Last additions - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

Last additions

The Great Buddha in Nara.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Todaiji Temple, NaraOct 06, 2018

Bus back to Kurayoshi Station.Oct 06, 2018

Inside Hot Plaza tourist facility and bus stop.Oct 06, 2018

Hot Plaza tourist facility and bus stop.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

One of the main streets of Misasa Onsen.Oct 06, 2018

Song monument for Misasa Kouta folk song composed in 1927. Inscribed with the song's first two lines. 三朝小唄歌碑The monument is near the river.Oct 06, 2018

This statue shows a famous scene from the "Misasa Kouta" silent movie that was made for the song in 1929.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Misasa Onsen's free outdoor bath next to the river. KawaraburoOct 06, 2018

The river has a nice outdoor bath for mixed bathing. (Probably no women.) KawaraburoOct 06, 2018

The river has a nice outdoor bath.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

At the spur of the moment, just decided to hop on the bus and take a casual look at Misasa Onsen. Nothing serious. Maybe next time.Oct 06, 2018

Tottori Prefecture's second most popular hot spring. 25-min. bus ride from JR Kurayoshi Station.Oct 06, 2018

Stained glass at Gifu Station.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Nobunaga's golden statue at JR Gifu Station.Oct 06, 2018

Statue of Oda Nobunaga at Gifu Station. Personally, I have mixed feelings about revering Nobunaga this much. Yes, he's a major historical figure, but he was also a ruthless warrior who killed a lot of people and caused much mayhem torching temples, etc. Yet he's worshipped like a hero today. A different time, different mindset, and different standard. The dark side of human nature.
Oct 06, 2018

At JR Gifu Station, some outdoor entertainment in front of Nobunaga's golden statue. JR岐阜駅前信長ゆめ広場Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Awa Odori dance troupe from Nagoya also gave a street performance.Oct 06, 2018

Gifu University Wind Ensemble perform on a narrow street.Oct 06, 2018

Gifu Nobunaga Matsuri also had lots of side/street entertainment. Oct 06, 2018

Flea market at a small park. 金公園、金公園噴水前広場Oct 06, 2018

Gifu city manhole with cormorant design.Oct 06, 2018

Taxi with Nobunaga design.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

The festival included a Cosplay Procession from 2 pm to 3 pm. ぎふコスプレパレードOct 06, 2018

Lots of outdoor stalls.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Gifu city's main shopping arcade named Yanagase, made famous by enka songs. It's usually like a ghost town, but not on this day. Was bustling for a change.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Gifu Yanagase shopping arcade.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

And the parade proceeded to Gifu Castle park.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Yamanouchi KazutoyoOct 06, 2018

Chiyo was the devoted wife of samurai Yamanouchi Kazutoyo.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Chiyo was the devoted wife of samurai Yamanouchi Kazutoyo.Oct 06, 2018

Chiyo, another native of Shiga, was the devoted wife of samurai Yamanouchi Kazutoyo.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Saito Dosan who was once Gifu Castle lord. 斎藤道三Oct 06, 2018

Go was the youngest Azai sister.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Go, the youngest Azai sister, married the second Tokugawa shogun Hidetada and gave birth to Iemitsu, the third Tokugawa shogun. The Azai sisters are perhaps Japan's most famous trio of sisters.Oct 06, 2018

HatsuOct 06, 2018

Nobunaga's sister Oichi who married Azai Nagamasa and gave birth to three famous daughters in Shiga Prefecture.Oichi's three Azai daughters: Chacha, Hatsu, and Go. Oichi and her daughters escaped to Gifu Castle after their Odani Castle in Shiga was attacked by Nobunaga.Oct 06, 2018

Chacha, the oldest Azai sister who at age 19 became 51-year-old Toyotomi Hideyoshi's concubine.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Following Nobunaga were the ladies: His wife Nohime.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Oda Nobunaga was played by actor Hiroshi Fujioka at the Gifu Nobunaga Matsuri in Oct. 2017.Hiroshi Fujioka is famous as the actor who portrayed "Kamen Rider" in the 1970s TV series. He's still famous and beloved in Japan and has had a very good career after Kamen Rider.Oct 06, 2018

