 Most viewed - Osaka city 大阪市 |
Miss Ebisu-bashi Runner-up574 views
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Shinsaibashi Top Lady556 views
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528 views
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Another Shinsaibashi Top Lady512 views
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510 views
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Geisha on a palanquin, Toka Ebisu, Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, Osaka482 views
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Osaka Castle tower closeup427 views
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A symbol of Osaka and one of Japan's largest reconstructed castles. Originally built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1583. 378 viewsThe castle tower was reconstructed in 1931 and underwent major renovation during 1995-97 and serves as a very modern history museum. Closest station is Osaka-jo Koen Station.
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Castle map345 views
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Inside castle tower337 views
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Imamiya Ebisu Shrine is dedicated to Ebisu, one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, representing business prosperity. On Jan. 9-11 (centering on the 10th), the shrine holds one of Japan's largest Toka Ebisu festivals to pray for good business. 329 viewsThe festival is perhaps Japan's most commercial festival where souvenirs and trinkets for business prosperity are sold. Photo: The road from the subway station to the shrine is decorated.
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Crowd at Osaka Tenmangu Shrine, the organizer of the Tenjin Festival and starting point of the festival's Land Procession called "Riku-togyo." 大阪天満宮319 viewsOne of Japan's Big Three Festivals (besides Kyoto's Gion Matsuri and Tokyo's Kanda Matsuri) is also Osaka's biggest summer festival held on July 24-25. These photos were taken on July 25, 2004. The festival has a procession starting from Tenmangu Shrine in the afternoon and a water procession on the river in the evening.
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The Boat Procession (Funa-togyo) is the Tenjin Matsuri festival's main event.317 views
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Hanagasa umbrella dancers, Tenjin Matsuri, Osaka 花傘314 views
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Portable shrine 船渡御 玉御神輿奉安305 views
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Inside castle tower298 views
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Stone wall pattern298 views
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Even gaijin shrine maidens decorate bamboo branches or rakes. Toka Ebisu, Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, Osaka291 views
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290 views
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Miss Ebisu-bashi, Toka Ebisu, Imamiya Ebisu Jinja, Osaka285 views
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Who says money can't buy happiness?284 views
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Expo '70 Time Capsule279 viewsThe plaque reads that the time capsule is to be opened in 5000 years or the year 6970. It can also be opened at the start of each century. I wonder if it was opened in 2001.
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Shachihoko276 views
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Gokuraku-bashi Bridge274 views
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Toka Ebisu, Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, Osaka274 views
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Moat273 views
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Castle tower268 viewsIt is modeled after the tower built by the Tokugawa shogunate who made it bigger than the castle Toyotomi Hideyoshi had built. One reason why it's such a big castle.
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View of castle from Nakanoshima264 views
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Even gaijin shrine maidens decorate bamboo branches or rakes. Toka Ebisu, Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, Osaka263 views
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Horrendous crowd gathers to watch the fireworks, the festival's climax. The festival ends at 10 pm when the procession returns to the shrine.262 views
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To ride these boats, you have to be a member of a shrine parish or supporting group.261 views
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Stone wall pattern257 views
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248 views
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Lion dance247 views
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Chigo child247 views
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玉御神輿奉安244 views
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Aoya-mon Gate239 viewsRebuilt in 1970. Although this is not the main or front gate, it is the closest castle gate to Osaka-jo Koen Station.
青屋門
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Outer moat and Sengan Turret237 views
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The shrine is surrounded by Ebisu street stalls.237 views
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Money pit236 views
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Slope to castle tower234 views
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231 views
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Castle tower balcony230 views
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Castle tower, reconstructed in 1931, was renovated in 1995-97.228 viewsThe exterior walls are gleaming white and bright gold ornaments shine in the sun.
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228 views
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In 2006, a rare folding screen painting showing Osaka Castle during Hideyoshi's years in early 17th century was found at Schloss Eggenberg Castle in Austria.227 viewshttp://www.museum-joanneum.at/en/schloss_eggenberg/saka-zu-bybu-1
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Castle tower227 viewsThis picture was taken before the 1995-97 renovation.
