Most viewed - Maibara 米原市 |
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Taiko drummer added atmosphere.101 views
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Boxing101 views
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Makunouchi dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony on the west side.101 views
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Takamisakari does his robocop routine.101 views
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It wasn't so crowded. There were some photographers, and it received local TV news coverage.101 views
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Then for fun, they held random sumo matches regardless of age and size.101 views
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Tickets please. We all got a sumo booklet with pictures of all the wrestlers.100 views
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Ozeki Kotomitsuki is interviewed.100 views
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Samegai Museum in a former post office designed by William Merrell Vories, Samegai, Shiga Pref. 旧醒井郵便局局舎 MAP100 views
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Each team had to have 3 to 5 people performing 90 sec. to 120 sec. long. The routine was required to include jumping jacks, kicks, and push ups.99 views
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Dohyo-iri Ring-entering ceremony by Juryo wrestlers on the east side.99 views
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Dohyo-iri Ring-entering ceremony by Juryo wrestlers on the west side.99 views
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Kaio vs. Kotooshu99 views
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Maihara Hikiyama Matsuri is held annually on the three-day weekend in Oct. around the 10th (Sports Day, a national holiday). Sunday is the main day. Poster for the Maibara Hikiyama Matsuri held on Oct. 9-11, 2010.99 views
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The new Ohmi Railways Maibara Station. This station is now closer to the JR Maibara Station, but still not integrated in Maibara Station. I thought it was a temporary structure.98 views
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Sumo souvenir shops and food stalls.97 views
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They set up up to the ring.97 views
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Sanyaku Soroifumi has the top three ranking wrestlers (Ozeki, Sekiwake, Komusubi) stomp the ring to further purify the ring as they face the shrine.97 views
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On the west side of Maibara Station is this long escalator to go down. The up escalator is inside the station building.97 views
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Yaito Matsuri sign97 views
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Afterward, more children's sumo.96 views
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Naganoya96 views
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Underwater baikamo flowers Jizogawa River, Samegai, Shiga Pref. Bloom in summer, only in very clean water. 梅花藻、バイカモ95 views
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Kiyotaki Jinja Shrine95 views
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Skiing on Mt. Ibuki at the 3rd station. How it looked in the good old days.95 views
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Arena layout and ticket prices. The cheapest ticket was 4,000 yen and the most expensive near ringside was 14,000 yen.95 views
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In a local community center in Suijo, they started at 6 am to paint the bellies and thighs of 15 men called yakko. Yakko were manual laborers employed by the samurai. They carried luggage during trips, etc.95 views
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A few more matches by the men were held.94 views
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Naganoya, the house where Yamauchi Kazutoyo lived during childhood with his mother.94 views
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A pillow for this winner.92 views
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Snow on Mt. Ibuki at the 3rd station, the main area for skiing (when there is snow).91 views
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More matches between the men.91 views
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Aerobics team from Miyagi.90 views
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There were about 50 taiko drummers. They also practiced every day during summer vacation. The boys drummed, while the girls played the flute.90 views
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The taiko drum dance started as a rainmaking dance in 1671 during a drought. The dance continued until 1947. In 1965, they revived the dance, but held it only once every 5 years due to the cost.90 views
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Before the train departs, the passengers take pictures from the train platform. 89 views
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On certain weekends, this steam locomotive runs between Maibara, Nagahama, and Kinomoto Stations in northern Shiga. Very popular attraction among adults and kids alike.89 views
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The first match was between these two men who had a piece of paper in their mouths.89 views
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In the end, the boys take home their prizes in a large garbage bag.89 views
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West Hiking Trail is most popular for hiking to the summit. 西遊歩道88 views
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You can visit Mt. Ibuki by hiking up from the foot at Ueno or driving up the Ibukiyama Driveway (from Sekigahara) to the summit. MAP88 views
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Sannomiya Shrine, at foot of Mt. Ibuki87 views
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The next time this taiko dance will be held will be in Oct. 2014. However, a similar taiko drum dance will be held in Oct. 2010 in neighboring Ueno at Sannomiya Shrine at the foot of Mt. Ibuki.87 views
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Entrance to West Hiking Trail.86 views
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Mt. Ibuki and camellias in winter.86 views
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Winner. The sumo matches are held as religious ceremony dedicated to the shrine's gods.86 views
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The station building does have an office and few tourist pamphlets. They also rent bicycles. 500 yen for a few hours. If you want to go to Mt. Hinade (about 2 km away), renting a bicycle is recommended.86 views
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The first kabuki ended, and now they are moving out the first hikiyama float. The float behind it will be put in position for the next kabuki performance at Yutani Shrine in Maibara.86 views
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High heels not recommended.85 views
