Most viewed - Fuchu 府中市 |
Map of Kyodo-no-Mori Museum. It is quite spacious and park-like with a modern museum, planetarium, and a few vintage buildings moved here. Also noted for flowers such as plum blossoms in Feb. and hydrangea in June when I visited.321 views
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Bubaigawara Station on the Keio Line from Shinjuku. Closest station to Kyodo-no-Mori Museum. Take a bus or walk 25 min.310 views
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The Tokyo Racecourse is near two train stations. This is one of them, Fuchu Keiba Seimon-mae Station on the Keio Keibajo Line that shoots off from Higashi Fuchu Station (a Jun-tokkyu stop on race days) on the Keio Line from Shinjuku. 府中競馬正門前304 views
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Way to Tama Cemetery. One of Tokyo's major cemeteries with the graves of celebrated figures including politicians, scholars, and novelists. Also a noted cherry blossom spot in spring.209 views
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Kurayami Matsuri in Fuchu, Tokyo204 views
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The festival music is called Fuchu Hayashi (府中囃子) native to Fuchu. There are two schools: Meguro-ryu (lively music west of the shrine) and Funabashi-ryu (elegant music east of the shrine).178 views
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Bus stop for JR Musashi-Koganei Station.175 views
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Kurayami Matsuri: The mikoshi would spend the night at the Otabisho. At 4 am the next morning, they were carried back to the shrine by 7:30 am.174 views
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Sculpture in front of Fuchu Pool in Tokyo.168 views
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Sculpture in a park in Fuchu, Tokyo.167 views
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Sculpture in front of Fuchu Pool in Tokyo.166 views
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Deep Impact165 views
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Narita Brian, a famous racehorse.162 views
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159 views
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Horse exhibit.156 views
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138 views
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Kofun tumuli types126 views
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119 views
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The Kurayami Matsuri is Okunitama Shrine's most important festival held annually on April 30-May 6 in Fuchu, Tokyo. The main festival days are May 4 and 5. Kurayami means "pitch dark" in reference to it originally being a night festival.107 views
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Statue in front of Bubaigawara Station.106 views
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106 views
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Also see my Kurayami Matsuri video taken on May 5, 2014.103 views
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Watch the video to see how they beat the taiko.102 views
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Best to watch my video of Kurayami Matsuri on May 4, 2014.101 views
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Okunitama Shrine's Honden in Fuchu, Tokyo. The shrine was established in 111 by Emperor Keiko (景行天皇). It worships six deities from Musashino Province. 101 views
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The road is not that long so it was easy to see all the floats.101 views
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101 views
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Former town hall building.100 views
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100 views
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It was pitch dark because humans were not allowed to see the god's divine spirit being transferred from the shrine to the mikoshi and transported to the Otabisho rest place.99 viewsThe festival is near Fuchu Station on the Keio Line.
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Keyaki-dori road of trees leading to Okunitama Shrine.99 views
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Local TV reporter.99 views
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Men standing precariously on one of the smaller taiko drums. They hold on to a rope tied to the drum. The smallest taiko is 1.29 meter wide. Up to 11 people stand on it.99 views
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The taiko drums are beaten to purify the path for the mikoshi portable shrine.99 views
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99 views
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The giant taiko drums appeared again to purify the path for the mikoshi portable shrines.99 views
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99 views
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Main drag at Kyodo-no-Mori Museum.98 views
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Inside museum, local history.98 views
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Okunitama Shrine's torii98 views
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First a giant taiko drum passed by me as I was going to the shrine.98 views
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Wash basin to purify yourself.98 views
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Giant taiko drum beating like the sound of dinosaur footsteps.98 views
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The floats started to gather.98 views
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98 views
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98 views
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Shishimai lion dancers.98 views
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Sacred music gagaku musicians.98 views
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98 views
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The giant taiko later paraded along the Keyaki road.98 views
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About Okunitama Shrine97 views
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Mikoshi at the shrine await.97 views
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Giant taiko ahead next to the torii.97 views
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On May 4 from 5 pm to 6 pm, large taiko drums (太鼓の響宴) were beaten on the street near the shrine.97 views
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97 views
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This unusual float named Kotobuki-cho is a danjiri float whose front end has to be lifted to turn.97 views
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97 views
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Floats on Keyaki road.97 views
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They play the flute (笛), shime-daiko drum (締太鼓), large taiko (大太鼓), hand bell (鉦), and wooden clappers (拍子木). The flutist is like the music conductor who directs the music.97 views
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On May 4 during the day, they had children carrying small mikoshi. They also had twirling flower umbrellas called mando 万灯.97 views
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I went back to Fuchu the next day on May 5, 2014, the festival climax. Very crowded in front of the shrine.97 views
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97 views
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97 views
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Each mikoshi was led by paper lantern bearers.97 views
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Second mikoshi was Ninomiya 二之宮 Ogawa no Okami 小河大神 二宮神社(小河神社) 東京都あきる野市鎮座 (旧郷社).97 views
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97 views
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Fuchu has Sakura-dori road lined with cherry blossoms in early April. Where they hold the cherry blossom festival. Near Fuchu Station on the Keio Line from Shinjuku.96 views
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Today, the festival is well lit in the evening with paper lanterns. On May 4 from 5 pm to 6 pm, large taiko drums (太鼓の響宴) are beaten on the street. 96 views
