Bus Tour of Kyoto- Golden Pavilion, Imperial Palace, Nijo Castle, Kiyomizu Temple
June 10th 2009 Today, 4 days before we would be heading home, was a long day of sightseeing. Today we would be visiting several key sites that have played a major role in Japan's history. Around 9 am, we boarded the luxurious bus to head to our first destination. As part of the Study Tour, we were given a tour guide to describe all of the places that we were to see. Her name was Keiko, a popular name in Japanese
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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 
