 Most viewed - Otsu 大津市 |
Another group arrive and position themselves at another mikoshi.111 views
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Tendai Zasu Abbot 天台座主111 views
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Site where Saint Shinsei trained at Enryakuji.111 views
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Konpon Nyoho-to pagoda111 views
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About St. Shinran111 views
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Yokawa Chudo Hall111 views
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About Eshin-do temple 111 views
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Plum blossoms.111 views
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Early-blooming cherry blossoms.111 views
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In fall111 views
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Sotokairo corridor (外廻廊), Jinpu-Juyosho shop selling souvenirs (神符授与所), and Rōmon Gate (楼門)110 views
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Mt. Mikami in the distance.110 views
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The accident occurred on April 6, 1941. The boys from Kanazawa were students at the No. 4 High School 第四高等学校 which today is Kanazawa University. The sad incident spurred Okuno to create this song.110 views
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Chimaki were also sold for 500 yen. Chimaki is a small bundle of straw wrapped with paper. They throw these from the floats during the procession on the second day of the festival.110 views
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On with the procession.110 views
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Sign says, "Throw us chimaki!"110 views
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The third float is Genji-yama. 源氏山／中京町110 views
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Trojan War tapestry110 views
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The rock is cracked open, and the lady changes into a fox.110 views
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Biwako Hall, Shiga's most modern concert hall. This area is also reclaimed land.110 views
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Tsubaki-do Hall.110 views
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Buddha's giant footprints.110 views
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Site where St. Honen trained at Enryakuji. Right next to Shaka-do.110 views
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Konpon Nyoho-to pagoda110 views
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Yokawa Chudo Hall balcony110 views
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Grave110 views
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The Enryakuji shuttle bus runs every day between the cable car station, Toto, Saito, and Yokawa during March 21 to Nov. 30 from 10 am to 4:30 pm. They don't run that often so check the bus times.110 views
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Bell tower 鐘楼110 views
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In fall.110 views
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Memorials next to Tahoto dedicated to Minamoto Yoritomo and Kamegayatsu. 源頼朝 亀ケ谷禅尼110 views
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The orange boat. On the left at the ear is the cox, the middle are four rowers, and at the front of the boat is one extra person who can rest and enjoy the ride.109 views
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The junior category team receive their medals and CDs.109 views
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Biwako Ohashi Kome Plaza facing the lake. It also has a lookout deck on the 2nd floor.109 views
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Biwako Ohashi as seen from the lookout deck on the 2nd floor. The bridge makes it almost 50 min. faster to go to the other side of the lake.109 views
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Back of Niomon Gate.109 views
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Saigyo Sakura Tanuki-yama float is associated with the tanuki (raccoon dog) mask worn by salt vendor (shiouri) Jihei who started the festival.109 views
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Also on display in the house was this folding screen.109 views
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It was in 1638 when the tri-wheel hikiyama floats started to be constructed for the festival. As Otsu prospered, more floats were built until 1776 when the last Otsu Matsuri float (Gekkyuden-zan) was built.109 views
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Ornate, carved ceiling.109 views
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Biwako motorboat race in Otsu.109 views
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The first group start to violently rock the mikoshi back and forth.109 views
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In winter. The Omido Hall is on the left, and Bishamon-do on the right.109 views
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Japanese garden109 views
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Water intake for Lake Biwa Canal No. 1108 views
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Three boats are used for the trip, sighted here off shore near JR Hira Station on the Kosei Line. 湖西線比良駅の沖108 views
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Carrying the boat to water.108 views
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Rinsing the shell with fresh water.108 views
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Gate to Gichuji. MAP108 views
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Road to Gichuji (gate on left)108 views
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Notice the gold carvings on the ceiling.108 views
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Float's front wheel, made of wood. The floats creek as they move.108 views
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A chimaki supposed to ward off bad luck, so we all want to catch one. You hang it above an entrance or under the eaves.108 views
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The crowd wait for chimaki to be thrown. This is something even Kyoto's Gion Matsuri does not do. (They used to do it.)108 views