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96 views
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The main god is Okunitama-no-Okami, god of nation-building. Same god as Izumo Taisha.96 views
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96 views
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Another taiko arrives.96 views
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That's how the taiko got bigger and bigger.96 views
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At around 6 pm, the ornate floats started to appear.96 views
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From 6 pm to 9 pm on May 4, 22 ornate wooden floats carrying musicians and dancers paraded on the street in front of the shrine (山車の巡行).96 views
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96 views
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On May 5 at 6 pm, the festival climaxes with six large taiko drums followed by eight mikoshi portable shrines carried to the Otabisho, a short distance away pictured here.. 96 views
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The mikoshi bearers arrived dancing in circles.96 views
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The first mikoshi was Ichinomiya. 一之宮 Ono no Okami 小野大神 小野神社 東京都多摩市鎮座 (延喜式内論社・旧郷社)96 views
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Third mikoshi was Sannomiya 三之宮 Hikawa no Okami 氷川大神 氷川大社 埼玉県大宮市鎮座 (延喜式内 名神大社・旧官弊大社).96 views
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All the mikoshi were brought here amid much fanfare.96 views
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Ajisai Matsuri poster for Kyodo-no-Mori Museum.95 views
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Thatched-roof farmer's house called the former Kouchi home. 河内家95 views
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Crowded path to Okunitama Shrine.95 views
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95 views
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The largest taiko is made of bubinga wood. They even made another taiko from the wood carved out of this trunk. 95 views
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Comical dancers wearing masks performed on the floats.95 views
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95 views
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Each float was led by paper lantern bearers followed by people pulling the float.95 views
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95 views
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95 views
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95 views
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On May 4, the float parade ended at about 9 pm.95 views
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Mando flower umbrella displayed in a dept store.95 views
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The formal procession started with some musicians.95 views
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Eight mikoshi proceeded from Okunitama Shrine to the Otabisho.95 views
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The action and crowds shift to the Otabisho seen in the background.95 views
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95 views
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95 views
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94 views
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In the old days, they used to ram the taiko drums at each other. Since a bigger taiko was more advantageous, four neighborhoods sought to make the largest drum.94 views
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94 views
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94 views
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94 views
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People couldn't cross the road.94 views
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94 views
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94 views
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Inside former Kouchi home. 河内家93 views
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93 views
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93 views
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93 views
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The floats carry festival musicians and dancers wearing a mask.93 views
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93 views
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Floats would meet up and perform together for a few minutes.93 views
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93 views
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93 views
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93 views
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93 views
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93 views
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93 views
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92 views
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The floats later paraded on the tree-lined Keyaki road.92 views
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92 views
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92 views
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Police constantly warned people about stepping back.92 views
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Hydrangea in full bloom.91 views
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People cheer whenever they tilt this danjiri float.91 views
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91 views
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90 views
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90 views
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90 views
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Inside former Ochi House89 views
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89 views
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Horse racing by foreign residents.88 views
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Inside former town hall. 88 views
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88 views
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Mitama-do Hall87 views
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85 views
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Garden of hydrangea in June at Kyodo-no-Mori Museum.85 views
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84 views
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83 views
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83 views
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Inside Former Shimada Home used as a warehouse for a drugstore.82 views
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81 views
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Former Ochi House, another thatched-roof farmer's house.81 views
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81 views
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Hoofs80 views
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Map of Tokyo Race Course. There are also amusement facilities within the race course oval itself, accessible through an underground tunnel.80 views
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School auditorium80 views
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80 views
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80 views
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Former Shimada Home80 views
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Former Shimada Home80 views
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80 views
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Across the Shimada Home is a complex of buildings called the former Tanaka Home.79 views
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Hydrangea79 views
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The former classrooms are now exhibition spaces.79 views
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Former Tanaka Home was a rich merchant's home in Fuchu-juku post town on the Koshu Kaido Road.79 views
