Eeeeeeee the tentacles!

Osaka- one aquarium, two castles and some very good tea

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January 29th 2008
Osaka immediately felt more real than Kyoto and Tokyo. The pursuit of perfection has been made subordinate to the pursuit of doing business and making money. The people on the streets are just a little less rarefied and cool, and dirt- actual dirt- can occasionally be seen outside agricultural areas. But not very often. This is Japan, after all. We stayed in the rather characterless Hearton ... read more

Asia » Japan

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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