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JOTM logo with minimalist Enso-inspired red O and refined serif letters in deep blue.
  • The grand vermilion gate of Kiyomizu-dera stands at the top of the stone steps, flanked by guardian lion-dogs, beneath a grey Kyoto sky, a sacred threshold between city and stillness.
    Kyoto

    Kiyomizu-dera Temple: A JOTM Guide

    ByJOTM August 24, 2025July 27, 2025

    High above the old streets of Kyoto, where tiled roofs slip into the morning haze and footsteps echo like memory, stands a temple not carved from ambition, but from patience. Kiyomizu-dera Temple (清水寺) does not rise with grandeur, it leans into the hillside, held in place by timber, time, and quiet faith. Its great wooden…

    Read More Kiyomizu-dera Temple: A JOTM GuideContinue

  • Elegant Kyoto hotel room with warm lighting, modern furnishings, and traditional textures
    Kyoto

    The Best Hotels in Kyoto: A JOTM Guide

    ByJOTM July 18, 2025July 22, 2025

    Luxury Stays, Quiet Ryokan, and Boutique Beauty in Gion, Higashiyama, and near Kyoto Station

    Read More The Best Hotels in Kyoto: A JOTM GuideContinue

  • People gathering for hanami picnics beneath cherry blossom trees in a Japanese city park, a spring tradition shared in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.
    Kyoto | Osaka | Tokyo

    Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka: A JOTM Guide

    ByJOTM July 13, 2025July 27, 2025

    If you’re planning your first trip to Japan and wondering where to go, you’ll quickly find that Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka are at the top of every list of the best cities to visit in Japan. But how do you decide which to explore first? This guide offers a clear comparison, helping you weigh the…

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© 2025 Japan Off The Map (JOTM)

  • Tokyo
  • Osaka
  • Kyoto
  • Explore More
    • Fukuoka
    • Hiroshima
    • Kobe
    • Sapporo
    • Yokohama
    • Off the Beaten Path
  • Plan Your Journey
    • Planning a Trip to Japan
    • The Best Time to Visit Japan
    • How to Get Around Japan
    • Japan Rail Pass Guide
    • Budget Travel in Japan
    • Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka: Where to Begin
  • Our Journeys
  • About
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