The Golden Pavilion

Kobe: Beef and Sake

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October 21st 2008
Our last day in Japan. It was a good day! We headed out early to go back to Kyoto. At first it was a bit of a buzzkill to have to go back to the city we thought we finished yesterday, but it turned out to be one of the nicest days of the vacation for me. Once we got there, Nick headed off to the Kiyamizu temple (to buy something for Megumi) while Mike and I ventured out to visit the golden pav ... read more

Asia » Japan » Hyogo » Kobe

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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