10 Timelines That Will Change Your Perception of Japanese History

The popular view of Japanese history is that it went Samurai-Guns-Nintendo. There were a few notable things that happened before, after, or in between those things, but that’s the gist of it. The truth, however, is much more complicated and a little mind-bending.

10.
Japan’s Imperial Family Was Founded Around the Same Time as the Death of King Arthur

Other countries have royal dynasties, like the Windsors or the Habsburgs. But in Japan, the Imperial Family has no surname because there’s only ever been one, unbroken line sitting on the Chrysanthemum Throne. The first historically-verified Japanese monarch was Emperor Kinmei, who ascended back in 539. According to the 10th-century Annales Cambriae, that’s around the same time King Arthur perished during the Battle of Camlann.

Samurai in battle in the 16th century (Source: Wikicommons)

9.
The First Samurai Death by Gunfire Occurred Before Helsinki Existed

Although the samurai are synonymous

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Expect big crowds for the summer travel season — and big prices, too

The unofficial start of the summer travel season is here, with airlines hoping to avoid the chaos of last year and travelers scrounging for ways to save a few bucks on pricey airfares and hotel rooms.

Some travelers say they will settle for fewer trips than they hoped to take, or they will drive instead of fly. Others are finding different money-saving sacrifices.

Stephanie Hanrahan thought she’d save money by planning ahead for her daughter’s birthday trip to Disney World in Florida. Instead, it ended up costing the same as the Dallas-area family’s trip for four to California last summer, so now her husband and son are staying home.

“We just had to grit our teeth,” said Hanrahan, a writer and speaker who also runs a nonprofit, as she and daughter Campbell waited for their flight last week at Dallas Love Field.

The number of people going through US airports

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Government Pilots Travel Assistance Program for Surgical Patients

Some Nova Scotians who need to go to other parts of the province for surgery will soon have support for travel and accommodation.

A new pilot program will reduce out-of-pocket costs for eligible, lower-income patients who have to travel within the province for scheduled surgery, or endoscopy or cystoscopy procedures, including for the day of their surgery/procedure and some related appointments. It may also help some patients get their surgery or procedure more quickly if they can travel to a site with a shorter wait time.

“Some surgeries and procedures mean Nova Scotians have to travel quite a distance from home and sometimes stay overnight to be closer to the hospital and those costs can add up,” said Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson. “This pilot program will ensure patients pay less for travel and accommodation to get the surgeries or procedures they need.”

The pilot program will begin Thursday,

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Tokyo Islands: Bringing Together the Islands of Tokyo

When most people think about Tokyo, they envision the hustle and bustle of the Shibuya Scramble Crossing, the neon lights of Akihabara, or the towering skyscrapers of Shinjuku. But Tokyo is so much more than the mainland metropolis that first springs to mind, and its reach stretches to incorporate far more than you might think, surprising even long-term residents of the capital.

Some of these lesser-known locations that fall within the bounds of Tokyo are the Izu and Ogasawara Islands. This archipelago, often collectively referred to as the Tokyo Islands, incredibly consists of over 200 individual islands of varying sizes, many of which feature scenery that rivals even the more famous tropical locations of southern prefectures such as Okinawa.

Being completely disconnected from mainland Japan, the Tokyo Islands are home to their own range of nature, wildlife and even weather that is unique to each location. This includes Miyakejima, an

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Memorial Day weekend travel to be extra busy this year

Travelers walk through security at the Salt Lake City International Airport in Salt Lake City on Friday, May 19, 2023.

Travelers walk through security at the Salt Lake City International Airport in Salt Lake City on Friday, May 19, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News

Just getting back to pre-pandemic volumes is no longer the metric of reference as holiday travel over the upcoming Memorial Day weekend is projected to blow by those numbers and could come in as one of the busiest since 2000 for the traditional start to the summer travel seasons.

And while both gas prices and airline fares are down from recent peaks, travel this Memorial Day weekend, regardless of chosen mode, is going to be significantly more expensive than before COVID-19 hit. And, industry experts are projecting Memorial Day 2023 will see some of the highest travel volumes since 2000.

AAA travel in partnership with S&P Global released an analysis last month that estimates over 42 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from

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28 Best Places to See Hydrangeas in Japan

Ajisai or Japanese hydrangeas, which bloom during Japan’s humid rainy season, have a long-standing history in this country and are loved by people of all generations. Here is a list of breathtaking spots for hydrangea viewing all over Japan.

Tokyo

Photo by zu_kuni via Shutterstock

1.
Hakusan Shrine

Located in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Hakusan Shrine holds an annual hydrangea festival, called the Ajisai Matsuri. It’s only a few minutes away from the Tokyo Metro Hakusan Station. Visitors can also enjoy various Japanese festival treats sold on roadside food carts.

2.
Takahata Fudoson Congoji Temple

Takahata Fudoson Kongoji Temple is in Hino, Tokyo and is one of the three famous Fudo temples in the Kanto region. There are around 7,500 hydrangeas of 200 types. It is located beside a mountain where you can go for a little hike.

Kanagawa

Photo by dokosola via Shutterstock

3.
Enoshima Shrine

Enoshima Shrine, where the

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Direxion Daily Travel & Vacation Bull 2X Shares (NYSEARCA:OOTO) Shares Sold by IFP Advisors Inc

IFP Advisors Inc decreased its position in shares of Direxion Daily Travel & Vacation Bull 2X Shares (NYSEARCA:OOTO – Get Rating) by 76.9% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 4,350 shares of the company’s stock after selling 14,520 shares during the quarter. IFP Advisors Inc’s holdings in Direxion Daily Travel & Vacation Bull 2X Shares were worth $109,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Separately, Jane Street Group LLC increased its stake in Director Daily Travel & Vacation Bull 2X Shares by 95.1% during the second quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 61,004 shares of the company’s stock worth $543,000 after purchasing an additional 29,730 shares during the period.

Direction Daily Travel & Vacation Bull 2X Shares Price Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA:OOTO opened at $11.65 on Monday. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $12.06 and its two-hundred day moving average is $11.94. Direxion Daily

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