Last additions
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May 03, 2007
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May 03, 2007
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IrisesMay 03, 2007
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Ryotei teahouse 涼亭May 03, 2007
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Ryotei teahouse 涼亭May 03, 2007
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May 03, 2007
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WisteriaMay 03, 2007
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Basho Haiku Monument written with the famous haiku of the frog jumping into the pond. 芭蕉の句碑May 03, 2007
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PlaygroundMay 03, 2007
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Iris gardenMay 03, 2007
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Stone buddhaMay 03, 2007
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May 03, 2007
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BirdMay 03, 2007
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May 03, 2007
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May 03, 2007
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May 03, 2007
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Tiny flowersMay 03, 2007
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Famous stoneMay 03, 2007
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May 03, 2007
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"Mt. Fuji" with azalea bushes blooming in early May.May 03, 2007
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May 03, 2007
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May 03, 2007
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May 03, 2007
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May 03, 2007
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Gazebo on one of the three islands in the pond. あずまやMay 03, 2007
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Big flowerMay 03, 2007
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Bridge to a small island and gazeboMay 03, 2007
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Huge and hungry carpMay 03, 2007
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Taisho Memorial HallMay 03, 2007
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Ryotei teahouse 涼亭May 03, 2007
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In case you fall into the pond...May 03, 2007
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Red and white azaleasMay 03, 2007
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Pine branches and azaleasMay 03, 2007
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May 03, 2007
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Azalea bushes and Ryotei teahouseMay 03, 2007
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Isowatari. 磯渡りMay 03, 2007
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Stepping stones, called Isowatari. 磯渡りMay 03, 2007
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Isowatari. 磯渡りMay 03, 2007
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Stepping stones, called Isowatari, are another major feature of the garden.May 03, 2007
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This garden is very green. Even the pond is deep green. Kiyosumi Garden is classified as a "kaiyu-shiki teien" (回遊式庭園) or "circular-strolling Japanese garden." It's a common and classic Japanese garden design where you simply walk around the garden, usually around a central pond.May 03, 2007
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Many matsu pine trees and many stones.May 03, 2007
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Iwasaki Yataro, the founder of the Mitsubishi Zaibatsu, acquired the estate in 1878 and developed the garden with a pond and famous stones brought from all over Japan.May 03, 2007
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Entrance to Kiyosumi Teien Gardens. Admission 150 yen.May 03, 2007
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Sanno torii gate leading to the Omotesando path to the shrine. 山王鳥居May 01, 2007
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Near Hie Shrine is (or was) Capital Tokyu Hotel where the Beatles stayed in 1966.May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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Inari Sando torii gates 稲荷参道May 01, 2007
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Inari Sando torii gates 稲荷参道May 01, 2007
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Inari Sando torii gates are donated by individuals and companies for business prosperity. 稲荷参道May 01, 2007
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Storehouse for Sanno Festival floatsMay 01, 2007
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Storehouse for Sanno Festival floatsMay 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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Portable shrinesMay 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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Shishimai Lion headsMay 01, 2007
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Inside Hie Jinja Shrine's Shaden Worship Hall. 社殿May 01, 2007
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Straw ring and Hie Jinja Shrine's Shaden Worship Hall. 社殿May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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Sacred Monkey sculpture (Shin'enzo) holding a real banana. The monkey is Hie Shrine's messenger believed to bring marital harmony and children. 神猿像May 01, 2007
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Shinmon Gate 神門May 01, 2007
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Shinmon Gate 神門May 01, 2007
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Hie Jinja ShrineMay 01, 2007
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Shinmon Gate 神門May 01, 2007
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Sanno torii gate 山王鳥居May 01, 2007
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Sanno torii gate and the West entrance. Escalator on the right. This torii style is unique to Hie Shrines. The shrine is nearest to Tameike-Sanno Station on the Ginza and Nanboku subway lines. 山王鳥居May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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Sanno torii gate 山王鳥居May 01, 2007
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Kentosai Sacred DanceMay 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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Shrine maidens perform Kentosai danceMay 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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It was semi-traditional and semi-modern.May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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On the next day June 13, 2004, a Daidengaku troupe performed dances. 大田楽May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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People linger in the shrine after all the mikoshi had arrived.May 01, 2007
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Hie Shrine Sanno MatsuriMay 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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Quite a spectacle.May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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In front of the shrine, the priest blesses the mikoshi portable shrine.May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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The portable shrines came one after another.May 01, 2007
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Parish members wait for the portable shrines to arrive. The paper lanterns are written with the names of the parish.May 01, 2007
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They pass through the ring.May 01, 2007
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A mikoshi arrives at Hie Shrine.May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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Parish members reach the shrine.May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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Children dressed as tekomai, Sanno Festival.May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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On the next day on June 12, 2004, was Miya-iri or portable shrines entering Hie Shrine. Led by this cart of festival musicians. 山王まつり宮入りMay 01, 2007
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Crossing the street near Maru-biru Building. They proceeded to Tokyo Station, Kyobashi, Nihonbashi, Shimbashi, and Ginza before returning to Hie Shrine at 5:30 pm.May 01, 2007
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Map of Jinko-sai Route.May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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All the auto traffic and urban noise robbed the dignity of the solemn procession.May 01, 2007