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From noon to 1:45 pm, the floats gathered here on Chuo Odori, a wide road leading to Otsu Station. It was a lunch break and a chance for us to look at the floats up close.108 views
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Sake is poured from a keg for the Shojo to drink.108 views
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Beautiful painted ceiling.108 views
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Wheel stopper108 views
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The tea is offered to each of the four mikoshi which had been brought down from Mt. Hachioji the night before. The tea is said to bring safe childbirths.108 views
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Hi kids!108 views
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Evidence of how close Shinto and Buddhism were in past centuries in Japan.108 views
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Sanno-sai Festival, Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine, Otsu, Shiga Prefecture108 views
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Grounds of Sakamoto Castle site (Honmaru) on the lake shore.108 views
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Thank you for coming to worship. From here, I caught a shuttle bus back to the Enryakuji cable car station.108 views
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Torii at night in autumn. Hiyoshi literally means "Good Day" or "Fortunate Day." People pray here to have a good day. Having a good day every day leads to a good life. Taisha means "grand shrine."108 views
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One-yen coins are stuffed into the cracks of the stone.108 views
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Wash basin in the cafeteria.108 views
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Second site of the Otsu Palace at Nishikori. MAP108 views
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Karasaki Shrine has numerous pine trees, including the famous century-old pine tree.107 views
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Water intake for Lake Biwa Canal No. 2107 views
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Lake Biwa Canal Museum at bottom of Keage Incline107 viewsThe museum opened in 1996.
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The place was not as crowded as you would think.107 views
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Most people were oblivious to the boats.107 views
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Notice the rudder. Controlled by a pair of strings held by the cox.107 views
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Inside 豊浄院 is more Genji-related exhibits.107 views
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Karakuri dolls from Gekkyuden-zan float.107 views
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At various spots along the procession route, each float stops to perform the karakuri puppets.107 views
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This is another spot where the karakuri dolls perform.107 views
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On the left is Jogyo-do Hall.107 views
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If you're a woman and sit on the rock under the Sutra Repository, you"re supposed be able to give birth safely. So don't be surprised to see a woman sitting under the building.107 views
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View of fall leaves below Hondo Hall 本堂107 views
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Podium in the Study Room.107 views
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Along the way from Omi Jingu-mae Station to Omi Jingu Shrine, there are two sites of the old Omi-Otsu Palace built when Japan's capital was located here in 667. 近江大津宮錦織遺跡 MAP107 views
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Mt. Mikami + Pine Tree at Karasaki.106 views
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She is the cox sitting at the rear and controlling the rudder with a pair of strings. コックス106 views
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Okinado Hall 翁堂106 views
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Karakuri dolls from the Kakkyo-yama float.106 views
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Alright! I caught one! No more bad luck and misfortune to me!! It might make me immune to black cats always crossing my path. The chimaki lasts for one year after which you supposed to return it to the shrine to be burned during the Dondo-yaki Festival.106 views
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Musicians chime in.106 views
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Must be a great view from the window.106 views
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So let me introduce all the thirteen floats of the Otsu Matsuri.106 views
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Lady Murasaki write Tale of Genji as these little figurines circle around her.106 views
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The tapestry on the back is said to been made in Flanders, Begium in the 17th century.106 views
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This red-haired Chinese lion comes out of a rock on Mt. Tiantaishan in China and jumps and spins all around amid peony flowers. Quite comical.106 views
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These photos were taken on April 13-14, 2009. I still have to see the other ceremonies.106 views
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The Flower Procession ends at the Yomiya-jo where they bless the child in front of the mikoshi. This Flower Procession ceremony costs the proud, doting parents big bucks.106 views
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Sacred Rock for the monkey spirit. 猿の霊石106 views
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Omi Jingu Shrine's Rōmon Gate (楼門)106 views
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Karasaki Pine Tree was still healthy and deep green in 2004.105 views
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Univ. of Tokyo alumni crew in light blue T-shirts105 views
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The boat is pencil-thin.105 views
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Legend of Seta Karahashi Bridge about Fujiwara Hidesato who killed the giant centipede on Mt. Mikami.105 views
