 Last additions - Osaka city 大阪市 |
Sumiyoshi Taisha Station on the Nankai Line.Jan 02, 2019
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Sumiyoshi Taisha Station on the Nankai Line.Jan 02, 2019
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Sumiyoshi Taisha Station's Shop Nankai shopping arcade.Jan 02, 2019
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Manhole in Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka.Jan 02, 2019
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The old and now -closed Sumiyoshi Koen Station for the tram.Jan 02, 2019
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Hankai Line tram at Sumiyoshi Torii-mae stop in front of Sumiyoshi Taisha. 阪堺線 住吉鳥居前停留場Jan 02, 2019
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Hankai Line tram at Sumiyoshi Torii-mae stop in front of Sumiyoshi Taisha. 阪堺線 住吉鳥居前停留場Jan 02, 2019
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Sumiyoshi Park is across the train tracks from Sumiyoshi Taisha. Big park. 住吉公園Jan 02, 2019
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Food stalls on the way out.Jan 02, 2019
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Ama-zake was good too.Jan 02, 2019
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Jan 02, 2019
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Free serving of hot ginger tea. That was good. Clears your nasal passages.Jan 02, 2019
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Grand tree at Sumiyoshi Taisha, Osaka.Jan 02, 2019
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Grand tree at Sumiyoshi Taisha, Osaka.Jan 02, 2019
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Decorative paddles with a cat.Jan 02, 2019
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Cat rice paddles.Jan 02, 2019
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Small cat figurines for sale.Jan 02, 2019
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About Hattatsu worship. 住吉大社 初辰まいりJan 02, 2019
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About Hattatsu worship. 住吉大社 初辰まいりJan 02, 2019
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Larger beckoning cat figurines at Nankun-sha cat shrine at Sumiyoshi Taisha.Jan 02, 2019
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Tiny beckoning cat figurines at Nankun-sha cat shrine at Sumiyoshi Taisha.Jan 02, 2019
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They have tiny, medium, and large cat statues that you can collect.Jan 02, 2019
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Nankun-sha cat shrine altar (楠珺社). It promotes "Hattatsu" worship. At Sumiyoshi Taisha, Osaka. 初辰まいりYou supposed to come here and worship monthly and collect a total of 48 cat figurines over a period of 24 years. Then you'll get the jackpot of family safety and business prosperity. It's based on a play of words with "48" (shijuhachi) that can be pronounced similarly to "shiju-hattatsu (始終発達) which means "constant advancement or development."Jan 02, 2019
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Inside Nankun-sha cat shrine (楠珺社). Jan 02, 2019
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Nankun-sha cat shrine (楠珺社). Jan 02, 2019
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Nankun-sha cat shrine (楠珺社). Jan 02, 2019
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Banners for the Nankun-sha cat shrine (楠珺社). It's behind Hongu No. 1.Jan 02, 2019
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Small shrine for a great tree.Jan 02, 2019
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New Year's souvenir arrows.Jan 02, 2019
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Rear of Wakamiya Hachimangu.Jan 02, 2019
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Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine, a secondary shrine of Sumiyoshi Taisha. Worships Hachiman (Emperor Ojin), the guardian deity of the samurai. 若宮八幡宮Hachiman (Emperor Ojin) was the son of Empress Jingu.Jan 02, 2019
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Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine, a secondary shrine of Sumiyoshi Taisha. The torii is unusual with the middle beam not sticking out the sides. 若宮八幡宮Jan 02, 2019
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Regular ema prayer tablet with Sorihashi Bridge. ¥800 絵馬Jan 02, 2019
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Sumiyoshi Taisha's ema prayer tablet for 2019, Year of the Boar. ¥1000 絵馬Jan 02, 2019
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Hongu No. 4 shrine.Jan 02, 2019
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Hongu No. 3 shrine offertory pit.Jan 02, 2019
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Hongu No. 3 shrine in front of the altar protected by netting.Jan 02, 2019
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Rear view of Hongu No. 3 shrine.Jan 02, 2019
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Rear view of Hongu No. 3 and No. 4 shrines. Sumiyoshi-zukuri architectureJan 02, 2019
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Side view of Hongu No. 3.Jan 02, 2019
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Sumiyoshi Taisha Hongu No. 3 and No. 4 shrines. Both are National Treasures. Hongu No. 4 worships Jingu Kogo (Empress Jingu 神功皇后).(第三本宮・第四本宮)Jan 02, 2019
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Sumiyoshi Taisha Hongu No. 3 shrine, National Treasure. Worships Uwatsutsu no Onomikoto (表筒男命). (第三本宮)Jan 02, 2019
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Hongu No. 3 shrine. (第三本宮)Jan 02, 2019
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Hongu No. 4 shrine and Hongu No. 2 shrine.Jan 02, 2019
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Hongu No. 2 shrine fence.Jan 02, 2019
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Hongu No. 2 shrine. The Sumiyoshi-zukuri architecture has decorative ridgepoles.Jan 02, 2019
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Back of No. 2 Hongu shrine. Striking contrast with the dark brown, front part of the shrine. (第二本宮)Jan 02, 2019
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Hongu No. 2 shrine offertory pit. A happy time for Shinto shrines. (第二本宮)Jan 02, 2019
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Hongu No. 2 shrine offertory pit. (第二本宮)Jan 02, 2019
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Hongu No. 2 shrine with netting to protect the altar from flyimg coins. (第二本宮)Jan 02, 2019
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Hongu No. 2 shrine. (第二本宮)Jan 02, 2019
