 Most viewed - Higashi-Omi 東近江市 |
San-mon Gate. Built in 1802. 三門1171 views
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585 views
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417 views
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Former home of Omi merchant Nakae Jungoro (中江 準五郎邸).365 views
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Inside Hondo temple hall, Eigenji362 views
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Living room of former home of Omi merchant Tonomura Shigeru.362 views
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Gokasho is famous for the grand, old homes of wealthy Omi merchants. Three of them are clustered together for us to visit inside. They are the former residences of Tonomura Uhee (外村 宇兵衛), Tonomura Shigeru (外村 繁), and Nakae Jungoro (中江 344 views
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Located in Higashi-Omi and established in 1361, Eigenji is a temple of the Zen Rinzai Buddhist Sect (Eigenji School) and well-known for fall colors with 3,000 maple trees. Touristy entrance to Eigenji. Map338 views
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336 views
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Hillside garden336 views
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Hina festival dolls. 雛祭りの雛人形328 views
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Although not part of the Koto Sanzan Temple Trio (all Tendai Buddhist temples), most visitors also visit Eigenji together with the Koto Sanzan temples. Accessible by bus taking 30-40 min. from Yokaichi Station on the Omi Railway Line or from Hyakusaiji. 322 views
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Yokaichi giant kite coming up.319 views
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Former home of Omi merchant Tonomura Shigeru (外村 繁邸). Map315 viewsTonomura Shigeru (外村 繁), Tonomura Uhee (外村 宇兵衛), and Nakae Jungoro (中江 準五郎)
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Room with Hina festival dolls and entrance to the Tonomura Shigeru Literature Museum. 雛祭りの雛人形314 views
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Hina festival dolls307 views
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Take off. On cue, the people pulling the kite start running and the kite starts to lift off. Also see the video at YouTube.300 views
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Held on May 4 by Sanposan Shrine in Higashi-Omi, Shiga Prefecture, Iba-no-saka-kudashi Matsuri has three portable shrines hauled down a steep mountain (Kinugasa-yama) for about 500 meters. 300 views
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Hina festival dolls. 雛祭りの雛人形299 views
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Hyakusaiji temple291 views
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My YouTube video of the Iba-no-saka-kudashi Matsuri.287 views
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During July-Aug. 2007, I helped to make the Yokaichi giant kite at the annex of the Yokaichi Giant Kite Museum.where the giant kite is made. Every three years, the giant kite, flown every May in Higashi-Omi, is replaced by a new kite bearing a new design.283 viewsThe new kite was made during July-Aug. 2007, taking about 30 days. The kite is made by volunteers from the public under the instruction of the Yokaichi Giant Kite Preservation Society. For the first time, I helped make this giant kite which was first flown successsfully on May 25, 2008 at the annual kite festival.
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271 views
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Eigenji Hondo temple hall. Built in 1765.267 views
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No wind. This flight lasted only about 30 sec. We ran about 50 meters, then the kite fell back to Earth. Also see the video at YouTube.265 views
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2nd floor with Hina festival dolls254 views
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Entrance Gate. This is where you pay admission. 総門251 views
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Yokaichi Odako giant kite Air borne243 views
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About the Iba Goten Palace. 伊庭御殿遺跡243 views
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Statue of Omi merchant peddler carrying his trademark "tenbin" pole.242 views
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Notogawa Station on JR Tokaido/Biwako Line. Beautifully designed station resembling a water wheel, the symbol of the town. East Exit. 能登川駅239 views
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Kite train or "rendako." These kites are pretty to watch. 連凧236 views
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Sutra Repository 経堂229 views
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Higher and higher...222 viewsIt went up to about ?? meters.
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222 views
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Notogawa giant water wheel in Higashi-Omi, Shiga. Map219 views
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Raising the kite. Long bamboo poles are used to prop the huge kite upward to meet the wind.218 views
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The Higashi-Omi Giant Kite Festival (Higashi-Omi Odako Matsuri) is held on the last Sunday of May at Fureai Undo Park (ふれあい運動公園) in Notogawa, HigashiOmi, Shiga. The main highlight is the giant kite, flying at 11:30 am and 2:30 pm.214 viewsMy video of the Higashi-Omi Giant Kite Festival on May 26, 2013. Due to a tragic kite crash in May 2015, this kite festival has been suspended since May 2016. It will not be held in May 2019 either.
