Where to Stay in Kyoto 2026: Areas and the New Tax
Kyoto changed its lodging tax on 1 March 2026. What each neighbourhood really costs, transport included, and how to read a scale most guides get wrong.
Getting Around Japan: Suica, Metro and Trains in 2026
On 14 March 2026 JR East raised fares for the first time in 39 years. What it really changes for your Suica card, the metro and every journey you make.
Best Time to Visit Japan: the April Rule Has Aged
Cherry trees now open five days earlier than thirty years ago, and the forecast lands after your flight is booked. The honest month-by-month calendar.
JR Pass 2026: Worth It Only Above This Threshold
The honest arithmetic, with checked fares: the break-even point, the Nozomi supplement, and the two prices the same pass has had since 1 October 2026.
Where to Stay in Tokyo: Pick the Loop, Not the District
Eight neighbourhoods compared, their line, and the two things that actually decide: the Yamanote loop and which airport you land at. Verified 2026 fares.
Japan Budget for 2 Weeks: The Real All-In Cost
The measured average is ¥229,000 per visitor. Here is the bill rebuilt line by line, with the three 2026 taxes no older guide can carry.
Japan Itinerary 2 Weeks: The Route for a First Trip
Fourteen days, four hotel changes, and the three calculations nobody does: the JR Pass loses by ¥34,000 on this route, and your suitcase decides the rest.