Trawellogy.com
Rows of vermilion torii gates on the hillside path at Fushimi Inari shrine in southern Kyoto
AsiaJapan

Things to Do in Kyoto: The Grid, the Gates and the 5pm Problem

Kyoto explained through the 1,200-year-old grid it is still built on: how to read the street names, why almost everything closes at 17:00, what the ¥1,100 pass is actually worth, and which sites are free.

August 17, 2026
11 min read
Traditional wooden machiya townhouses lining a narrow street in the Gion district of Kyoto
HotelsJapan

Kyoto’s New Hotel Tax Changes Where You Should Sleep

Kyoto now charges Japan’s highest lodging tax — up to ¥10,000 per person per night. A district-by-district guide to where to stay, with the 2026 tax bands and the price point that now makes most sense.

August 15, 2026
7 min read
The twin towers and floating observatory of the Umeda Sky Building in northern Osaka
HotelsJapan

Where to Stay in Osaka: Pick a Stop on the Midosuji Line and the Rest Follows

Umeda, Namba, Shin-Osaka, Tennoji or the bay — what each Osaka district is actually for, plus the 2026 accommodation tax that is not in your booking total and the Kyoto price arbitrage that makes Osaka the smarter base.

August 12, 2026
8 min read

Category - Japan