 Most viewed - Koka 甲賀市 |
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Sample bulletins on the Kosatsu bulletin board. That's a lotta fine print...56 views
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Another path to Tagi Jinja Shrine in Tsuchiyama, Shiga.56 views
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The other shrine is Tenmangu dedicated to Sugawara Michizane, god of scholarly learning. Popular with students. 天満宮56 views
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After going up the steps, the procession reached the shrine at about 1:45 pm.56 views
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After the festival umbrellas, the young boys started their kenketo odori dance on the baba area. 馬場踊り56 views
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The boys are taken to Tenmangu Shrine.56 views
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Two chigo girls and a court lady. 女房と稚児56 views
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Shinto ceremony. 宮立ち56 views
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At around 11:30 am, the two mikoshi portable shrines leave the shrine.56 views
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A detour on the old Tokaido road, created due to the castle grounds.55 views
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Near Minakuchi Shrine are these storehouses for hikiyama floats.55 views
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Tagi Shrine is amid tea fields. Tsuchiyama is a major tea-producing area.55 views
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From Aburahi Shrine, the procession takes a circular 9-km route to as far as Koka Station (around 3 pm), then they return via Aburahi Station and Shirahige Shrine before reaching Aburahi Shrine at 6 pm.55 views
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Aburahi Shrine Honden hall on the left. Aburahi Shrine is dedicated to a god named Aburahi Daijin, the god of oil.55 views
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Aburahi Shrine was where the Koka ninja gathered and held important meetings.55 views
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The Nagamochi-yakko sing a humorous song as they carry the long crate in very stylized strides. Every so often, they stop and sing. 長持奴55 views
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長持奴55 views
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Hasami-bako yakko box bearers change hands as they pass on the box to the other.55 views
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They slowly make their way to the shrine as they perform their song and dance.55 views
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Crests on the hasami-bako chests.55 views
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Kafuka Yume no Mori park 鹿深夢の森55 views
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About Minakuchi's Honjin.54 views
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The festival is a procession combined with Shinto ceremonies. The procession was to arrive at Aburahi Shrine at 10:30 am. Before proceeding to the shrine, the group had a pep talk in their neighborhood.54 views
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Aburahi Shrine torii. There's a short path leading to the Romon Gate and this is where the yakko procession performs as they proceed to the shrine. 54 views
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Haiden Hall with two mikoshi portable shrines.54 views
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Back of the Romon Gate.54 views
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The second yakko-furi unit are the Hasami-bako yakko bearers who carry a square box. They too sing and dance. 挟箱奴54 views
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During the Shinto ceremony, the rest of the procession take a break.54 views
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The festival starts at 7 pm and the route is about 2.4 km long, taking about 50-60 min. From 9 pm, they shoot fireworks.54 views
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An early map of Minakuchi-juku.53 views
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Aburahi Shrine worships Sarutahiko, a god of strength also revered by the samurai. A large torii over the road near the Aburahi Station.53 views
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Lion heads.53 views
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Haiden Hall53 views
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About Aburahi Shrine.53 views
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The Nagamochi yakko (luggage coolies) group arrive at the shrine. 長持奴53 views
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挟箱奴53 views
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Behind the four Hasami-bako yakko box bearers are the Keyari-yakko who are two men carrying fur-tipped spears. 毛槍奴53 views
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The yakko-furi are followed by low-ranking samurai called Okado (or Kachi). 徒士53 views
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They held a Shinto ceremony at the shrine from 7 pm to 7:25 pm.53 views
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First the large torches led the procession.53 views
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Inside Aburahi Station.52 views
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Aburahi Shrine is a 30-min. walk from Aburahi Station. I could've rented a bicycle, but walking was going to be more convenient for me.52 views
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Aburahi Shrine also worships Sarutahiko (猿田彦神) god of strength and resilience and Mizuhanome (罔象女神) goddess of wells. This is the Honden hall. 52 views
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Aburahi Shrine Honden hall.52 views
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About the old tree.52 views
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The crate is carried by two men in the front and one man in the back.52 views
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After everyone arrives at the shrine, they hold a Shinto ceremony.52 views
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The festival is held to give thanks to fire (for use in pottery kilns, industry, everyday life, etc.) and to pray for fire safety.52 views
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Shingu Shrine ready for the festival.52 views
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Torch bearers pass through the torii as they leave the shrine.52 views
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Storehouse.51 views
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Pile of wood to be lit as a bon fire to light the torches.51 views
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The Shigaraki taiko drummers were very good. 信楽太鼓「炎」51 views
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Walking to Aburahi Shrine.50 views
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Aburahi Shrine Honden hall.50 views
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Aburahi Shrine's afiliate shrines.50 views
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35 meter-high tree, about 750 years old next to the Honden hall.50 views
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A small candle flame inside a lantern dedicated at the shrine is carried to the large pile of wood at around 7:30 pm.50 views
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Crossing Asahi Bridge.50 views
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The torch bearers end up at the Shimin Center parking lot (where the pottery festival is held in autumn).50 views
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Two chigo girls and a court lady. 女房と稚児49 views
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Three large torches.49 views
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Smaller torches on the side. Torch bearers make their own torches using the provided materials.49 views
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Shingu Shrine49 views
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Shingu Shrine49 views
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Pouring kerosene into the large torches.49 views
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Now the kids light their torches and off they go.49 views
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Not a crowded festival at all.49 views
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Then they turn right and go along the river toward Atago Shrine.49 views
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The Shimin Center parking lot had a large fire where the torch bearers dumped their torches at the end of the route.49 views
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Reception counter for torch bearers.48 views
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Chinese protest drum with a rooster on top symbolizing peace in the land.48 views
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Bon fire is lit.48 views
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Since the wood pile had been drenched with kerosene, it lit up very quickly.48 views
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Then they started lighting the torches one after another and proceeded along the route.48 views
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Shigaraki Station platform decorated with tanuki raccoon dogs.48 views
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The torch procession route will be lined with paper lanterns in front of the shrine.47 views
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Next to the fire were taiko drummers entertaining the crowd.47 views
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Ninja statue in front of JR Koka Station, Shiga Prefecture.47 views
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Before 7 pm, they light a few fire lamps.46 views
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Shigaraki taiko drummers46 views
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Inside Shigaraki Station.40 views
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Tanuki greet you at Shigaraki Station.39 views
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Shigaraki Kogen Railway train.38 views
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More tanuki greet you at Shigaraki Station.38 views
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Inside Shigaraki Station waiting area. There's a display case in the corner.38 views
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Display case in the corner shows a few pieces from the wrecked train in the 1991 accident.37 viewsOn the morning of May 14, 1991, a Shigaraki Kogen Railway train bound for Kibukawa collided head on with a special JR West train traveling from Kyoto to Shigaraki. It left 42 people, including five SKR employees, dead and 614 injured. Also see photos below of the monument near the accident site.
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Gift shop inside Shigaraki Station. In case you forgot buy someting for someone before you leave Shigaraki.36 views
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Video of Shigaraki Festival.35 views
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Local sights.33 views
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Rental bicycles at Shigaraki Station.32 views
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Shigaraki Kogen Railways Shigaraki Station. You can take a bus to reach Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park in 5 min., or walk for 20 min. 信楽駅30 views
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JR Koka Station on the JR Kusatsu Line opened its new station building in Nov. 2005. Resembling a farmer's warehouse on the outside, the inside has a number of surprises. MAP23 viewsNorth side
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