Photo: Len Jenshel and Diane Cook for Condé Nast Traveler

In the October issue of Condé Nast Traveler Shoba Narayan travels to Kyoto to learn some lessons on allure from the Geisha. Below, find some favorite places she discovered along the way. Note: the country and city code for Kyoto are 81-75.

* The posh Hyatt Regency has simple functional rooms with kimono-fabric accents (541-1234; doubles, $260-$480)

* Once a princely residence, the Yoshida Sanso is now a boutique inn serving incredible kaiseki (9-1 Yoshida Shimo-ooji-cho, Sakyo-ku; 771-6125; set menu, $175).

* Origin Arts does a wonderful survey of traditional geisha arts including the tea ceremony, calligraphy, flower arrangement, noh drama, martial arts, kyogen comedy theater, and more (365-0722; half-day program, from $528).

For more on Kyoto, pick up a copy of the October issue or read "My Life as a Geisha" at cntraveler.com.