Home > SHIGA 滋賀県 > Omi-Hachiman 近江八幡市

Most viewed - Omi-Hachiman 近江八幡市
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Shinmachi-dori Children's float passing through Shinmachi, Omi-Hachiman's old merchants quarters. 新町通りこども109 views
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By 2 pm, the shrine grounds (actually a parking lot) is filled with floats and people.108 views
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会のだし108 views
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On Sat., the first day of the two-day festival, there is a procession from 2 pm. It is led by these shrine officials and the shrine priest on horseback.108 views
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Small silvery fish, beans, and perhaps onions. Looks like very painstaking work. Sagicho Festival, Omi-Hachiman, Shiga.107 views
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Peony dish design.107 views
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The front of the torii is a good viewing spot.107 views
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Also see the video at YouTube.107 views
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Water fountain106 views
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Hondo106 views
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View of Omi-Hachiman city center from Mt. Hachiman-yama.106 views
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Inside former Ban family residence. They made their fortune selling mosquito nets and tatami straw matting.106 views
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Wall of Nishikawa residence.106 views
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When Nobunaga was killed and the castle destroyed, people in Azuchi moved to Omi-Hachiman and restarted the festival here. This float won 3rd place, from Miyauchi-cho. 宮内町106 views
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They shout "Cho-yare!" or "Masse-masse!" It's related to food.「チョウヤレ」「マッセマッセ」106 views
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It is said that even Nobunaga joined the festival and danced around in disguise. Hence, you can see people in costume or in disguise.106 views
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Looks like bread crust.106 views
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Dai-Juikku float. 第十一区106 views
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If you missed it, there's always another float fight to watch.106 views
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Peonies106 views
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Halfway point and rest stop105 views
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Roof ornament105 views
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Chomeiji pier105 views
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Two floats clash.105 views
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The float returns to the shrine.105 views
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Looks like ao-nori (seaweed powder).105 views
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This float won 2nd place.105 views
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Push!105 views
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The remaining floats are set alight one after another until 10:40 pm.105 views
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Hondo 本堂104 views
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3-story pagoda 三重塔104 viewsImportant Cultural Property
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Giant rock104 views
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Entrance to former Ban family residence. Completed in 1840. 旧伴家住宅104 views伴庄右衛門は江戸時代初期から活躍した八幡商人の一人で、屋号を扇屋といい、主に畳表・蚊帳を商い豪商となった。
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Crash! Also see the video at YouTube.104 views
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Shinmachi is where the Omi shonin merchants lived.104 views
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Sea turtle and "tancho" crane are auspicious symbols.104 views
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Tiny fish form the pine tree design on the fans.104 views
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Another Shichikukai float, but for children.104 views
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Both sides push and push...104 views
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For people with cars, drive almost to the top103 views
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Gate to temple, at last103 viewsTook me over 20 min. to climb the 808 steps.
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護摩堂103 views
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View of Lake Biwa from Nishinomaru on Mt. Hachimanyama in Omi-Hachiman.103 views
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Inside Local Artifacts Museum (Kyodo Shiryokan)103 views
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Business diary103 views
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Looking for a rumble.103 views
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Small mushrooms103 views
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The two children's floats separate.103 views
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Near 5 pm, the floats start to leave the shrine and head back home.103 views
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Winner103 views
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At 8 pm, five floats are set on fire at one time by a torch such as this one.103 views
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Another "kenka" (fight) starts. けんか103 views
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The children's float returns to the shrine.103 views
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Lake Biwa Rowing Song (Biwako Shuko no Uta) monument 琵琶湖就航の歌 歌碑102 viewsThe song is about a four-day, boat-rowing trip around Lake Biwa undertaken on June 27, 1917 by seven college students. They were in the rowing club at an elite college in Kyoto called Dai-san Koto Gakko (No. 3 High School 第三高等学校) which later merged with Kyoto University. They started at Otsu and rowed to Omatsu (now called Omi-Maiko), Imazu, Chikubushima island, Nagahama, Hikone, Chomeiji, and back to Otsu. They stopped overnight at Omatsu, Imazu, and Hikone.

For a detailed explanation of this song and monument, this album.

Biwako Shuko no Uta
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Bicycle rental station next to Omi-Hachiman Station. You can rent a bicycle until 11 pm so you can stay in town late to see night festivals.102 viewsBest way to tour the city.
