Cherry blossoms Shanghai

Kobe, beautiful Japan

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April 12th 2018
We have arrived in beautiful Japan early morning to the sounds of a welcoming brass band and young children singing a Japanese welcome. The Japanese customs however were not so welcoming! They wanted everyone ashore, off the ship whether they were going on a shore excursion or not so that took ages, lucky we had a trip ashore planned and got through a little quicker, but they were most precise ... 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