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Kyoto - A Glimpse into Japan's Past

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March 31st 2012
Before I first arrived in Japan, I had a vague idea of what I expected to see. Based on the few books and films that I had read/seen, I (perhaps naively) expected to see temples filled with Buddhist monks and geishas walking the streets dressed in kimonos and serving tea. Needless to say, Japan as a whole is nothing like that; but Kyoto is something totally different. As I soon discovered, Kyot ... read more

Asia » Japan » Kyoto » 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