日本NipponPlan

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Travel notes for Japan
Guides5 min readShinsekai and Tennoji: old Osaka in one afternoonShinsekai has old-style streets, a famous tower and cheap food. Tennoji adds a park, a temple and a view. Here is how to spend one afternoon in both.Guides6 min readTen days across Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto and OsakaA ten-day first trip through Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto and Osaka: the order, the nights, the food and the train days that need a check.Guides5 min readTenma and Temmabashi: Osaka's local eating streetsTenma and Temmabashi are Osaka streets where locals eat and drink after work. Here is how to find the small izakaya and standing bars, and order like a regular.Guides5 min readTenma shrine and the covered arcade: a local morningStart a morning at Osaka Tenmangu, then walk the covered shopping street as the shops open. Here is a slow local route for couples and solo travellers.Guides4 min readTennoji Park and a slow museum afternoonTennoji Park has a zoo, an art museum and an old temple close to the station. Here is how to plan a slow afternoon there, with a rest under the trees.Guides5 min readUji and matcha, a day from KyotoA relaxed day from Kyoto to Uji: the Phoenix Hall, the river, the tea shops and how to choose a matcha stop.Guides5 min readUmeda and Kita: Osaka's hub for trains and big shopsUmeda and Kita form Osaka's northern hub, with many train lines, department stores and towers. Here is how to use it as a base and plan your trips.Guides5 min readUmeda and Kita at sunset: city views and a calm eveningWatch the sun set over Osaka from a rooftop in Umeda, then walk the calmer streets of Kita for a quiet evening meal and a slow end to the day.Guides6 min readWhere to base yourself in Kyoto: station, Gion or KawaramachiKyoto has five areas that suit visitors. Pick your base by how you travel, how you eat and how late you want to be out.Festivals6 min readGion Matsuri: a Kyoto July explainerGion Matsuri is Kyoto's major summer festival, held in July. Learn what the parades are, how the festival works and how to watch it without getting lost.Guides5 min readNara from Kyoto: deer, Todai-ji and a short walkA day in Nara from Kyoto: the deer in the park, the great temple, a walk through the woods and tips for dealing with the deer.Festivals5 min readSummer fireworks: how to watch themSummer fireworks draw large crowds in Tokyo and Osaka. Learn how to choose a viewing spot, arrive early and get back to your hotel safely.