Image search results - "no"
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To Kannon-yama
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The Kannon statue peers over the trees.
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Held during late April to early May, Kanna's Koinobori festival of carp streamers is this town's claim to fame. About 800 colorful carp streamers swim in the sky above a river. Strings of carp streamers viewable from the road.
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Ehime Maru Memorial in Kakaako Waterfront Park, Honolulu えひめ丸慰霊之碑The memorial is on a slope with a good view of the ocean. It was indeed a suitable place for such a memorial.
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Sign for Tomonoura. Tomonoura is a National Important Traditional Townscape Preservation District (重要伝統的建造物群保存地区).
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Kiba Park with Kiba Kakunori sign. Traditional folk performances are held on the same day as Koto Ward's Citizen's Festival in mid-Oct. So the park is quite crowded.
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Very little remains of Otowa castle originally built by Lord Gamou Sadahide. Two battles took place here in 1496 and 1503. Road to Otowa Castle on the hill seen on the left.
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Hino was home to many Omi merchants who plied up and down Japan during the Edo Period to sell and trade their wares. They became quite successful selling medicines, lacquerware, sake, etc. Those from Hino were called Hino shonin (Hino merchants).
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Hino's most prominent shrine is best known for the Hino Matsuri festival on May 2-3. The shrine was originally atop Mt. Watamuki, Hino's tallest mountain. It was moved to its present location in 796.
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Nakano Castle, also known as Hino Castle, built in 1534 by Lord Gamou Sadahide (1508-1579). In 1582, when Oda Nobunaga was assassinated in Kyoto, Lord Gamo Katahide brought Nobunaga's wife and children from Azuchi Castle to Hino Castle for their safe
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Held for two evenings on Aug. 14-15 during the obon season, people light their torches at Gosha Shrine and proceed to Hibarino park where the torches are thrown up to a large pine tree. The more torches get stuck on the tree, the better the next harvest.This is Hibarino park. The pine tree on the right of the small hill is the target for the torches. This park also serves as the Otabisho during the Hino Festival.
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Yoshino Baigo was a valley and hillside covered with ume plum trees. It boasted a wide variety of different plum blossoms. During full bloom as you can see here, the scenery was spectacular. One of the largest plum groves in Japan.Platform of Hinata-Wada Station with welcome banner 日向和田駅. Banner says, "Yokoso, Ume no Sato Yoshino Baigo." Yokoso means "welcome," and Ume no Sato means "plum town."
To get to Hinata-Wada, you have to change trains at Ome Station on the JR Chuo Line.
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Monorail to Chiba Koen Station 千葉公園駅
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Chiba Castle as seen from Kencho-mae monorail station.
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JR Nagano Station festooned with Olympic logos.
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From late April to early May, five long strings of giant carp streamers swim in the air high above the Sagami River in Sagamihara, Kanagawa. This event was started in 1988.
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Standing 41.8 meters high, equivalent to a 9-story building.
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Strings of carp streamers latched to the ground from the mountaintop.
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Huge crowd at Kakunori pond in Kiba Park.
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The memorial was unveiled on Feb. 9, 2002, a year after the accident.
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Ferry between Tomonoura and Sensui island.
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Entrance to Inohana Park
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Barrels of Hino merchant sake
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The castle is somewhat out of the way. It's a 15-min. walk from the nearest bus stop.
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Later the shrine became Lord Gamou's family shrine and it was revered by Hino merchants during the Edo Period. This is the Shrine grounds. Map
