Image search results - "kaizu"
kn300-20170413-3951.jpg
The best way to see Kaizu-Osaki cherry blossoms is by boat. During the first half of April, cherry blossom cruises for Kaizu-Osaki depart Imazu Port a few times daily.
kn301-20170413-3957.jpg
At Imazu Port, the boat named "megumi" goes to Kaizu-Osaki.
kn302-20170413-3979.jpg
Imazu Port. The end of the pier has a red lamp which is also a song monument for Biwako Shuko no Uta (Lake Biwa Rowing Song).
kn303-20170413-3960.jpg
Inside megumi with large picture windows.
kn304-20170413-3985.jpg
Upper, open-air deck of megumi.
kn305-20170413-3989.jpg
End deck of megumi.
kn306-20170413-3990.jpg
Kaizu-Osaki coast ahead.
kn307-20170413-4035a.jpg
Kaizu-Osaki is famous for cherry blossoms along the lake shore. One of Japan's 100 Famous Cherry Blossom Spots.
kn308-20170413-4298a.jpg
During cherry blossom season, boats often come and go at Kaizu-Osaki Port.
kn309-20170413-4202a.jpg
Lots of cherry blossoms greet boat passengers.
kn310-20170413-4093a.jpg
megumi at Kaizu-Osaki Port, Takashima, Shiga.The cruise I went on docked at the port so we could get off and walk around for 30 min. If you go on a cherry blossom cruise, go on a cruise that will dock at Kaizu-Osaki. Some cruises only cruise and do not dock.
kn311-20170413-4173a.jpg
megumi at Kaizu-Osaki Port.
kn312-20170413-4095.jpg
Just beware of the cars on the narrow road.
kn313-20170413-4138a.jpg
There's a footpath along the shore.
kn314-20170413-4301a.jpg
It's really beauitful to see the cherry blossoms from the boat.
kn315-20170413-4312a.jpg
kn316-20170413-4326a.jpg
Really enjoyed the cherry blossom cruise to Kaizu-Osaki. No hassle with car traffic. Totally worth it.
kn317-20170413-4345.jpg
Boats also leave from Nagahama and Hikone for Kaizu-Osaki.
kn318-20170413-4318a.jpg
Kaizu-Osaki cherry blossoms as seen from sakura cruise boat.
kn319-20170413-4355a.jpg
Leaving Kaizu-Osaki.
ko050-20090410_9252.jpg
Kaizu-Osaki is a peninsula easily accessible from Makino or Nishi-Azai Station. You can rent a bicycle at Makino Station on the Kosei Line or at Nagahara Station. Makino Station is closer so I rented a bicycle there at the tourist info office.
ko051-20090410_9255.jpg
You can see a line of pink along the shore of the peninsula in the distance.
ko052-IMG_3847.jpg
ko053-IMG_3635.jpg
A few cherry trees along the way to Kaizu-Osaki.
ko054-20090410_9259.jpg
The Kaizu-Osaki welcome sign marks the start of the cherry tree-lined road. Beware of cars. MAP
ko055-20090410_9260.jpg
On weekends, the road is bumper-to-bumper traffic when the cherries are in full bloom. The road also becomes a one-way road from west to east.
ko056-IMG_3820.jpg
ko057-IMG_3804.jpg
Kaizu-Osaki cherry blossoms. These cherry trees were first planted in 1936 to commemorate the opening of Osaki Tunnel. Some 600 cherry trees were planted along a 4-kilometer route along the lakeshore.
ko058-IMG_3801.jpg
If you're walking, there's a side path here. (Some people walk from Makino Station.)
ko059-IMG_3796.jpg
Footpath along the lake at Kaizu-Osaki.
ko060-IMG_3795.jpg
Large, cracked rocks along the footpath.
ko061-IMG_3788.jpg
The cherry blossom boat cruises either just cruise or they stop at Kaizu-Osaki Port where you can get off and walk around.
ko062-20090410_9272.jpg
Soon you will reach this rest stop and the Kaizu-Osaki boat pier.
ko063-IMG_3790.jpg
Kaizu-Osaki Port. Boat cruises along the Kaizu-Osaki coast are offered during the cherry blossom season.
ko064-20090410_9574.jpg
The boats come from Hikone, Nagahama, and Imazu Ports during cherry blossom season.
ko065-IMG_3787.jpg
Kaizu-Osaki port. Cherry blossom (sakura) cruises are great because you can get to the sakura without fighting traffic.Best to take the cruise that lets you get off and walk around for 30 min. at Kaisu-Osaki Port. Better than the boats that only cruise and do not enter port.
ko066-20090410_9575.jpg
Near the boat pier is Osaki temple.
ko067-20090410_9577.jpg
There's a slope that goes up to the temple.
ko068-20090410_9582.jpg
View of the boat pier.
