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Kyoto

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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How To Avoid Crowds And Lines In Japan

Crowds in Japan are back to pre-pandemic levels and the weak yen almost guarantees that they'll only get worse. Luckily, with a little extra planning, you can avoid the crowds and lines almost entirel

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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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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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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 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 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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Most Useful Japanese Expressions

With just a few Japanese phrases, you can get a lot of smiles and appreciation from the locals during your trip to Japan. Here's my super easy rundown of the most useful Japanese expressions ![Dharma

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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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Packing List For Japan

Use my comprehensive packing list for Japan to ensure you've got everything you need to make your Japan trip hassle free. ![Ryoan-ji Temple Lake, Kyoto](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-D8dZfd5/0/

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Should You Buy A Japan Rail Pass How To Decide

The prices for the Japan Rail Pass (JRP) increased by about 70% on October 1, 2023. While formerly a good deal for most travelers, now only certain travelers will benefit from buying a JRP. How do you

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The Best Luggage For Japan

The right kind of luggage allows you to take advantage of Japan's unique travel system: ultra-fast shinkansen (bullet trains) that lack much luggage space, and incredibly efficient (and cheap) overnig

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Kyoto Travel Guide: Essential Tips for Your First Visit

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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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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Getting Around Nara Nara Buses Trains Taxis Bicycles

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

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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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Hankyu Kyo Train Garaku Guide And Map

This train between Kyoto and Osaka is decorated with a traditional Kyoto theme and some cars even have a miniature "Zen" garden and seats made of tatami mats. !["Zen" garden on the Kyo Train copyrigh

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How To Make Japan Train Reservations

You can make seat reservations and buy tickets for Japan Rail (JR) trains before or after arriving in Japan. Of course, the big question is this: Do you even need train reservations in Japan? Here are

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Travel guide
Kyoto castles and palaces
Kyoto districts
Kyoto gardens
Kyoto geisha
Kyoto eat and drink
Kyoto hotels
Kyoto itineraries
Machiya
Kyoto museums buildings
Kyoto onsen
Kyoto top things to do
Kyoto romantic
Kyoto ryokan
Shinto shrines
Kyoto temples
Kyoto walking tours
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