East to Abashiri thorugh the belly of Hokkaido

Wild west, wetlands and wicked volcanoes!

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June 13th 2008
Abashiri certainly turned the weather on the following day. After my body demanding a lie in, I just made it to the Okhotsk sea to the east of town, before having to head to back and be ready for a 10.01am train to Kushiro. The city of Abashiri was not the bustling metropolis of Wakkanai (!!), but the weather similar and fresh in a northerly/ southerly climate kind of way. The morning wa ... read more

Asia » Japan » Hokkaido

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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