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Sumiyoshi Taisha Hongu No. 2 shrine, National Treasure. Worships Nakatsutsu no Onomikoto (中筒男命). (第二本宮)Jan 02, 2019
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Omikuji paper fortunes on New Year's Day.Jan 02, 2019
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People going to Hongu No. 1 shrine. Security staff direct and watch the crowd.Jan 02, 2019
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People going to Hongu No. 1 shrine (left). In the distance is the back of Hongu No. 2 shrine.Jan 02, 2019
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Hongu No. 1 shrine offertory pit.Jan 02, 2019
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Hongu No. 1 shrine offertory pit.Jan 02, 2019
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In front of Hongu No. 1 shrine, shielded with plastic so the coins don't hit the altar or people inside.Jan 02, 2019
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Sumiyoshi Taisha's Hongu No. 1 shrine, a National Treasure. Osaka city. Worships Sokotsutsu no Onomikoto (底筒男命).Jan 02, 2019
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Go left through that gate to exit and to see the "cat shrine."Jan 02, 2019
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Sumiyoshi Taisha is the headquarters shrine of all Sumiyoshi shrines in Japan, about 600 of them. Most are in central and western Japan.Jan 02, 2019
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Crowd going to Hongu No. 1. You supposed to pray at Hongu No. 1 first, then you can pray at the other Hongu and secondary shrines. Jan 02, 2019
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Hongu No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 shrines worship a trio of gods called Sumiyoshi Okami (住吉大神). They are gods of the sea, waka poetry, agriculture and industries, traditional archery, and even sumo wrestling.Jan 02, 2019
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Crowd going to Hongu No. 1. Jan 02, 2019
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Sumiyoshi Taisha's main shrine consists of four shrines named Hongu No. 1, 2, 3, and 4 (本宮). Each Hongu is dedicated to a different deity and all four Hongu shrines are National Treasures. First you see Hongu No. 3 and 4 here. Jan 02, 2019
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Enter the shrine through the torii and gate ahead.Jan 02, 2019
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Enter the shrine through the torii and gate ahead.Jan 02, 2019
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Sorihashi Bridge (反橋) is a symbol of the shrine and one of the larger taikobashi.Jan 02, 2019
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On Sorihashi Bridge (反橋).Jan 02, 2019
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It has graduated steps.Jan 02, 2019
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Going up the shrine's arch bridge called Sorihashi (反橋).Jan 02, 2019
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Going up the shrine's taikobashi arch bridge called Sorihashi (反橋).Jan 02, 2019
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Jan 02, 2019
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Pass through the first torii, then the taikobashi bridge.Jan 02, 2019
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One bottleneck was here, the tram line crossing. The crowd had to stop here whenever a tram passed through. The shrine is straight ahead.Jan 02, 2019
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It looks very crowded at Sumiyoshi Taisha, but it progressed quickly. Kept on walking most of the time.Jan 02, 2019
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Jan 02, 2019
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Going through the Shop Nankai shopping arcade connected to the train station's exit.Jan 02, 2019
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From the train station platform before noon, we could see the crowd heading to the shrine. This crowd became less in the afternoon.Jan 02, 2019
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Sumiyoshi Taisha is one of Japan's three most popular shrines during New Year's (Jan. 1 to 3) seeing over 2 million worshippers. The main shrines are National Treasures since they are built in the unique Sumiyoshi-zukuri style. Nicknamed "Sumiyossan" by locals, Sumiyoshi Taisha is the headquarters shrine of all Sumiyoshi shrines in Japan, about 600 of them. Most are in central and western Japan. The shrine is a short walk from Sumiyoshi Taisha Station on the Nankai Line and Hankai Line tram station. These photos were taken on New Year's Day, Jan. 1, 2019, Year of the Boar. Jan 02, 2019
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Sep 17, 2016
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Sep 17, 2016
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The inside of the taiko drums is covered with gold leaf for better sound.Sep 17, 2016
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Sep 17, 2016
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Sep 17, 2016
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Sep 17, 2016
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Large taiko shop (TaikoMasa) near Ashiharabashi Station on the Loop Line. This area has a number of taiko shops. Their quality taiko drums are made of zelkova wood (keyaki). They also make the taiko drums used in the Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri.Sep 17, 2016
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Drunken man inside Shin-Osaka Station.Sep 17, 2016
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Bunraku puppet displayed inside Shin-Osaka Station.Sep 17, 2016
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Sep 17, 2016
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Shin-Osaka Station's shinkansen turnstile.Sep 17, 2016
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Bento to Mixed Plate exhibition in 2001 at National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka.Sep 17, 2016
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Osaka subways are more international than in Tokyo. This destination sign is displayed in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean. In Tokyo, we only see Japanese and English.Sep 17, 2016
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Sep 17, 2016
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Honolulu Coffee in Dotonbori, OsakaSep 17, 2016