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Omi-Hachiman's Sagicho Festival originated in neighboring Azuchi-cho town where Oda Nobunaga had his magnificent castle.102 views
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Folding fans102 views
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Black rice, beans, and more.102 views
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Dai-Juikku also has a small float for kids.102 views
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Floats go through the torii and head for Himure Hachimangu Shrine.102 views
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Spectators in front of Hakuunkan watch the floats. Local police estimate 38,000 people came to see the festival this day.102 views
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Here we go...102 views
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Each float also has someone with wood clappers.102 views
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A real mish-mash.102 views
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Straw all over the ground.102 views
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But it is soon repaired to see another fight.102 views
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Hachiman Park is at the foot of Mt. Hachiman-yama.102 views
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There are several companies that offer suigo boat rides in Lake Nishinoko in Omi-Hachiman. One of them is at this place in Maruyama. They use human-powered boats. MAP101 views
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Reeds provide cover for bird nests and baby birds.101 views
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Motorized boats. We thought that human-powered boats were definitely more pleasant than these motorized boats.101 views
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Shiga Prefectural Azuchi Castle Archaelogical Museum. MAP101 views
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Omi-Hachiman Station101 views
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The steps never seem to end...101 views
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Hondo101 viewsPilgrims often come and chant.
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三仏堂101 views
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At the foot of Azuchi, the boat ride was very popular and cheap.101 views
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Shinmachi-dori next to Local Artifacts Museum101 views
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Many homes hang red streamers during the Sagicho Festival.101 views
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The following photos were taken on the second day of the festival. On the festival's 2nd day (Sun.), the floats are paraded from 10:30 am and arrive at the shrine by 2 pm.101 views
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Children's floats go to battle.101 views
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Hanafuda playing cards.101 views
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The yellow thing is made of corn.101 views
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This float won the top prize for float design. The banner reads "Yusho" (Champion). From Dai-juikku district. 第十一区101 views
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Children's float from Shinmachi-dori101 views
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After a loud dragging noise, they clash and lock their antlers.101 views
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And in the right corner is Uwai-cho, ready to rumble. 魚屋町101 views
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Sign of defeat as this float badly lists to one side.101 views
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Then they usually spin around until one float topples over.101 views
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Later, the other floats return to the shrine by 8 pm.101 views
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Running around the fire while chanting.101 views
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More floats return to the shrine to be burned.101 views
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Stone lantern sculpture100 views
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Deer seems to have some sort of candy shavings.100 views
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Praying at the main hall of Himure Hachimangu Shrine. 日牟禮八幡宮100 views
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This float won the top prize for float design.100 views
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Tapioca, chewing gum, rock salt, and dried cuttlefish are among the edible materials here.100 views
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Winner100 views
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They keep pushing until one of them topples over.100 views
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Each float is pushed until they clash.100 views
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Top in sight99 views
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As seen from the bell tower99 views
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大権現社99 views
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Festival poster. Also see the video at YouTube.99 views
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Ball made of candy.99 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu 徳川家康98 views
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This clashing (or crashing) of floats is called "kenka" (fight). It lasts until 5 pm.98 views
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In the left corner is Jukku-kai... 十区会98 views
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The crowd is drawn to the fire for warmth. It was a cold, windy day.98 views
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Our boat paddler uses a long, slender paddle/rudder stick. We (two of us) were the only ones on the boat which normally seats 6 people.97 views
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The old Azuchi Station.97 views
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Temple grounds97 views
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Lake Biwa Rowing Song (Biwako Shuko no Uta) monument 琵琶湖就航の歌 歌碑97 views
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Site of Hachiman-yama Castle in Omi-Hachiman.97 views
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Omi merchant daily implements, History and Folklore Museum97 views
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Omi merchant furniture, History and Folklore Museum 近江商人の帳場風景97 views
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Float bearers push the end of the float to try and topple the other float. Each float clashes with various other floats during the afternoon on Sunday.97 views
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Left float is toppled. Also see the video at YouTube.97 views
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Entrance to the former Minakuchi Public Library has Romanesque columns.97 views
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Going back.96 views
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Hondo altar96 views
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三仏堂96 views
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Stairs back down96 views
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Soldier's send-off flag, History and Folklore Museum96 views
