Japan

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    Inuyama a Japanese History Book

    Inuyama a Japanese History Book

    Strolling by the Kiso River that runs through Inuyama a small town in Japan I paused to watch some cormorants drying their wings in the sun. Safe in the knowledge they would not be working that night as the cormorant fishing season was over they looked relaxed and content. I was on my way to the…

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    Boats and Bamboo in Arashiyama, a district of Kyoto in Japan

    Boats and Bamboo in Arashiyama, a district of Kyoto in Japan

    Arashiyama is a district of Kyoto and has been a popular destination since the nobles of the Heian Period (794-1185) would go there. Sprawling along the foot of the Arashiyama Mountains or Storm Mountains it enjoys a natural setting. It is renowned for its cherry blossom in the spring and foliage…

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    Uji, the Green Tea Capital of Japan

    Uji, the Green Tea Capital of Japan

    Green tea may have originated from China but it is the Japanese who have embraced it wholeheartedly. And where better to take part in a tea ceremony than Uji, the place where it all started? But this little city has more to offer than just tea ...

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    Shinjuku - A Tokyo Suburb in Bloom

    Shinjuku - A Tokyo Suburb in Bloom

    Shinjuku, a suburb of Tokyo, is home to both the busiest railway station in the world and one of Japan’s prettiest parks, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. I loved the contrast between the two - once I had worked out which exit I needed from the huge station complex. The Southern Terrace is an open…

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    My Favourite Places in Kyoto, Japan

    My Favourite Places in Kyoto, Japan

    Kyoto has so much to offer it is a must for anyone visiting Japan. It was once the home of the Emperor. It is the site of over two thousand Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines of which seventeen are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Naturally, such a famous town attracts crowds but it is easy to…

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    Nagoya and a Museum that Spins a Good Yarn

    Nagoya and a Museum that Spins a Good Yarn

    Initially I was overwhelmed by the ultra-modern Japanese city of Nagoya. Steel structures and impersonal sky scrapers everywhere. The only high-rise block that did not advertise its name in giant letters on the top was our hotel. I kept getting lost ...

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    Minato, a Tokyo Time Capsule

    Minato, a Tokyo Time Capsule

    On a clear day you can see Mount Fuji from the top of the Tokyo Tower. So, I was delighted to discover that the tower was just five minutes walk from my hotel, Shiba Park Hotel. When I arrived and found I was staying in Minato I was disappointed as I missed the fast past of the central suburbs. …

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    At Peace in a Park in Hiroshima

    At Peace in a Park in Hiroshima

    Stepping off the tram at the Peace Park in Hiroshima I had no idea what to expect, or even, why I was there. I was immediately struck by the stark reality of the disaster that struck the city on seeing the Atomic Dome (Genbaku Dome) with its shredded dome ...

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    Miyajima Island – Molluscs and Momiji Manju

    Miyajima Island – Molluscs and Momiji Manju

    There was an air of anticipation as we crossed the narrow channel of water between Hiroshima port and Miyajima Island. Everyone was craning their necks for the first view of the torii gate of the famous "Itsukushima shrine. A veil of mist draping the island enhanced the moment as we drew closer…

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    Matsumoto - A Taste of Traditional Japan

    Matsumoto - A Taste of Traditional Japan

    Matsumoto, in Japan, is a beautiful blend of ancient and modern. Strolling down the modern main streets I realised something was missing. The street lighting is not fuelled by an intricate web of overhead power lines as they are in every other city I had visited ...