time to visit Kyoto here’s how the plan the perfect trip.

If youre in town between January and February on a blustery Saturday, check outKifune-jinja Shrine.

Winter is also a terrific time to discover solitude by akaresansui,or Japanese dry garden.

A pond surrounded by snow covered bushed in Kyoto, Japan

Credit:Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto

Related:6 Destinations in Japan Where the Locals Love to Go

The cold months also bring excellent seasonal eats.

Similarly, booking a room in one ofKyoto’s top hotelsis also much easier.

(Just brush up onsentoetiquette before your visit.)

Red archway and lights with everything covered in snow

Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto

But perhaps one of Kyotos best-kept secrets is itsume(plum) blossoms.

They begin appearing in February and serve as a gentle yet stirring reminder that every season serves a purpose.

A blurred figure walking through the streets of Kyoto in the evening during winter

Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto