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This bridge was recently rebuilt.Apr 30, 2007
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Some bushes are in full bloom, while others are still too early.Apr 30, 2007
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The azaleas usually reach full bloom in late April, but there are flowers which bloom later or earlier so there's always something in bloom during the festival period.Apr 30, 2007
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Azalea Garden and Nezu Shrine gate 楼門（国指定重文）Apr 30, 2007
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The Bunkyo Tsutsuji Matsuri or Azalea Festival is held from April to early May at Nezu Shrine which has a slope filled with 50 varieties of azaleas.Apr 30, 2007
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Apr 30, 2007
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Nezu Shrine torii gate 根津神社Apr 30, 2007
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On the street, just follow the signs to Nezu Shrine. Only a few minutes walk.Apr 30, 2007
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Nezu Station (Chiyoda Line) platform. Just follow the sign to get out the correct exit. 根津駅Apr 30, 2007
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Nezu Shrine torii gate 根津神社Apr 30, 2007
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Now they descend.Apr 29, 2007
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They waved their pom-poms and cheered all the while.Apr 29, 2007
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Onbashira Festival. They included one woman.Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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Banners unfurled.Apr 29, 2007
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The only woman on the log. After this log-raising, I had seen enough. This No. 1 log offered the best view of all the four Akimiya logs.Apr 29, 2007
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We waited in the rain for Onbashira Log No. 1 to be erected first at Akimiya Shrine at 10:00 am. However, we had to wait, standing up in the rain and in the crowd, for 2.5 hours before they finally started to raise the log.Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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They threw out free streamers and I caught one. "Yoisa! Yoisa!"Apr 29, 2007
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Finally, something to photograph.Apr 29, 2007
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Now it's May 10, 2004, the last day of the Shimo-sha Satobiki. All four logs will erected at Akimiya Shrine on this day.Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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Parade continues even in the rain.Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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Log standing by in front of Akimiya Shrine.Apr 29, 2007
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Log standing by in front of Akimiya Shrine.Apr 29, 2007
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Onbashira-sai, Shimosuwa-machi, Nagano.Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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These people are from Suwa city.Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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The log can move quite fast, even with all those people riding it.Apr 29, 2007
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Ax manApr 29, 2007
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This looks like Log No. 2 for Akimiya Shrine.Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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All the Onbashira logs are hauled manually by human hands from when it is cut in the mountain forest. No motor vehicles of any kind is used to haul the logs.Apr 29, 2007
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Ropes at restApr 29, 2007
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Another Onbashira log makes its way through.Apr 29, 2007
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The logs are pulled by people from various districts or parishes in the Suwa region including Chino, Shimosuwa, Okaya, and Suwa.Apr 29, 2007
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One Onbashira log at a rest stop.Apr 29, 2007
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The base of the Onbashira log is reinforced by these smaller logs.Apr 29, 2007
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ParadeApr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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Music Box MuseumApr 29, 2007
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Onbashira Log No. 3 for Harumiya Shrine.Apr 29, 2007
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Sake is given for free.Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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The men now descend from the log.Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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Erecting Onbashira Log No. 4 for Harumiya Shrine on May 9, 2004. Shimosuwa, Nagano. 春宮四之御柱Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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When the log is erected, a banner is unrolled.Apr 29, 2007
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The banner reads, "Thank you everyone for your cooperation."Apr 29, 2007
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"Yoisa! Yoisa!"Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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Log in Harumiya Shrine.Apr 29, 2007
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This is May 9, 2004, the second day of Shimo-sha Shrine's Satobiki. Shimo-sha Shrine consists of two separate shrines called Akimiya and Harumiya.Apr 29, 2007
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People everywhere.Apr 29, 2007
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Erecting Onbashira Log No. 4 for Harumiya Shrine on May 9, 2004. 春宮四之御柱Apr 29, 2007
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Everything is done with great fanfare, with these men riding on the log as it slowly rises by a system of cables and pulleys.Apr 29, 2007
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The bridge is normally closed to the public. In the old days, this bridge marked Harumiya Shrine's sacred area where even warlords had to get out of their palanquin or get off their horse out of respect before proceeding further. 下馬橋Apr 29, 2007