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One of the largest stones226 views
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Stone wall pattern225 views
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Gokuraku-bashi Bridge224 viewsMeans Paradise Bridge. The original bridge was wooden. Rebuilt in 1965. It connects the Yamazato-maru section with the Ninomaru section.
極楽橋
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Castle tower balcony224 views
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Castle tower222 views
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The original Osaka Castle built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi was actually buried (smothered) by the Tokugawa and a new castle was built on it. Aoya-mon Gate 青屋門. Rebuilt in 1970.221 views
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Castle tower balcony220 views
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218 views
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Path near the shrine is filled with street stalls selling Ebisu decorations and charms.218 views
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Gokuraku-bashi Bridge216 views
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About the castle216 views
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Sakura-mon Gate with kadomatsu New Year's decoration214 views
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Kadomatsu at castle tower entrance212 viewsNew Year's decoration
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Inner moat211 views
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About 3,000 people are in the procession which follows a 4 km route from the shrine to a boat landing near Tenjin-bashi Bridge on the Okawa River. 陸渡御211 views
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The Land Procession is one of the festival's two main events. It starts with a group of taiko drummers.210 views
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209 views
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Ebisu decorations209 views
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Otemon Gate208 views大手門
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The castle's fourth and fifth largest stones.208 viewsBrought by the Tokugawa during construction. Next to Tamon Yagura Turret and Daimon Gate.
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View of Nishinomaru Garden from castle tower205 views
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Tamon Yagura Turret and Daimon Gate204 viewsJapan's largest turret of this type where the turret above is integrated with the gate below. First built in 1628, reconstructed in 1848 and renovated in 1969.
多聞櫓と大門
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View from castle tower204 views
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204 views
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Otemon Gate in the distance203 views
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202 views
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Kadomatsu New Year's decoration202 viewsRight side of Sakura-mon Gate.
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Spectators wait near Tenmangu Shrine's torii for the Land Procession (Riku-togyo) to start at 4 pm on July 25, the festival's 2nd day. The shrine is near Minami-morimachi Station on the Tanimachi subway line. 陸渡御202 views
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Castle tower198 views
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198 views
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Mother and twins in yukata196 views
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Castle tower194 views
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Tamon Yagura Turret and Daimon Gate194 views
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Kadomatsu New Year's decoration194 viewsLeft side of Sakura-mon Gate.
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Osaka Castle was built on the foundations of Ishiyama Honganji, a fortress-like temple.192 views
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By 6 pm, shrine parishioners started boarding boats near Tenjin-bashi Bridge, the starting point of the Boat Procession. These are supporter's boats.190 views
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Taiko drummers at the shrine's Otorii gate. 催太鼓189 views
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This is the most important boat in the procession. It holds a ceremony called the Senjo-sai (船上祭) in the middle of the river to celebrate Sugawara Michizane's birthday. 御鳳輦奉安船188 views
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188 views
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Castle tower entrance187 views
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Never-ending sales pitch on Toka Ebisu Day. All these good-looking girls make you wanna buy something.187 views
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Castle tower185 views
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Ningyo-bune 人形船185 views
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Sengan Turret near Otemon Gate182 viewsOne of the castle's oldest remaining buildings built in 1620. Underwent major restoration in 1961. Overlooking the outer moat.
