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Tokyo Skytree under construction.35 views
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Surfer35 views
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Christmassy maple leaves at Mejiro Teien.35 views
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P.M. Abe35 views
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Olaf35 views
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A day in the life of a struggling geisha...35 views
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On March 25, Kameido Tenjin Shrine holds the Taimatsu Torch Festival officially named "Shinkisai" (亀戸天神 松明祭り・神忌祭) at 6 pm to 7 pm. 35 views
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Good Year35 views
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Monchicchi hina dolls35 views
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Blue Orchid exhibit35 views
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Somon Gate, the first gate you pass through to enter the temple and one of the few structures which were not destroyed during World War II. 総門35 views
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The bean throwing was going to start at 3 pm. We stood in front of the platform at 2:15 pm. They sectioned off this area for kids (and elderly).35 views
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The festival site occupies an area of a much larger plot of land that was the site of Nissan's auto factory. Along with a few other factories, Nissan closed its vehicle assembly plant here in 2001.35 viewsI was told that it also had a test track here, which explains why it's so huge. Interesting that Nissan had a policy of keeping all its affected workers who were transferred to other jobs or offered early retirement. The city itself did not suffer much tax loss since Nissan didn't have taxable profits while operating in the red at the time. But local businesses such as taxi drivers, restaurants, and shops must've suffered.
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The festival is highlighted by this Nebuta float depicting Dedara-botchi (also called Daidara-botchi 大多羅法師) who was a legendary, giant man whose head was above the clouds.35 views
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In Muasashi-Murayama, the giant Dedara-botchi was carrying Mt. Jodo (浄土山) strapped to his back with vines. One of his footprints created a local well (still there).35 views
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The Dedara-botchi giant man is common in Japan appearing in nation-building legends. For example, where he dug up the earth to create Mt. Fuji (Japan's highest mountain) became Lake Biwa (Japan's largest lake).35 views
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Watching the stage entertainment was a good way to kill time until 7 pm when the Dedara Nebuta float parade would start.35 views
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Murayama-to float with ninja.35 views
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They really want the monorail to be extended to their city so they can finally have a rail station in their city.35 views
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Back of Nebuta float (慈王波亜来) from Mutsu, Aomori.35 views
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High school taiko drummers (南多摩高校).35 views
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Taiko drummer in yukata.35 views
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Floats and dancers paraded by the Dedara Nebuta float.35 views
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Evening parade at 7 pm to 8 pm along the perimeter of the festival site. The parade did not leave the festival site.35 views
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Way to the Ii Clan well.35 views
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About Iinoya or I-no-Kuni. 井の国35 views
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Ryotanji temple's Hondo main worship hall35 views
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Naotora35 views
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Jizo35 views
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Boccia medalists 廣瀬隆喜 杉村英孝35 views
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Wearing black and red is Nezumi Kozō (鼠小僧) (1797–1831), a Japanese thief and folk hero who lived in Edo during the Edo period.35 views
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Entertainment stage on the way to Meiji Shrine.35 views
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Chrysanthemum exhibits on the main path to Meiji Shrine.35 views
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These archers belong to the Takeda School of mounted archery. They are based in Miura, Kanagawa where they practice almost weekly. They have about 60 members.35 views
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Front entrance to Kabuki-za Theater.35 views
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Entrance to 4th floor to see individual acts.35 views
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Local Tsukiji Honganji Boy Scout who asked me to answer an oral survey. 35 views
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The first subway car used between Shimbashi and Shibuya in the late 1930s.35 views
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Current Ginza Line subway train.35 views
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Godzilla amid Kabukicho's neon lights.35 views
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Gingko trees along the fringe of the park near Yoyogi Koen Station in autumn.35 views
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During the year end, people wait for family members returning home.35 views
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Tourist information office.35 views
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City street near Tottori Station.35 views
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Adjacent to Hagi Castle is this Asa Mori Clan Residence.35 views
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Shoin Shrine is dedicated to Yoshida Shoin (1830–1859 吉田松陰), a native of Hagi who was a leading intellectual and educator during the final years of the Tokugawa shogunate.35 viewsThis is the first torii.
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Leaving Shoin Shrine.35 views
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Lafcadio Hearn (Koizumi Yakumo) is one of the most famous foreigners to have lived in Japan. 35 viewsHe authored or translated books about Japanese ghost/horror stories ("Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan" and "Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things").
