 Most viewed - Nagahama 長浜市 |
Lake Yogo green with algae in late Sept.33 views
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Lake Yogo Tourist Center restaurant.33 views
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JR Yogo Station train platform.33 views
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Scenery from JR Yogo Station.33 views
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Nagahama Castle and autumn foliage, Shiga Prefecture.33 views
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As part of the annual Nagahama Shusse Matsuri festival held on the second Sat. of Oct., a matchlock gun demonstration (長浜火縄銃大会) is held at Nagahama Castle during 13:30 a.m.–12 p.m. 32 viewsNagahama Castle is near JR Nagahama Station (West side) on the Hokuriku Line. Short ride from JR Maibara Station.
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Taking aim and ready to fire...32 views
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At the Hikiyama Museum, stage entertainment schedule (in 2017).32 views
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More kimono ladies start to arrive.32 views
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Entrance to the site. 15-min. walk from JR Torahime Station.32 views
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For kids.32 views
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Street performance schedule from 10 am to 4 pm.32 views
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Chikubushima (竹生島) is a small, sacred island dominated by a temple/shrine complex called Hogonji (宝厳寺) perched on this fairly steep slope. 32 viewsThe temple/shrine's construction was ordered by the emperor in 724 when he proclaimed that Chikubushima was a sacred place for the goddess Benzaiten (弁才天). The temple was to bring national peace, bountiful harvests, and prosperity to all. A priest named Gyoki (僧行基) then proceeded to build the temple with Benzaiten as the principal object of worship.
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Kannon-do ceiling and transom carvings. Absolutely brilliant colors.32 views
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Before photo of the statue of Pindola Bharadvaja and the nearby wall with flower carvings.32 views
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After photo of Pindola Bharadvaja statue. These days, best not to touch unless you use hand sanitizer afterward.32 viewsAll those old pilgrim name stickers (mostly from the Edo Period when it was fad) were removed for a new layer of lacquer.
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Before photo. Without the colors, it was so hard to see the wood carvings.32 views
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Some of the wood carvings had pieces that broke off or worn out. So they were reconstructed too. The metal fittings were also re-plated or remade.32 views
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Left door of Karamon Gate.32 views
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"Interlaken" boat to Imazu at Chikubushima.32 views
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Inside the Interlaken boat. Very comfortable and looks new.32 views
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By late May, rice seedlings already planted and paddies flooded.32 views
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Gourd monument on the roadside of Nagahama Castle.32 views
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From 1 pm, the kimono ladies started to arrive at the Daitsuji Temple as the local duo ~Lefa~ played.31 views
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Street performers were very good. But it's hot under the sun.31 views
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About Chikubushima in Japanese.31 views
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Leaving Nagahama in winter. After a major snowfall in late Jan. 2021, went on a scenic snow cruise on Lake Biwa.31 views
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Small shrine for the White Snake God, a messenger of goddess Benzaiten. 白巳大神31 views
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Inside Karamon Gate. Just gorgeous. Too bad most people just walk in without looking back and noticing. 31 views
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Karamon Gate door.31 views
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Front of Karamon Gate.31 views
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Ceiling inside Karamon Gate, looking directly upward. 31 views
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It looks new because it was magnificently restored (including the roof) after six years of meticulous work completed in March 2020. Finally came to see it. I was not disappointed. It's jaw-dropping beautiful.31 views
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Karamon Gate before the restoration. Very drab-looking with most of the paint and lacquer weathered away by the elements after 67 years when it was last repainted.31 views
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It's really pleasing to see this and other major National Treasures being restored during the past 10 years. There's also Nikko Toshogu Shrine in Tochigi and Menuma Shodenzan Temple in Saitama which have been refreshed with vibrant colors and la31 viewsWith modern technologies, computers, laser measurements, and scientific techniques, restoration specialists can more accurately assess and reproduce the original colors and pigments. But much of the work is done by hand.
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About the Kannon-do Hall.31 views
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JR Yogo Station as seen from the train platform.31 views
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Nagahama also holds an outdoor kimono garden party in the afternoon with several hundred young women in kimono descending on this provincial city. (長浜きもの大園遊会)30 viewsThe kimono women first had to register at Ekimachi Terrace in front of JR Nagahama Station (West side) on the Hokuriku Line. Short ride from JR Maibara Station.
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Women in furisode kimono who visit the city for this kimono party are eligible to win prizes in a drawing held at Daitsuji Temple in the afternoon.30 viewsFurisode kimono are kimono with long sleeves going down below the knees. They are worn by single women. Married women wear kimono with shorter sleeves. And so most of the kimono women are in their teens to 30s.