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Echigawa River empties into Lake Biwa.213 views
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The Big One. The size is equivalent to 100 tatami mats or about 12 meters x 13 meters (156 square meters).212 views
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Located in Higashi-Omi and established by Shotoku Taishi in 609, Hyakusaiji temple is Shiga Prefecture's oldest temple and one of Japan's oldest. It belongs to the Tendai Buddhist Sect. Map212 viewsThe temple's terraced slope had many temple residences for hundreds of monks training here. National Historic Site
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Festival poster209 views
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Notogawa Station, West Exit, also designed as a water wheel. This is one of Shiga's best-designed train stations. Beautifully designed station resembling a water wheel, the symbol of the town.206 views
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Omi merchant statue.206 views
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Sutra Repository 経堂204 views
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Mini kite contest. Kite contestants show off their kite designs at their tents.202 views
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Eigenji Dam200 views
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Garden and former home of Omi merchant Nakae Jungoro (中江 準五郎邸).199 views
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I saw the Yokaichi Giant Kite Festival (Odako Matsuri) for the first time on May 23, 2004. The site is alongside the Echigawa River near the Yachiyo Bridge. A free shuttle bus from Yokaichi Station is provided, taking about 10 min. 198 views
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197 views
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On May 25, 2008 at the Yokaichi Giant Kite Festival, the new giant kite was flown for the first time. The wind conditions was good.192 views
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Inside Hondo temple hall191 views
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Inside hondo, Hyakusaiji191 views
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Former residence of Omi merchant Fujii Hikoshiro (1876-1956) (藤井 彦四郎邸). Now a history museum.190 views
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And lift off...188 views
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Hyakusaiji's Main temple hall (hondo). Important Cultural Property.188 views
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After the flight, we could see the kite up close. A sacred sakaki tree branch adorned the back of the kite. Also many paper stickers with people's wishes were pasted on the back.188 views
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OK, RUN NOW!! This is the most exciting part when we start running with the rope. It was like a stampede, and I let go after a few seconds to avoid getting runned over by the mob behind me.186 views
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Tarobo-gu is a shrine complex on a small mountain, featuring grand views of Yokaichi and a pair of Wedded Rocks. It is 1.1 km from Tarobogu-mae Station on the Ohmi Railway Line. The shrine's real name is Aga Jinja 阿賀神社. [url=http://goo.gl/map185 viewsMap of Tarobo-gu. You can drive up halfway up the mountain (called Mitsukuriyama 箕作山) which is 350 meters high. If you don't have a car, climb over 700 steps to reach the shrine's main hall.
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100 kite pullers182 views
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Entrance to former home of Omi merchant Tonomura Shigeru (外村 繁邸). Gokasho is also a National Important Traditional Townscape Preservation District (重要伝統的建造物群保存地区).182 views
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181 views
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Namako wall180 views
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May 27, 2007 was a bad day for giant kite flying in Yokaichi, as the giant kite crashes head-first into a bamboo grove on its first and last flight during the Yokaichi Giant Kite Festival.180 views
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Gokasho was home to many Omi merchants who plied up and down Japan during the Edo Period to sell and trade their wares. They became quite successful selling medicines, lacquerware, sake, etc.179 viewsWall of former home of Omi merchant Tonomura Shigeru (1902-1961) (外村 繁邸).