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Crossing the street.May 01, 2007
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Road to Tokyo Station.May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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A mikoshi passes by Tatsumi Turret of the Imperial Palace durng the Sanno Matsuri Jinko-sai.May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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The procession passes by Tatsumi Turret as it leaves the Imperial Palace.May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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During this break period, the shrine priest and other representatives enter the Imperial Palace to pray for the peace, happiness, and prosperity of the Imperial family. Hie Shrine is the only shrine in Japan bestowed with this privilege.May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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Some entertainment.May 01, 2007
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Shrine maidens dance in front of the three portable shrines near Sakashita-mon Gate.May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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Rest stop near Sakashita-mon Gate at the Imperial Palace.May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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Omiko Shrine maidensMay 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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Flower float, Sanno MatsuriMay 01, 2007
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One of the three portable shrines.May 01, 2007
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Hie Shrine's Sanno Matsuri Jinko-sai Procession in front of Imperial Palace.May 01, 2007
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The original procession included many high floats. However, due to overhead power lines and overpasses, such floats cannot be included.May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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For a procession this large and grand, the crowd of spectators was extremely sparse. Good for photographers like me, but it was strange.May 01, 2007
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The Sanno Matsuri Festival is one of Japan's Big Three Festivals and one of Tokyo's Big Three Festivals held in mid-June during several days. The main highlight is the Jinko-sai Procession held every two years. The 600-meter long procession consists of about 500 people parading through central Tokyo near the National Diet, Imperial Palace, Tokyo Station, and Ginza. It includes three portable shrines, carriages, and flower floats. Various events are also held at Hie Shrine which holds the festival. Jinko-sai Procession left Hie Shrine at 8 am on June 11, 2004. Before noon, they approach the Imperial Palace. 山王まつり神幸祭May 01, 2007
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May 01, 2007
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The Jinko-sai Procession passes in front of the Imperial Palace.May 01, 2007
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Torii gatesApr 30, 2007
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Nezu Shrine Karamon Gate, Important Cultural Property 唐門Apr 30, 2007
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Ema votive tabletsApr 30, 2007
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Nezu Shrine gate, Important Cultural Property 楼門(国指定重文)Apr 30, 2007
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Nezu Shrine KaguradenApr 30, 2007
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Torii gates (all donated by people)Apr 30, 2007
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Torii gates and azaleasApr 30, 2007
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Nezu Shrine Haiden Hall, Important Cultural Property 拝殿Apr 30, 2007
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Nezu Shrine Karamon Gate, Important Cultural Property. Nezu Shrine is dedicated to Susano-o-no-Mikoto, younger brother of Sun Goddess Amaterasu. 唐門Apr 30, 2007
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Apr 30, 2007
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Wish they also wrote the name in English... ハナグルマApr 30, 2007
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Nezu ShrineApr 30, 2007
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Torii gates and azaleasApr 30, 2007
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Nezu Shrine bridge (built in 2006 神橋) and gate, Important Cultural Property 楼門(国指定重文)Apr 30, 2007
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Apr 30, 2007
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Can you believe yellow azaleas??Apr 30, 2007
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Splotch of pink on whiteApr 30, 2007
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How do they mix these flower colors?Apr 30, 2007
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Apr 30, 2007
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Apr 30, 2007
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Great relief for the eyes after seeing so much red and pink. Yellow azaleas.Apr 30, 2007
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Azalea BallApr 30, 2007
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Azaleas and torii gatesApr 30, 2007
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More flower blobs...Apr 30, 2007
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Apr 30, 2007
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Apr 30, 2007
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Apr 30, 2007
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Apr 30, 2007
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This was a weekday so it is less crowded than the weekend.Apr 30, 2007
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Azaleas and torii gatesApr 30, 2007
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The White OneApr 30, 2007
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Apr 30, 2007
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All these reds and pinks drove my eyes crazy.Apr 30, 2007
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Apr 30, 2007
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They cannot bloom any better than this.Apr 30, 2007
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Apr 30, 2007
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This little hill was spectacular.Apr 30, 2007
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Azaleas and torii gates, Nezu ShrineApr 30, 2007
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White and pink mixed together.Apr 30, 2007
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Buds to bloomApr 30, 2007
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Top of the slope.Apr 30, 2007
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Quite spectacular from the top. Nezu Shrine.Apr 30, 2007
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Apr 30, 2007
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Guess who was there too? Nobuyoshi Araki, Japan's most famous photographer shooting the azaleas at Nezu Shrine, Tokyo. That's a Canon EOS 7 film camera.Apr 30, 2007
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Apr 30, 2007
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Great view for lunch.Apr 30, 2007
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Many exotic varieties of azaleas.Apr 30, 2007
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Mixed colorsApr 30, 2007
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Dainty onesApr 30, 2007
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Flower crushApr 30, 2007
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Apr 30, 2007
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Apr 30, 2007
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Shrine gate and azaleas.Apr 30, 2007
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Apr 30, 2007
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This variety of azaleas are the most common in Japan.Apr 30, 2007
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Entry to the azalea garden. 200 yen admission (actually a donation). Open 9am to 5 pm.Apr 30, 2007
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Walking path among the azaleas.Apr 30, 2007
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Apr 30, 2007
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Nezu Shrine, TokyoApr 30, 2007
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The large slope of azalea bushes have walking paths where you can see and photograph the flowers up close.Apr 30, 2007
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