Photo Album: Tokyo, Japan

As prime minister of Japan, Junichiro Koizumi made a number of official visits to Yasukuni Shrine. After all, the shrine honors those who fought and died for Japan, and what better way for the country’s leader to honor the sacrifices of previous generations?

My friends and I walked to the streetcar terminus, certain of which trolley to board. An agent approached us to help; he didn’t speak English, and we didn’t speak Japanese.

In many ways, the tranquil 15-minute ferry ride is indicative of what lies ahead. The island of Itsukushima, popularly known as Miyajima, is like a step back in time with its dirt roads and wildlife roaming through the city’s streets.