Trawellogy.com
A bridge carrying the Tomei Expressway through hills in central Japan
AsiaCar RentalJapan

Renting a Car in Japan: Why 15,000 Yen in Tolls Can Cost More Than the Car

Japan only accepts 1949 Geneva Convention permits, expressway tolls for a single Tokyo to Kyoto run can hit 15,000 yen, and six countries need a translation instead of an IDP. What renting a car in Japan actually costs, and the places it is worth it.

August 29, 2026
9 min read
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
8 min read

Category - Japan