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Karakuri puppet from the Genji-yama float. This is Lady Murasaki writing The Tale of Genji. 2008 is a special year for this float because of the novel's 1000th anniversary. 源氏山105 views
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The floats gathered at Chuo-dori one after another.105 views
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Parading on Chuo Odori road. 105 views
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Shrine priest on horseback.105 views
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The karakuri shows a hermit emerging from the flowers and talking with Priest Saigyo.105 views
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The float has much Chinese influence in its artwork.105 views
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The sixth float is Nishinomiya Ebisu-yama. 西宮蛭子山／白玉町105 views
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The tenth float was Kakkyo-yama, originally built in 1693. 郭巨山／後在家町・下小唐崎町105 views
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The eleventh float was Sesshoseki-zan, originally built in 1673. 殺生石山／柳町105 views
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Kakkyo (Guo Ju in Chinese) was one of the 24 Chinese filial exemplars.105 views
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A young court lady who was actually a fox aiming to kill the Emperor was turned into a rock by this priest.105 views
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No. 1 Tunnel entrance. The first and longest tunnel under a mountain. The entrance is very artistic.105 views
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The Tendai Abbot chants a sutra in front of the Honden at Nishi Hongu. 読経105 views
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More bowing between priests.105 views
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Bell tower 105 views
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Statue of Nichiren at Joko-in temple.105 views
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Directly behind the Haiden is the Nishi Hongu Honden Hall105 views
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Sacred Monkey. The monkey is the shrine god's messenger.105 views
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Sign explaining the Natural Monument.105 views
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About the Tahoto105 views
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About the memorials.105 views
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Sutra Repository 経蔵105 views
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Ishiyama-dera also has a grove of plum blossoms which bloom in Feb.105 views
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Naihaiden Hall (Inner Haiden 内拝殿)104 views
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The orange boat decided to go ashore where it was less crowded.104 views
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The boats are stored outside since there is no room inside the boathouse which stores the most expensive boats.104 views
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The beautiful 15-page program included an ad for the Lake Biwa Rowing Song CD.104 views
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Painting of a scene from Tale of Genji on square paper.104 views
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Saigyo Sakura Tanuki-yama float with musicians playing on the bridge. 西行桜狸山104 views
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The crowd desperate to catch a chimaki. People tend to push and shove, and fight for one.104 views
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After the lunch break, the floats geared up to move on. This is the Genji-yama float with banners declaring the Millennium anniversary of Tale of Genji.104 views
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The eighth float is Gekkyuden-zan. 月宮殿山／上京町104 views
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Family portrait with the chigo child.104 views
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April 13 climaxes in the evening with the Yomiya Otoshi Ceremony starting with a torch procession around the streets near Hiyoshi Taisha from 6 pm.104 views
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The fun is not over until they start to carry the mikoshi out of the Yomiya-jo. They run with the mikoshi and make it very dramatic (and dangerous if you're in their way).104 views
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Interesting to see Buddhist priests chanting Buddhist sutras in front of a Shinto shrine.104 views
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The Tendai Abbot leaving Nishi Hongu.104 views
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Hiyoshi Taisha's tea field, Japan's oldest.104 viewsDuring the latter half of November, Hiyoshi Taisha has 3,000 maple trees lit up at night 5:00 pm–8:30 pm. Even the green leaves look great against the dark sky. Info in Japanese:
http://hiyoshitaisha.jp/event/momiji/
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It is actually a boat dock on Lake Biwa.104 views
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Sacred Monkey cage on left and Sacred Horse on the right (dummy horse).104 views
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Plum blossoms104 views
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Uminoko is 65 meters long, 12 meters wide, and 20 meters high. It weighs 928 tons and can carry 240 people. It can cruise up to 8 or 9 knots. Hitachi Zosen built the boat in pieces in Kanagawa Prefecture which were then trucked to Lake Biwa and assembled.104 views
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The two Biwako Otsu Tourist Ambassadors for 2010. びわ湖大津観光大使：井上まどか、永田めぐみ104 views
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Near the first Otsu Palace site is this second site of the Otsu Palace's main building when Otsu was Japan's capital for 5 years from 667. Now an open space. 近江大津宮錦織遺跡104 views
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Second site of the Otsu Palace at Nishikori is a National Historic Site called Omi-Otsu-no-Miya Nishikori Iseki.104 views
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Seiobo is the Chinese goddess Xi Wangmu living on the mythological Kunlun Mountain. She danced for Emperor Wu of Han who desired longevity. She gave him a longevity peach.104 views
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Lake Biwa Canal Museum103 viewsModel of Keage Incline.
