日本NipponPlan

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Travel notes for Japan
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.Guides5 min readYanagawa from Fukuoka: a boat ride along the canalsA boat ride along the canals of Yanagawa from Fukuoka: the willows, the old houses, the eel dishes and what to check before you go.Seasons5 min readApril: peak blossom and busy streetsApril often brings peak cherry blossom to Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, and the streets are crowded. Learn how to plan around the crowds and still enjoy the flowers.Seasons5 min readArashiyama in autumn: how to beat the crowdsArashiyama is busy in autumn, from October to December. Here is how to plan an early visit, pick a quieter path and check the leaf forecast before you go.Seasons6 min readAutumn leaves: the timing, city by cityAutumn leaves change colour at different times in each place. Learn how to read the leaf forecast for Kyoto, Nikko and Tokyo and plan a trip with some room to spare.Seasons5 min readGolden Week: plan around the holiday runGolden Week is a run of national holidays in late April and early May. Learn how it affects trains, hotels and opening hours, and how to plan around it.Seasons6 min readHokkaido in winter: snow, ski and coldHokkaido is snowy and cold from January to March. Learn how to plan snow days in Sapporo and Otaru, what to pack and what to check before you travel.