 Last additions - Northern Lake Toya 北洞爺湖（洞爺湖町） |
This refrigerated warehouse for vegetables uses winter snow as the coolant, reducing the electricity bill.May 20, 2008
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Inside the refrigerated warehouse. There are two large rooms, one is filled with snow (seen in the back wall) and the other has the produce.May 20, 2008
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Near the Silo Lookput Point is this large refrigerated warehouse for vegetables operated by the Toya JA agricultural cooperative. 野菜貯蔵用雪蔵（雪エネルギー利用)May 20, 2008
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Snow in the refrigerated warehouse. In winter, they use a snow plow/blower to shoot the snow into the room. The temperature is adjusted by ceiling fans and the wall shutters which can open or close.May 20, 2008
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For nitrate.May 20, 2008
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For Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD).May 20, 2008
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After the water testing is done, they throw back the water into the lake.May 20, 2008
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Color charts are used to assess the water quality. This is for phosphoric acid.May 20, 2008
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The students do various tests, each one does a specific task. 洞爺高等学校May 20, 2008
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With buckets and water testing kits, they do their testing.May 20, 2008
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One girl takes notes as the others give her their test results.May 20, 2008
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Near the Toya Mizunoeki is Toya High School whose Environment Club regularly take water samples from Lake Toya to test the lake's water quality. They go behind the Toya Mozunoeki and take water samples with plastic buckets.May 20, 2008
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Cherry blossoms and Toyako Onsen in the distance.May 20, 2008
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Cherry blossoms and Nakajima islandsMay 20, 2008
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Sculpture: by Aiko Miyawaki, 宮脇 愛子「うつろひ」 This is at the western edge of Toyako Onsen. It was past 5 pm when I got back to Toyako Onsen by bicycle.May 20, 2008
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Sculpture: Recovery, by Rei Nibe 二部 黎「復活」May 20, 2008
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More cherry trees.May 20, 2008
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Nakajima islands as seen from western Lake Toya.May 20, 2008
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Nesting swanMay 20, 2008
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Mt. Usu and Toyako Onsen in the distance.May 20, 2008
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May 20, 2008
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Inside Kannon hut.May 20, 2008
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Silo Lookout PointMay 20, 2008
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Lakeside road in western Lake Toya.May 20, 2008
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Another nesting swan.May 20, 2008
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Kannon hut in Tsukiura. Here and there in Lake Toya are Kannon statues.May 20, 2008
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Sculpture: Alveolus, by Goro Kakei 掛井 五郎「胞」May 20, 2008
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Silo Lookout PointMay 20, 2008
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View from the Ukimido's tiny balcony.May 20, 2008
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Nakajima islands as seen from western Lake Toya.May 20, 2008
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Silo Lookout Point in western Lake Toya is not on the lakeside road. It is on a highway running almost parallel to the lakeside road. Not really accessible by bicycle.May 20, 2008
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The Ukimido houses a small statue of Prince Shotoku Taishi. Inside, it still looks quite new.May 20, 2008
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UkimidoMay 20, 2008
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Upon the wishes of the local people, they built the Ukimido pagoda in 1937 and put the Shotoku Taishi statue on the altar inside. They also started the annual Shotoku Taishi Festival every July.May 20, 2008
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Right side of Ukimido pagoda, Lake Toya.May 20, 2008
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Behind Ukimido pagoda, Lake ToyaMay 20, 2008
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The Ukimido is the focal point of the lakeside Ukimido Park.May 20, 2008
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View behind the Ukimido pagoda, with the Nakajima islands.May 20, 2008
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Local residents then launched a project to rebuild the Ukimido and through numerous donations, a new Ukimido and Shotoku Taishi altar statue was completed in July 2004.May 20, 2008
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Around 1912, a Buddhist priest traveling north reached Toya village and rested at the Matsuhashi home. He gave a statue of Prince Shotoku Taishi to the family and said that they and the village shall prosper by taking care of it.May 20, 2008
