Last year, Travel + Leisure readers voted it world's top city.
This month, it was voted the world's second-best city by Conde Nast Traveler readers, topped only by Tokyo.
Why all the accolades?
With a population of nearly 1.5 million, Kyoto is definitely worth visiting at least once in your life -- though preferably more given it's impossible to cram its charms into a single trip.
Japan's historical heart, the country's former capital (794-1869) is home to thousands of architectural wonders, including 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
But it's also a modern city with a thriving music and arts scene and incredible restaurants.
Still not convinced? We've put together a gallery of some of Kyoto's most captivating sites and scenes that might fix that.