During my all too brief week in Kyoto, I was unable to visit one of the city’s best kept secrets due to scheduling conflicts. If find yourself in the old imperial capital and you want to escape the frenetic pace and crowds head to this secret retreat for books and coffee. Situated north of central Kyoto, the Donkou Kissa Fang, is a serene cafe and private library set  inside of a stunning townhouse and garden. But plan well ahead since it is only open Wednesday through Saturday and solely by reservation. And, to make it even more exclusive, Kissa Fang limits visitors to 6 every 90 minutes.

Donkou means slow thinking in Japanese, and is the name of the private collection of Yoshitaka Haba, a book director who has planned and curated the selection of books for libraries and shops across Japan.

You can learn more on their website or follow them on Instagram.