sakura and temple pond

Sakura!

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April 17th 2005
Wow...what can I say? The cherry blossoms are really spectacular! No matter how many temples, parks, shrines, castles, and gardens I go to, the cherry blossoms never cease to amaze me. I took tons and tons of pictures, so I hope you enjoy them. As for the rest of Japan, most of the time I'm lost and confused. Thankfully there are tons of maps and brochures available. Sometimes that seems to onl ... 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