Image search results - "nagano"
001-NAGANO.jpg
JR Nagano Station festooned with Olympic logos.
002-TRAIN4.jpg
Welcome sign at Nagano Station
003-988-1FEB12.jpg
Nagano Station, East Exit to Olympic PlazaAt the East Exit of Nagano Station, this bridge, lined with advertising banners, led the way to the Olympic Plaza which featured ten tent pavilions made by official sponsors.
004-988-4.jpg
To Olympic Plaza
005-988-9.jpg
Pavilion by Kirin Brewery.Notice the "wrap" bus passing in front.
006-988-13.jpg
Olympic PlazaSnowlets House and Kodak's pavilion behind it.
007-988-17.jpg
Entrance to Snowlets House at Olympic Plaza.The official store for Olympic souvenirs. There were a lot of ticket scalpers (all foreigners) hanging around the entrance. Inside, there was a ticket counter for events which still had seats.
008-988-20.jpg
Snowlets HouseIt was packed. This is part of the checkout line. There were four checkout lines and each one was about 30 meters long. The line went pretty fast though. They had all kinds of souvenirs: T-shirts, sweatshirts, flags, postcards, pins, key chains, necklaces, stuffed Snowlets, mugs, and even jewelry. I went on the 6th day of the Games and it still had everything well in stock. But I later heard that the shelves were laid bare well before the Games ended.
009-988-19.jpg
Snowlets House, ticket availability
01-127_2732.jpg
JR Okaya Station. There is no tourist info office here.Small station, but close to Lake Suwa.
01-130_3046.jpg
Numerous azalea bushes
01-131_3174.jpg
JR Kami-Suwa Station
01-131_3175.jpg
Castle tower
01-132_3235.jpg
Lake SuwaYou can rent a bicycle at Kami-Suwa Station and ride along the lake shore.
010-120_2035.jpg
Billboard depicting Ki-otoshi (Log Drop) at Shimosuwa Station.
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.
010-988-24.jpg
Kodak's Kodak-yellow pavilionOn the day I went in, they introduced Jamaica's bobsled team. They are very popular in Japan, largely due to the comedy movie "Cool Running" which was aired in Japan before the Nagano Games started.
010-IMG_3532.jpg
JR Okaya Station platform. JR岡谷駅
010-IMG_9106.jpg
Canora Hall, venue for the Okaya International Exchange Association's 15th anniversary festival.
011-120_2037.jpg
Shimosuwa Station 下諏訪駅
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.
011-988-23.jpg
Jamaica's bobsled team in Kodak PavilionThey introduced Jamaica's bobsled team. They are very popular in Japan, largely due to the comedy movie "Cool Running" which was aired in Japan before the Nagano Games started.
011-IMG_3905.jpg
JR Okaya Station platform
011-IMG_9117.jpg
Lobby of Canora Hall
012-120_2036.jpg
Store your luggage here. Not enough lockers at the train station so they provide this service. 400 yen/day.
012-126_2604.jpg
Entertainment stage in front of Shimosuwa Station.
012-988-27.jpg
012-IMG_3534.jpg
View from train station overpass
012-IMG_9120.jpg
Entrance to the smaller hall
013-120_2038.jpg
Go straight on this road in front of the station.
013-126_2609.jpg
In front of Shimosuwa Station.
013-988-29.jpg
Kita Nagano StationTo get to Aqua Wing, the ice hockey rink, we had to take a local train from Nagano Station for a short ride to the next stop at Kita Nagano Station. This Kita Nagano Station was a tiny little train station certainly not meant for large crowds. It was unbelievably small. It took some minutes before we could get out of the station which was not much larger than a normal living room. The door was also small, enough for only two people to get out at one time.
013-IMG_3804.jpg
Lala store in front of Okaya Station. A small city hall office inside might be able to give tourist info.
013-IMG_9123.jpg
Reception counter with programs and newsletters in different languages.
014-120_2039.jpg
There are no buses nor taxis to where we want to go.
