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Kyoto

First Time In Kyoto

Kyoto is the heart of traditional Japan, where ancient temples, serene gardens, and geisha culture come together to create an unforgettable travel experience. This comprehensive Kyoto guide will help

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Kyoto Travel Guide

Make the most of your trip to Kyoto with our comprehensive Kyoto itineraries and detailed guide to essential attractions in each of Kyoto’s fascinating districts. Whether you’re searching for the best

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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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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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Iphone The Killer Japan Travel Hack

IC cards (Suica, Pasmo, Icoca etc) make life so much easier in Japan. You can pay for nearly everything with them: local transport, convenience stores, restaurants, taxis, vending machines etc. But it

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B Mobile Visitor Sim Perfect Japanese

You really want data when you're in Japan. Being able to use the online versions of Google Maps, Google Translate and various transport search engines makes life a lot easier when you're exploring. So

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Japan Trip Planning Guide Plan A Great Japan Trip In 10 Easy Steps

Planning a trip to Japan can be overwhelming: There's too much information and not enough time to sort it out. However, if you break it down into 10 steps, you'll find that it's pretty easy. Here's ou

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Kamikochi Heart Of Japan Alps

Japan is a fantastic hiking destination, with great mountains, well-maintained trails and an extensive mountain hut network. You can do everything from easy day hikes to multi-day treks. Wes Lang prov

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Need Visa Japan

Most tourists to Japan can get a temporary visitor's visa on arrival in Japan. Here's a rundown of what to expect at immigration and whether you're eligible to extend your visa ![Japanese visa](https

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Getting Money In Kyoto

In Japan, you'll use an IC card for local transport and small purchases, and a credit card for big purchases (hotels etc). But you still need some Japan

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How To Get From Tokyo To Kyoto

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

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Im Dreaming Of White New Year

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

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Kyoto With Children

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

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Naoshima Art Island Travel Guide

Naoshima is Japan's "art island." Located in the Inland Sea in western Japan, it's the perfect addition to the standard Tokyo-Kyoto itinerary. Here's our full Naoshima guide and map. ![Kusama Yayoi's

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Where To Buy A Sim Card In Tokyo

Wondering where to buy a SIM card in Tokyo? You can easily buy a data-only SIM card just a short walk away from Tokyo Station at BIC Camera. ![Nighttime view of people crossing the road in front of t

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Gran Class Shinkansen Guide And Map

Gran Class is a new ultra-luxury shinkansen service in east Japan and Hokkaido. There's even meal service on par with a good international flight. ![Gran Class Shinkansen interior copyright JR East P

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Ca Marche

Incredibly, bakery Ça Marche offers more than 100 types of bread, which sees locals queuing out the door. There's an outdoor terrace, so it's also a great place to watch the world go by. ![Ca Marche]

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Freundlieb

Set in Kitano-cho's former Kobe Union Church, Freundlieb offers vaulted ceilings and lots of light. It's great as a coffee stop but also serves an excellent breakfast. ![Freundlieb](https://photos.sm

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Hyotan

Tucked beneath the train tracks at Hanshin Sannomiya Station in the Sannomiya-Motomachi district, down-to-earth Hyotan specialises in gyoza or Japanese dumplings. ![Hyotan](https://photos.smugmug.com

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Isuzu Bakery

If you're interested in trying a more Japanese bakery, Isuzu in the Sannomiya-Motomachi district is a good choice for breakfast pastries, such as a 'toreron' sausage roll or curry bread. ![Isuzu Bake

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Kitano Club

Kitano Club is a gorgeous hillside restaurant serving French fine-dining. It's reasonably pricy but the food is classic and the bar offers excellent views of Kobe below. ![Kitano Club](https://photos

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Kokubu

Located in the Sannomiya-Motomachi district, you'll need a reservation to eat at Kokubu. But the restaurant is a strong contender for sampling Kobe's famous beef. ![Kokubu](https://photos.smugmug.com

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Komon

Kobe is famous for its tender, marbled Wagyu beef and Komon is a popular (and reasonably-priced) venue to get a taste in the Sannomiya-Motomachi district. ![Komon](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i

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