Having lived and worked in Kyoto for the last six years, I have been lucky enough to become familiar with the city that truly defines Japan. Here's my list of the best things to do in Kyoto.

Located within the larger Joshin'etsu National Park, inside of Nagano Prefecture, Jigokudani Yaen-koen is seen by many as one of the must-see locations of Japan itself. 'Hell's Valley Wild Monkey Park' as it is translated, is so called because of the steep cliffs and hot water springs that erupt in the area.

The rich reds, yellows and burnt oranges of Autumn are most spectacularly displayed in a small sub-urban environment that rests up against a beautiful forest and a small mountain range with rivers and streams that wind down the slopes in Minoo, Osaka.

Beyond the many beautiful sites, it's the traditional feel of Kyoto, the city that endured so much transformative Japanese history, that makes it special. The beauty in this city speaks for itself, and there is perhaps no more beautiful site in Japan than at Arashiyama.

So what is so charming about Takasakiyama? It’s the fact that you get to see the monkeys in their natural habitat. You get to come close to them and observe them. You get to learn about them and their life. You get a great insight into another world to whom which you can, believe it or not, relate to.

The famous snow monkey hot springs, more officially known as Jigokudani Yaenkoen, are a collection of natural hot springs nestled into a remote part of the Japanese Alps.