014-126_2612.jpg
Parade of Nagamochi which are long chests. 長持
014-988-31.jpg
Aqua Wing ice hockey rink
014-IMG_9125.jpg
Exhibition area featuring native costumes, photos, etc.
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.
015-126_2610.jpg
015-988-32.jpg
015-IMG_9124.jpg
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
016-126_2617.jpg
016-988-35.jpg
Aqua Wing
016-IMG_9114.jpg
Lake Biwa Rowing Song (Biwako Shuko no Uta) exhibition panel by Philbert Ono at Okaya, Nagano.
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.
017-126_2619.jpg
017-988-36.jpg
017-IMG_9109.jpg
Lake Biwa Rowing Song Exhibition panels. 「琵琶湖周航の歌」英語版の展示コーナー
018-120_2048.jpg
Here is where anybody can get on the logs and play.
018-126_2622.jpg
018-9810-12.jpg
Aqua Wing ice hockey rinkMost of the women's ice hockey matches were held at a stadium called Aqua Wing which is actually an indoor swimming pool with a sliding roof. It seemed like we were in a huge oil drum cut in half.
018-IMG_9115.jpg
Exhibition panels 展示コーナー
019-120_2049.jpg
019-126_2623.jpg
019-9810-11.jpg
019-IMG_9127.jpg
New Zealand panel
02-126_2630.jpg
Kami-Suwa Station platform with hot spring foot bath
02-127_2772.jpg
Okaya map
02-131_3181.jpg
02-132_3242.jpg
Net fishing
020-120_2051.jpg
After the Shimekake, we walked further.
020-126_2651.jpg
Crowded street
020-9810-10.jpg
020-IMG_9126.jpg
Brazilian school
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.
021-126_2653.jpg
Nagamochi. Also see my video at YouTube.
021-989-12.jpg
My Japanese and American flagsI tacked the flags onto the glass and proudly displayed them in front of my seat behind the goal. That's what you do when you love both countries. Since I was sitting at rinkside behind the goal, the flags (and my face and camera) could be seen on the TV broadcast.

On the left of the photo, you can see the goal referee who was sitting in a glass box. She wrapped herself in a blanket. As you can expect, the place was not warm like a coffee shop.
021-IMG_9132.jpg
Taiko drummers from Okaya Roman Taiko
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.
022-126_2657.jpg
022-9810-13.jpg
Cheering section for Yuiko SatomiCollege cheering section for Yuiko Satomi, a defense player for Japan.
022-IMG_9135.jpg
Full-house audience. Many international groups provided free entertainment.
023-120_2059.jpg
We had to wait until the 1pm Ki-otoshi log came out.
023-126_2659.jpg
023-989-34.jpg
The crowd behind me.
023-IMG_9136.jpg
Indonesian dance by Miyazaki Ani
024-120_2062.jpg
024-126_2661.jpg
Nagamochi chest decorations
024-989-0FEB12.jpg
Start of game
024-IMG_9146.jpg
Brazilian Dance by Ashinaga Gakuen Brazilian School
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
025-126_2662.jpg
025-989-2.jpg
The Nippon team huddles.The Nippon team huddle and psych themselves up before the start of the game.
025-IMG_9152.jpg
African drumming and dance
026-120_2071.jpg
Log No. 4 for Shimo-sha Shrine's Akinomiya Shrine. 秋宮四之柱
026-126_2663.jpg
Umbrella dance
026-989-8.jpg
026-IMG_9156.jpg
African dance, a real crowd pleaser.
027-120_2075.jpg
So after this log came out, we were allowed to proceed to the giant slope.
027-127_2725.jpg
027-989-10.jpg
027-IMG_9173.jpg
In Okaya, Nagano, Nakamura Naoko singing "Lake Biwa Rowing Song." This is the first time this English version was sung in public outside Shiga Prefecture.
028-120_2078.jpg
There it is, the slope.
028-126_2627.jpg
Shimo-sha Akimiya Shrine torii
028-989-11.jpg
Banging the glassI liked it when the puck slammed into the glass (BOOM!) in front of me. The protective glass, by the way, must have been at least an inch thick.