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179 views
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Garden and pond. This house has a nice garden.176 views
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It had rained the night before and in the morning. The ground would've been muddy, but they spread a layer of rocks to make the ground dry. It must have been hard to pull the kite and run on these rocks.176 views
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Symbol of Notogawa175 views
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Echibashi Bridge over Echi River. Nice views of the river can be had from this bridge.174 views
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Cycling path map in Notogawa, Higashi-Omi.173 views
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Giant Kite sake. The food and souvenir booths sold a variety of merchandise including this locally-brewed sake, complete with a label showing this year's kite design.172 views
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172 views
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Yokaichi Giant Kite Preservation Society. This is the group responsible for producing, maintaining, and flying the giant kite. 大凧保存会169 views
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169 views
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168 views
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Inside Hondo temple hall168 views
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Sagamihara kite team invited. Sagamihara city in Kanagawa Prefecture also has a giant kite festival, and they were invited to fly a smaller version of their kite at Yokaichi. (Yokaichi was also invited to Sagamihara's kite festival in April.)167 views
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Entrance to former home of Omi merchant Tonomura Shigeru.165 views
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Ready for flight164 views
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164 views
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164 views
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From the Ohmi Railways' Gokasho Station, you can walk to the Fujii Hikoshiro House (藤井 彦四郎邸), which is also a history museum, and to the modern Ohmi Merchant Museum (近江商人博物館).164 viewsOhmi Railways Gokasho Station 近江鉄道五箇所駅
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Bell tower and offertory box. In front of the temple hall. 鐘楼163 views
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163 views
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Autumn foilage greets you in Nov.162 views
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At slightly past noon with medium-force winds, the giant kite is launched. The kite immediately went straight up. The giant kite is 13 meters high and 12 meters wide, and weighs 700 kg.162 views
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Notogawa in Higashi-Omi is famous for its giant water wheel. Bike path to Notogawa, another area in Shiga with a good and scenic bike path.161 views
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161 views
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Bell tower 鐘楼158 views
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155 views
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Garden154 views
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Sagamihara kite in flight. Due to a lack of wind, this flight didn't last long.153 views
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150 views
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Tokonoma alcove and scroll150 views
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Launch pad. The kite is carried to the take off point and pointed toward the wind, which unfortunately very weak this day.149 views
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Hina festival dolls. 雛祭りの雛人形149 views
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Mini kite flying contest148 views
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148 views
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Carved paper147 views
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Old Yokaichi Station. My first picture of Yokaichi, before this old station was torn down in 1997. I had to change trains at Yokaichi Station on the Omi Railway Line and had time to step out and take this picture. 旧八日市駅146 viewsIt was a small station, but the wooden building looked quite charming. There was nothing in front of the station, just a large paved area. A far cry from what it looks like today. Power/telephone lines are also underground, making the streets look clean and attractive.
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Mt. Kinugasa (Kannonji)145 views
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View from 2nd floor145 views
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Woman's hairdressing room.142 views
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Former home of Omi merchant Tonomura Uhee (1777-1820) (外村 宇兵衛邸).142 views
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Hyakusaiji's Niomon Gate with giant straw sandals141 views
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Hina festival dolls. 雛祭りの雛人形141 views
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140 views
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External view of house140 views
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Banzai from Sagamihara. After the kite's flight, the Sagamihara team give a few banzais to themselves and to Yokaichi.139 views
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San-mon Gate139 views
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View from 2nd floor balcony139 views
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Crowds138 views
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Stringing the kite138 views
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138 views
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Cycling and pedestrian path in red in Notogawa, Higashi-Omi.138 views
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Furo bath wirth wooden barrel (heated by firewood)138 views
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2nd floor room138 views
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Kite corner137 views
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Mini kite flying contest. The flying portion of the kite contest is held.137 views
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Attic137 views
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Tokonoma alcove with scroll.137 views
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Kite pullers wanted. This booth, next to the giant kite, is where you can apply to pull the kite. Anybody can apply to pull the giant kite. I applied and got a little kite pin and a pair of gloves.136 views
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The two main areas are the hillside garden and the main worship hall. Most people visit the garden before climbing up the stone steps to the main worship hall. This is the long route to the temple. The tour buses go up to a closer gate.136 views
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Tonomura Shigeru Literature Museum (Bungakukan). Shigeru had a passion for writing, so he entrusted the family business to his younger brother. 外村 繁文学館136 views
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136 views
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Snapped part being repaired.135 views
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Ready for another flight135 views
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135 views
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Stone lantern in garden135 views
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Also see kite-flying contests, exotic kites from around Japan, and stage entertainment. Anybody can fly a kite too. From 10 am to 3 pm. 135 views
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134 views
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134 views
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Poster for dragon canoe race in June134 views
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Cycling and pedestrian path in Notogawa, Higashi-Omi.134 views
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134 views
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Cycling path in Notogawa, Higashi-Omi.133 views
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133 views
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133 views
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Hina festival dolls. 雛祭りの雛人形133 views
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Best to see my Shotoku Matsuri Youtube video to hear the songs and see the dance.133 viewsHeld near Yokaichi Station in summer, the Yokaichi Shotoku Matsuri is a bon dance featuring Shiga's native Goshu Ondo folk song. 八日市聖徳まつり・江州音頭総おどり
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People's fortune stickers on the kite. 願い札132 views
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2nd floor balcony (Watch your head).131 views
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Entrance to former home of Omi merchant Tonomura Uhee.131 views