Oda Nobunaga was played by actor Hiroshi Fujioka, famous as the actor who portrayed "Kamen Rider" in the 1970s TV series. Oct 06, 2018

This year, Oda Nobunaga was played by actor Hiroshi Fujioka. Nobunaga is one of Japan's most famous historical figures who started the unification of Japan's warring states in the 16th century. Gifu city really plays up Nobunaga as a hero and toOct 06, 2018

With tall banners and the surrounding foot soldiers, the parade's main character of Oda Nobunaga was unmistakable.Oct 06, 2018

Local students also dressed in historical costumes. 少年少女時代行列Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

"BANG, BANG!!" Those guns are really loud. Even with my earplugs (tissue wads), it shook me and I could feel the shockwaves.Oct 06, 2018

The matchlock gun battalion in formation and ready to fire their guns. 火縄銃鉄砲隊Oct 06, 2018

One highlight of the festival parade is this matchlock gun battalion. They stopped at the major intersections along the parade route and fired their guns.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Flags of Gifu's sister cities.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

More police.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Lots of police in the parade promoting traffic safety.Oct 06, 2018

Gifu city celebrated 2017 as the 450th anniversary of the city being renamed "Gifu" by Nobunaga after he attacked and captured Inabayama Castle in 1567. The castle was renamed "Gifu Castle." Oct 06, 2018

Gifu's tourism ambassadors hold the parade banner. About 200 people were in the parade.Oct 06, 2018

Held on the first weekend in Nov., the Gifu Nobunaga Matsuri's highlight is a Sunday afternoon parade of people dressed in historical costumes centering on Oda Nobunaga (usually played by a celebrity), considered to be the father of Gifu city.These charming girls are Gifu's tourism ambassadors waiting to join the festival's parade. Oct 06, 2018

From 1:00 pm–2:00 pm, they parade on the main drag from near JR Gifu Station to the foot of Mt. Kinkazan, the location of Gifu Castle.These photos were taken on Oct. 8, 2017.Oct 06, 2018

Glad to take the shuttle bus back to the trasin station.Oct 06, 2018

Fire walk pit still smoking.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Sacred staff for the fire walk.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

The hardest part of the fire walk was putting your shoes back on. No benches to sit on.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Cool your feet in salt.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

I did it as well, wasn't so hot.Oct 06, 2018

Prayer before the fire walk.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Toward the end, there is fire-walking on the hot embers.Oct 06, 2018

Toward the end, there is fire-walking on the hot embers. 火渡りOct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

After the smoke is gone...Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Priests throw wooden goma prayer tablets (written with people's wishes) into the fire. Tarobogu Shrine, Higashi-Omi, Shiga.Oct 06, 2018

Priests throw wooden goma prayer tablets (written with people's wishes) into the fire.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Mountain ascetic priests chanting.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Fanning the fire.Oct 06, 2018

The smoke can get very thick. People with a lung condition or clothing sensitive to smoke should not see this.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Kind of unique festival because it combines Shinto and Buddhist practices.Oct 06, 2018

The fire's spiritual force supposed to ward off evil, accidents, and sickness and cleanse you. Tarobogu Shrine, Higashi-Omi, Shiga.Oct 06, 2018

The bonfire is used to burn about 100,000 goma prayer tablets collected from all over Japan. Tarobogu Shrine, Higashi-Omi, Shiga. Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Lighting the pile.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Pile to be burned for the bonfire.Oct 06, 2018

Get off the bus and here we are. A large clearing (shrine's parking lot) surrounded by a large crowd.Oct 06, 2018

If you don't take the bus, it's 700 steps up from here.Oct 06, 2018

On the day of the bonfire festival, they have shuttle buses going between the train station and Tarobogu Shrine. Highly recommend taking the bus.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Tarobogu Shrine on this mountain holds a bonfire festival on the first Sunday in December. Near Tarobogu-mae Station on Ohmi Railways Line from Omi-Hachiman or Yokaichi Stations.Oct 06, 2018