028-IMG_9172.jpg
Nakamura Naoko singing "Lake Biwa Rowing Song." The first Japanese person to sing the song in public. 「琵琶湖周航の歌」の英語版も歌われた。
029-120_2081.jpg
We weren't the only ones there.
029-126_2628.jpg
Shimo-sha Akimiya Shrine. That's a support pole for erecting the No. 1 Akimiya Onbashira log. 秋宮
029-989-13.jpg
029-IMG_9169.jpg
Nakamura Naoko singing "Lake Biwa Rowing Song" up to verse 3. 中村直子さんが三番まで歌われた。
03-126_2625.jpg
Hot spring foot bath
03-131_3183.jpg
Takashima Castle
03-132_3236.jpg
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
030-126_2632.jpg
Shimo-sha Akimiya Shrine 秋宮 幣拝殿
030-989-16.jpg
A US player scores and celebrates to the dismay of Japan.
030-IMG_9180.jpg
Canora Boys and Girls Chorus
031-120_2090.jpg
The Ki-otoshi slope up close. Very rough-looking. 木落とし坂
031-126_2633.jpg
Hole for the No. 4 Akimiya Onbashira log
031-989-19.jpg
031-IMG_9183.jpg
Grand finale dance called Itomachi Ko-uta
032-120_2091.jpg
People everywhere along the edge of the slope.
032-126_2634.jpg
Small support poles.
032-989-21.jpg
A US player scores and celebrates to the dismay of Japan.
033-120_2093.jpg
The numerous people and trees made it impossible to see the slope itself.
033-126_2638.jpg
Hole for the No. 2 Akimiya Onbashira log
033-989-23.jpg
034-120_2095.jpg
It was very steep and uncomfortable to sit on, so I decided to leave this place.
034-126_2639.jpg
Hole for the No. 2 Akimiya Onbashira log
034-989-24.jpg
A US player scores and celebrates to the dismay of Japan.
035-120_2097.jpg
035-126_2636.jpg
Hole for the No. 2 Akimiya Onbashira log
035-989-28.jpg
5-0 on scoreboard during 1st period.In the 1st period, the scoreboard shows 5-0 in favor of the US.
036-121_2105.jpg
I was forced to join this crowd.
036-126_2641.jpg
036-989-29.jpg
037-121_2103.jpg
The crowd extended all the way to the rear. All to see the 3pm Ki-otoshi log drop.
037-126_2642.jpg
Shimo-sha Akimiya Shrine priests 秋宮
037-989-30.jpg
038-121_2106.jpg
This was my view of the slope.
038-126_2645.jpg
Taiko performance at Shimo-sha Akimiya Shrine's Kaguraden
038-989-31.jpg
Resurfacing the ice during intermission
039-121_2115.jpg
Thank goodness for telephoto lenses.
039-126_2644.jpg
Shimenawa sacred rope on Kaguraden
039-989-33.jpg
Resurfacing the ice during intermission
04-126_2628.jpg
Hot spring foot bathThat's not me in the picture.
04-131_3188.jpg
04-132_3237.jpg
040-121_2117.jpg
We waited for the log scheduled to come down at 3 pm, but it was delayed by 2 hours...
040-126_2650.jpg
Onbashira Grand Park
040-989-35.jpg
041-121_2118.jpg
We sat there for hours.
041-126_2666.jpg
Harumiya torii 春宮大門
041-989-37.jpg
042-121_2128.jpg
Finally, people pulling the log appeared.
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
042-9810-0FEB12.jpg
043-121_2132.jpg
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
043-9810-1.jpg
044-121_2137.jpg
The log pullers split into two.
044-126_2675.jpg
Harumiya Shrine ahead.
044-9810-21.jpg
Nagano Winter Olympics women's ice hockey match.
045-121_2150.jpg
045-127_2710.jpg
Harumiya Shrine torii 春宮
045-9810-25.jpg
046-121_2157.jpg
Then came the log, and a lotta dust which made it difficult to see what was going on.
