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Temple gardens, quiet lanes, and the ritual of matcha before the crowds arrive.
Kyoto rewards the early riser. Before the tour buses arrive, the moss gardens of the eastern hills sit in a soft, filtered light that photographers dream about.
We started each day with a bowl of matcha in a wooden teahouse, then wandered the stone paths of Higashiyama while the shops were still shuttered. The city feels different at 6am — slower, older, entirely yours.
Replace this text with your own notes: where you stayed, what you ate, and the small moments worth remembering.