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Left side of Ukimido pagoda, Lake ToyaMay 20, 2008
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Ukimido pagoda, Lake Toya, Hokkaido 浮見堂May 20, 2008
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Ukimido means "floating view temple."May 20, 2008
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The Matsuhashi family later moved away from Toya village and entrusted the statue to a local temple.May 20, 2008
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Well-placed sculpture at Ukimido: Dream Toya, by Mitsuaki Sora, 空 充秋「夢洞爺」May 20, 2008
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Sculpture: I was…I will, by Masaru Bando 坂東 優「I was（過去）…I will（未来）」May 20, 2008
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However, on Oct. 15, 2003, the Ukimido was struck by lightning and both the building and Shotoku Taishi statue were lost in the fire.May 20, 2008
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A path of stones lead to the Ukimido.May 20, 2008
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Ukimido ParkMay 20, 2008
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Another major sight in Lake Toya is the Ukimido pagoda in northern Lake Toya.May 20, 2008
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Ukimido pagoda juts out into the lake on a narrow islet connected by a stone bridge.May 20, 2008
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Cherry blossoms and Ukimido pagoda.May 20, 2008
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Northern Lake ToyaMay 20, 2008
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Nakajima islands and swan, Lake Toya, HokkaidoMay 20, 2008
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Lake Toya and swans, HokkaidoMay 20, 2008
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome banner at a gas station in northern Lake Toya.May 20, 2008
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Outside Toya Mizunoeki fronting Lake Toya.May 20, 2008
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Lake Toya and swan, HokkaidoMay 20, 2008
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View of Lake Toya behind Toya Mizunoeki.May 20, 2008
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The lake shore behind the Toya Mizunoeki also has swans.May 20, 2008
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The sculpture on the right: Wave Play, by Kyuzaemon Orihara 折原 久左ェ門「波遊」May 20, 2008
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Inside Toya MizunoekiMay 20, 2008
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Balcony facing the lake on the upper floor of Toya Mizunoeki.May 20, 2008
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit Welcome sign on window of Toya Mizunoeki in northern Lake Toya.May 20, 2008
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Personal computers for public use inside Toya Mizunoeki in northern Lake Toya. Notice the G8 Summit flags.May 20, 2008
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign on entrance of Toya Mizunoeki.May 20, 2008
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Inside Toya MizunoekiMay 20, 2008
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Inside Toya Mizunoeki, fresh vegetables for sale.May 20, 2008
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Toya Mizunoeki, a local shopping place and rest house in northern Lake Toya. A good place to rest, eat, and inquire at the tourist info counter. とうや水の駅May 20, 2008
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Take home your trash!May 20, 2008
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Inside Toya Mizunoeki, they sell local produce, tourist souvenirs, etc.May 20, 2008
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Nakajima islands as seen from northern Lake Toya. They seem to look the same from whichever direction. Totally conical islands.May 20, 2008
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Takarada Nature Footpath along the lake shore.May 20, 2008
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Sculpture: Dreamy Lake View, by Masafumi Maita 眞板 雅文「湖景夢想」May 20, 2008
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How the lake was formed.May 20, 2008
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PierMay 20, 2008
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Northern Lake ToyaMay 20, 2008
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Nakajima islands as seen from northern Lake Toya.May 20, 2008
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Reeds barely grow here.May 20, 2008
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Northern Lake Toya includes the Takarada Nature Footpath along the lake shore. 財田自然観察道May 20, 2008
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Toya Shonen Shizen no Ie (Toya Nature House for Youth) is a lodging and seminar facility. 道立洞爺少年自然の家May 20, 2008
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Takarada Nature Footpath along the lake shore. 財田自然観察道May 20, 2008
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Vinyl houseMay 20, 2008
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Takarada Nature Footpath along the lake shore. 財田自然観察道May 20, 2008
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Nakajima islandsMay 20, 2008
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After bicycling through eastern Lake Toya, I continue my trip around Lake Toya as I head north, entering Toyako town.May 20, 2008
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