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HalloweenSep 17, 2016
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Sep 17, 2016
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Sep 17, 2016
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Lots of indoor shopping arcades.Sep 17, 2016
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Besides neon signs, shops, restaurants, and boardwalks, there are boat cruises along the canal in Dotonbori.Sep 17, 2016
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Sep 17, 2016
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Sep 17, 2016
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Lots of tourists. Dotonbori is quite a spectacle at night.Sep 17, 2016
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Boardwalks along the canal.Sep 17, 2016
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Sep 17, 2016
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Sep 17, 2016
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SushiSep 17, 2016
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Sep 17, 2016
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Sep 17, 2016
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Gyoza restaurant in this retro area.Sep 17, 2016
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Restaurant row is fun too. Crab restaurant Kani Dōraku's crab sign has been here since 1960.Sep 17, 2016
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Sep 17, 2016
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Sep 17, 2016
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So this clown was moved here, not far from its original location.Sep 17, 2016
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Another Dotonbori icon is Kuidaore Taro, a mechanical drum-playing clown that used to be the mascot of a restaurant that has since closed.Sep 17, 2016
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Lots of neon signs, like Ginza in Tokyo.Sep 17, 2016
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Sep 17, 2016
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Welcome to Dotonbori!Sep 17, 2016
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Ebisubashi Bridge or the "pick-up" bridge. However, it is regularly patrolled by police to prevent solicitations.Sep 17, 2016
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Sep 17, 2016
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Sep 17, 2016
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Glico Man at Dotonbori.Sep 17, 2016
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Eiffel Tower and Glico Man.Sep 17, 2016
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Rome's Colosseum and Glico Man.Sep 17, 2016
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Interesting to watch how the background changes. Sep 17, 2016
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The Glico Man is also very famous in Asia, with many Asian tourists posing with it.Sep 17, 2016
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The Glico Man sign uses LED now. The tourists mimic the Glico Man's pose. The area is regularly patrolled by the police so it's less sleazy than before.Sep 17, 2016
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Dotonbori is Osaka's most famous evening entertainment district with neon lights, shops, restaurants, riverside boardwalks, boat rides, and big-city hustle and bustle.Sep 17, 2016
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The Grand Front Osaka complex next to Osaka Station opened in April 2013.Apr 14, 2014
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Inside Grand Front Osaka, this coffee shop from Hawaii (serving Kona coffee) with a long line of people waiting to get in. We couldn't wait and reluctantly went to Starbucks instead.Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Rooftop garden for rent.Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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The new station buildings also have pleasant rooftop parks with a view.Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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JR Osaka StationApr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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There are great spots to just sit or meet up with a friend. Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Inside Osaka Station.Apr 14, 2014
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The pedestrian bridge above the train tracks gives a bird's-eye view of all or most of the tracks. I could never figure out Osaka Station until now.Apr 14, 2014
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JR Osaka Station's new terminal building opened on May 4, 2011. Great improvement. It has a simple lean-to roof that creates some space to build bridges and plazas above the train tracks.Very easy to get your bearings and remember which way to go wherever you wanna go. Apr 14, 2014
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Apr 14, 2014
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Horrendous crowd gathers to watch the fireworks, the festival's climax. The festival ends at 10 pm when the procession returns to the shrine.Apr 06, 2007
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The boat carrying the portable shrine housing the spirit of Sugawara Michizane. 御鳳輦奉安船Apr 06, 2007
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Portable shrine 船渡御 玉御神輿奉安Apr 06, 2007
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船渡御Apr 06, 2007
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玉御神輿奉安Apr 06, 2007
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Apr 06, 2007
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Apr 06, 2007
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This is the most important boat in the procession. It holds a ceremony called the Senjo-sai (船上祭) in the middle of the river to celebrate Sugawara Michizane's birthday. 御鳳輦奉安船Apr 06, 2007
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Apr 06, 2007
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Apr 06, 2007
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Boat cornerApr 06, 2007
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船渡御Apr 06, 2007
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Apr 06, 2007
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Apr 06, 2007
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Apr 06, 2007
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Apr 06, 2007
