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Gion

Background: In 1603, a Tokugawa shogunate (military dictatorship) ushered in a long period of isolation from foreign influence in order to secure its power. For 250 years this policy enabled Japan to enjoy stability and a flowering of its indigenous culture. Following the Treaty of Kanagawa with the United States in 1854, Japan opened its ports and began to intensively modernize and industrialize. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japan became a regional power that was able to defeat the forces of both China and Russia. It occupied Korea, Formosa (Taiwan), and southern Sakhalin Island. In 1933 Japan occupied Manchuria and in 1937 it launched a full-scale invasion of China. Japan attacked US forces in 1941 - triggering America's entry into World War II - and soon occupied much of East and Southeast Asia. After its defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become an economic power and a staunch ally of the US. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, actual power rests in networks of powerful politicians, bureaucrats, and business executives. The economy experienced a major slowdown starting in the 1990s following three decades of unprecedented growth, but Japan still remains a major economic power, both in Asia and globally. In 2005, Japan began a two-year term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.



Links: Gion Travel Blogs (47) | Gion Travel Photos | Map of Gion | Japan Travel Forum | Japan Facts | Map of Japan

JAPAN Kyoto 22nd - 23rd September
November 18th 2008  Asia » Japan » Kyoto » Kyoto » Gion
With only 2 days in Kyoto we could not do the city justice. Literally 100's of temples and fascinating alleyways and streets to explore. However, we did our best. We also had the pleasure of meeting u ... 32 photos [full story]

11 days ago: mrandmrsbb published a blog
Sumi Massen?
November 6th 2008  Asia » Japan » Kyoto » Kyoto » Gion
A - We arrived in Kyoto Tuesday evening to the first signs of Christmas on 4th November! Kyoto Station was lit up with a huge Christmas tree and numerous wreaths with twinkling lights and "MERRY CH ... [full story]

"Memoirs of a Lisa"
48 days ago: Lisa Van Muyen published a blog
"Memoirs of a Lisa"
August 16th 2008  Asia » Japan » Kyoto » Kyoto » Gion
Okay, I know that I wasn't going to post anymore Osaka or Kyoto blogs, but this is one that I couldn't omit.... Four wonderful, adventurous, and exciting years have passed while I have lived in Jap ... 21 photos [full story]

September 12th 2008  Asia » Japan » Kyoto » Kyoto » Gion
12 Sept 08 Today was another lazy day...to a point. It was overcast so the bright (beautiful) sun didn't have us up at the crack of dawn. Still, the girls left early this morning to visit a school ... [full story]

91 days ago: Pen and Dave published a blog
Chasing Geisha in Kyoto
August 23rd 2008  Asia » Japan » Kyoto » Kyoto » Gion
They say Kyoto is the most visited tourist destination on the entire planet, eclipsing heavyweights like Paris and New York. Even so, we have yet to spot more than a handful of Westerners. With countl ... [full story]

Gion Matsuri
124 days ago: teecha_nikky published a blog
Gion Matsuri
July 21st 2008  Asia » Japan » Kyoto » Kyoto » Gion
I Headed out with the head teacher of my school to Gion, to see the massive hikiyama carts. They basically shut down that area of the city for 4 days, all the roads are closed, and you can see men ... 24 photos [full story]

129 days ago: knope published a blog
Gion Matsuri - yoiyoiyama
July 16th 2008  Asia » Japan » Kyoto » Kyoto » Gion
Gion Matsuri is one of, if not, the largest traditional festivals in Japan and has been observed annually from July 1-July 29th for the past 1100 years. It started in 869 when a plague attributed to ... [full story]

143 days ago: Frogger46 published a blog
Might Be Homesick
July 2nd 2008  Asia » Japan » Kyoto » Kyoto » Gion
This is definitely my last entry. Im sorry I didnt update more recently but we've been jammed packed nonstop for many days now. Several days ago (Friday) we rode the bullet train to Hiroshima and it ... [full story]

189 days ago: Steve and Jenny published a blog
South East Kyoto
May 17th 2008  Asia » Japan » Kyoto » Kyoto » Gion
Kyoto is really beautiful with too many temples and pagodas to see!! Steve can hardly write his itinerary for trying!! It has been great weather, we have finally used our sun cream!! Also we foun ... [full story]

photos
197 days ago: EEFS published a blog
photos
May 9th 2008  Asia » Japan » Kyoto » Kyoto » Gion
some photos of tokyo and kyoto in kyoto you'll see the golden palace thats pretty obvz!! I will actually sit down and write this thing out sorry if its boring and has no info but hey I;m on vacaca ... 100 photos [full story]


Gion Blog Entries

Sanjusangendo Hall
Kinkakuji-templet...
Geisha stalking!
Blossom out in Palace grounds
Khmer God-King
Miho Museum entrance
Heian Temple, Kyoto
kiyomizu temple Kyoto
Nishi Honganji Temple
The Shrine that Started it All

Japan

Japan Location


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Japan Travel Forum
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Hotels in Kyoto and Osaka
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Living &Traveling In Japan
Tokyo early December 2008
Sumo in December
Online Purchasing
Oct - Nov
What to do?
Getting from Tokyo to Nikko
Tokyo - cheap Ryokan?
Help for my dissertation!
cat cafe/kitten patting!






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