My view

Always have a back-up plan

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September 25th 2006
Day 2: On Saturday I was planning on going to some of the other major temples in Kyoto, like Nijo, but the huge crowds of foreign and Japanese tourists kind of put me off. Instead I decided to hop a train to Kameoke and then take a boat cruise down the Hozugawa river to Arashiyama (another good site for temples). After stepping off the train in Kameoke, I consulted my guide book, quickly re ... read more

Asia » Japan » Kyoto

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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