Bitchu Takahashi castle - highest, and one of the original intact castles in Japan

It's cold, everywhere - from the Shimanami cycle way to provincial Hokkaido

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March 10th 2017
Toyocho station, our neighbourhood train line, was the start of the southern leg of the trip. Dragging my backpack/ roller bag over manicured and paved streets was a noisy exercise, and P2 carting strongly by back, we had generous transition times for the Otemachi connection to hectic Tokyo station. The facially masked brigade swarmed past us by Mama-san bike, curious glances, or generally ... read more

Asia » Japan » Hiroshima » Onomichi

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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