Toshogu Shrine Pagoda

The whole place exudes the mystery of a long-forgotten world, something you feel more in the quiet nearby temples that few people go to.

Toshogu Shrine Detail

The level of detail is incredible, which is why it's so famous.

Toshogu Shrine Visitors

That's not to say some of the other tourists aren't just as attractive.

Toshogu Shrine

The holiday also took me to Nikko, where I went with Glen. The gorgeous Toshogu shrine was incredibly photogenic!

Toyland

Here is a picture from Tobu World Square, which I recently visited with my mate Glen. Getting into the spirit of the place, you enter not only a toyland, but a very Japanese view of the world, open to other cultures and sights. Perhaps a bit stereotypical a view of the various places, but retaining their aesthetic charm nonetheless. It's kind of nice to see them as merely places to see, rather than real places with problems as we tend to get told they are through the news services. There's no terrorism, wars, or grinding poverty in toyland, though there is an attenpt to portray something of the latter in the New York exhibit.