Most viewed - Matsuri Tsukuba and Nebuta Parade 2009 まつりつくば・ねぶた大パレード |
A big, two-day August festival in Tsukuba featuring diverse dance groups, bazaar, street performances, hula dancing, and food stalls. The climax is a nebuta parade in the evening. 298 viewsEverything is near Tsukuba Station (Tsukuba Express). Ever since the Tsukuba Express train line opened in 2005 from Akihabara, getting to Tsukuba is a breeze in about 45 min. Wide streets and sidewalks. The festival's main venue centered around this brown building which you see from Exit A5.
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My video of Matsuri Tsukuba and the Nebuta parade.217 views
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Map of central Tsukuba.199 views
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Matsuri Tsukuba posters177 views
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For the finale, all the giant nebuta gathered at the large intersection. They didn't do much.133 views
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Haneto133 views
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Nebuta face-off.132 views
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In Oshimizu Park were these nebuta tents where they store the nebuta floats. 大清水公演130 views
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A third giant nebuta depicts the Pharaoh Ramses II. Seeing an Egyptian theme on a Japanese float was interesting.128 views
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Rear view has a sleeping cat.127 views
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There are many things going on at the same time all day long for two days from 10 am to 9 pm. 126 views
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A hula troupe dances next to a yosakoi group.125 views
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The fourth giant nebuta was perhaps the most unique. It was made of inflatable vinyl. It is partially deflated here.125 views
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Rear view of Ramses II125 views
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A short walk away is this large road serving as a venue for numerous dance groups performing almost all day long. This is also where the nebuta floats would be paraded in the eveing.124 views
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This is Tsukuba Center Hiroba, the central part of the festival where there are food stalls and information booth.123 views
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This float by a junior high school.122 views
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Ramses II122 views
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Center Hiroba outdoor stage センター広場特設ステージ121 views
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It drizzled off and on during the day.121 views
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Street performer (Sign says, "Photography allowed.")121 views
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The inflated nebuta comes around.121 views
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This small float by local Boy Scouts.121 views
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Each giant nebuta float is preceded by a set of drums and drummers.121 views
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Kabuki-like magician.120 views
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Inside the nebuta tent.120 views
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Then came this giant mikoshi portable shrine called the Tsukuba Manto Mikoshi. It doesn't seem to belong to any shrine. つくば万灯神輿120 views
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The floats were covered with plastic due to drizzling rain.120 views
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The first big one squeezes under the bridge. 120 views
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Almost fully inflated.120 views
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Tsukuba Tourism Ambassadors119 views
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The mikoshi goes to meet the float.119 views
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Kids dancing119 views
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At the very end, despite the rain, they took off the vinyl.119 views
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English translators available! I noticed quite a few foreigners in Tsukuba, a national science and technology research and academic center.118 views
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Chuo Park bazaar118 views
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A nice elevated walkway connected Chuo Park and the main festival area.118 views
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Walking further down the Tsukuba Koen-dori road toward Oshimizu Park.118 views
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Being inflated now.118 views
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Hayashi festival music118 views
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Poor dragon118 views
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The slayed dragon exhaled smoke.118 views
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What would a festival be without taiko drummers?117 views
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The program was called Happy Hawaiian Stage. ハッピーハワイアンステージ117 views
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At first glance, it looks very strange. But they soon inflated it.117 views
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Quite dramatic indeed.117 views
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And other musicians.117 views
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Another giant nebuta float.116 views
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Banpaku Float116 views
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Haneto dancers. Much fewer of them than in Aomori.116 views
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Haneto116 views
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Another one squeezes through. 115 views
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At first, I thought it looked kind of gimmicky, comical, and fake, but it turned out to be quite impressive.115 views
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Too bad the plastic was on the floats. 114 views
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Rear view.114 views
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From about 4 pm, they had the Matsuri Parade on the main road. まつりパレード 万博山車パレード113 views
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On the other side of the underground train station is Chuo Park where Art Town Tsukuba and street performances were held. アートタウンつくば2009 ~大道芸フェスティバル~112 views
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Inside the nebuta tent was this nebuta float from Aomori, arrived earlier in Aug.112 views
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万博山車パレード112 views
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Without the plastic covering.112 views
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Another venue in Creo Square was this small outdoor stage featuring hula dancing all afternoon long by various groups. クレオ前広場111 views
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The nebuta tents were built in late July. No kids around sketching the nebuta though, as they do in Aomori during the day.111 views
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At 5 pm, the Nebuta Parade started. It was kind of strange to see a nebuta parade in almost broad daylight. 111 views
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Street performers110 views
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Patching up the damaged parts of the float. Apparently, it got damaged as it passed under a bridge that is a little too low for the giant nebuta.110 views
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Monkey's underarm has patch-up work.110 views
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