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Omi merchant desk, History and Folklore Museum 近江商人の帳場風景96 views
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Grounds of Himure Hachimangu Shrine which holds the Sagicho Matsuri. 日牟禮八幡宮96 views
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I was in Omi-Hachiman to see the Hachiman Matsuri fire festival on April 14. I was lucky to find the cherries in full bloom at Hachiman-bori moat on a sunny day.96 views
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The giant torches can be as high as 10 meters. They are made on the Sunday before April 14-15 when the festival is held. So these torches have been here since Sunday. In front of Taneya.96 views
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Hondo altar95 views
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Chomeiji roofs95 views
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Hachiman-yama ropeway takes only 4 min. to go up95 views
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Docked boats.94 views
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Azuchi Castle Museum (Azuchi Jokaku Shiryokan). Near Azuchi Station. 安土城郭資料館 MAP94 views
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Last flight of steps94 views
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Lake Biwa Rowing Song (Biwako Shuko no Uta) monument for Verse 6 琵琶湖就航の歌 歌碑94 views
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Inside Local Artifacts Museum (Kyodo Shiryokan)94 views
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Okishima (Okinoshima) is Lake Biwa's largest island inhabited by over 400 residents, mainly into fishing. Short boat ride away from Omi-Hachiman's Horikiri port. MAP94 views
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If you think it looks pretty plain and unimpressive, you'll be in for a big surprise later in the evening. MAP94 views
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Shinoda Fireworks94 views
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Bell tower 鐘楼93 views
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Musa-juku 武佐宿93 views
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Connected to the Local Artifacts Museum is the History and Folklore Museum (Rekishi Minzoku Shiryokan) 歴史民族資料館93 views
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Narrow alley93 views
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Inside the Bungei Seminario in Azuchi, Shiga. This hall is noted for a large pipe organ. The yoshibue concert started at noon and ended at about 4 pm. Free admission.93 views
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Our boat paddler.92 views
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Azuchi Castle Museum (Azuchi Jokaku Shiryokan)92 views
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Bell tower92 views
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三仏堂92 views
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Hachiman-yama ropeway station92 viewsA short walk from Hachiman-bori canal.
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Steps to the larger hill92 views
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Okinoshima Port92 views
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Ready to rumble.92 views
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天尊堂91 views
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Shinoda Fireworks climaxed with an incredible spectacle of sight and sound. The ancient Japanese sure knew how to make and show fireworks.91 views
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From the museum, there is a nice bike path.90 views
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納礼堂90 views
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This is actually an ancient form of Japanese fireworks called wabi 和火(わび).90 views
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Canal89 views
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Onegai Jizo-do Hall おねがい地蔵堂89 views
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Nishi-no-ko Lake as seen from Kitanomaru atop Mt. Hachiman-yama.89 views
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Inn sign. The 200-year-old Nakamura-ya inn burned down on Dec. 10, 2010.89 views
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Stage entertainment (Azuchi Castle ruins in background).89 views
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Smaller torches to be lit before the final, leaning torch.89 views
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Hatago inn called Nakamura-ya, this was the only remaining inn in Musa-juku. Unfortunately, this inn was destroyed by an early morning fire on Dec. 10, 2010. No one was hurt. The inn owners were sleeping on the 1st floor and they escaped.88 views
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Akechi Mitsuhide (assassinated Nobunaga)88 views
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Bridge87 views
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A short walk from Hakuunkan was the first Vories building on the map, the former Hachiman Post Office. 旧八幡郵便局舎87 views
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If the cherry blossoms are in bloom, I recommend walking along the canal from the west end since the sun will be on your back and on the flowers.87 views
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Another torch burns. One after another, they set the giant torches on fire.87 views
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Soon the entire torch burns.87 views
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Very pleasant outing.86 views
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Old Azuchi Tourist Office that was across the street from Azuchi Station. It's now inside the new Azuchi Station.86 views
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如法行堂86 views
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Nishinomaru86 views
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Inside temple86 views
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Soldier's uniform, History and Folklore Museum86 views
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The cherry trees start from near the Omi-Hachiman Public Library. They continue all the way to the main torii of Himure Hachimangu Shrine.86 views
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Small shrine85 views
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History and Folklore Museum85 views
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During Oct. 3 to Nov. 3, 2009 in Omi-Hachiman, they held an exhibition of Vories buildings. For 1,000 yen, we were able to enter a few of the buildings normally closed to the public. MAP85 viewsThe starting point was this Hakuunkan Hall (not Vories-designed).
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Designed by William Merrell Vories, the old Toyosato Elementary School building was built in 1937. MAP85 views
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Steps to temple84 views
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Musha Gyoretsu warrior procession 武者行列84 viewsThe procession started with Ashigaru foot soldiers. 足軽
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Staircase inside former Minakuchi Public Library.84 views
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Johama Port83 viewsFormer site of Johama Port which was used from the 15th century to 1930. Boats from Lake Biwa came through a canal. Reconstructed in 1983.

常浜
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Nishinomaru83 views
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