Soul of Kyoto

‘One afternoon in the space of a cherry tree in Kyoto, and here I am lifted to the highest heights of the intoxication of existing.’ – René Depestre

Discover the loveliest spot to picnic on the banks of the river without being harassed by eagles, have your own barbecue behind the fish market, attend a tea ceremony in a private home, meet the craftsman who has just revived the traditional Kyoto fan that had virtually disappeared for 50 years, head to a fishing village to discover the world’s first itinerant hotel, push open the door to a bar hidden inside a temple, eat the best egg sandwich in town, go to the public baths to reconnect with a local ancestral tradition, taste the aburi mochi that started a thousand-year rivalry, or watch as a wood warehouse is transformed into an izakaya at nightfall …

Soul of Kyoto was written by Thierry Teyssier, a traveling hotelier who likes to choreograph his dreams, and those of his clients. Here, he orchestrates encounters, discoveries, and shared moments to trace for us the soul of a city as beautiful as it is inaccessible.



The ‘Soul of’ collection is a new approach to traveling that is all about wandering around, chance encounters, and unforgettable experiences. Guides for those looking to unlock the hidden doors of a city, find its pulse, and plumb every last nook and cranny to uncover its soul.

Created by Fany Péchiodat in collaboration with the publisher Thomas Jonglez, the collection will continue to expand with new cities: Marrakech, New York, Berlin …


Every guide in the ‘Soul of’ collection includes:

– the 30 best experiences a city has to offer
– interviews with those who give the city its spirit
– original illustrations that capture the city’s soul