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Kyoto: Where Ancient Temples Meet Japan's Living Traditions

Nestled in the heart of Japan's Kansai region, Kyoto stands as a living museum of Japanese culture and history. As Japan's former imperial capital for over 1,000 years, this enchanting city offers vis

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Osaka: Famous for Its Street Food and Lively Atmosphere

When it comes to Japanese cities that never sleep, Osaka stands out with its electrifying energy, mouthwatering street food, and friendly locals. Known as Japan’s "Kitchen," Osaka is a must-visit

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Tokyo: The Vibrant Capital City with Endless Attractions

Tokyo - Japan's bustling capital, is a mesmerizing blend of ancient traditions and futuristic innovation. From serene temples to neon-lit streets, this city offers something for every traveler. Whethe

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Transportation: Navigate Japan's Efficient Rail System

Japan's railway system stands as a marvel of modern transportation engineering, renowned worldwide for its punctuality, cleanliness, extensive coverage, and technological innovation. For travelers vis

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How Much Money Do I Need For Kyoto

Japan is much cheaper than you think, especially now with a weak yen. And Kyoto is much cheaper than Tokyo. Indeed, Kyoto is one of the cheapest major destinations in the developed world. Don't believ

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Getting Around Kyoto

Kyoto is incredibly easy to explore by public transport (trains, subways, buses and taxis) or under your own steam (by bicycle or walking). This is a detailed guide to getting around Kyoto, with infor

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Japan Travel Hacks And Tips

Here are 10 Japan travel hacks and tips that will make your trip almost infinitely better. ![Chris Rowthorn traveling light in Japan](https://photos.smugmug.com/Kyoto/Top-10-Japan-Travel-Hacks-and-Ti

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Japan Cherry Blossoms

There are numerous places to see Japan's cherry blossoms throughout the country. Here are my highlights of where to view the cherry blossoms in several of Japan's most scenic cities. ![IMG_9729](http

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Japan Travel Etiquette: Essential Do’s and Don’ts

To ensure a smooth and respectful trip to Japan, follow these key etiquette rules—they’ll help you blend in and avoid accidental rudeness! Most rules stem from respect for others’ comfort and traditio

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Best Time To Go To Yokohama

What is the best time of year to visit Yokohama? What's the weather like in Yokohama month by month? Here, we'll give you all the answers. ![Night view of cherry blossoms and Yokohama Minatomirai](ht

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Best Tokyo Mid Range And Business Hotels

If you're willing to spend between US$150 and $300 a night you can get a great room in Tokyo. Here are my favorite mid-budget hotels in Tokyo, all personally inspected. ![Large double bed and chais

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Getting Around Yokohama

Yokohama is Japan's second-largest city. The central areas can be explored on foot, but trains, taxis, and buses allow you to cover more ground quickly and easily. Here are all the details on getting

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How To Get To Yokohama

Located just 30 minutes south of central Tokyo, Yokohama is easily reached by multiple train lines from hubs like Tokyo Station and Shibuya Station. Read on for all the details. ![East entrance gate

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Places To Eat In Yokohama

Yokohama has restaurants to suit all budgets and tastes. This is our selection of the best places to eat in Yokohama for the different areas of the city. ![Manchinro Honten](https://photos.smugmug.co

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Things To Do In Yokohama

Located just 30 minutes south of Tokyo by train, Yokohama is an excellent day trip destination. There's so much to see and do: a gorgeous traditional Japanese garden, fantastic museums, beautiful gree

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Tokyo Map

Tokyo map to help locate Tokyo attractions, places to eat, accommodation, shopping and more View the [full size version of Tokyo Google map](https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zy8a03W_hbJ0.kyfq6R

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Yokohama Cherry Blossoms

With many beautiful public parks and open green spaces, Yokohama is a great place to see Japan's famous cherry blossoms. Here is a list of the best spots in the city and information on when the cherri

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Yokohama Districts

Located just 29km south of Tokyo, Yokohama is Japan's second largest city and makes a great day trip destination. Here, we'll introduce the main sightseeing districts in Yokohama. ![A view of the sky

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Yokohama Fall Foliage

With many beautiful public parks and open green spaces, Yokohama is a great place to see Japan's famous autumn colours. Here is a list of the best spots in the city and information on timing. ![Autum

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Yokohama Hotels

Yokohama has a wide range of hotels and guesthouses catering to all budgets. Here, we introduce the main hotels located in central Yokohama (in the main districts of the city). ![The Yokohama Bay Hot

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Yokohama Itineraries

Yokohama makes a great day trip out of Tokyo. Our one-day and two-day itineraries allow you to make the best use of your time. ![Skyline of Yokohama with Mount Fuji](https://photos.smugmug.com/Tokyo/

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Yokohama Ryokan

As a fairly cosmopolitan small port city, Yokohama has very few traditional ryokan (Japanese-style inns). However, we can recommend one if you're keen on a ryokan experience. It's a good choice for th

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Yokohama With Kids

Tokyo may have Tokyo Disneyland, but the port city of Yokohama is very child-friendly, with a plethora of family-friendly attractions and open spaces -- that Yokohama is a popular place to raise famil

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Best Kyoto Hikes

Surrounded by mountains on three sides, Kyoto has some brilliant hiking. There are good hikes right in the city and others just a short train or bus trip away. Here are my five favorite hikes in and n

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Setsubun Matsuri At Yoshida Jinja

The Kyoto year is packed with interesting festivals and events. Here is a summary of Kyoto's biggest and most interesting annual festivals and events. ![Gion-matsuri (Gion festival) 祇園祭 京都](https://p

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Things To Do In Kyoto

Kyoto is world famous for its wonderful temples and shrines. But that's only the beginning of the story. There's also incredible shopping, bicycling, hiking, museums, galleries and green spaces. Here'

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The Ultimate Guide to Kyoto's Best Sushi Restaurants in 2025 | From Budget to Luxury

Looking for exceptional sushi in Kyoto? This comprehensive guide covers the best sushi restaurants across all price ranges, from affordable conveyor belt options to exclusive Michelin-starred experi

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Kyoto Machiya

If you really want to experience Kyoto, you should consider a few nights in a machiya (traditional Kyoto townhouse). Machiya combine all the advantages of a vacation rental with the authenticity of a

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Best Shinto Shrines In Kyoto

Kyoto is home to over 400 Shinto shrines, making it challenging to choose which ones to explore. To help you plan your visit, we've curated a list of the most beautiful and significant shrines in Kyot

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Best Temples in Kyoto

With over 1,600 temples in Kyoto, deciding which ones to visit can feel overwhelming. To help you plan your trip, I’ve curated a list of the The Best Temples in Kyoto: A Traveler’s Guide, cate

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