Osaka City

First Impressions of Osaka

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February 18th 2009
And so we have said our farewells to China and flown to Osaka. At first, it was not at all what I expected it to be like. We got the train from the airport and passed through what I assume were the suburbs. People seem to live in these small, neat doll houses, with colourfully painted shutters and beautiful little gardens. With the mountains as the backdrop to the east, the calm blue sea to the we ... read more

Asia » Japan » Osaka » Osaka

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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