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Ropes to pull the Onbashira log from Harumiya Shrine.Apr 29, 2007
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Harumiya Shrine torii 春宮Apr 29, 2007
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Onbashira Log No. 1 already erected for Harumiya Shrine on May 8, 2004.Apr 29, 2007
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Shimenawa sacred rope on KaguradenApr 29, 2007
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Harumiya has a little slope where the logs are slid down.Apr 29, 2007
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Harumiya torii 春宮大門Apr 29, 2007
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People along the small slope.Apr 29, 2007
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On the way to Harumiya Shrine, you see this bridge. It is a rest stop for the Akimiya Onbashira log procession. 下馬橋Apr 29, 2007
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Hole for the No. 2 Akimiya Onbashira logApr 29, 2007
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Shimo-sha Akimiya Shrine priests 秋宮Apr 29, 2007
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Harumiya Shrine ahead.Apr 29, 2007
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Onbashira Grand ParkApr 29, 2007
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Hole for the No. 2 Akimiya Onbashira logApr 29, 2007
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Hole for the No. 4 Akimiya Onbashira logApr 29, 2007
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Taiko performance at Shimo-sha Akimiya Shrine's KaguradenApr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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Shimo-sha Akimiya Shrine. That's a support pole for erecting the No. 1 Akimiya Onbashira log. 秋宮Apr 29, 2007
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Hole for the No. 2 Akimiya Onbashira logApr 29, 2007
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Small support poles.Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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Shimo-sha Akimiya Shrine 秋宮 幣拝殿Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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Shimo-sha Akimiya Shrine toriiApr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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Umbrella danceApr 29, 2007
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Nagamochi chest decorationsApr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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Crowded streetApr 29, 2007
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Parade of Nagamochi which are long chests. 長持Apr 29, 2007
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Shimosuwa Station on May 8, 2004. Here for the final three days of the Onbashira Matsuri's climax, the Satobiki when they haul the Onbashira logs to the Shimo-sha Shrines (Akimiya and Harumiya) and erect them.Apr 29, 2007
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In front of Shimosuwa Station.Apr 29, 2007
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Entertainment stage in front of Shimosuwa Station.Apr 29, 2007
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Onbashira monument in front of Shimosuwa Station. This Onbashira log was used in the opening ceremony of the Nagano Winter Olympics in 1998.Apr 29, 2007
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This river crossing, called Kawa-koshi, is another highlight of the festival. 川越しApr 29, 2007
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川越しApr 29, 2007
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A total of 8 logs are slid down this slope.Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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The ax man is ready to cut the rope.Apr 29, 2007
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Another obstacle along the route to the Kami-sha Shrine is this river.Apr 29, 2007
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In one swing, he cuts the rope.Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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Another log comes to the slope.Apr 29, 2007
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Everything is very ceremonial.Apr 29, 2007
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The rope snaps and the log slides down the slope.Apr 29, 2007
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Each log is preceded by flag bearers.Apr 29, 2007
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Another log coming to the slope.Apr 29, 2007
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At the bottom of the slope is a huge crowd watching the spectacle, Ki-otoshi or Log Drop, Onbashira-sai Festival.Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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The slope is near the train tracks.Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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The log is dragged to the edge of the top of the slope.Apr 29, 2007
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Ki-otoshi or Log Drop, Onbashira-sai Festival.Apr 29, 2007
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The log is tilted upward.Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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This is one log about to go down the slope. A total of 8 logs will go down this slope.Apr 29, 2007
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This log drop is one of the highlights of the festival.Apr 29, 2007
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The Yamadashi log hauling for the Kami-sha Shrine was held during April 2-4, 2004. Along the hauling route is a slope where the log is slid down while men ride on it.Apr 29, 2007
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These photos show the slope for the Ki-otoshi (Log Drop) along the log-hauling route to Kami-sha Shrine in Chino and Suwa.Apr 29, 2007
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Both the Kami-sha Shrine (in Chino and Suwa cities) and Shimo-sha Shrine (in Shimosuwa town) consist of a pair of shrines. So there are actually a total of four shrines involved in the festival.Apr 29, 2007
