Kyoto, Japan, Named the Most ‘Mindful’ Travel Destination in Asia

Sometimes a trip is for all-out adventure: be it climbing a mountain, rafting down the rapids, or something in between, the adrenaline rush vacation certainly has its place. But for those looking for something a bit more mellow, now is the time to explore all the destinations that are perfect for “mindful” travel. 

In January, Blakk Smoke, a brand dedicated to “relaxation and wellbeing,” released the findings of its study ranking the world’s most mindful travel destinations. It named Kyoto, Japan, the most mindful destination in all of Asia—and the No. 10 most mindful destination in the world.

To uncover these places where the pace is slower and the experiences are richer, the team created a Mindfulness Score, which it described as a “proprietary ranking based on sentiment analysis, keyword frequency, and mentions of mindfulness-based activities.” Specifically, it calculated this number based on thousands of TripAdvisor reviews.

It used natural language processing to uncover keyword frequency in reviews, including the words “relaxing,” “mindful,” “peaceful,” and “calm.” It conducted the sentiment analysis portion by looking at the “overall positivity in reviews related to tranquillity and wellbeing,” and completed the mindfulness activity index by calculating the number of “mentions of yoga retreats, meditation centres, spa experiences, and restorative nature spots.” It also prioritized reviews posted within the last three years to ensure the feelings are all current and relevant. 

Kyoto made it onto the list thanks to its high number of “Zen gardens, mindfulness traditions, and ancient temples.” In fact, the top three attractions here, according to Tripadvisor, are the Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine (No. 1), Kinkakuji Temple (No. 2), and Kiyomizu-dera Temple (No. 3), proving just how important mindful places are to this destination. 

“Fushimi Inari Shrine is truly a must-visit when in Kyoto. The peaceful atmosphere, surrounded by lush greenery, offers a tranquil escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. Walking through the thousands of vermilion torii gates helped create a calming and serene walk,” one reviewer wrote of their time at the shrine. 

“The golden temple shining over the water is just one of those sights you have to see for yourself—photos really don’t do it justice. Even with the crowds, the whole place felt so calm and peaceful,” another wrote of their visit to the Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

And one more visitor shared that their “family visit to Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto was one of the most peaceful and visually stunning experiences of our entire trip to Japan. Set atop a hill with a breathtaking view over the city, Kiyomizu-dera offered us a beautiful blend of history, culture, nature, and spirituality—all in one unforgettable stop.” 

Other destinations to make the list include Sedona, Arizona, which took home the No. 1 spot, followed by Lake Bled, Slovenia; the Lake District, England; Big Sur, California; Santorini, Greece; the Scottish Highlands, Scotland; Asheville, North Carolina; the Amalfi Coast, Italy; and Cornwall, England in ninth place.

Want more? Check out these 14 tranquil destinations to dream about for your next trip.