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A Slow Day in Shibuya, Tokyo

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 Shibuya is a major commercial and cultural district in Shibuya City, one of Tokyo’s 23 special wards. Centered around Shibuya Station, the area is best known for Shibuya Scramble Crossing and its busy streets, fashion stores, restaurants, cafes and entertainment venues. Large shopping complexes stand alongside smaller side streets, making Shibuya a popular place to experience the energy of modern Tokyo. I visited Shibuya with my family in September. The sky was grey, and a light rain was falling as a storm approached Tokyo. The weather made the city feel a little gloomy, but the streets around Shibuya Crossing had a very different energy. People kept moving through the rain, and the area stayed busy. Shibuya Crossing beneath a grey September sky. A busy street of signs, shops and passing pedestrians. I spent almost a full day there. I had no detailed plan and was not looking to spend much time shopping. I simply walked around the famous crossing and the nearby side streets. Along ...
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Tokyo DisneySea: A Day in a Crowded World of Fantasy

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 I visited Tokyo DisneySea mainly because I wanted the kids to have a fun day out. Personally, I've never been particularly enthusiastic about theme parks, especially the idea of standing in line for hours for a ride that might last only a few minutes. Still, Tokyo DisneySea is one of Japan's most famous theme parks, and I thought it was a place worth experiencing at least once with the family. A first glimpse of Tokyo DisneySea, where a grand sailing ship, waterfront buildings, and Mount Prometheus bring an imaginary world to life. Located within Tokyo Disney Resort in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, just outside Tokyo, DisneySea opened in 2001 and is the only Disney park in the world inspired by stories and legends of the sea. Unlike Tokyo Disneyland, DisneySea features eight themed areas, each designed as a different world, from Mediterranean harbors and early 20th-century American streets to the fantasy settings of Arabian Coast and Fantasy Springs. The park combines attractions...
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Location: 1-13 Maihama, Urayasu, Chiba 279-8511, Japan
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Songpan Ancient Town: Where Sichuan Meets the Tibetan Plateau

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 Songpan Ancient Town also known historically as Songzhou, is a walled town in northern Sichuan, China, on the route to Jiuzhaigou Valley and Huanglong Scenic Area. Established as a frontier stronghold during the Tang Dynasty and fortified during the Ming Dynasty, Songpan guarded an important passage between inland China and the Tibetan Plateau. It also became a trading stop on the ancient Tea Horse Road, where Tibetan, Qiang, Hui and Han communities exchanged goods and traditions. Today, its old city gates, stone walls and streets reveal layers of history within an active mountain town. For travelers visiting Jiuzhaigou or Huanglong, Songpan offers a closer look at the region’s cultural past.   The stone city gate of Songpan, still bearing the historic name Songzhou, stands beneath a bright September sky. Songpan Ancient Town in Sichuan, China, was one of the stops on my way to Jiuzhaigou Valley. It was a very short stop, just 30 minutes. Yet, this little visit was far from f...
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Location: Songpan County, Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, China
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