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This is Daitsuji Temple, Nagahama's largest Buddhist temple (Higashi Honganji) large enough to seat up to 1,000 women. 30 viewsThe kimono ladies will gather here by 2 pm for the grand prize drawing.
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Event schedule.30 views
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Miss Biwako Kimono.30 views
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After all the big prizes were given out, the remaining women were eligible to receive door prizes so they stood in line for that.30 views
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Food stalls.30 views
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Rice paddy art in Torahime.30 views
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Port staff waving goodbye.30 views
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Snowy mountains around Lake Biwa.30 views
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Small shrine for the goddess Benzaiten at Hogonji, Chikubushima. Benzaiten is the goddess of everything that flows: Water, rivers, music, etc. 弁才天30 views
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Corridor and incense burner in front of the altar. The wooden pillars totally re-lacquered.30 views
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Corridor in front of the altar.30 views
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Worn statue of Pindola Bharadvaja (賓頭盧尊者). 30 views
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Center metal fitting on the Karamon.30 views
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This battalion was from Tanegashima island in Kagoshima Prefecture (Kyushu). That's where guns were first introduced to Japan from Europe in 1543 and forever changed warfare in Japan.29 views
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They were going to take turns and keep shooting for about 90 min. I can handle these loud bangs once or twice, but no more. 29 viewsSo I left this event early right after seeing/hearing/photographing this first battalion fire their guns. I didn't want to risk any damage to my ear drums. I wonder how these gunners protect their hearing.
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Hikiyama float was also displayed near the museum.29 views
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Local duo ~Lefa~ performing at Daitsuji Temple.29 views
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Local duo ~Lefa~ performing at Daitsuji Temple.29 views
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Local duo ~Lefa~ performing at Daitsuji Temple.29 views
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On the stage, local sponsors and dignitaries pulled out the lucky lots one by one.29 viewsBesides the trip to Hawaii as the grand prize, they gave out kimono fabric, travel certificates, free hotel rooms, and other valuable prizes sponsored by local businesses.
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This is the super lucky girl who won the free trip to Hawaii. She was from the neighboring city of Maibara and plans to take her younger sister to Hawaii.29 viewsCongratulations!!! Doesn't she look like a deserving person? Hope you enjoy my home state, Aloha and bon voyage!!
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Before photo of a very old and worn statue of Pindola Bharadvaja (賓頭盧尊者). Traditionally, you touch his body part corresponding to the part of your body you want to heal. 29 viewsNotice the pillars and ceiling beams which were plastered with pilgrim name stickers called "senjafuda" (千社札). They bear the ardent pilgrim's name and pilgrims stuck their name stickers on the temples they visited to indicate "I wuz here!"
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Closeup of the "kaeru-mata" showing a nest of birds. (蟇股).29 views
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About Benzaiten-do Hall.29 views
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According to legend, Mt. Ibuki and Mt. Azai-dake (Kanakuso-dake) in northern Shiga argued over who was the highest in Shiga. Mt. Ibuki got so upset by the argument that he drew a sword and sliced off Azai-dake's head.29 viewsThe sliced-off peak fell into Lake Biwa and became Chikubushima. Read the full folktale here: https://shiga-ken.com/blog/2014/07/the-birth-of-chikubushima/
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This side of the monument faces the lake. It's a popular bench to sit on during weekends and holidays.29 views
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Nagahama Castle in autumn.29 views
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Nagahama Castle and autumn foliage, Shiga Prefecture.29 views
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Three matchlock gun battalions to shoot their guns (blanks of course). The battalions are from Tanegashima (Kagoshima), Sakai (Osaka), and Hikone (Shiga). 28 viewsJapan has a number of matchlock gun battalions who are licensed to possess and fire these guns to preserve their history and perform at events and festivals.