046-126_2679.jpg
Harumiya has a little slope where the logs are slid down.
046-9810-28.jpg
047-121_2160.jpg
This was Log No. 1 for Shimo-sha's Harunomiya Shrine.
047-126_2689.jpg
People everywhere.
047-9810-33.jpg
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
048-126_2695.jpg
People along the small slope.
048-9810-36.jpg
Frenzy in front of Japan's goal.
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.
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.
049-9811-3.jpg
05-126_2624.jpg
Onbashira rope on train platform
05-131_3182.jpg
05-132_3241.jpg
View from cycling road
050-121_2166.jpg
Now we walked back together with hundreds of thousands of people...
050-128_2819.jpg
Ropes to pull the Onbashira log from Harumiya Shrine.
050-9811-8.jpg
Face to face. Japan's goal keeper was busy, busy, busy.
050-IMG_3549.jpg
Lake Suwa
050-IMG_3806.jpg
Doga-kan-dori street leading to Ilf Plaza.
051-121_2170.jpg
The Ax Man. He cuts the rope which sets the log loose down the slope.
051-128_2823.jpg
Log in Harumiya Shrine.
051-9811-9.jpg
Japan's goalie takes a break at Nagano Winter Olympics women's ice hockey match.Her helmet is dotted with Print Club photo stickers.
051-IMG_3808.jpg
Ilf Plaza, with shops and a culture center. イルフプラザ
051-IMG_3828.jpg
Lake Suwa
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.
052-128_2833.jpg
Onbashira Log No. 1 already erected for Harumiya Shrine on May 8, 2004.
052-9811-10.jpg
Nagano Winter Olympics women's ice hockey match.
052-IMG_3565.jpg
Lake Suwa and mountains
052-IMG_3810.jpg
Ilf Doga Museum イルフ童画館
053-128_2843.jpg
Erecting Onbashira Log No. 4 for Harumiya Shrine on May 9, 2004. 春宮四之御柱
053-9811-12.jpg
053-IMG_3557.jpg
Lake Suwa and mountains
053-IMG_3811.jpg
Ilf Doga Museum, works by Takei Takeo 武井武雄作品展示室
053-ONBASHIRA002.jpg
The Onbashira Festival's main event takes place at four different times in early April and early May, centering on Chino city and Shimosuwa town. It is the festival of Suwa Taisha Shrine consisting of the Kami-sha Shrine and Shimo-sha Shrine.
054-128_2849.jpg
Erecting Onbashira Log No. 4 for Harumiya Shrine on May 9, 2004. Shimosuwa, Nagano. 春宮四之御柱
054-9811-15.jpg
054-IMG_3562.jpg
Lake Suwa and mountains
054-IMG_3812.jpg
Ilf Douga Museum, works by Takei Takeo 武井武雄余技作品展示室
054-ONBASHIRA005.jpg
Both the Kami-sha Shrine (in Chino and Suwa cities) and Shimo-sha Shrine (in Shimosuwa town) consist of a pair of shrines. So there are actually a total of four shrines involved in the festival.
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.
055-9811-19.jpg
Japan team mates try to comfort the goal keeper right after the US scores.
055-IMG_3561.jpg
055-IMG_3813.jpg
Ilf Doga Museum
055-ONBASHIRA007.jpg
Held every 6 years (1998, 2004, 2010, etc.), this festival brings new logs from the mountain forest to all four shrines where they are erected. Each shrine receives four logs, so a total of 16 logs are cut and hauled to the shrines.Only a rope keeps the log from going down.
056-128_2855.jpg
"Yoisa! Yoisa!"
056-9811-20.jpg
056-IMG_3660.jpg
056-IMG_3814.jpg
Ramu-ramu Coffee Shop in Ilf Doga Museum 喫茶ラムラム
056-ONBASHIRA011.jpg
The hauling of the logs from the forest to a resting place near the shrine is called Yamadashi. The hauling route and schedule for the Kami-sha and Shimo-sha Shrines are different.
