Thomas, Taka, me and Takao

Matsumoto

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September 13th 2009
Matsumoto I caught the morning Shinkansen to Nagoya, and changed to the express train from Nagoya to Matsumoto (282km northwest of Tokyo). Matsumoto lies in the central alpine region of Japan, and is accordingly higher, cooler and surrounded by mountains. I met up with my couchsurfing buddy Takao at the station, and as it was a very wet and grey day (the first rain they had experienced ... 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