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Kyoto

Hiyoshido Traditional Massage Southern Higashiyama

Hiyoshido offers traditional Japanese and other forms of massage in a beautiful old Japanese house in Gion. It's the perfect way to relax after a day of touring Kyoto. ![Outside of Hiyoshido Traditio

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How To Escape The Crowds In Kyoto

It's no secret: Kyoto is crowded these days. But with a little planning and effort you can have entire temples and gardens to yourself. Here's how to escape the crowds in Kyoto. ![5G9A4106-Edit](http

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Ippodo Kyoto

Ippodo is the best place in Kyoto to buy green tea, including both leaf tea and powdered tea (matcha). The store is incredibly atmospheric and samples are available. Kyoto is the home of most of Japa

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Kamigamo Jinja Shrine Handicraft Market

Kill two birds with one stone -- do some sightseeing and get all your shopping done at Kamigamo-jinja Shrine! It's held on the fourth Sunday of every month. ![The entrance to Kamigamo-jinja on a sunn

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Kamiji Kakimoto Kyoto

Kamiji Kakimoto is one of the best places in Kyoto to buy washi (Japanese handmade paper). People who love washi (Japanese handmade paper) never tire of arguing about which of Kyoto's two main paper

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Kitayama Area Bujo Ji Miyama Kayabuki No Sato

If you want to experience traditional rural Japan and you're willing to drive a rental car, the Kitayama Mountains north of Kyoto make the perfect day trip. ![2017-08-26 10.00.55](https://photos.smug

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Kimono Rental In Kyoto

Renting a kimono and a professional photographer in Kyoto for the afternoon? Totally worth it. Florentyna Leow explains what to expect when you try on a kimono and take photos with a pro photographer

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Kurama And Kibune

Kurama and Kibune are a pair of tranquil rural villages an easy 30-minute train north of Kyoto on Eizan Line. They form the best half-day trip out of Kyoto. ![A side view of the low-lying bright red

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Kurama To Kibune Hike

The easy hike from Kurama to Kibune, in the hills north of Kyoto, is our favorite half-day trip out of Kyoto City. It's the perfect combination of nature and culture. ![Kurama-dera Main Hall with Che

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Kyoto Activities

Looking for something to do in Kyoto? Tired of temples? Here's a full list of activities to keep you and your kids entertained in Kyoto. ![Learning samurai kembu in Kyoto](https://insidekyoto.smugmug

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Kyoto Art And Antiques

Kyoto is the best place in Japan to shop for traditional Japanese art and antiques. Here, we introduce the best shops, markets and galleries in the city. ![Tenmangu flea market](https://photos.smugmu

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Kyoto Arts

Kyoto is the best city in Japan to explore the traditional Japanese arts. Here, I'll tell you how to experience kabuki, noh drama, tea ceremony, geisha dances and geisha entertainment. I'll also give

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Kyoto Cinema

If you love independent movies and want to take in a flick while you're in Kyoto, you'll love this little arthouse cinema in downtown Kyoto. ![Kyoto Cinema. Editorial credit: Yasu / Wikimedia Commons

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Kyoto Festivals Events

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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Kyoto Hiking Itineraries

Kyoto is surrounded by mountains on three sides and these mountains are latticed with hiking trails. Here, we introduce the five best hikes in or near Kyoto. ![The view over Kyoto from the Daimonji v

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Kyoto Municipal Museum Of Art Northern Higashiyama

The Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art (formerly Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art) is the best museum in Kyoto (it's only eclipsed by the Kyoto National Museum when the National is holding a special exhibi

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Kyoto On 100 Dollars A Day

It's possible to sleep in a comfortable hotel, eat good food, see fantastic sights and generally have a great time in Kyoto for as little as a hundred US dollars a day. If you think I'm joking, read o

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Kyoto Samurai

150 years ago, Kyoto was a key battleground for Japan's samurai, a noble class of warriors divided by loyalty to clan and country. Michael Lambe takes us on a tour of the Kyoto sites associated with t

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Kyoto Secret Spots

With over 1000 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines, it goes without saying that Kyoto is literally chock-a-block with hidden gems and secret spots. One of the great joys of sightseeing in Kyoto is

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Kyoto Shopping

Kyoto is famous for temples, but it's also a shopper's paradise. Here's some Kyoto shopping tips and a list of the best shops in Kyoto, both traditional and modern. ![Shop Ippodo Downtown Kyoto](http

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Kyoto Tea Ceremony

Kyoto was where the tea ceremony was born and remains its spiritual heart. If you want to try this most calming of cup of tea, Kyoto is THE place to try. In a hurry? Scroll down to see our listings o

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Maruzen Bookstore Returns To Kyoto

After a 10-year interval Kyoto's best bookstore, Maruzen Books has returned! Our resident bookworm, Michael Lambe, went to take a look at the new premises and see if the new store matches up to its le

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Kyoto Unesco World Heritage Sites

There are 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kyoto. Here, I present the full list, and discuss which are the most rewarding and interesting to visit. Kyoto has one of the world's largest collections o

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Minamiza Kabuki Theatre

Few theatrical spectacles are as visually stimulating and just plain bizarre as kabuki, and Kyoto's Minamiza Kabuki Theatre is the best place in Japan to see kabuki. ![Kabuki theatre Minamiza. Editor

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Nene No Michi Lane

Nene-no-Michi Lane is a wonderful flagstone walkway that links some of the most important sights in the Southern Higashiyama area. ![Nene-no-Michi walkway. Editorial credit: Pabkov / Shutterstock.com

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Mt Daimonji Yama Hike Ginkaku Ji Temple

The one-hour roundtrip hike from Ginkaku-ji Temple up to the viewpoint on Mt. Daimonji-yama is the best short hike in Kyoto. The view of the city from here is incredible! Here is everything you need t

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Nishijin Textile Center

A bit of a touristy spot, but worth a visit to learn about how kimonos are made. If you're lucky, you'll catch a kimono fashion show. The Nishijin Textile Center is the central sight in Kyoto's tradi

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Nishiki Market Downtown Kyoto

Known to locals as "Kyoto's pantry", Nishiki Market is easily the best traditional food market in the city. Running between Teramachi and Shinmachi, one block north of Shijo, Nishiki Market is Kyoto'

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Orinasu Kan

The Orinasu-kan is a much better place than the Nishijin Textile Center to learn about the Nishijin district's long history as Kyoto's textile district. While everything about the [Nishijin Textile C

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Pulse Plaza Antiques Grand Fair

Pulse Plaza Antiques Grand Fair is THE best single antiques and art market in Japan. If you're in town when it's on, don't miss it! ![Pulse Plaza overall view](https://photos.smugmug.com/Kyoto/Kyoto-

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Kyoto Castles And Palaces
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