057-128_2858.jpg
Also see my video at YouTube.
057-9811-22.jpg
Game ends with USA scoring 10 goals and Japan zero.The final score was 10-0. Japan went on to lose all five of their matches and the US team went undefeated for the gold medal. The US and Canadian men's hockey teams were not the only ones who were put to shame at Nagano.

Japan's women's ice hockey team must feel pretty rotten about their pitiful playing on their home turf.
057-IMG_3662.jpg
057-ONBASHIRA019.jpg
The Yamadashi log hauling for the Kami-sha Shrine was held during April 2-4, 2004. Along the hauling route is a slope where the log is slid down while men ride on it.
058-128_2859.jpg
058-9811-23.jpg
Total winners beat the total losers...The U.S. team went on undefeated to win the first Olympic gold medal in women's ice hockey. Japan lost all five of its matches (they scored a total of 2 goals) putting them in last place among the six women's hockey teams.
058-IMG_3552.jpg
Lakeside park
058-ONBASHIRA023.jpg
These photos show the slope for the Ki-otoshi (Log Drop) along the log-hauling route to Kami-sha Shrine in Chino and Suwa.
059-128_2862.jpg
059-9811-30.jpg
Olympics auction hosted by Emi Watanabe (left), a former Olympic figure skater.
059-IMG_3555.jpg
Lakeside park
059-ONBASHIRA027.jpg
This log drop is one of the highlights of the festival.
06-126_2623.jpg
Onbashira rope on train platform
06-131_3187.jpg
06-132_3245.jpg
060-128_2869.jpg
When the log is erected, a banner is unrolled.
060-IMG_3829.jpg
Lakeside park
060-NAGANO3.jpg
Kids gathered at Nagano Station.
060-ONBASHIRA060.jpg
This is one log about to go down the slope. A total of 8 logs will go down this slope.
061-128_2870.jpg
The banner reads, "Thank you everyone for your cooperation."
061-BUS4.jpg
IBM billboard busesThe decals covering the window portion of the decals have little holes in them and from the inside of the bus, the decals are transparent. IBM's Olympic pins and jacket were also based on these bus decal designs.
061-IMG_3830.jpg
Lake Suwa
061-ONBASHIRA070.jpg
The log is dragged to the edge of the top of the slope.
062-128_2878.jpg
062-BUS2.jpg
More billboard busesCoca-cola adorned some of the local city buses in Nagano.
062-IMG_3831.jpg
Lake Suwa
062-ONBASHIRA090.jpg
063-128_2888.jpg
063-IMG_3547.jpg
Lake Suwa and bridge
063-ONBASHIRA100.jpg
The log is tilted upward.
063-STREET1.jpg
The road from Nagano Station to Zenkoji Temple.Lots of Olympics advertising.
064-128_2891.jpg
Sake is given for free.
064-IMG_3573.jpg
064-ONBASHIRA101.jpg
064-STREET2.jpg
Local busThis was not a "wrap" bus, but it still had a Kirin ad (made of cloth) on the front.
065-128_2896.jpg
065-IMG_3548.jpg
Bridge across Kamaguchi Floodgate
065-ONBASHIRA112.jpg
At the bottom of the slope is a huge crowd watching the spectacle, Ki-otoshi or Log Drop, Onbashira-sai Festival.
065-STREET4.jpg
Souvenir shop"Japanese dress Kimono and so on." Awkward or mistaken English is nothing new in Japan. They should've used a Japanese-flag motif instead.
066-129_2901.jpg
066-9811-35.jpg
Pin sellerThis American woman was selling pins in Nagano at her seventh Olympics. Olympic pins proved to be very popular among the Japanese.

Apparently there are pin sellers who travel to all the Olympics and major sports events making a living as a pin vendor.
066-IMG_3569.jpg
Bridge across Kamaguchi Floodgate
066-ONBASHIRA120.jpg
Ki-otoshi or Log Drop, Onbashira-sai Festival.
067-129_2903.jpg
The men now descend from the log.
798 files on 4 page(s) 1