ko069-20090410_9583.jpg
Entrance to Osaki temple. 100 yen donations are requested.
ko070-20090410_9585.jpg
ko071-20090410_9590.jpg
Osaki temple 大崎寺
ko072-20090410_9593.jpg
Osaki temple 大崎寺
ko073-20090410_9591.jpg
ko074-20090410_9595.jpg
ko075-20090410_9598.jpg
ko076-20090410_9600.jpg
ko077-20090410_9599.jpg
ko078-20090410_9602.jpg
Beyond the temple is a short trail going further north along the shore below.
ko079-20090410_9605.jpg
A few scenic views from the trail.
ko080-20090410_9606.jpg
View of Kaizu-Osaki.
ko081-20090410_9609.jpg
ko082-20090410_9615.jpg
The trail then goes down to the Osaki Camping Grounds.
ko083-20090410_9622.jpg
Osaki Camping Grounds
ko084-20090410_9541.jpg
Kaizu-Osaki and Chikubushima.
ko085-20090410_9511.jpg
Kaizu-Osaki
ko086-20090410_9505.jpg
ko087-20090410_9507.jpg
ko088-20090410_9566.jpg
ko089-20090410_9562.jpg
ko090-20090410_9572.jpg
Kaizu-Osaki and Chikubushima island
ko091-20090410_9539.jpg
ko092-20090410_9545.jpg
Kaizu-Osaki cherry blossoms, one of Japan's 100 Best Spots for cherry blossoms.
ko093-IMG_3656.jpg
Entrance to Osaki Camp grounds.
ko094-IMG_7111.jpg
There are a few tunnels along the road.
ko095-20090410_9627.jpg
During cherry blossom season, pedestrians will walk through this dark, narrow tunnel. No sidewalks, so be careful. Cars whiz by. Best to carry a flashlight.
ko096-20090410_9546.jpg
After the tunnel, some the best parts of the sakura-lined road/shore lie ahead.
ko097-20090410_9282.jpg
These sunny photos were taken in April 2009 during a long string of sunny days right during the full bloom period.
ko098-20090410_9286.jpg
Usually it rains or storms during cherry blossom season. We were lucky in April 2009.
ko099-20090410_9284.jpg
ko100-20090410_9293.jpg
ko101-20090410_9294.jpg
Chikubushima island and cherry blossoms at Kaizu-Osaki, Lake Biwa.
ko102-IMG_3727.jpg
ko103-IMG_3763.jpg
ko104-IMG_3765.jpg
ko105-20090410_9298.jpg
ko106-20090410_9304.jpg
ko107-20090410_9313.jpg
ko108-20090410_9314.jpg
ko109-20090410_9315.jpg
ko110-20090410_9317.jpg
ko111-20090410_9334.jpg
ko112-20090410_9338.jpg
ko113-IMG_3739.jpg
Sad to see a few cherry trees keeled over. In recent years, some trees have not been blooming so well due to sickness or age. A local NPO is trying to preserve the trees and plant new ones.
ko114-20090410_9339.jpg
Note that the cars are bumper-to-bumper and the road has no sidewalk for pedestrians or bicycles. Be careful when walking/cycling on the road.
ko115-20090410_9346.jpg
ko116-20090410_9351.jpg
ko117-20090410_9350.jpg
ko118-20090410_9355.jpg
ko119-20090410_9362.jpg
Kaizu-Osaki cherry blossoms in northern Lake Biwa.
ko120-20090410_9364.jpg
ko121-20090410_9373.jpg
ko122-20090410_9369.jpg
ko123-20090410_9372.jpg
ko124-20090410_9378.jpg
ko125-20090410_9385.jpg
ko126-20090410_9388.jpg
ko127-20090410_9386.jpg
ko128-20090410_9389.jpg
ko129-20090410_9394.jpg
ko130-20090410_9397.jpg
ko131-20090410_9403.jpg
Chikubushima
ko132-20090410_9406.jpg
ko133-20090410_9410.jpg
ko134-20090410_9413.jpg
ko135-20090410_9416.jpg
ko136-20090410_9417.jpg
ko137-20090410_9418.jpg
ko138-20090410_9446.jpg
ko139-20090410_9450.jpg
ko140-20090410_9453.jpg
ko141-20090410_9461.jpg
ko142-20090410_9470.jpg
ko143-20090410_9481.jpg
ko144-20090410_9492.jpg
ko145-20090410_9493.jpg
ko146-20090410_9420.jpg
ko147-20090410_9421.jpg
Across the water are more cherry trees along the Oku-Biwako Parkway road.
ko148-20090410_9431.jpg
A black kite is perched in a cherry tree.
ko149-20090410_9437.jpg
ko150-IMG_3752.jpg
Welcome sign to Makino (as seen from Nishi-Azai).
