Spring is here, and Kyoto is calling us. The old capital is ablaze with blossom, fresh foliage and the exhilaration that winter is over. This is a magical time of year — not just for sightseeing, but for eating out, too, with all the produce of the new season. There are great restaurants close to all the finest blossom-viewing spots, and here are three of the best.

The Philosopher's Walk, which meanders alongside a canal in the eastern hills of Kyoto, is one of the most popular pedestrian promenades in the city, even after the cherry blossoms have fallen. The stroll from Ginkakuji Temple down to Nanzeji Temple takes around 40 minutes — just long enough to work up a good appetite for a full-scale multicourse kaiseki banquet at Hyotei (35 Kusagawa-cho, Nanzenji, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto; 075-771-4116; www.hyotei.co.jp).

This is one of Kyoto's essential dining experiences, for lunch or dinner. Founded around 400 years ago, Hyotei may not be the oldest restaurant in the city — venerable soba specialist Owariya claims that title — but it's certainly among the most atmospheric. It also boasts three Michelin stars.