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The Onbashira Festival's main event takes place at four different times in early April and early May, centering on Chino city and Shimosuwa town. It is the festival of Suwa Taisha Shrine consisting of the Kami-sha Shrine and Shimo-sha Shrine.Apr 29, 2007
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Held every 6 years (1998, 2004, 2010, etc.), this festival brings new logs from the mountain forest to all four shrines where they are erected. Each shrine receives four logs, so a total of 16 logs are cut and hauled to the shrines.Only a rope keeps the log from going down.Apr 29, 2007
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The hauling of the logs from the forest to a resting place near the shrine is called Yamadashi. The hauling route and schedule for the Kami-sha and Shimo-sha Shrines are different.Apr 29, 2007
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The Ax Man. He cuts the rope which sets the log loose down the slope.Apr 29, 2007
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The log heading to the Shimekake resting place. If you don't like crowds, don't see this festival. Also see photos of Shimo-sha Satobiki.Apr 29, 2007
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Now we walked back together with hundreds of thousands of people...Apr 29, 2007
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But my camera captured the log going down, even though I could hardly see it. Onbashira Festival, Shimosuwa, Nagano. 木落とし坂 春宮一之柱Apr 29, 2007
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Then came the log, and a lotta dust which made it difficult to see what was going on.Apr 29, 2007
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This was Log No. 1 for Shimo-sha's Harunomiya Shrine.Apr 29, 2007
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It was over after a few seconds. We walked for an hour from the train station and waited hours for just a few seconds of mostly dust.Apr 29, 2007
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The log pullers split into two.Apr 29, 2007
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Finally, people pulling the log appeared.Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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We waited for the log scheduled to come down at 3 pm, but it was delayed by 2 hours...Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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I was forced to join this crowd.Apr 29, 2007
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Thank goodness for telephoto lenses.Apr 29, 2007
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This was my view of the slope.Apr 29, 2007
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We sat there for hours.Apr 29, 2007
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People everywhere along the edge of the slope.Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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The crowd extended all the way to the rear. All to see the 3pm Ki-otoshi log drop.Apr 29, 2007
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It was very steep and uncomfortable to sit on, so I decided to leave this place.Apr 29, 2007
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The numerous people and trees made it impossible to see the slope itself.Apr 29, 2007
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The Ki-otoshi slope, and one of the icons of the festival. This is the larger slope for Ki-otoshi compared to the one for the Kami-sha Shrine in Chino. 木落とし坂Apr 29, 2007
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The Ki-otoshi slope up close. Very rough-looking. 木落とし坂Apr 29, 2007
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We weren't the only ones there.Apr 29, 2007
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Log No. 4 for Shimo-sha Shrine's Akinomiya Shrine. 秋宮四之柱Apr 29, 2007
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There it is, the slope.Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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Log No. 4 for Shimo-sha Shrine's Akinomiya Shrine which already went down the big slope for Ki-otoshi (Log Drop) comes out at 1:30 pm. 秋宮四之柱Apr 29, 2007
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We had to wait until the Ki-otoshi at 1pm was over. That's the one we wanted to see. But the place was already too full.Apr 29, 2007
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So after this log came out, we were allowed to proceed to the giant slope.Apr 29, 2007
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Here is where anybody can get on the logs and play.Apr 29, 2007
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Until we were stopped here. Sign says that only people with tickets can proceed further. Yeah, we walked all this way only to be told we cannot go further. Our destination was the Ki-otoshi slope where the huge logs slide down for the Yamadashi.Apr 29, 2007
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After the Shimekake, we walked further.Apr 29, 2007
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We had to wait until the 1pm Ki-otoshi log came out.Apr 29, 2007
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Apr 29, 2007
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There are no buses nor taxis to where we want to go.Apr 29, 2007
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After walking for 30 min., we reached this place called Shimekake, a resting place for the logs which had been hauled from the mountains. This is Log No. 2 for Akinomiya Shrine. 注連掛Apr 29, 2007
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The logs will rest here for about a month until early May when they will be hauled to the shrines for the Satobiki erection.Apr 29, 2007
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We had to walk it. This was April 10, 2004, one of the days for Shimo-sha Shrine's Yamadashi when they hauled the logs from the mountain forest.Apr 29, 2007
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Shimosuwa Station 下諏訪駅Apr 29, 2007
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Go straight on this road in front of the station.Apr 29, 2007
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Billboard depicting Ki-otoshi (Log Drop) at Shimosuwa Station.Apr 29, 2007
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Store your luggage here. Not enough lockers at the train station so they provide this service. 400 yen/day.Apr 29, 2007
