Kyoto
Kyoto Travel Guide: Temples, Seasons and Day Trips
How to see Kyoto's temples without the crush, when the seasons peak, and the day trips to Nara and Osaka worth adding to your itinerary.
Japan Travel Guides
Japan rewards planning more than almost anywhere else, so these guides are built around the practical questions: rail passes and getting between cities, whether to book a hotel or an Airbnb under the minpaku rules, when the cherry blossoms actually peak in Tokyo, and where to eat everything from yakitori in Shinjuku to department-store food halls. Alongside the city coverage there are guides to Universal Studios Japan, Zao Onsen's snow monsters, and free days out with kids.
Places in Japan
Osaka
Osaka Travel Guide: Food, Castles and Day Trips
Osaka in three days: Dotonbori and Shinsekai food, the castle, Universal Studios and easy day trips to Kyoto, Nara and Kobe.
Japan
Tokyo Weather Guide: The Complete Month-by-Month Breakdown
Tokyo's weather month by month, with temperatures, rain and seasonal conditions through the year to help you decide when to plan your visit.
Japan
Top Things to Do in Tokyo: Shibuya, Asakusa and More
Fifteen Tokyo experiences worth your limited time — Shibuya after dark, Senso-ji at dawn, teamLab, Tsukiji and the neighbourhoods most…
Japan
Free Things to Do With Kids in Tokyo
Eight free things to do with kids in Tokyo - parks, playgrounds, observation decks and hands-on museums - so a family day out costs…
Japan
Yakitori Alley, Shinjuku: What to Order and When to Go
Yakitori Alley (Memory Lane) in Shinjuku - which stalls to pick, what the skewers cost, opening hours, and the etiquette that keeps the…
Japan
Airbnb vs Hotels in Japan: An Honest Comparison
An honest comparison of Airbnbs and hotels in Japan - the minpaku law, room sizes, real costs, and which wins in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and…
Japan
Japanese Onsen Etiquette: A First-Timer's Guide
How Japanese onsen and sento work, from changing-room protocol and washing before the bath to tattoo rules, open-air rotenburo and private…
Japan
Tokyo Food Guide: What to Eat and Where
Where to eat in Tokyo - sushi counters, ramen shops, izakaya and department-store food halls - with prices, booking tips and how to order…
Japan
Senso-ji, Tokyo: Visiting the City's Oldest Temple
Senso-ji's history, getting to Asakusa, Kaminarimon Gate, Nakamise-dori, the main hall, Asakusa Shrine, the pagoda, temple etiquette and…
Japan
Must-See Art in Tokyo, Old and New
Tokyo's digital art spaces, traditional Japanese art, major museums and contemporary galleries, with planning tips, costs and mistakes to…
Japan
Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo: When and Where to See Them
When Tokyo's cherry blossoms peak and where to see them, from Ueno to Shinjuku Gyoen and the riverside paths, plus hanami etiquette and…
Japan
Universal Studios Japan: Tickets, Express Passes and Tips
Planning Universal Studios Japan: ticket and Express Pass options, the Wizarding World, which rides to hit first, and how to avoid the…
Japan
teamLab Tokyo: Planets vs Borderless and How to Book
teamLab Planets and Borderless compared, how to buy tickets and what they cost, getting there, tips for the visit and nearby places to eat…
Japan
Best Ski Resorts Near Tokyo: Day Trips and Weekends
Ski resorts within reach of Tokyo for a day trip or a weekend, with transport and planning essentials, tips for skiing in Japan and…
Japan
Ten Reasons to Visit Japan
Ten reasons Japan is worth the flight - the food, temples, trains, hot springs, seasons and safety - plus what tends to surprise…
Japan
Tokyo Travel Guide: Neighbourhoods, Food and Getting Around
A Tokyo guide to the neighbourhoods, food, temples and day trips — what to see first, how to get around and what's worth your limited time.
Japan
Shibuya Sky and Shibuya Crossing: A Visitor's Guide
Shibuya Sky tickets and the best times to go, getting into Scramble Square, viewing Shibuya Crossing from above, photo tips, nearby sights…
Japan
Tsukiji Outer Market, Tokyo: What to Eat and When to Go
What to eat at the Tsukiji Outer Market, from sushi to street food, plus opening hours, the best times to go, getting there, shopping and…
Japan
Zao Onsen Guide: Snow Monsters, Skiing and Hot Springs
Zao Onsen in winter: the snow monsters, the ski terrain, sulphur hot springs, how to get there from Yamagata, and when the frost-covered…
Japan
Niseko Ski Guide: Powder, Passes and Where to Stay
Niseko's four resorts compared, getting there from Sapporo, the ski season, lift passes, gear rental, accommodation, onsen, dining and a…