Kurama is a mountain town just north of Kyoto city and is easily accessible by train, it shares its popularity with the neighbouring town of Kibune with an enjoyable hike connecting the two towns. Although it often escapes the usual tourist radar, Kurama is famous among locals and expats for its onsen, mountain temples, and the Kurama Fire Festival. The town of Kibune is famous for its beautiful streets lined with shops and restaurants, with dining terraces setup on the river during the summer. The hike is one of the best winter hikes in Kyoto, it's quite easy and looks amazing in the snow, the path features numerous lanterns with the Kurama-dera temple at the top. It's also worth mentioning that many travellers consider the Kurama Fire Festival to be the best festival in Japan, I've included some photos below, and you can read more about it here.