Last additions - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

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Last additions - SAITAMA 埼玉県

Benches offer visitors a rest.Apr 28, 2007

Mt. Bukosan and moss pink. 武甲山Apr 28, 2007

Apr 28, 2007

武甲山Apr 28, 2007

Apr 28, 2007

Mt. Bukosan is being slowly eaten away by cement companies. 武甲山Apr 28, 2007

The top of one slope provides a grand view of the flower carpet and Mt. Bukosan, one symbol of Chichibu. 武甲山Apr 28, 2007

Apr 28, 2007

Tama-no-Nagare. Means "Flow of Tama." Tama is a river. 多摩の流れApr 28, 2007

Tama-no-Nagare look light pink from afar.Apr 28, 2007

Tama-no-Nagare have a pink stripe on each petal. 多摩の流れApr 28, 2007

Apr 28, 2007

Scarlet Flame ｽｶｰﾚｯﾄﾌﾚｰﾑApr 28, 2007

Scarlet FlameApr 28, 2007

Scarlet Flame are red. ｽｶｰﾚｯﾄﾌﾚｰﾑApr 28, 2007

Apr 28, 2007

Oakington BlueApr 28, 2007

Oakington Blue ｵｰｷﾝﾄﾝﾌﾞﾙｰApr 28, 2007

Oakington Blue are bluish flowers. ｵｰｷﾝﾄﾝﾌﾞﾙｰApr 28, 2007

McDaniel's Cushion ﾏｯｸﾀﾞﾆｴﾙｸｯｼｮﾝApr 28, 2007

McDaniel's CushionApr 28, 2007

Apr 28, 2007

McDaniel's Cushion are dark pink flowers. ﾏｯｸﾀﾞﾆｴﾙｸｯｼｮﾝApr 28, 2007

Apr 28, 2007

Little DotApr 28, 2007

Little Dot. リットルドットApr 28, 2007

Little Dot are white flowers with a yellow dot at the center. リットルドットApr 28, 2007

Autumn Rose. Moss pink flowers have five petals with notches, looking like miniature cherry blossoms. The flowers are small. ｵｰﾀﾑﾛｰｽﾞApr 28, 2007

Eight varieties of moss pink are planted. This is Autumn Rose. ｵｰﾀﾑﾛｰｽﾞApr 28, 2007

Moss pink is therefore commonly called "shiba-zakura" which can be translated as "grassy cherry blossoms" or "lawn cherry blossoms."Apr 28, 2007

Apr 28, 2007

These photos were taken in late April 2007. (Copyright year in the images are mistaken.)Apr 28, 2007

It is not yet full bloom. A few patches of green.Apr 28, 2007

On sunny days, great for taking pictures.Apr 28, 2007

The map tells you how to walk to the park, but better to just follow the signs.Apr 28, 2007

Entrance to Hitsujiyama Park. Show your ticket or buy it at the booth nearby.Apr 28, 2007

Quite spectacular when the flowers are in full bloom.Apr 28, 2007

If you go early in the morning, there are fewer people.Apr 28, 2007

Seibu Ikebukuro Line train with shibazakura design.Apr 28, 2007

Seibu Ikebukuro Line train station entrance at Ikebukuro, Tokyo. It takes about 90 min. from Ikebukuro to Yokoze Station via Tokkyu express train. Cheaper trains take 2 hours.Apr 28, 2007

You can buy a park entry ticket (300 yen) at a booth in front of Yokoze Station. Maps also available. Underpass at Yokoze Station.Apr 28, 2007

Seibu Ikebukuro Line Yokoze Station. Get off here for an easy walk to Hitsujiyama Park where the Shibazakura moss pink hill is. A tourist info office is on the left. 西武池袋線横瀬駅Apr 28, 2007

Someone injuredMar 25, 2007

Urawa-misono Station with soccer fans going home. Also see the video at YouTube.Mar 25, 2007

Good saveMar 25, 2007

Mar 25, 2007

Getting nearer to the train station.Mar 25, 2007

Crowd heading for Urawa-misono Station on the Sai-no-Kuni Stadium Line. It was a stop and go process.Mar 25, 2007

Sea of RedMar 25, 2007

Mar 25, 2007

Manchester United vs. Urawa RedsMar 25, 2007

Attendance numberMar 25, 2007

Urawa Reds fans. Also see the video at YouTube.Mar 25, 2007

Mar 25, 2007

Saitama Stadium 2002Mar 25, 2007

Saitama Stadium is a large soccer stadium built for the Soccer World Cup in 2002 and now home of the Urawa Reds. Way to Saitama Stadium 2002 from the train station.Mar 25, 2007

Stadium entryMar 25, 2007

Vodafone Cup with the Urawa Reds vs. Manchester United on July 30, 2005.Mar 25, 2007

These photos were taken during the Vodafone Cup with the Urawa Reds vs. Manchester United on July 30, 2005. Over 58,000 fans attended. Mar 25, 2007

Sep 14, 2006

Chichibu Night Festival climaxSep 14, 2006

Sep 14, 2006

In the Otabisho, a large plaza.Sep 14, 2006

Sep 14, 2006

The festival climaxes with fireworks.Sep 14, 2006

Also see the video at YouTube.Sep 14, 2006

Sep 14, 2006

A total of 6 floats arrive. Chichibu Yomatsuri. Also see the video at YouTube.Sep 14, 2006