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The castle was abandoned in 1597. Only a few stone walls and shrines remain adjacent to Hinokawa Dam. This is one entrance to Nakano Castle. Map
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The Azuchi Nobunaga Festival's main venue was here, next to Azuchi Castle (hill on right). MAP
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Entrance to Gosha Shrine. 五社神社
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Closest train station is Hinata-Wada Station. To get to Hinata-Wada, you have to change trains at Ome Station on the JR Chuo Line. 日向和田駅Sadly, spring 2014 was the last time we could see these trees. The plum trees were infected by the plum pox virus and the city cut down all the trees in 2014 to wipe it out. These photos were taken in 2006 when the plums were still fully glorious. Good news is that they have been replanting since 2016.
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View of Chiba Park from monorail. 綿打池
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Welcome sign at Nagano Station
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The shrine also holds the Hino Matsuri on May 2-3.
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There are five rows of streamers. In Japan, the koi carp is regarded as a symbol of valiant manhood because it swims up the river against the rapids.
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Built in 1936.
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Eight strings of carp streamers hover over the river.
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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.
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Path to Chiba Castle (visible on left)
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The castle met its demise in 1522 less than 60 years after it was built, after a war within the Gamou Clan. It now serves as a large hilltop park with good views of the surroundings. Otowa Castle marker
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Manhole with the symbol of Hino merchant, Shiga Prefecture
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Torii at Umamioka Watamuki Shrine in Hino, Shiga Pref.
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Path to Nakano Castle ruins
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Lots of great local food and products were sold. Official website here.
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Gosha Shrine torii
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Although still small, the replanted plum trees have been flowering. and the groves have reopened to the public. Yoshino Baigo poster. Yoshino Baigo is a small town in Ome city near Hinata-Wada Station.
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It starts at 11 am, so if you want a good view, go there early.
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Looks like Suganuma, another village in Gokayama area.
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The cable length is 250 meters and 13mmm thick. There are about 1,200 carp streamers. They are reused every year and donated by local families. (I also noticed a few advertising carps.)
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Made of concrete.
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These pictures were taken in May 2003, when Kanna-machi town was newly formed upon the merging of Manba town and Nakazato village.
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On Feb. 9, 2001, a small Japanese fisheries training boat from Uwajima, Ehime Prefecture was struck by the USS Greeneville submarine as it bolted to the surface off the coast of Honolulu, Hawaii. Nine Japanese high school students, teachers, and crewmen died aboard the Ehime Maru. A year later, a waterfront memorial was built in Honolulu.
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To Olympic Plaza
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Chiba Castle and paper lanterns
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Kiba Sqaure Log Rolling is performed by the Kiba Kakunori Hozon-kai or Preservation Society. 木場角乗保存会
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Suzuka Quasi-National Park markerThe area is within this park.
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Omi Hino Merchant House. The former home of Hino merchant Yamanaka Hyouemon was donated to the town in 1981. Now a museum exhibiting the history and artifacts of the Hino merchants. 近江日野商人館Small admission charged. Open 9 am to 4 pm, closed on Mon. and Fri. Close to the center of town.