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At the end of the procession are these little kids waving a wand attached to a gourd.85 views
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Steam locomotive84 views
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Inside a passenger car. Almost the same as an ordinary train. Should be a wooden floor...84 views
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They slowly walked step by step in unison.84 views
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"Long ago, villagers in Ueno at the foot of Mt. Ibuki prayed for rain by doing the thunder dance by beating drums and bells, lighting torches, etc. After the rainfall and a good harvest in autumn, they danced to give thanks. This is what we are danci84 views
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The most common flower during summer it seems. シモツケソウ83 views
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Easy 40-min. hike, but if's summer, it can get hot and sweaty.83 views
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Yakko men carried some luggage and sometimes passed it on to other men. This is Suijo's main road.83 views
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The shrine also has a sumo ring. In the 13th century, Emperor Go-Toba visited the shrine and watched sumo performed by the local people. He offered a yellow cow to the shrine. This was the start of the shrine's annual sumo festival.83 views
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While dressed in formal sumo aprons, they first went to the shrine to pray.83 views
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They walk very slowly82 views
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The smoke was all over the platform.82 views
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Tenjin-sui Natural Spring Park 天神水広場82 views
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Tiger man.82 views
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Maibara Hikiyama Matsuri in Oct.82 views
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Maibara Station is Shiga's sole shinkansen bullet train station and transfer station for the Hokuriku region.82 views
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Old Maibara Station corridor.82 views
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Trout at Samegai Trout Farm (Yosonjo). The water flows from the Suzuka mountains and it's quite cold which is good for the fish.81 views
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2. Joining train cars on the Tokaido Line, Maibara Station.81 views
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Look! I caught one!80 views
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In May, a large field of tulips bloom.80 views
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Tokimeki Silvers ときめきシルバーズ80 views
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The hall lobby had posters showing Maibara's major sights.80 views
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View of the 3rd station (san-gome) below. The 3rd station is accessible by gondola from the foot of Ibukiyama at Ueno.80 views
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Filipendula multijuga. We saw this everywhere back in 2006. However, in 2023, these flowers are mostly gone due to wild deer eating the plants. シモツケソウ80 views
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Omi-Nagaoka Station on JR Tokaido Line80 views
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The oblong pond's circumference is about 780 meters. It was first created about 700 years ago as a water reservoir for agriculture. It is also a bird sanctuary.80 views
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The last group in the procession were the taiko drummers led by four bell ringers. 鉦80 views
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In the end, they gathered on the sumo ring and clapped their hands in appreciation.80 views
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Old corridor of Maibara Station being dismantled.80 views
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I also saw this Ibuki-yama Taiko Drum Dance 5 years before. The following photos were taken on Oct. 2, 2005. It was the same as in 2010 except for the performers.79 views
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Checking the furnace79 views
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Tiger Lily コオニユリ79 views
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The pond is quite shallow, about 50 cm. It is one favorite destination for migratory birds including the Mallard duck. It is next to Mishima Shrine.79 views
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Another part of Mishima Pond in summer.79 views
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Entrance and torii to Hinade Shrine with banners announcing the sumo festival held on the third Mon. of September in Maibara.79 views
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The yobidashi caller calls the name of the sumo wrestler.79 views
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Corridor going to the west side. Maibara Station was renovated during 2007-2009. Most parts of Maibara Station are new, and others are old. This is an old corridor. 79 views
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Maibara Station renovation work.79 views
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Old corridor of Maibara Station being dismantled in 2008.79 views
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Underwater baikamo flowers Jizogawa River, Samegai, Shiga Pref. 梅花藻、バイカモ MAP78 views
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Trout-catching pond. Kids can freely catch a big trout.78 views
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Aerobics team from Shiga.78 views
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Statue of Yamato Takeru-no-Mikoto 日本武尊像78 views
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Bell ringers78 views
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Up the stairs to the shrine grounds77 views
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It's the real thing, belching thick black smoke and steam. Tickets can also be bought one month before departure at major JR train stations. The train ride between Maibara and Kinomoto Stations takes about an hour. The locomotive pulls five train car77 views
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Maibara's official mascot, a family of fireflies.77 views
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Summit buildings77 views
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Mt. Ibuki as seen from Torahime in winter.77 views
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The steam locomotive was built in 1939.76 views
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Rocky trail.76 views
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Path to summit76 views
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Mt. Ibuki and shinkansen76 views
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Birds which come to Mishima Pond.76 views
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Mallard ducks. マガモ76 views
