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Day trips from Tokyo: Kamakura and Fujikawaguchiko
Earlier this year, I visited Japan, a country that I’ve been fascinated with since I can remember. I arrived in Tokyo early on a Monday morning, having departed from London early on a Sunday morning. In fact, I stayed in the Japanese capital both at the start and the end of my trip. Whilst there, I visited quite a few temples and shrines, museums, restaurants and bars, and I also watched a kabuki performance. I also went on a couple of day trips from Tokyo. Day trips from Tokyo: Kamakura and Enoshima Kamakura Nowadays, Kamakura is a small, coastal city in Kanagawa Prefecture, about an hour away (by train) from Tokyo.…
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9 (+1) things to do and see in Kyoto
Kyoto, Japan’s former imperial capital for over a millennium (794–1868), is a beautifully preserved cultural centre, home to around 2,000 temples and shrines — including 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Kinkaku‑ji, Kiyomizu‑dera and Nijo Castle — nestled within a meticulously maintained grid of streets and low-rise wooden architecture. Surrounded by forested hills, the city pulses with traditional arts like tea ceremony, flower arrangement and geisha performances in districts such as Gion. Kyoto’s seasonal beauty is legendary — from cherry-blossom-lined lanes and bamboo groves in spring to vibrant foliage in autumn — offering a timeless window into Japan’s refined aesthetic and “omotenashi” hospitality. In this post, I recommend activities,…