Address: Okubo 1011, Hino-cho
Phone No.: 0748-52-0007

山中兵右衛門
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Stone bridge
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Stage entertainment (Azuchi Castle ruins in background).
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Plum Blossom Queen at Kairakuen StationShe was passing out maps of the garden. It was a nice touch to see two of these kimono beauties greeting us.
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Road to Yoshino Baigo. Almost the entire town is lined with plum trees.
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One of 20 Buddha figures inside the Kannon.During New Year's, many people visit the Kannon.
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I would say this is one of Japan's top five best places to see carp streamers at Kanna-machi, Gunma.
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Names of the nine Japanese who died
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To mark the song's 100th anniversary, a new song monument was unveiled at Kyoto University (Yoshida-South Campus) on Nov. 25, 2017.
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Bentenjima island near Tomonoura.
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Pavilion by Kirin Brewery.Notice the "wrap" bus passing in front.
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Chiba Castle Sakura Matsuri lantern
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Kiba used to be where wood and lumber were stored and produced. 相乗り
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Entrance to castle grounds, now a picnic and playground.
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Entrance to Omi Hino Merchant House. Download the museum's English pamphlet here. Map近江日野商人館
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Stone bridge
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Nakano (Hino Castle) in Hino, Shiga Pref. The castle was built in 1534 by Lord Gamou Sadahide (1508-1579).
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Demonstration of matchlock guns, Azuchi Nobunaga Festival in Azuchi, Omi-Hachiman.
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Plum Blossom Queen
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Tamagawa River as seen from the bridge.
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Entry road to Ainokura village. Bus stop shelter on right.
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Rear view
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View from Kannon-yama.
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Kanna-machi is quite out of the way, but worth the time it takes to get there (from Takasaki).
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Inscription in English
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Front side of the monument has the Japanese lyrics and explanation of the song. Monument is made of stainless steel with a brushed-metal finish.
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Olympic PlazaSnowlets House and Kodak's pavilion behind it.
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Chiba Castle tower
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Men managing the logs in the river eventually developed their own log tricks while on the job.
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"Heian" comes from "Heian-kyo," the former name of Kyoto city.
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Castle monument
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Inside Omi Hino Merchant House近江日野商人館
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They came from Hikone. 鉄砲隊演武(彦根鉄砲隊)
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Pile of straw to be lit. The fire is used to light all the torches.
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Plum trees line the streets
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Way to Ainokura.
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Sagami River Koi-nobori
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Tekomai geisha costume is partially masculine with trousers instead of skirts. Their right shoulder is "exposed" showing a flower design. They carry a red paper lantern imprinted with their names and use their right hand to drag a wand."Asakusa" is written on her lantern. 手古舞
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View of Takasaki. The tall building is Takasaki City Hall.
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Parking lot downstream. Most people arrive by car or bus. (No nearby train station.)
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Inscription in Japanese
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Other side of the monument is in English. See this video of the unveiling.
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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.
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Chiba Castle
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A long bamboo pole is used for balance.
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The Heian Period was when Kyoto was the capital of Japan where the Emperor resided.
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Kusatsu Shukuba Festival, Shiga Pref. 大奥夢道中
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Hilltop left
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Lacquerware sold by Hino merchants近江日野商人館
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Mikoshi portable shrine
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In 1582, when Oda Nobunaga was assassinated in Kyoto, Lord Gamo Katahide brought Nobunaga's wife and children from Azuchi Castle to Hino Castle for their safety. The castle was abandoned in 1597.
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Very loud boom. Also see the video at YouTube.
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White and red torii
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Yoshino Baigo's main attraction is the Ume no Koen plum park. This is an entrance leading to the park.
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What you see first is a big parking lot for tour buses. Then you see the hordes of tourists.
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Tekomai geisha
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Bridge with a view
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I hope the former submarine commander Scott Waddle comes here on each anniversary of the accident and pray for their souls.
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Monument's English side has a bilingual Lake Biwa map and Lake Biwa Rowing Song English lyrics.Directions: From JR Kyoto Station's Karasuma side (north side with Kyoto Tower), go to bus stop D2 and catch the No. 206 bus bound for "Gion Via Kiyomizu-dera Temple/Kitaoji Station" (三十三間堂・清水寺・祇園・百万遍). The bus leaves every 15 min. or so (bus schedule here), but it can be very crowded. The ride takes abut 30 min. Get off at "Kyodai Seimon-mae" (京大正門前). Cross the big road (Higashi-Oji-dori) and walk along Higashi-Ichijo street. The main Yoshida Campus will be on the left while the Yoshida-Minami Campus will be on the right. Enter the Yoshida-Minami Campus and walk to the central courtyard area.

(From Kyoto Station, there is also an express bus (京大快速) to Kyoto University Hospital from bus stop D3, but it runs only at certain times on weekdays, mainly in the morning and mid-afternoon (bus schedule here).
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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.
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The Aoi Matsuri (Festival) used to be called Kamo-sai, after the name of the two shrines which hold the festival.賀茂祭
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One of six court dancers called maibito. 舞人
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Kusatsu Shukuba Festival, Shiga Pref.
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Otowa Castle's hilltop center, now a playground.In Hino, Shiga Pref.
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Inside Omi Hino Merchant House
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Rear view
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Demonstration of matchlock guns, Azuchi Nobunaga Festival.Even these people had to obtain police permission to bear and fire these feudal-era guns.
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Torches
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Ume no Koen park straight ahead, you can see the hill covered with white.
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Ainokura monument
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In Japan, the koi carp is regarded as a symbol of valiant manhood because it swims up the river against the rapids.
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Snowlets House, ticket availability
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Head stand
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Hilltop right
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Inside Omi Hino Merchant House
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Boat ride along the moat of Azuchi Castle.
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After it gets dark, the pile of straw is lit and people come to light their torches.
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Entrance to a temple with a view
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View of Ainokura which is also a National Important Traditional Townscape Preservation District (重要伝統的建造物群保存地区).
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Cherry blossoms and Chiba Castle
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About Genova ジェノバの紹介Genova (or Genoa) is a port city on the west coast of Italy. It is the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. For 2004, it was designated as the European City of Culture. From Milan, it takes about 90 min. to reach Genova.