ko151-IMG_1461.jpg
Kaizu-Osaki as seen from the lake.
ko152-IMG_1467.jpg
ko153-IMG_7114.jpg
In summer, the cherry trees are very green.
ko154-IMG_7112.jpg
kr020-20090429_5533.jpg
Marker showing the way to Kaizuten Jinja Shrine on a busy highway in Makino. Kaizuten Jinja holds the annual Kaizu Matsuri (nicknamed Kaizu Rikishi Matsuri) on April 29. Rikishi means sumo wrestler.
kr021-20090429_5534.jpg
The festival started with a Shinto ceremony at the shrine with two mikoshi portable shrines present. Then at 1 pm, they left the shrine and carried the mikoshi in their neighborhoods.
kr022-20090429_5535.jpg
Kaizuten Jinja. If you're walking from Makino Station, be careful as part of the highway along the way has no sidewalk. At night, bring a flashlight so the cars can see you. MAP
kr023-20090429_5537.jpg
The two mikoshi portable shrines. They are carried by the two neighborhoods (Kaizu and Nishihama) during the day (1 pm - 3 pm) and in the evening. They rest from 3 pm to 5 pm.
kr024-20090429_5548.jpg
At 5 pm, they started to carry the mikoshi again in their neighborhoods. This local festival features men dressed as sumo wrestlers (rikishi) carrying the two mikoshi portable shrines. This is the Nishihama group.
kr025-20090429_5556.jpg
They wear kesho mawashi ceremonial aprons normally worn by sumo wrestlers. These aprons are possessed by local families and passed down to successive generations.
kr026-20090429_5560.jpg
The Nishihama (西浜) group go through their neighborhood along the shore of Lake Biwa. About 30 men carry the mikoshi.
kr027-20090429_5564.jpg
They shout "Yo-ya-sa-ja!." (ヨーヤサージャー). They take several rest breaks along the way.
kr028-20090429_5568.jpg
Now the Kaizu mikoshi group starts their way at 5 pm. They go in the opposite direction (north) from the Nishihama group. 海津
kr029-20090429_5587.jpg
These photos were taken from 5 pm so they look rather dark. If you want brighter photos, go during the day. But then, the festival climax is at night when they gather at the shrine.
kr030-20090429_5588.jpg
Three centuries ago, the Kaizu was a port for small cargo boats plying Lake Biwa to deliver goods from Hokuriku to Kyoto. Local young men working for these boats started sumo wrestling in the shrine and making these kesho mawashi aprons.
kr031-20090429_5592.jpg
The festival started with these young men dressed like sumo wrestlers.
kr032-20090429_5597.jpg
Many of the aprons have a kanji character for dragon, tiger, or other macho themes.
kr033-20090429_5599.jpg
kr034-20090429_5601.jpg
kr035-20090429_5606.jpg
Also see my YouTube video here.
kr036-20090429_5607.jpg
The Kaizu mikoshi proceeds along the shore of Lake Biwa, heading toward Kaizu.
kr037-20090429_5611.jpg
kr038-20090429_5612.jpg
Some local people come out to watch.
kr039-20090429_5613.jpg
kr040-20090429_5614.jpg
They sometimes jostle the mikoshi up and down.
kr041-20090429_5616.jpg
kr042-20090429_5618.jpg
kr043-20090429_5622.jpg
kr044-20090429_5625.jpg
kr045-20090429_5629.jpg
Rest break for Kaizu mikoshi.
kr046-20090429_5641.jpg
The Nishihama mikoshi on its way to Kaizuten Shrine.
kr047-20090429_5643.jpg
kr048-20090429_5661.jpg
kr049-20090429_5651.jpg
At Kaizuten Shrine, kids light their torches.
kr050-20090429_5653.jpg
kr051-20090429_5655.jpg
kr052-20090429_5665.jpg
One mikoshi arrives at Kaizuten Shrine.
kr053-20090429_5674.jpg
Another arrives at Kaizuten Shrine at about 9 pm.
kr054-20090429_5693.jpg
They run around the shrine with the mikoshi and shout.
kr055-20090429_5697.jpg
In front of a large crowd, they dramatically raise and lower the mikoshi.
kr056-20090429_5696.jpg
This was the climax of the Kaizu Rikishi festival.
kr057-20090429_5700.jpg
They did this repeatedly until they went further up the shrine.
kr058-20090429_5720.jpg
kr059-20090429_5723.jpg
Also see my YouTube video here.
kr060-20090429_5721.jpg
Unfortunately, I had to leave to catch the last train home (after 10 pm) before the climax ended.
kr061-20090429_5726.jpg
I never got to see the torches with the mikoshi. For more info, call the shrine in Japanese: 0740-28-0051
 
167 files on 1 page(s)