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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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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 y

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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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Nagoya Travel Guide

For most foreign tourists, Nagoya is just a place where the shinkansen stops for a moment between Tokyo and Kyoto. But Japan's fourth largest city is really coming into its own with such attractions a

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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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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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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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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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Nishimuras Coffee

Nishimura's Coffee in the Kitano-cho district is an elegant space to spend an hour or two. Tasteful interiors, on-site roasting, and delicious cakes make for a great experience. ![Nishimura's Coffee]

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Quiche Ya

As the name implies, Quicha-ya is a haven for quiche connoisseurs. You can taste the gamut of quiche concoctions, including a recipe made with Kobe beef. A perfect takeaway option for sunny days. ![Q

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Wakkoqu

Whilst there's no shortage of places in town to try Kobe's famous Wagyu beef, Wakkoqu in the Kitano-cho district is one of the best. It's expensive but a great introduction to this excellent cuisine.

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Gosho Imperial Palace Playground

If you need some fresh air and the kids need a good play in the great outdoors, you cannot beat this playground at the north end of the Kyoto Imperial Palace Park (Gosho). It's our go-to spot when we'

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Katsura Rikyu Imperial Villa Arashiyama

Located in a suburb about 4.5km west of Kyoto Station, Katsura Rikyu Imperial Villa is regarded as the pinnacle of Japanese architecture and garden design. ![Katsura Rikyu Imperial Villa - Arashiyama

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Kyoto Gosho Kyoto Imperial Palace Central Kyoto

Kyoto's Imperial Palace (known as Gosho in Japanese) is the Emperor's official residence in Kyoto. The structures, though modern reconstructions, are lovely. ![Kyoto Imperial Palace. Editorial credit

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Kyoto Gyoen Kyoto Imperial Palace Park Central Kyoto

A green sanctuary in the middle of the drab plain of Kyoto, the Kyoto Gyoen (Kyoto Imperial Palace Park) is Kyoto's Central Park. ![Kyoto Imperial Palace Park. Editorial credit: DutchMen / Shuttersto

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Nijo Jo Castle

Nijo-jo Castle is one of Kyoto's most popular and impressive sights. It shows the power that the Shoguns wielded over the emperors throughout the Edo Period ![Nijo castle](https://photos.smugmug.com/

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Shugakuin Rikyu

Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa is the most spacious and, in some ways, the most pleasing of Kyoto's four imperial properties. ![Shugakuin Imperial Villa Garden](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-Nv

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Arashiyama

Arashiyama is the second-most important sightseeing district in Kyoto, a historic district and mountain in western Kyoto, Japan, famous for its scenic beauty and attractions. Learn about its bamboo g

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