ジェノバは、イタリアの北の西海岸にある港街です。コロンブスの出身地でもあります。ミラノから電車で約1.5時間かかります。

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JR Okaya Station. There is no tourist info office here.Small station, but close to Lake Suwa.
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Numerous azalea bushes
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JR Kami-Suwa Station
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Castle tower
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Lake SuwaYou can rent a bicycle at Kami-Suwa Station and ride along the lake shore.
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Wisteria
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Billboard depicting Ki-otoshi (Log Drop) at Shimosuwa Station.
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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.
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From Tokyo, Gala Yuzawa is the most convenient place to ski. The Joetsu shinkansen can take you there in little over an hour and the train station has the ski gondola. An easy day trip.
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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.
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Also see the video at YouTube.
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About the song and rowing route... この歌について(日本語解説)Shiga Prefecture's most famous and beloved song is called Biwako Shuko no Uta (琵琶湖周航の歌) or "Lake Biwa Rowing Song." I have rendered this song into both pictures and English, according to my own imagination and interpretation.

Please see this page for a full explanation: https://photoguide.jp/txt/Lake_Biwa_Rowing_Song

First composed in 1917 by a bunch of college students from Kyoto, the song has been recorded by many famous Japanese singers and groups. In 1971, it became a major nationwide hit with singer Tokiko Kato's rendition. Today, the song remains a favorite among choir groups in Japan, and a choir singing contest is held for the song every June (since 1997) in Imazu, the birthplace of the song in the northwestern corner of Lake Biwa.

Shiga Prefecture also has stone monuments dedicated to each of the six verses. There's even a museum (Biwako Shuko no Uta Shiryokan) in Imazu dedicated to the song. Okaya city on the shores of Lake Suwa in Nagano Prefecture, the birthplace of the song's composer, Taro Oguchi (小口太郎) (1897-1924), also has a song monument and bronze statue of him.
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Inside Omi Hino Merchant House
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Torii and steps to Inari Shrine
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Road to Mt. Yukinoyama, an ancient mountain and home to over 200 tumuli built during the 5th to 7th centuries. In 2013, it was designated as a National Historic Site.
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Verse 1 Song Monument, Otsu (Mihogasaki). In 1973, this was the first monument built for the song. The song's first and most famous line, "Ware wa Umi no Ko" is written. 一番の歌碑。大津市三保ケ崎。This monument is near the boat house in Mihogasaki, a stone's throw from Hama-Otsu.

