Home > NAGANO 長野県 > Shimosuwa 下諏訪町

Last additions - Shimosuwa 下諏訪町
053-30_Shimosuwa.jpg
Hiroshige's woodblock print of Takasaki (30th post town on the Nakasendo) from his Kisokaido series. Apr 23, 2011
107-131_3159.jpg
Now they descend.Apr 29, 2007
109-131_3171.jpg
Lingering crowd. Also see photos of Shimo-sha Yamadashi.Apr 29, 2007
103-131_3118.jpg
They waved their pom-poms and cheered all the while.Apr 29, 2007
105-131_3124.jpg
Onbashira Festival. They included one woman.Apr 29, 2007
101-125_2598.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
099-125_2579.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
106-131_3145.jpg
Banners unfurled.Apr 29, 2007
108-131_3163.jpg
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
104-131_3122.jpg
Also see my video at YouTube.Apr 29, 2007
097-130_3091.jpg
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
095-130_3037.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
102-131_3101.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
100-125_2589.jpg
They threw out free streamers and I caught one. "Yoisa! Yoisa!"Apr 29, 2007
098-125_2569.jpg
Finally, something to photograph.Apr 29, 2007
096-125_2591.jpg
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
094-130_3034.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
091-130_3020.jpg
Parade continues even in the rain.Apr 29, 2007
093-130_3028.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
090-130_3015.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
092-130_3024.jpg
Also see my video at YouTube.Apr 29, 2007
089-130_3009.jpg
Log standing by in front of Akimiya Shrine.Apr 29, 2007
087-129_2999.jpg
Log standing by in front of Akimiya Shrine.Apr 29, 2007
088-129_3000.jpg
Onbashira-sai, Shimosuwa-machi, Nagano.Apr 29, 2007
086-129_2992.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
084-129_2975.jpg
These people are from Suwa city.Apr 29, 2007
082-129_2969.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
080-129_2960.jpg
The log can move quite fast, even with all those people riding it.Apr 29, 2007
085-129_2982.jpg
Ax manApr 29, 2007
083-129_2973.jpg
This looks like Log No. 2 for Akimiya Shrine.Apr 29, 2007
078-129_2952.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
081-129_2961.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
079-129_2957.jpg
Onbashira Matsuri, Shimosuwa, Nagano. Also see my video at YouTube.Apr 29, 2007
077-129_2951.jpg
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
074-129_2931.jpg
Ropes at restApr 29, 2007
076-129_2947.jpg
Another Onbashira log makes its way through.Apr 29, 2007
075-129_2936.jpg
The logs are pulled by people from various districts or parishes in the Suwa region including Chino, Shimosuwa, Okaya, and Suwa.Apr 29, 2007
073-129_2928.jpg
One Onbashira log at a rest stop.Apr 29, 2007
070-129_2921.jpg
The base of the Onbashira log is reinforced by these smaller logs.Apr 29, 2007
072-129_2944.jpg
ParadeApr 29, 2007
066-129_2901.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
071-129_2945.jpg
Music Box MuseumApr 29, 2007
069-129_2915.jpg
Onbashira Log No. 3 for Harumiya Shrine.Apr 29, 2007
068-129_2910.jpg
A few of them are acrobats. Also see my video at YouTube.Apr 29, 2007
064-128_2891.jpg
Sake is given for free.Apr 29, 2007
062-128_2878.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
067-129_2903.jpg
The men now descend from the log.Apr 29, 2007
065-128_2896.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
058-128_2859.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
054-128_2849.jpg
Erecting Onbashira Log No. 4 for Harumiya Shrine on May 9, 2004. Shimosuwa, Nagano. 春宮四之御柱Apr 29, 2007
063-128_2888.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
060-128_2869.jpg
When the log is erected, a banner is unrolled.Apr 29, 2007
061-128_2870.jpg
The banner reads, "Thank you everyone for your cooperation."Apr 29, 2007
056-128_2855.jpg
"Yoisa! Yoisa!"Apr 29, 2007
057-128_2858.jpg
Also see my video at YouTube.Apr 29, 2007
059-128_2862.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
051-128_2823.jpg
Log in Harumiya Shrine.Apr 29, 2007
049-128_2815.jpg
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
047-126_2689.jpg
People everywhere.Apr 29, 2007
053-128_2843.jpg
Erecting Onbashira Log No. 4 for Harumiya Shrine on May 9, 2004. 春宮四之御柱Apr 29, 2007
055-128_2852.jpg
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
043-126_2673.jpg
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
050-128_2819.jpg
Ropes to pull the Onbashira log from Harumiya Shrine.Apr 29, 2007
045-127_2710.jpg
Harumiya Shrine torii 春宮Apr 29, 2007
052-128_2833.jpg
Onbashira Log No. 1 already erected for Harumiya Shrine on May 8, 2004.Apr 29, 2007
039-126_2644.jpg
Shimenawa sacred rope on KaguradenApr 29, 2007
046-126_2679.jpg
Harumiya has a little slope where the logs are slid down.Apr 29, 2007
041-126_2666.jpg
Harumiya torii 春宮大門Apr 29, 2007
048-126_2695.jpg
People along the small slope.Apr 29, 2007
042-126_2668.jpg
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
035-126_2636.jpg
Hole for the No. 2 Akimiya Onbashira logApr 29, 2007
037-126_2642.jpg
Shimo-sha Akimiya Shrine priests 秋宮Apr 29, 2007
044-126_2675.jpg
Harumiya Shrine ahead.Apr 29, 2007
040-126_2650.jpg
