Blog Posts
Steakland Kobe Kan
- Kobe
- 29 Aug, 2025
If you're keen to try Kobe beef but are on a stricter budget, Steakland Kobe-kan in the Sannomiya district is here for you. One of the most affordable restaurants in the city but also a fun experience
Read MoreBest Budget Hotels In Kanazawa
- Kanazawa
- 29 Aug, 2025
Here are my personal recommendations for the best budget hotels in Kanazawa. The entries here are listed in order of preference. All of these hotels can be found on our [Kanazawa Google Map](https://
Read MoreThings To Do In Kobe
- Kobe
- 29 Aug, 2025
Kobe makes a great city for a day out or for more extensive exploration over several days. We've selected our must-do highlights for a quick trip, along with plenty of choices for a deeper dive. , Kanazawa is an easy 2.5-hour direct train ride from Tokyo. And with the Thunderbird Express, it's an easy 2-hour direct train ride from Kyoto. Read on
Read MoreKanazawa Cherry Blossoms
- Kanazawa
- 29 Aug, 2025
Kanazawa, with its fantastic gardens and green spaces, is a great place to enjoy Japan's famous cherry blossoms. Here are the best spots and information on when the cherries bloom.  and it's a good place to try the ryokan experience. Ryokan are a good choice for those who want a break from hotels or for those trave
Read MoreKanazawa Sainoniwa Hotel
- Kanazawa
- 29 Aug, 2025
If you don't mind staying on the north side of the station, the Sainoniwa is a wonderful upper-mid-range hotel with spacious rooms, great service, a good restaurant and a beautiful onsen-like bathing
Read MoreKanazawa Walking Tour
- Kanazawa
- 29 Aug, 2025
Book a 4- or 6-hour private Kanazawa tour with a knowledgeable English-speaking guide to explore the city's most incredible temples, shrines and gardens. ![Kenroku-en Kanazawa](https://photos.smugmug
Read MorePlaces To Eat In Kanazawa
- Kanazawa
- 29 Aug, 2025
Kanazawa has a great selection of restaurants in all budget ranges. There's plenty of fresh seafood from the nearby Japan Sea and sushi is the local specialty. You'll also find most other Japanese spe
Read MoreThings To Do In Kanazawa
- Kanazawa
- 29 Aug, 2025
Kanazawa is sometimes called "little Kyoto" and for good reason: It's packed with first-rate sights, including one of the country's best gardens, some great museums and several beautifully preserved n
Read MoreGetting Money In Kyoto
- Kyoto
- 29 Aug, 2025
In Japan, you'll use an IC card for local transport and small purchases, and a credit card for big purchases (hotels etc). But y
Read MoreHow To Get From Tokyo To Kyoto
- Kyoto , Travel guide
- 29 Aug, 2025
You can get from Tokyo to Kyoto in just over 2 hours on the fastest shinkansen (bullet train). It's possible to go by overnight bus too. Here's our breakdown of how it all works. ![Nozomi shinkanen c
Read MoreIm Dreaming Of White New Year
- Kyoto
- 29 Aug, 2025
New Year's is the most important festival/holiday of the Japanese year. It's like Christmas and Thanksgiving all rolled into one. This is the time when families gather to feast and visit their local t
Read MoreKyoto With Children
- Kyoto
- 29 Aug, 2025
Kyoto is a fantastic place to visit with children: it's safe, clean and easy to get around. But, needless to say, it takes a bit of planning to keep your children happy -- after all, not every child i
Read MoreBest Budget Hotels In Nara
- Nara
- 29 Aug, 2025
There's plenty of quality cheap accommodation in Nara. Here I've listed what I consider to be the best budget hotels and guesthouses in Nara, all of which I've personally inspected. This Japanese-sty
Read MoreBest Luxury Hotels In Nara
- Nara
- 29 Aug, 2025
Nara only has a few luxury hotels. Here are my personal recommendations. Nipponia Hotel Nara Naramachi Wow! The Nipponia Hotel Nara Naramachi is a superb Japanes
Read MoreBest Mid Range Hotels In Nara
- Nara
- 29 Aug, 2025
If you're looking for somewhere comfortable to stay without breaking the bank, Nara has a great range of mid-range hotels to choose from. I've personally inspected each of these properties. Located d
Read MoreBest Time To Go To Nara
- Nara
- 29 Aug, 2025
What is the best time of year to visit Nara? What's the weather like in Nara month by month? Here, I'll give you all the answers. ![Tea House, Yoshiki-en Gardens, Nara - image copyright Damien Douxch
Read MoreGetting Around Nara
- Nara
- 29 Aug, 2025
Nara is a very compact city that can easily be explored on foot. However, if you'd like to visit some of the sights around the city, you'll need to take a bus, train or taxi. Here's my guide to gettin
Read MoreHow To Get To Nara
- Nara
- 29 Aug, 2025
Nara is within easy day trip distance of cities like Kyoto and Osaka. It's also very close to Kansai International Airport. In this section, I give the best, fastest and cheapest ways to reach Nara fr
Read MoreNara Annual Festivals Events
- Nara
- 29 Aug, 2025
Nara has some truly spectacular annual festivals and events. Here's my rundown of the main Nara festivals and events which are definitely worth seeing if you can. ![Wakakusa](https://photos.smugmug.c
Read MoreNara Cherry Blossoms
- Nara
- 29 Aug, 2025
Nara is a fantastic place to enjoy Japan's famous cherry blossoms. The parks, gardens, temples and shrines of the city are studded with cherry trees. Here is information on timing and a list of the be
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