Daibutsu Hall at Todaiji Temple

Autumn Leaves Season in Kyoto and Thanksgiving in Hiroshima

---

November 23rd 2009
The Shinkansen ride from Tokyo to Kyoto was fun. It's an incredibly smooth ride considering you're on a train reaching speeds of up to 180 mph. It happened to be a gorgeous day and from my window seat I watched town after town blur by. At one point I looked up from the book I was reading to see Mount Fuji, seemingly so close, snowcapped and surrounded by blue skies. In just a few quick hours I ... 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