Kansai
The region consists of the prefectures of Wakayama, Nara, Kyoto, Osaka and Hyogo.
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Kiyomizu Dera Temple | Kyoto Travel Guide
The Kiyomizu Dera temple in Kyoto is one of Japan’s most famous Buddhist temples and with good reason, as it is one of the most beautiful constructions in the old capital city.
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Shinsekai | Osaka Travel Guide
If Osaka is on your itinerary, Shinsekai is a very interesting neighborhood to explore. The atmosphere is somewhat retro-feeling, making you feel like you have returned to Japan at the height of the Showa period (1926-1989).
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Namba | Osaka Travel Guide
Namba is a known entertainment district in Osaka full of colors, restaurants, neon screens, shops, and other places to enjoy yourself, and it becomes especially fun at night.
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Dotonbori | Osaka Travel Guide
The lively entertainment area of Dotonbori is the most famous tourist destination in Osaka and famous for its striking neon lights, its extravagant signage, and huge variety of restaurants and bars.
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Gion Corner | Kyoto Travel Guide
If you don’t have the budget to see Kyoto’s geisha in action in an actual tea house, Gion Corner in Kyoto is an alternative that gives you a great overview of traditional Japanese performing arts.
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Arashiyama | Kyoto Travel Guide
Arashiyama in Kyoto is famous for its mystical bamboo grove, but the area is actually a lot larger than just the bamboo forest. It is a very pleasant environment to have a walk past traditional shops, temples, and nature.
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Kimono Forest | Kyoto Travel Guide
Find out more about Kimono Forest, a must-see promenade for people heading to the bamboo forest, located in the Arashiyama area of Kyoto.
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Danjiri Kaikan Museum | Osaka Travel Guide
The Danjiri Kaikan is an interactive and fun museum located in Osaka near Kishiwada Castle. It provides information and activities on the Kishiwada Danjiri Festival, which is very famous in Japan.
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Church of the Light | Osaka Travel Guide
If you are interested in Japanese architecture, Tadao Ando might ring a bell for you. He designed the Church of the Light in Osaka, an interesting work of contemporary architecture in Japan.
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Sumiyoshi Taisha | Osaka Travel Guide
Shinto shrine “Sumiyoshi Taisha” was founded in 211, making it one of the oldest shrines in all of Japan. It is worth visiting for its picturesque bridge and interesting architecture.
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Imamiya Ebisu Shrine | Osaka Travel Guide
This tranquil shrine is located near tourist hot spots but is not often visited by tourists. That makes the Imamiya Ebisu shrine a nice place to get away from the crowds for a bit!
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Umeda Sky Building | Osaka Travel Guide
The Umeda Sky Building in Osaka is located near Osaka station and well-worth a short visit. The view from the observation deck is amazing, and the building itself is an architectural masterpiece.
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Rurikoin Temple | Kyoto Travel Guide
When we hear or see the words ‘yuka midori in Japan’, it is considered as a herald of early summer. Learn what this means in this personal account of our visit to the Rurikoin temple in Kyoto.
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A Local Neighborhood in Kyoto
If you have already finished the beginners‘ course of travel in Kyoto and traveled around the many touristy spots, it is time to explore the daily lives of the locals!
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Kobe City | Hyogo Travel Guide
Abroad, the name Kobe is especially associated with Kobe beef, a premium brand of Japanese beef. But did you know that Kobe has been an important port city for many centuries?
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Osaka Castle | Osaka Travel Guide
Read about the history of the iconic Osaka Castle, and what you can see there today!
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Shirahama Beach | Wakayama Travel Guide
Shirahama in Wakayama is a popular beach resort with hot springs nearby. You can enjoy a white sandy beach, beautiful viewing spots, a zoo with pandas, and more.
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Nachi Katsuura | Wakayama Travel Guide
Nachi-Katsuura is a small town in Wakayama that is famous for its early-morning tuna auction and nice hot springs. The city itself is very attractive and also a starting point of the popular Kumano Kodo route.
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Kumano Kodo | Wakayama Travel Guide
The Kumano Kodo is an impressive pilgrimage route in the Kii Mountains with a total length of around 1000km. The routes radiate centering around the Kumano Three Shrines; Hongu, Hayatama, and Nachi.
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Machiya : Traditional Japanese Houses in Kyoto
A ‘machiya’ is a traditional wooden house that is especially typical of Kyoto city. It was the artisans and merchants of the cities who lived in machiya.