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Map of Koku Ki'nen Koen Park or Aviation Memorial Park. Besides the museum, the large park has a baseball field, ponds, playground, and memorials.Apr 28, 2007
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Apr 28, 2007
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Bust of General J.P. FaureApr 28, 2007
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Pilots who flew at Tokorozawa.Apr 28, 2007
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Pilot's goggles and cap.Apr 28, 2007
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Statue of Japanese aircraft mechanics who worked at Tokorozawa. This is where the aircraft maintenance hangar was.Apr 28, 2007
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Bust of General J.P. Faure, a Frenchman who trained Japanese pilots in 1919.Apr 28, 2007
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Exhibits on Tokorozawa's aviation history.Apr 28, 2007
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Control tower equipment.Apr 28, 2007
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Apr 28, 2007
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Boeing 747 flight simulator (Not as good as Microsoft Flight Simulator.)Apr 28, 2007
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Flight simulator (Not as good as Microsoft Flight Simulator.)Apr 28, 2007
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Very impressive and educational aviation museum. Great for kids too.Apr 28, 2007
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Turbine enginesApr 28, 2007
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Replica of Nieuport 81E2. This was first imported to Japan in 1918 and used to train Japanese pilots by a French mission.Apr 28, 2007
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Remains of a Nieuport 81E2.Apr 28, 2007
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Model of Japan's first motorized flight.Apr 28, 2007
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Above is a Piper L-21, below is Fuji T-1B.Apr 28, 2007
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Apr 28, 2007
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Sikorsky H-19Apr 28, 2007
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Japan Air Self-Defense Force helicopter.Apr 28, 2007
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Inside helicopterApr 28, 2007
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Helicopter cockpit with glass bottom.Apr 28, 2007
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Apr 28, 2007
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Inside the Tokorozawa Aviation Museum. You are greeted by a replica of Kai-1, Japan's first military plane developed, produced, and flown at Tokorozawa on April 5, 1911. It flew 10 meters high and 800 meters long for 80 sec. 会式一号機Apr 28, 2007
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Back of Monument for Japan's Birth of Aviation日本の航空発祥の地・所沢Apr 28, 2007
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Other more modern planes and helicopters are on display in the main exhibition hall. This is a North American T6G.Apr 28, 2007
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Monument for Japan's Birth of Aviation 日本の航空発祥の地・所沢Apr 28, 2007
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The C-46 was used by the Japan Air Self-Defense Forces for cargo transport from the 1950s.Apr 28, 2007
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Monument for Japan's Birth of Aviation 日本の航空発祥の地・所沢Apr 28, 2007
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In front of Tokorozawa Aviation Museum is a Curtiss-Wright C-46 transport plane.Apr 28, 2007
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Part of the original runway at the Tokorozawa Aviation Memorial Park. 所沢航空記念公園Apr 28, 2007
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Tokorozawa Aviation Memorial Park. 所沢航空記念公園Apr 28, 2007
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Tokorozawa Aviation Museum. The building on the left is an IMAX theater, and the larger structure on the right is modeled after a blimp on the inside to show retired planes and helicopters. Looks like jet turbine too. 所沢航空発祥記念館Apr 28, 2007
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PropellerApr 28, 2007
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Air Nippon YS-11 propeller plane. Donated by All Nippon Airways in 1997.Apr 28, 2007
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YS-11 propeller plane. Open to the public on certain days of the year.Apr 28, 2007
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Front of YS-11 propeller plane.Apr 28, 2007
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Another sculpture in the Aviation Memorial Park.Apr 28, 2007
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Koku-Koen Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line 航空公園駅Apr 28, 2007
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Paper plane sculptureApr 28, 2007
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In front of Koku-Koen Station. Notice the paper plane sculpture and YS-11 prop plane.Apr 28, 2007
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Uphill climb for Shibazakura.Apr 28, 2007
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Bokusui Falls (I think...) 牧水の滝Apr 28, 2007
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Hitsujiyama Park and Mt. Bukosan.Apr 28, 2007
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Hitsujiyama Park and Mt. Bukosan.Apr 28, 2007
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ToriiApr 28, 2007
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Hitsujiyama Park with weeping cherry blossomsApr 28, 2007
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Chichibu StationApr 28, 2007
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A symbol of Chichibu, Mt. Bukosan is being slowly eaten away by cement companies. 武甲山Apr 28, 2007
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Hitsujiyama Park with weeping cherry blossoms and Mt. Bukosan. 羊山公園Apr 28, 2007
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Nakamise shopping arcade at Chichibu Station 仲見世Apr 28, 2007
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Chichibu Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line 西武池袋線 秩父駅Apr 28, 2007
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Chichibu Station platform on the Seibu Ikebukuro LineApr 28, 2007
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