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BANG!!! The guns were extremely loud. Makes you jump.28 views
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Local duo ~Lefa~ performing at Daitsuji Temple.28 views
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Celebrities will join the stage program (talk show).28 views
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Mascot Torapi shows the way.28 views
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Local mascot Torapi.28 views
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Tobidashi boya28 views
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Kannon-do ceiling of painted flowers. Peonies (red), chrysanthemum (white), and paulownia (blue). 牡丹、菊、桐 28 views
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Karamon Gate door.28 views
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Nest of birds in this decorative, hump-shaped wood support called "kaeru-mata" (蟇股). Commonly found on entrances of important buildings. In Nikko, Toshogu Shrine's famous "Sleeping Cat" carving is also a kaeru-mata.28 views
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Path to Karamon Gate.28 views
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Lake Yogo as seen from Mt. Shizugatake in early June. Although it's close to Lake Biwa, it is totally separate from Lake Biwa.28 views
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Local duo ~Lefa~ performing at Daitsuji Temple.27 views
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Flame juggling.27 views
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Also on stage.27 views
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Chikubushima in sight.27 views
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Corridor facing the Funa-roka before the restoration. Everything was drab looking. After the restoration, the windows on the right are now kept closed.27 views
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Nagahama Castle in autumn.27 views
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Nagahama Castle in autumn.26 views
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Wavy bench surface. Looks like marble, but not sure what type of stone it is.25 views
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Near Nagahama Castle is Hoko-so, a low-cost lodge. 豊公荘25 views
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Verse 3 Song Monument at Nagahama's Hokoen Park. It is shaped like a boat and the top has a wavy surface like the water. It is called the "nami-makura" (rolling waves) design.24 viewsSince the original glass bench song monument broke, it was replaced by this one made of stone having a similar shape and design concept.
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Verse 3 Song Monument in Nagahama's Hokoen Park near Nagahama Castle is engraved with Verse 3.24 viewsNami no mani mani, tadayoeba
Akai tomaribi, natsukashimi
Yukue sadamenu, nami makura
Kyo wa Imazu ka, Nagahama ka
浪のまにまに 漂えば
赤い泊火 懐かしみ
行方定めぬ 浪枕
今日は今津か 長浜か
We drift from wave to wave, straying aimlessly.
On shore we see red fire, brings back memories.
With our sights set nowhere, rolling with the waves.
Today is Imazu or, Nagahama huh.
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Nagahama Castle in autumn.24 views
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Nagahama Castle and autumn foliage.24 views
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Hokoen Park with cherry trees in autumn.24 views
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Sadly, Hoko-so has been closed since the start of the pandemic. As of Nov. 2022, they still don't know when it will reopen.24 views
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No skateboarding, kickboarding, roller skating, etc., at Hokoen Park.24 views
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Nagahama Castle is most famous for cherry blossoms, but it also has some maple trees too.23 views
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Lunch at Yogoko-so lodge: Eel (unagi) and udon noodles. I think it was 700 yen or so.19 views
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Dead end. Right after the lodge, the road was closed due to snow. But I decided to walk over the snow in order to walk around the entire lake. I knew there were some great shots to be had on the other side of the lake. But it almost froze my feet.19 views
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View from Yogo Station. The Yogo area always sees Shiga's heaviest snowfall. One winter when there was heavy snow, I went to Lake Yogo and walked around the lake in deep snow.18 views
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Train at Yogo Station in winter.18 views
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Path to Yogo Station from platform18 views
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Tree fallen by the weight of snow.18 views
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Train at Yogo Station.18 views
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Little winter fish. Fishing is a business at Lake Yogo.17 views
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Ice and water17 views
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Yogoko-so Kokuminshuku lodge at the southern tip of the lake. It affords a scenic view of the lake. This is a national pension so prices are affordable. 国民宿舎 余呉湖荘16 viewsSadly, after 40 years in business, this pension closed in Sept. 2013 due to aging facilities that were too expensive to repair.
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Great view from the Yogoko-so lodge 国民宿舎 余呉湖荘からの景色16 views
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Snow trail only on this side of the lake. It took me a total of 3 hours to walk around the lake, including picture-taking time.16 views
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Maybe cherry trees.16 views
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Old Hokuriku Line train at Yogo Station in winter16 views
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The road going to the minshuku was cleared of snow on one side of the lake.15 views
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Finally the road is cleared. This is near civilization so the road was cleared of snow. It made walking a lot easier.15 views
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Yogo Station and train.15 views
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Fishing pier14 views
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Road cleared of snow for cars. Different story on the other side of the lake though.14 views
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A patch of road under the snow.14 views
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Snowed-over park14 views
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Yogo's most famous tree, the swan maiden tree in winter.14 views
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Dining room at Yogoko-so lodge. This is where I took a lunch break. Great place to warm up (especially your feet). 国民宿舎 余呉湖荘13 viewsSadly, this pension closed in Sept. 2013 due to aging facilities.
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Yogo Station platform in winter. 12 views
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The sun came out.12 views
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