With great fanfare, the floats are pulled up the slope.Sep 14, 2006

Sep 14, 2006

Taiko drum performance at the Otabisho.Sep 14, 2006

A float proceeds to the Otabisho plaza.Sep 14, 2006

団子坂Sep 14, 2006

A float climbs up the Dangozaka slope before entering the Otabisho.Sep 14, 2006

Sep 14, 2006

A float proceeds to the Otabisho plaza.Sep 14, 2006

Sep 14, 2006

Local fire station designed like a float.Sep 14, 2006

Children's kabukiSep 14, 2006

How to turn the float.Sep 14, 2006

Main dragSep 14, 2006

Storehouse for a floatSep 14, 2006

Sep 14, 2006

Mini octopusSep 14, 2006

Float at Chichibu ShrineSep 14, 2006

Sep 14, 2006

Stage performance at Chichibu ShrineSep 14, 2006

Chichibu ShrineSep 14, 2006

Chichibu Shrine offertory binSep 14, 2006

Stage at Chichibu ShrineSep 14, 2006

Sep 14, 2006

Ornate float is pulled along the streets toward Chichibu Shrine.Sep 14, 2006

Chichibu Yomatsuri. Also see the video at YouTube.Sep 14, 2006

Floats parked along the main drag.Sep 14, 2006

Main street crowdSep 14, 2006

Held on Dec. 2-3 by Chichibu Shrine, Chichibu Yomatsuri is one of Japan's Big Three Hikiyama Float Festivals. Ornate floats are pulled along the city's main streets until they reach a large plaza at night where they are lit with lanterns. Fireworks then serve as the climax. Photo: Seibu Chichibu StationSep 14, 2006

In front of Seibu Chichibu StationSep 14, 2006

Shopping streetSep 09, 2006

City Museum 市立博物館Sep 09, 2006

ResidenceSep 09, 2006

Bell tower at nightSep 09, 2006

Kawagoe Festival MuseumSep 09, 2006

Kawagoe Festival Museum (Kawagoe Matsuri Kaikan) 川越まつり会館Sep 09, 2006

Street signs in EnglishSep 09, 2006

Sep 09, 2006

Kura-zukuri style architecture. Local merchants built these earthen buildings after the Great Fire of Kawagoe in 1893. 蔵造りの町並みSep 09, 2006

The bell is rung at 6 am, 12 noon, 3 pm, and 6 pm.Sep 09, 2006

Kurazukuri earthen buildings were fire-resistant, so they built these fire-resistant shops after the Great Fire. "Kura" means warehouse.Sep 09, 2006

There is a bell at the top which is rung 4 times a day. The bell or gong looks like a temple bell.Sep 09, 2006

Hon-Kawagoe Station 本川越駅Sep 09, 2006

JR Kawagoe Station plazaSep 09, 2006

JR Kawagoe Station 川越駅Sep 09, 2006

Toki no Kane, Time Bell Tower, symbol of Kawagoe. Part of Kawagoe's National Important Traditional Townscape Preservation District (重要伝統的建造物群保存地区). 時の鐘Sep 09, 2006

Hill where the Fujimi Turret once stood.Sep 09, 2006

Former castle moat.Sep 09, 2006

Sep 09, 2006

Veranda facing a garden.Sep 09, 2006

Entrance to Honmaru Goten palace, Kawagoe Castle.Sep 09, 2006

GardenSep 09, 2006

Sep 09, 2006

Boo-hoo! My cat ran away!Sep 09, 2006

Sep 09, 2006

Psst, wanna know a secret? Kitain Temple, KawagoeSep 09, 2006

五百羅漢Sep 09, 2006

Sep 09, 2006

Oh man, I forgot my glasses!Sep 09, 2006

Carved during the 18th and 19th centuries.Sep 09, 2006

Sep 09, 2006

Over 500 stone statues of Rakan Buddhist disciplesSep 09, 2006

Sep 09, 2006

Gate to Kitain, a Tendai Buddhist temple. Part of Kawagoe's National Important Traditional Townscape Preservation District (重要伝統的建造物群保存地区).Sep 09, 2006

Pagoda at Kitain temple, KawagoeSep 09, 2006

Main hallSep 09, 2006

Kitain Main hall, KawagoeSep 09, 2006

Sep 08, 2006

Lion for good luck.Sep 08, 2006

LionSep 08, 2006

Sep 08, 2006

Each float has musicians and a performer.Sep 08, 2006

Musical battle between floats.Sep 08, 2006

Sep 08, 2006

Sporty police car.Sep 08, 2006

Drag marksSep 08, 2006

Getting into a float.Sep 08, 2006

Floats at night, Kawagoe Festival.Sep 08, 2006

Sep 08, 2006

Steering the floatSep 08, 2006

Turning the cornerSep 08, 2006

Moving a float to the starting point.Sep 08, 2006

Closeup of carvings on a float.Sep 08, 2006

Sep 08, 2006

Kawagoe FestivalSep 08, 2006

Sep 08, 2006

Also see the video at YouTube.Sep 08, 2006

Sep 08, 2006

Tekomai geisha lead the way for a float at Kawagoe Festival.Sep 08, 2006

TekomaiSep 08, 2006

Sep 08, 2006

Kawagoe Matsuri is a parade of ornate floats during the day and evening in the city's old town of traditional buildings. Around 15 floats appear during the festival. Held on the third weekend in Oct. Main road where the festival will climax in the evening.Sep 08, 2006