The Shrine of Amaterasu Omikami

First explorations of Kyoto

---

February 21st 2009
We left Osaka this morning and grabbed the train to Kyoto, tagging along with a Swiss couple who live here and could read all the signs. The trains here seem a little strange; the platforms don't really make sense, and even some of the Japanese people seem to have a problem with them! Either we're just incredibly lucky, or Mark truly is the God of Public Transport (as he proclaims himself to be), ... read more

Asia » Japan » Kyoto » Kyoto

---

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