われは湖の子 さすらいの
旅にしあれば しみじみと
のぼる狭霧や さざなみの
志賀の都よ いざさらば

Ware wa Umi no Ko, sasurai no
tabi ni shiareba, shimijimi to
Noboru sagiri ya, sazanami no
Shiga no Miyako yo, iza saraba
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和船
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JR Okaya Station platform. JR岡谷駅
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June 9, 2007. Hula dancers rush to Pukari Sanbashi Pier where the Hokule'a canoe is to dock. ぷかりさん橋
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Takahata Fudo Station, Keio Line 高幡不動駅
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People coming to Takahata Fudoson temple on Feb. 3, Setsubun day.
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Way to Mogusaen Garden
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On June 16, 2007, Imazu marked the 90th anniversary of the song by organizing a boat cruise on Lake Biwa and other events. Omi-Imazu Station had a sign directing guests to Imazu Port. 90周年の記念「琵琶湖周航クルーズ」の近江今津駅内
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Mt. Fuji as seen from the train on the Itsukaichi Line in Akiruno.
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Bus going to Hinohara from Musashi-Itsukaichi Station. Takes 30 min.
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Area around entrance to Hossawa Falls
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Bus stop for Kichijoji Falls near central Hinohara.
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Minowa Station on the Hibiya Line 三ノ輪駅
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Lighting torches.
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Great view from temple (no admission charge). Sadly, this is no more...
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Canora Hall, venue for the Okaya International Exchange Association's 15th anniversary festival.
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Front of Yoshida Chiaki's home in Niigata (formerly Niitsu) which I visited in Nov. 2007. Yoshida Chiaki composed a song called "Hitsuji-gusa" (Water Lilies) whose melody was used for the song "Biwako Shuko no Uta" (Lake Biwa Rowi
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Lake Hyoko (Lake Hyo), a man-made lake where thousands of swans and ducks migrate to during the winter months.
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Former Hatano residence and birth home of Yoshida Togo 旧旗野邸 (吉田東伍生家)
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View of Ainokura from a hill
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The longest carp is 10 meters.
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Riverside
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Shimosuwa Station 下諏訪駅
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Onbashira monument in front of Shimosuwa Station. This Onbashira log was used in the opening ceremony of the Nagano Winter Olympics in 1998.
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The line gets very long during the morning, so I usually go later in the day and ski until night when it is much less crowded. I catch the last shinkansen back to Tokyo.
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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.
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Double head stands
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Trench or moat
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Inside Omi Hino Merchant House
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Approaching Kawamori. 川守
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These boat rides are offered only during this annual festival.
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Gokasho was home to many Omi merchants who plied up and down Japan during the Edo Period to sell and trade their wares. They became quite successful selling medicines, lacquerware, sake, etc.Wall of former home of Omi merchant Tonomura Shigeru (1902-1961) (外村 繁邸).
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JR Okaya Station platform
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A crowd of a few hundred on hand to greet Hokule'a's arrival.
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Sando path to temple from train station. 参道
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Takahata Fudoson temple entrance 高幡不動尊
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Decorating the path to Mogusaen Garden
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Imazu Port. A large crowd of people waiting to board the chartered boat for a 3-hour cruise on Lake Biwa to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the song, Biwako Shuko no Uta.
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Approaching Musashi-Itsukaichi Station
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Entrance to Hossawa Falls (free admission)
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To Kichijoji Falls
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Welcome to Hinohara village.
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A short walk away from the subway station is the "Joyful Minowa" shopping arcade.
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The torch procession goes from Gosha Shrine to Hibarino park.
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View from temple. The plum pox virus was discovered in 2009. Since then, they have cut down the infected and surrounding trees.
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A group of men carry a red and white pole in front of Inazawa Station, on their way to Konomiya Shrine.
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Lobby of Canora Hall
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Front of Yoshida Chiaki's home. Chiaki's room was on the left end of the 2nd floor as seen here. More about Yoshida Chiaki here.
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Also see my YouTube video here.
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Rear view of birth home of Yoshida Togo who was a famous geographer of Japan who compiled an encylopedia of Japanese place names. His son was Yoshida Chiaki who composed the melody of the song "Biwako Shuko no Uta" (Lake Biwa Rowing Song).
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Koi-nobori carp streamers over Sagami River. Also see the video at YouTube.
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Kannon and bridge, Takasaki, Gunma
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Swimming in the air
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Store your luggage here. Not enough lockers at the train station so they provide this service. 400 yen/day.
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Entertainment stage in front of Shimosuwa Station.
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It's not a large or long run, but better than nothing.
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Without the bamboo pole, it is more difficult to keep your balance.
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1. Fuji Murasaki (Purple Wisteria)Dancer's name is Maiko 舞子
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Well used by the castle
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Steps to Inari Shrine
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Kawamori bus stop, nearest to Mt. Yukinoyama.
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The photo above shows part of the stone monument for the first verse of the song. It reads "Ware wa Umi no Ko" (We're children of the lake). [url=http://photoguide.jp/txt/Lake_Biwa_Rowing_Song]More info about Lake Biwa Rowing Song here.[/uThis is the song's first and most famous line. The monument is in a small park near the former boathouse in Mihogasaki pier. The photo has been digitally altered (the colors are not real).

I visited and photographed all the places mentioned in the song as well as all the song monuments in Otsu, Omi-Maiko, Imazu, Chikubushima, Hikone, Chomeiji, and Okaya (Nagano). I also created some digital images to match the scenes mentioned in the song.
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Welcome aboard!
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Former home of Omi merchant Tonomura Shigeru (外村 繁邸). MapTonomura Shigeru (外村 繁), Tonomura Uhee (外村 宇兵衛), and Nakae Jungoro (中江 準五郎)
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