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79 views
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The Japan Racing Association's flagship horse-racing course in Fuchu, Tokyo got a makeover in April 2007 with a spanking new grandstand called Fuji View Stand. Very impressive, and entertaining even for non-gamblers.78 views
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78 views
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78 views
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78 views
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Photo of the original Fuchu school.78 views
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Museum and planetarium78 views
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Room where Emperor Meiji stayed.78 views
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77 views
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77 views
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Video simulation and horse ride during a race. Neat ride for kids.76 views
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History of horse racing.76 views
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About the former Kouchi House.76 views
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Door to Principal's office76 views
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Also some irises.76 views
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Sakura-dori road with cherry blossoms.76 views
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Front entrance to Tama Cemetery.76 views
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Inside Fuji View Stand.75 views
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75 views
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75 views
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Horse statue74 views
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Food court74 views
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74 views
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Inside the school auditorium issome art work by former students during the 1930s.74 views
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About former Ochi House74 views
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74 views
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There were 12 races this day, and before each race the horses were paraded around the paddock for all to see.73 views
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On the right is the paddock. (More paddock photos later.)73 views
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Inside the former primary school.73 views
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About the former primary school. This is only part of the school buildings that existed.73 views
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73 views
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73 views
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There are a several floors in the Fuji View Stand. 72 views
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Even Emperor Meiji once stopped in the Tanaka Home.72 views
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Former Fuchu primary school, originally built in 1935.72 views
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Inside a classroom72 views
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Cemetery map and sign.72 views
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Fuji View Stand, so named because Mt. Fuji can be seen on clear days.71 views
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71 views
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Inside Principal's office71 views
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About Former Shimada Home.71 views
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Inside Fuji View Stand. Very spacious and modern, the Tokyo Race Course is a huge facility not only for horse racing and betting, but also for family recreation and amusement.70 views
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A pedestrian overpass connects the Fuchu Keiba Seimon-mae Station directly to the Tokyo Race Course's Fuji View Stand.70 views
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Classroom corridor70 views
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70 views
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Memorial plaque in Japanese and English.70 views
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70 views
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If it rains, you can sit here. On this day on June 14, 2009, the Grade III Epsom Cup horse races were held. 69 views
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Going upstairs.69 views
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69 views
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69 views
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The main roads have cherry trees.69 views
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69 views
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A pedestrian overpass connects the Fuchu Keiba Seimon-mae Station directly to the Tokyo Race Course's Fuji View Stand.68 views
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Entrance to Tokyo Racecourse. Admission is only ¥200.68 views
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Room where Emperor Meiji stayed.68 views
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Different student desks.68 views
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68 views
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68 views
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Room where Emperor Meiji stayed.68 views
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68 views
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Tama Cemetery Fountain tower.68 views
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View from Fuji View Stand. The place is huge, enough to host a small airport. These photos were taken on June 14, 2009 when the Grade III Epsom Cup races were held.67 views
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Second floor has classrooms.67 views
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The cemetery is basically in a grid pattern.67 views
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You can also watch the race inside on a large monitor.66 views
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Betting windows66 views
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Fuji View Stand from behind. The overpass from the train station can be seen. This building was built in April 2007.66 views
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66 views
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66 views
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66 views
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From the overpass, there's this on the left side.65 views
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Fuji View Stand. The upper levels are reserved seating which cost extra. Most people sat on the free, lower level.65 views
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65 views
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65 views
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Horse named "Hurry Up" to be ridden by famous jockey Take Yutaka.64 views
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View from Fuji View Stand.64 views
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64 views
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64 views
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Sign at overpass entrance.63 views
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Tokyo Racecourse paddock.62 views
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For the dirt track, trucks smooth the track.62 views
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Sakura-dori road in Fuchu.62 views
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62 views
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Cherry blossoms and graves at Tama Cemetery.62 views
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Betting windows61 views
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