Meet the Deer of Nara Park
At the foot of Mount Wakakusa sits one of the oldest parks in Japan. Sprawling across 660 ha (1631 ac), Nara Park is home to temples, shrines, and a national…
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Inside Nara’s Mall Museums
Nara is best known for the four-legged locals that roam freely around its 660-hectare park. But friendly deer aren’t the city’s only animal attraction. Visitors can also get up close…
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The Hidden Gems of Orizuru Tower
Across the street from the Genbaku Dome in Hiroshima stands the 14-floor Orizuru Tower. It’s known for its specialty souvenir store and organic café, which you can easily access from…
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Plum Blossoms at Hiroshima Castle
The original Hiroshima Castle, built in the 1590s, was older than the city itself. But like most buildings, it was largely destroyed by the atomic bomb in 1945. The castle…
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Hiroshima’s Peace Park from Day to Night
I was lucky enough to visit Hiroshima’s Peace Park once before in 2015. That year was the 70th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. I remember seeing the Genbaku…
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Plum Blossoms at Shukkeien
As some of the first flowers to open each year in Japan, plum blossoms signal the start of spring. They may not be as popular as cherry blossoms, but they’re…
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A Quick Guide to Kyoto’s Sake District
This article is now available to take with you on the GPSmyCity app. That means you can access a map with all the attractions mentioned while you travel—no wifi needed!…
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Kinkakuji: The Golden Pavilion
One of the most famous images associated with Kyoto is that of a golden temple. Kinkaku-ji, as it’s known, is indeed completely covered in gold leaf—the top two floors, at…
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Heian Shrine and Gardens
On the 1,110th anniversary of the founding of Kyoto, which was once known as Heian, a shrine was built to mark the occasion. Heian Shrine is dedicated to the spirits…
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Inside MUCA: ICONS of Urban Art
Kyoto’s KYOCERA Museum of Art recently hosted the Kansai leg of the MUCA: ICONS of Urban Art—From Banksy to KAWS exhibition, which is currently on tour in Japan. As a…
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Insho Domoto: The Art Museum Designed by an Artist
In the northwestern part of Kyoto city, near Kinugasa Hill, lies a unique art museum dedicated to the works of Insho Domoto. It was founded in 1966 by the artist…
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