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The steam locomotive pulled modern-looking passenger cars.75 views
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Posters for aerobics teams made by local school children.75 views
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Entrance/exit to the Central Hiking Trail. 中央遊歩道75 views
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Looking back on West Hiking Trail and parking lot75 views
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Part of the pond is lined with beautiful cherry blossoms which bloom in April.75 views
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Kitabatake Tomoyuki-kyo Grave. Kitabatake Tomoyuki (1290-1332) was a high-ranking Imperial Court official during the late Kamakura Period. National Historic Site 北畠具行卿墓75 views
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The tulip field is along the road going to the trout farm.74 views
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Aerobics team from Tokushima.74 views
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Mt. Ibuki summit parking lot. The local bus also come up here. And loads of tour buses during flower seasons. Many tourists make the easy climb to the summit from the parking lot. 74 views
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Summit is right there.74 views
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Yobidashi74 views
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Then they held the dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony performed by the men.74 views
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Hiking trail on Mt. Hinade.74 views
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You can see the second weeping cherry tree in the distance. Both cherry trees are called "Doyo Sakura" since the original tree was planted by Kyogoku Doyo.74 views
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Nemonogatari-no-Sato is where the prefectural boundary between Gifu (Imasu) and Shiga is located. The inns are no longer here, but guests at both inns used to talk to each other across the border before sleeping.74 views
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Hiroshige's woodblock print of Imasu-juku next to Kashiwabara-juku shows the border between Imasu and Kashiwabara. There is an inn on the Imasu side (left, called Ryogokuya Inn) and Kashiwabara side (called Kameya Inn).74 views
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Pass under the torii73 views
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Rear end of train.73 views
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The contestants had to be at least 20 years old, but I think most people looked middle-aged.73 views
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Local children watch aerobics behind a "Welcome to Maibara" sign.73 views
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ミヤマコアザミ73 views
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High-altitude butterfly on rock73 views
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Lotus73 views
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After the ring-entering ceremony, the men remained on the ring and performed the sumo odori dance accompanied by sumo jinku singing.73 views
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Entrance to Yutani Shrine, the first location where the two floats perform kabuki on the festival's second and main day. MAP73 views
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It rained on this day on Oct. 10, 2010, so the floats were covered and the kabuki performance was delayed.73 views
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Kitabatake Tomoyuki-kyo Grave 北畠具行卿墓 73 views
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Prefectural boundary between Gifu (Imasu) and Shiga (Kashiwabara) is this narrow groove. The cross-border bedtime chatter in the old days gave this place the name Nemonogatari-no-Sato.73 views
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Azai Sisters Expo poster.73 views
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Samegai-juku is the sixty-first station or post town (shukuba) of the sixty-nine stations on the Nakasendo Road. It is the second Nakasendo station in Shiga (following Kashiwabara-juku), MAP72 views
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Inside the hall with the aerobics competition which started at 9:30 am on Oct. 20, 2008. The hall was filled with energy and cheering. Thirty-nine teams of 3 to 5 people competed, totalling about 190 competitors. Three South Korean teams also competed.72 views
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The winning teams performed their routines again.72 views
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Steep hiking trail going to the 3rd station (san-gome).72 views
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The summit72 views
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Statue of Prince Yamato-takeru. Mythical prince associated with Mt. Ibuki. 日本武尊像72 views
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Mt. Ibuki summit area with pretty patches of summer flowers.72 views
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Mishima Pond is adjacent to the Green Park Santo recreational park. The nearest train station is Omi-Nagaoks on the JR Tokaido Line. Take a bus.72 views
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Mt. Ibuki and the entire shinkansen whizzing by.72 views
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Prizes to be awarded.72 views
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Hinade Shrine's priest blesses the wrestlers.72 views
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Tourist map in front of Kashiwabara Station. Most sights are within walking distance.72 views
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Maibara Station's east exit has a bus stop.72 views
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Almost departure time71 views
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Samegai Museum in a former toiya-ba. 米原市醒井宿資料館 醒井宿問屋場(旧川口家住宅)71 views
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Jizogawa River was also noted for a freshwater fish called hariyo or stickleback. However, researchers have found that the hariyo seems to have become extinct here by May 2010.71 views
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Mt. Ibuki's summit is easily accessible via this Ibukiyama Driveway toll road (3,000 yen for passenger cars) from Sekigahara, Gifu Pref. This road opened in 1965 and is open to traffic during April to Nov.71 views
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シシウド71 views
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Mt. Ibuki as seen from Hikone.71 views
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Most tourists traveling between Tokyo and Kyoto barely notice Mt. Ibuki and Lake Biwa along the way.71 views
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Tokugen-in temple has two weeping cherry trees. This is the older one, about 300 years old. The original cherry tree was planted by Kyogoku Doyo in the 14th century.71 views
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