The former residence of Japan's emperor sits within the spacious Kyoto Imperial Palace Park, a green expanse perfect for picnics and strolls. The palace itself is a grand but understated affair that speaks more of refined elegance than raw power. Walk the marked route through serene courtyards where English signs explain the history, then escape into the park's magnificent grove of flowering trees. The park's southern pond, filled with gorgeous carp, and the plum and cherry blossoms in early spring make this one of the city's most pleasant open spaces.