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PlaceAllTokyoKyotoOsakaFukuokaSapporo

Guides5 min readRyoan-ji and the quiet temples north-west of the centreRyoan-ji is famous for its stone garden. Here is how to pair it with quieter temples and gardens in north-west Kyoto, and how to slow the visit down.Guides5 min readOdori and Susukino: Sapporo's first-night mapOdori Park and Susukino are the two places to know in Sapporo. Here is a simple map for your first night, with food, lights and an easy walk back.Guides5 min readSapporo Station: a practical base for your first nightSapporo Station is the easiest place to sleep on your first night in Sapporo. Here is what the station area offers, and what to check before you book.Guides5 min readSeven days in Tokyo and Kyoto with one Shinkansen dayA first-time plan for one week: most nights in Tokyo, most nights in Kyoto, one train day between them, and tips for each part.Guides5 min readShibuya for a first night: the crossing, the views and restA first night in Shibuya: see the famous crossing, look down on it from a higher point, eat near the station and walk to a quiet street before you rest.Guides5 min readShibuya and Harajuku: a youth-culture afternoonWalk from a quiet forest shrine to the fashion streets of Harajuku, then on to Shibuya's shops and anime goods. A relaxed plan for a first afternoon.Guides5 min readShimokitazawa in the evening: music and small streetsHow an evening in Shimokitazawa unfolds: the shops close, the cafes and live houses open, and the side lanes turn quiet. Plan it with care.Guides5 min readShimokitazawa and Nakano: a Tokyo day off the listShimokitazawa and Nakano offer vintage shops, small theatres and collectible shops away from the main sights. Plan a relaxed day in Tokyo.Guides5 min readShimokitazawa for vintage shoppingShimokitazawa has dozens of small second-hand shops in narrow lanes. Here is how to shop them well, from sizes and cash to bags and manners.Guides5 min readShinsaibashi and Amerikamura: fashion and street styleHow to read the fashion of Shinsaibashi and Amerikamura, where to look for vintage and young design, and how to shop in small Osaka stores with confidence.Guides5 min readShinsaibashi: a shopping day in OsakaShinsaibashi is Osaka's covered shopping street and its young fashion district. Here is how to plan a shopping day, eat well and avoid the worst crowds.Guides5 min readShinsaibashi-suji on a rainy day: covered shoppingWhen it rains in Osaka, Shinsaibashi-suji keeps you dry. Here is a route under cover, umbrella manners for shops, and a plan B if the rain turns heavy.

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