日本NipponPlan

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Travel notes for Japan
Practical5 min readTax-free shopping: check the latest refund rulesVisitors can sometimes get back consumption tax on purchases. The refund process has changed, so learn how to check your eligibility and keep the right papers.Practical5 min readTemple and shrine manners on a first visitShrines and temples are working places of worship. Learn the simple steps for purification, prayer, photos and shoes so you visit with respect.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 readTenjin and Hakata: a Fukuoka base for food and shopsTenjin and Hakata are the two halves of central Fukuoka. Here is how to choose between them as a base, and where to find food stalls and shops.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.Practical5 min readTokyo Station area: how to keep a train day simpleA train day around Tokyo Station is simple if you plan the exit, the bags and the meal before you board. Practical steps for families and solo travellers.Guides5 min readTwo bases in Tokyo: how to split your stayTwo hotels in Tokyo can cut travel time and save you from long rides. Learn how to split your nights between the east and west sides.Guides5 min readUeno Park and its museums on a rainy dayOn a wet day, Ueno's museums sit close together in the park. Pick two, eat in the market area and walk the pond when the rain eases.Guides5 min readUeno and Yanaka: a slow Tokyo morningUeno Park, its museums and the old streets of Yanaka make a calm morning in Tokyo. Plan the route, what to see and when to eat.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.