Onbashira Grand ParkApr 29, 2007
033-126_2638.jpg
Hole for the No. 2 Akimiya Onbashira logApr 29, 2007
031-126_2633.jpg
Hole for the No. 4 Akimiya Onbashira logApr 29, 2007
038-126_2645.jpg
Taiko performance at Shimo-sha Akimiya Shrine's KaguradenApr 29, 2007
036-126_2641.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
027-127_2725.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
029-126_2628.jpg
Shimo-sha Akimiya Shrine. That's a support pole for erecting the No. 1 Akimiya Onbashira log. 秋宮Apr 29, 2007
034-126_2639.jpg
Hole for the No. 2 Akimiya Onbashira logApr 29, 2007
032-126_2634.jpg
Small support poles.Apr 29, 2007
022-126_2657.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
030-126_2632.jpg
Shimo-sha Akimiya Shrine 秋宮 幣拝殿Apr 29, 2007
025-126_2662.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
028-126_2627.jpg
Shimo-sha Akimiya Shrine toriiApr 29, 2007
023-126_2659.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
018-126_2622.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
026-126_2663.jpg
Umbrella danceApr 29, 2007
024-126_2661.jpg
Nagamochi chest decorationsApr 29, 2007
021-126_2653.jpg
Nagamochi. Also see my video at YouTube.Apr 29, 2007
019-126_2623.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
020-126_2651.jpg
Crowded streetApr 29, 2007
014-126_2612.jpg
Parade of Nagamochi which are long chests. 長持Apr 29, 2007
016-126_2617.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
017-126_2619.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
015-126_2610.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
010-126_2607.jpg
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
013-126_2609.jpg
In front of Shimosuwa Station.Apr 29, 2007
012-126_2604.jpg
Entertainment stage in front of Shimosuwa Station.Apr 29, 2007
011-126_2606.jpg
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
051-121_2170.jpg
The Ax Man. He cuts the rope which sets the log loose down the slope.Apr 29, 2007
052-121_2172.jpg
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
050-121_2166.jpg
Now we walked back together with hundreds of thousands of people...Apr 29, 2007
048-121_2161.jpg
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
046-121_2157.jpg
Then came the log, and a lotta dust which made it difficult to see what was going on.Apr 29, 2007
047-121_2160.jpg
This was Log No. 1 for Shimo-sha's Harunomiya Shrine.Apr 29, 2007
049-121_2162.jpg
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
044-121_2137.jpg
The log pullers split into two.Apr 29, 2007
042-121_2128.jpg
Finally, people pulling the log appeared.Apr 29, 2007
043-121_2132.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
040-121_2117.jpg
We waited for the log scheduled to come down at 3 pm, but it was delayed by 2 hours...Apr 29, 2007
045-121_2150.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
036-121_2105.jpg
I was forced to join this crowd.Apr 29, 2007
039-121_2115.jpg
Thank goodness for telephoto lenses.Apr 29, 2007
038-121_2106.jpg
This was my view of the slope.Apr 29, 2007
041-121_2118.jpg
We sat there for hours.Apr 29, 2007
032-120_2091.jpg
People everywhere along the edge of the slope.Apr 29, 2007
035-120_2097.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
037-121_2103.jpg
The crowd extended all the way to the rear. All to see the 3pm Ki-otoshi log drop.Apr 29, 2007
034-120_2095.jpg
It was very steep and uncomfortable to sit on, so I decided to leave this place.Apr 29, 2007
033-120_2093.jpg
The numerous people and trees made it impossible to see the slope itself.Apr 29, 2007
030-120_2085.jpg
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
031-120_2090.jpg
The Ki-otoshi slope up close. Very rough-looking. 木落とし坂Apr 29, 2007
029-120_2081.jpg
We weren't the only ones there.Apr 29, 2007
026-120_2071.jpg
Log No. 4 for Shimo-sha Shrine's Akinomiya Shrine. 秋宮四之柱Apr 29, 2007
028-120_2078.jpg
There it is, the slope.Apr 29, 2007
024-120_2062.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
025-120_2067.jpg
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
022-120_2057.jpg
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
027-120_2075.jpg
So after this log came out, we were allowed to proceed to the giant slope.Apr 29, 2007
018-120_2048.jpg
Here is where anybody can get on the logs and play.Apr 29, 2007
021-120_2052.jpg
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
020-120_2051.jpg
After the Shimekake, we walked further.Apr 29, 2007
023-120_2059.jpg
We had to wait until the 1pm Ki-otoshi log came out.Apr 29, 2007
019-120_2049.jpg
Apr 29, 2007
014-120_2039.jpg
There are no buses nor taxis to where we want to go.Apr 29, 2007
016-120_2042.jpg
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
017-120_2043.jpg
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
015-120_2040.jpg
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
011-120_2037.jpg
Shimosuwa Station 下諏訪駅Apr 29, 2007
013-120_2038.jpg
Go straight on this road in front of the station.Apr 29, 2007
010-120_2035.jpg
Billboard depicting Ki-otoshi (Log Drop) at Shimosuwa Station.Apr 29, 2007
012-120_2036.jpg
Store your luggage here. Not enough lockers at the train station so they provide this service. 400 yen/day.Apr 29, 2007
144 files on 1 page(s)