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Tugboats pull these huge barges.Apr 06, 2007
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To ride these boats, you have to be a member of a shrine parish or supporting group.Apr 06, 2007
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Ningyo-bune 人形船Apr 06, 2007
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船渡御Apr 06, 2007
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The fire, fueled by LP gas, is on a corporate-sponsored boat, used for illumination. 大篝Apr 06, 2007
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Most of the boats carry parishioners who eat bento on the boats while sometimes looking at photographers shooting them from a bridge overhead.Apr 06, 2007
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The Boat Procession started at 7 pm on Okawa River. These boats are called Dondoko. どんどこ船 大川 船渡御Apr 06, 2007
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The boats are numerous. About 100 of them go up and down the river.Apr 06, 2007
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Apr 06, 2007
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The boats are large barges.Apr 06, 2007
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By 6 pm, shrine parishioners started boarding boats near Tenjin-bashi Bridge, the starting point of the Boat Procession. These are supporter's boats.Apr 06, 2007
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Okawa River 大川Apr 06, 2007
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Crowded walking path along Okawa River. Most people view the festival from the riverside.Apr 06, 2007
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A large crane is used to carry the portable shrines onto the boats.Apr 06, 2007
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The Boat Procession (Funa-togyo) is the Tenjin Matsuri festival's main event.Apr 06, 2007
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Crowd near Tenjin-bashi Bridge.Apr 06, 2007
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Apr 06, 2007
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These boats will carry portable shrines.Apr 06, 2007
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Portable shrine housing the spirit of Sugawara Michizane. This is the most important thing in the procession. 御鳳輦Apr 06, 2007
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Apr 06, 2007
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Apr 06, 2007
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Apr 06, 2007
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Apr 06, 2007
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Apr 06, 2007
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Apr 06, 2007
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Apr 06, 2007
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Mother and twins in yukataApr 06, 2007
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御羽車Apr 06, 2007
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Shrine priestApr 06, 2007
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Portable shrine 御羽車Apr 06, 2007
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牛曳童児Apr 06, 2007
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Apr 06, 2007
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Chigo childApr 06, 2007
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Apr 06, 2007
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Apr 06, 2007
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Apr 06, 2007
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Apr 06, 2007
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Apr 06, 2007
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Hanagasa umbrella dancers 花傘Apr 06, 2007
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Hanagasa umbrella dancers, Tenjin Matsuri, Osaka 花傘Apr 06, 2007
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Apr 06, 2007
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Lion danceApr 06, 2007
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花傘Apr 06, 2007
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Hanagasa dancers 花傘Apr 06, 2007
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Danjiri float 地車Apr 06, 2007
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Shishimai lion danceApr 06, 2007
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Danjiri float 地車Apr 06, 2007
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Apr 06, 2007
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Apr 06, 2007
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About 3,000 people are in the procession which follows a 4 km route from the shrine to a boat landing near Tenjin-bashi Bridge on the Okawa River. 陸渡御Apr 06, 2007
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Sarutahiko on horseback 猿田彦Apr 06, 2007
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Taiko drummers at the shrine's Otorii gate. 催太鼓Apr 06, 2007
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The Land Procession is one of the festival's two main events. It starts with a group of taiko drummers.Apr 06, 2007
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Crowd at Osaka Tenmangu Shrine, the organizer of the Tenjin Festival and starting point of the festival's Land Procession called "Riku-togyo." 大阪天満宮One of Japan's Big Three Festivals (besides Kyoto's Gion Matsuri and Tokyo's Kanda Matsuri) is also Osaka's biggest summer festival held on July 24-25. These photos were taken on July 25, 2004. The festival has a procession starting from Tenmangu Shrine in the afternoon and a water procession on the river in the evening. Apr 06, 2007
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Spectators wait near Tenmangu Shrine's torii for the Land Procession (Riku-togyo) to start at 4 pm on July 25, the festival's 2nd day. The shrine is near Minami-morimachi Station on the Tanimachi subway line. 陸渡御Apr 06, 2007
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Jan 16, 2007
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People patting a lucky mirror?Jan 16, 2007
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Jan 16, 2007
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The shrine is surrounded by Ebisu street stalls.Jan 16, 2007
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Never-ending sales pitch on Toka Ebisu Day. All these good-looking girls make you wanna buy something.Jan 16, 2007
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