The mountain train track winds tightly as it hugs the mountains.

We ride the Shinkansen to Osaka

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November 22nd 2014
Today we ride a series of six trains down off the mountain and across Japan to Osaka. An early start got us onto the first cablecar down to Gora, we were the only passengers. We purchased tickets for Odawara and almost immediately stepped on to the virtually empty mountain train. This has to be one of the most spectacular train rides ever with bridges over ravines, three switchbacks and nine tunne ... read more

Asia » Japan » Osaka » Osaka

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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