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Bottom of Keage Incline103 viewsThe Keage Incline was a dry slope which connected the upper part of the canal with the lower part of the canal. Since the canal was disconnected by this dry slope, boat trolleys on rails ferried boats between the upper and lower sections of the canal. It was in operation until 1948.
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Keage Incline boat trolley103 views
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Statue of Sakuro Tanabe, the canal engineer103 viewsIn the park near top of Keage Incline. The canal is lined with various monuments and writings, especially on the canal tunnel entrances.
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The Lake Biwa Rowing Song CDs were donated by Philbert Ono.103 views
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The route goes through central Otsu (walkable from Otsu Station.) A map of the route is available at the info counter in Otsu Station.103 views
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Hey, throw one here!! The thirteen floats throw tens of thousands of these chimaki during the procession. It makes this festival unusual. Most other float festivals don't do it.103 views
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The Jingu Kogo-yama float has vermillion-painted wheels. It was also the last float in this year's procession.103 views
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Side view of Genji-yama.103 views
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The fifth float is Shojo-yama. 猩々山／南保町103 views
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A peach splits opens and out comes a peach boy. The children's story Momotaro is based on this.103 views
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Otsu Castle site. There's a lot of open land here, so it would be great if they decided to reconstruct the castle. A perfect location for a castle.103 views
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The procession includes samurai.103 views
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Shogenji temple where all the torch bearers will gather later. Shogenji is a Tendai Buddhist temple on the Sando road. 生源寺103 views
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They stop and after a few speeches, they drop the mikoshi with a bang to symbolize the birth of the child god. Also see my YouTube video here.103 views
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Nishi Hongu Haiden Hall103 views
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Nishi Hongu Honden Hall worships the god (Onamuchi-no-kami) protecting the nation. This current structure was built in 1586. 西本宮 本殿103 views
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Ishiyama-dera's Japanese garden in spring.103 views
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Hall to Moon-viewing Pavilion. 103 views
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Entertainment stage on 3rd floor. The entertainers always seem to be from Australia. Instead of a trio, I think they now got only one entertainer.103 views
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Escorted by taiko drummers, the main mikoshi arrives at the east end of Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge.103 views
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Keage Incline102 views
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Water intake for Lake Biwa Canal No. 1. Kyoto was thereby revitalized with electric power and a stable water supply. A second, almost parallel canal for drinking water was also constructed in 1912. 102 views
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Water intake for Lake Biwa Canal No. 1 at Mihogasaki102 views
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Singing "Lake Biwa Rowing Song" (Biwako Shuko no Uta)102 views
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Starting line staff102 views
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Omi-Fuji (Mt. Mikami) and Karasuma Peninsula. 近江富士（三上山）と烏丸半島102 views
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This house in Kajiya-cho was open to the public to exhibit stuff related to the lead float Saigyo Sakura Tanuki-yama.102 views
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A small parade comes thrpugh.102 views
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Saigyo Sakura Tanuki-yama. Notice the three wheels instead of four. 西行桜狸山102 views
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The second float is Yutate-yama. 湯立山／玉屋町102 views
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Lakefront102 views
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Flower Procession on Sando 花渡り式102 views
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These guys can get pretty drunk as they haul the torches.102 views
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Yomiya-jo102 views
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More Tendai priests from Enryakuji temple proceed to Nishi Hongu. Buddhist priests do not wear the flappy cap like Shinto priests.102 views
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The entrance pathway has picture panels explaining about the famous founders of Japanese Buddhist sects.102 views
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About the altar inside the Tahoto.102 views
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Plum tree102 views
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Karasaki Shrine torii. It is a branch shrine of Hiyoshi Taisha. 唐崎神社 MAP101 views
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Keage Incline101 viewsThe Keage Incline was a dry slope which connected the upper part of the canal with the lower part of the canal. Since the canal was disconnected by this dry slope, boat trolleys on rails ferried boats between the upper and lower sections of the canal. It was in operation until 1948.
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