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Canoe Land129 views
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Picture of Tonomura Shigeru in the Literature Museum (Bungakukan). 外村 繁文学館129 views
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Uses a water wheel to grind rice.128 views
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Shopfront with shopkeeper's desk.128 views
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Autumn leaves. In its heyday, Hyakusaiji was home to 1,300 priests, before the temple was burned by Oda Nobunaga.127 views
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Kitchen area127 views
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Bonsai plum and pine trees127 views
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126 views
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125 views
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124 views
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124 views
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Kitchen area with dirt floor.124 views
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Path to next Omi merchant home.124 views
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Cycling and pedestrian path in Notogawa, Higashi-Omi.123 views
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123 views
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2nd floor with more Hina dolls.123 views
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2nd floor room looking toward the balcony.123 views
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122 views
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Former home of Omi merchant Nakae Jungoro (中江 準五郎邸).122 views
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Cycling path in Notogawa, Higashi-Omi.121 views
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Hina festival dolls in alcove.121 views
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Road to Mt. Kinugasa.121 views
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Iki-ikikan-mae bus stop for JR Notogawa Station.121 views
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120 views
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2nd floor balcony120 views
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120 views
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Living room120 views
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120 views
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Turn left there.119 views
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Inside former home of Omi merchant Tonomura Uhee.119 views
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Bonsai119 views
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Former home of Omi merchant Nakae Jungoro (中江 準五郎邸).119 views
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118 views
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2nd floor room with Hina festival dolls. 雛祭りの雛人形118 views
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Hinamatsuri dolls118 views
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Inside former home of Omi merchant Tonomura Uhee. 玄関118 views
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Obata doll museum118 views
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Window118 views
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Inside the bus for Notogawa Station, about 15 min. ride.118 views
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117 views
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117 views
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Garden117 views
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116 views
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Almost finished. This paper cutting step took 3 days to complete.116 views
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Inside Notogawa Station. The waterwheel structure houses a stairway and escalator.116 views
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115 views
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Shopkeeper's desk.115 views
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115 views
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The hillside garden gives a good view of Lake Biwa. The main temple hall worships an 11-faced Kannon statue carved by Shotoku Taishi. Admission 500 yen.114 views
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Way to the third Omi merchant house.114 views
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Cycling and pedestrian path in Notogawa, Higashi-Omi.113 views
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113 views
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Changing room next to bath.113 views
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External view113 views
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Stairs to 2nd floor.113 views
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Entrance to home of Omi merchant Nakae Jungoro (中江 準五郎邸).113 views
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Bonsai plum trees112 views
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External view112 views
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Stairway112 views
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Old mail box.111 views
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110 views
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Garden110 views
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Niomon Gate109 views
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Entrance to home of Omi merchant Nakae Jungoro (中江 準五郎邸).109 views
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Corridor109 views
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Omi Obata Deko dolls109 views
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Attic, mainly for storage.108 views
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Showcase108 views
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Rickshaws108 views
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Dolls108 views
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Shopkeeper's record book.107 views
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107 views
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Entrance for tour bus passengers and car owners. This is the short-cut way to the temple.106 views
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106 views
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More steps106 views
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Inside the home of Omi merchant Nakae Jungoro (中江 準五郎邸).106 views
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Bonsai106 views
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Hyakusaiji temple Garden105 views
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Shopkeeper's record book.105 views
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Ohmi Railways Yokaichi Station. A modern ferro-concrete building was completed in June 1998 to replace the old wooden building.105 views
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Attic and ceiling104 views
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103 views
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103 views
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See the paper flaps pasted over the edge.102 views
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This kite's hanjimon has twin dragons that can be pronounced "shin-shin" (辰辰), a homonym for mind and body (心身). And the vermillion kanji reads "sukoyaka" (健やか), meaning good health. So the kite wishes for your "102 views
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View from top. Hazy weather made it difficult to see the scenery.101 views
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You can hike up the hillside garden.100 views
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It flew very high, up to about 150 meters, then veered to the right, over our heads.100 views
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Landmarks seen from hilltop (on clear days)98 views
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Steps to main temple98 views
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97 views
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97 views
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View from Tarobogu.96 views
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View of the bottom torii of Sanposan Shrine (繖峰三神社) on Kinugasa-yama (繖山) 432 meters high. (As seen from the train on the JR Tokaido Line. This torii is 15-min. walk from JR Notogawa Station. 繖峰三神社)96 views
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95 views
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The new kite design was then announced. Called Han-jimon (判じもん), the design expresses a certain theme using word play with a pair of animals and one or two kanji characters. 八日市大凧は３年に一度図柄を変える。95 views
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The four Wind Goddesses pose for us. The four Wind Goddesses (風の女神) are like festival princesses and they beckon the wind to blow during the kite festival.94 views
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