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Lafcadio Hearn's hair memorial.35 views
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Raiden's handprints.35 views
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Go to the reception desk.35 views
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Ginza subway line. This train has a retro design based on the original subway.35 views
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Ginza 4-chome intersection at night.35 views
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Ginza 4-chome intersection with Mitsukoshi Dept. store35 views
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Ginza 4-chome intersection with Wako on the left and Mitsukoshi Dept. store on the right at night.35 views
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Closing off the road to traffic for "pedestrian's paradise."35 views
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Ginza Matsuya Dept. Store.35 views
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Prada35 views
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Yurakucho Mullion has movie theaters and shops.35 views
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Mullion Musical Clock35 views
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Ichigansha Shrine 一願社 (一願成就社). Pray here for success or victory.35 views
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Ornate ceiling of Ichigansha Shrine 一願社 (一願成就社). 35 views
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This way to see the Tengu statue.35 views
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Rest house35 views
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Kind of unique festival because it combines Shinto and Buddhist practices.35 views
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Fanning the fire.35 views
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Toward the end, there is fire-walking on the hot embers. 火渡り35 views
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Cool your feet in salt.35 views
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Glad to take the shuttle bus back to the trasin station.35 views
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The pier that damaged by the Great Hanshin earthquake in 1995 has been retained as is.35 views
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After the last float was parked here, there were brief fireworks and much applause. Spectators were then allowed onto the parking lot to see the floats up close.35 views
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The 31 floats would be gathered here for only 2 hours until 4 pm. I rushed to photograph each float.35 views
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I didn't have time to learn about the story behind each puppet performance, but it's usually based on Chinese or local legends.35 views
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There was a line to get into the temple (¥400 admission).35 views\\
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Longer line to get to Tsutenkyo Bridge. But we enjoyed the colors along the way. The line went along fast enough.35 views
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That's the bridge where everybody is going. Tsutenkyo (通天橋)35 views
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Tsutenkyo Bridge. 35 views
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Farmhouse lodge (農家民宿) named Pokapoka Noen. It has two main buildings.35 views
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He also grows sesame seeds.35 views
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Garlic.35 views
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Our dinner included the rice and vegetables that he grew. (This was just the first serving.) It cost only ¥7,000 per night including dinner and breakfast.35 views
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The other building was the guest house which was originally for the farmer's kids or relatives to stay when they returned to their hometown.35 views
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Takes three years to learn how to make washi paper with a mold. Ten years to become an expert. 35 viewsBut we did it in a minute or two... Just dip the mold into the fibrous water, and swish it to the left/right and forward/back.
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Kyoto by the Sea promoting Fukuchiyama Castle.35 views
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Walk uphill to the castle.35 views
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In front of the castle tower is this deep well named Toyo-iwa-no-i. 豊磐の井35 views
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A Shinto shrine next to the castle.35 views
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Views from Fukuchiyama Castle.35 views
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Next to the main castle tower is the Akaganemon Bansho guardhouse that was located next to the Akaganemon Gate east of the city hall. 銅門脇番所35 views
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When the castle tower was being reconstructed, they found over 500 of these unconventional stones originally from gravestones, stone lanterns, and even Buddha stone statues. (転用石)35 views
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Kawara roof oni ornaments. Oni-gawara.35 views
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Kawara roof oni ornaments. Oni-gawara.35 views
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Neputa float from Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture. From the Neputa Matsuri Festival held in Aug. The float has lights inside and it is lit up and pulled by people during the festival held in the evening.35 views
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A great way to see Ine is by boat (called "sea taxi"). Small boats offer 30-min tours for only ¥1,000 per person. This boat was the "Kameshima Maru" (亀島丸) operated by Toshikazu Yamada. He pointed out the boat houses and location35 viewsThere's no cruise schedule so you can just call and set a time for a cruise. There must be at least two people for a cruise to depart. http://kameshimamaru.server-shared.com/index.html
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The 30-min. boat cruise gave us our fill of many photos of these funaya.35 views
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We also had a guided walking tour of Ine village. Behind the funaya boat houses is this narrow coastal road and another row of homes across the road on the left at the foot of the hills. 35 viewsThe homes along the left are the main homes where the fishermen's family live. And their funaya boat houses are right across the road on the right.
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Roof tile ornament of Ebisu, god of fishing.35 views
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Kotohira Shrine's Ema Hall (絵馬舎) used for prayers for safe seafaring. This hall had a large painting of the shrine’s grand float festival held about 100 years ago.35 views
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They are in this distinctive, traditional building rebuilt in 1930 after the big 1927 Tango earthquake.35 views
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Ancient dugout canoe found in Maizuru.35 views
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