otani mausoleum

Kyoto

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September 26th 2008
Waking up to thunder and lightening, we headed down to Kyoto train station to check out the many shops. The station is huge, almost as tall as Kyoto tower, and it has a garden on top where you can look down on the view over Kyoto-pretty cool. There are about 11 stories of shops inside (mum you would have spent the whole three weeks just in here) and lots of shoes too (Paula and Hazel). My ... read more

Asia » Japan » Kyoto » Kyoto

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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