The Waraku-An

Kyoto Kicks Shanghai's Ass!

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October 20th 2007
Japan is FANTASTIC. If you haven't already heard, Shanghai wasn't really my cup of tea. Not to put anyone off their travels there but it's a polluted, stinky (really, there was a 'melting plastic' aroma almost everywhere I went) people spit in the street, people try to scam you (Idiot number 1 over here, scammed for AU$155) I was even latched onto and chased by one beggar, one minute you're talkin ... read more

Asia » Japan » Kyoto » Kyoto » Gion

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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. Fol... ... read more