Catching a glimpse of a geisha, with her white face and brilliant kimono, scurrying to an appointment in the narrow streets of Kyoto’s Gion district is a moment of pure magic.
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The zenith of Japanese gastronomy is kaiseki-ryōri, whose origins stem from the imperial court and which synthesises harmony, balance and an appreciation of the moment.
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The towering department stores, music venues, dance clubs and all-you-can-eat dessert cafés cater to the city’s twenty-somethings.
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The dense sprawl of Tokyo can be mind-blowing to the uninitiated, but think of it as spending 24 hours in an amalgamation of mini-cities.
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You can shop ’til you drop in Tokyo from the sprawling retail clusters around the busiest train stations to the abundance of smaller, more eccentric shops found on the backstreets.
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From the streets of Shinjuku to the Koishikawa Korakuen garden, striking sights from around the city.
Cafes double as incredible audio museums
Keeping it weird from Florida to Shanghai
Young Thais are drawn by the big city lifestyle
Business trip: Denver
Colorado
Four apps encourage smarter detours
Technology
Are the French really arrogant?
France
Navigating Laos’ treacherous roads
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Our favourite images of the week
Top 10 North American gardens
North America
A salty offering to Polish saints
Krakow
Cuba, the Caribbean’s wild island
Cuba
A night at Paris’ museums
Paris
Alfresco flicks with a twist in NYC
New York City
Walk with the locals in Mumbai
Mumbai
Berlin’s Carnival of Cultures
Berlin
Mini guide to culture in Seville
Seville
Love, war and Philly cheesesteak
Philadelphia
Save time and money at Disney
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El Salvador rises from the ashes
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On the road: Kanda Festival, Japan
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