As well as an Introduction to the Trans-Siberian Railway, I have already discussed the Trans-Siberian railway proper, which is the Moscow-Vladivostok route, and the Trans-Mongolian alternative, more popular with the tourists, that goes via Mongolia to Beijing.
The third and final alternative for crossing Eurasia is the Trans-Manchurian route from Moscow to Beijing. This train, known [...]
Tags: Asia · China · Europe · Japan · Russia · Trains
In my Introduction to the Trans-Siberian Railway, I spoke of the three possible routes that can be taken. Today I want to focus on the Moscow – Vladivostok route.
It is the Moscow to Vladivostok route that is the Trans-Siberian Railway proper, as opposed to the two other trans-Eurasian routes that end up in Beijing. The [...]
Tags: Asia · Europe · Japan · Russia · Trains
The original idea to build a Trans-Siberian Railway, in order to connect the then capital of Russia, St Petersburg, with Vladivostok and the Pacific, was first approved by Czar Alexander III in 1891. Vladivostok had been founded in 1860, fulfilling Russia’s long standing desire for a Pacific port, and by 1880 it had rapidly grown [...]
Tags: Asia · China · Europe · Japan · Russia · Trains
With its beautiful landscapes, its many temples, shrines and gardens, its fabulous shopping, and excellent nightlife, Japan is a wonderful place to visit. Yet, unfortunately, Japan is hardly renowned as a destination for budget travellers. However, here’s a tip that may just put Japan a little more within your grasp - the Japan Rail Pass, [...]
Once the capital of Japan, Kyoto came to prominence internationally in 1997, when the city hosted the conference that resulted in the Kyoto protocol.
Kyoto has long been popular with tourists, both within and from outside Japan, due to its abundance of quintessential Japanese sights, such as its numerous Buddhist temples, including The Golden [...]