千貴櫓
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Kimono-clad beauties, winners of some Miss contest.181 views
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178 views
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The boat carrying the portable shrine housing the spirit of Sugawara Michizane. 御鳳輦奉安船178 views
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Path to castle tower177 views
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Castle tower177 views
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Torii and entrance to Imamiya Ebisu Shrine177 views
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Hanagasa umbrella dancers 花傘177 views
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177 views
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Near Otemon Gate176 views
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National Bunraku Puppet Theater Museum176 views
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Sarutahiko on horseback 猿田彦174 views
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Near Otemon Gate172 views
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168 views
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The boats are numerous. About 100 of them go up and down the river.166 views
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Danjiri float 地車165 views
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Most of the boats carry parishioners who eat bento on the boats while sometimes looking at photographers shooting them from a bridge overhead.165 views
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Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, Osaka162 views
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Imamiya Ebisu Shrine161 views
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Shrine maidens happily sell and attach lucky decorations on the branches.161 views
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161 views
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花傘159 views
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Fuku-musume or Lucky Maiden158 views
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The Fuku-musume or Lucky Maidens are all nice-looking.158 views
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The Boat Procession started at 7 pm on Okawa River. These boats are called Dondoko. どんどこ船 大川 船渡御158 views
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157 views
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157 views
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The shrine rakes in the money on its most important day of the year, Jan. 10.157 views
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Shrine maidens decorate bamboo branches or rakes.157 views
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Fuku-musume or Lucky Maidens157 views
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Portable shrine housing the spirit of Sugawara Michizane. This is the most important thing in the procession. 御鳳輦157 views
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Danjiri float 地車155 views
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Hanagasa dancers 花傘155 views
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A giant umbrella serves as the roof.154 views
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Here you go...153 views
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153 views
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The fire, fueled by LP gas, is on a corporate-sponsored boat, used for illumination. 大篝150 views
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150 views
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147 views
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船渡御147 views
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146 views
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People patting a lucky mirror?146 views
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146 views
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These boats will carry portable shrines.146 views
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Crowded walking path along Okawa River. Most people view the festival from the riverside.146 views
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New Year's decorations trashed at the shrine to be burned.145 views
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Miss Ebisu-bashi Runner-up145 views
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Good-looking shrine maidens decorate bamboo branches or rakes.144 views
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Okawa River 大川144 views
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Giving out free bamboo branches under the giant umbrella.143 views
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143 views
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Inside National Bunraku Puppet Theater. Photography is not allowed during the plays. Bunraku puppets can perform feats which human actors cannot. This can make it interesting. Bring binoculars though.142 views
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牛曳童児142 views
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142 views
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Boat corner142 views
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Sacred dance performed at cost.141 views
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141 views
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141 views
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141 views
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141 views
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Replenishing the supply of bamboo branches.140 views
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2007 is the Year of the Boar, decoration created by over 500 students at a local elementary and junior high school.140 views
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Geisha on palanquin.140 views
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140 views
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Shishimai lion dance140 views
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Shrine maidens decorate bamboo branches or rakes.139 views
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139 views
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139 views
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139 views
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139 views
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船渡御139 views
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The small bamboo branches festoon the huge crowd on Jan. 10.138 views
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138 views
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Shrine priest138 views
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船渡御138 views
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Tugboats pull these huge barges.138 views
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137 views
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137 views
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A large crane is used to carry the portable shrines onto the boats.137 views
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136 views
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People line up to decorate their free bamboo branches with various lucky decorations.136 views
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136 views
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136 views
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Hauling away the old New Year's decorations.135 views
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The procession includes geisha and other celebrities.135 views
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135 views
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Miss Ebisu-bashi135 views
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Fuku-musume or Lucky Maidens135 views
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135 views
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Fully-loaded "lucky rake."134 views
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御羽車134 views
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134 views
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Crowd near Tenjin-bashi Bridge.134 views
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The boats are large barges.134 views
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133 views
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Start of the procession's return trip from the shrine.132 viewsとんぼりリバーウォーク→大和屋→道頓堀東映→B1角座（10：00）→松竹座→戎橋橋詰→千日前国際劇場→吉本会館→今宮戎神社（12：10頃）→なんばCITY→高島屋→大丸→大和屋
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132 views
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Geisha on a palanquin131 views
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Portable shrine 御羽車131 views
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Higashi-mon east gate130 views
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Omikuji fortune paper strips for sale at 200 yen.130 views
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130 views
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JR Osaka Station's new terminal building opened on May 4, 2011. Great improvement. It has a simple lean-to roof that creates some space to build bridges and plazas above the train tracks.130 viewsVery easy to get your bearings and remember which way to go wherever you wanna go.
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Empty branches waiting for all the trimmings (at a price).129 views
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Geisha129 views
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National Bunraku Puppet Theater at night.127 views
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Higashi-mon east gate127 views
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JR Osaka Station127 views
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Fuku-musume Lucky Maiden125 views
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Shinsaibashi Top Lady125 views
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Ebisu on a palanquin.124 views
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Omikuji fortune paper strips123 views
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123 views
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More stalls behind the shrine.121 views
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Miss Ebisu-bashi121 views
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Good Luck Palanquin procession on Jan. 10. They are entering the shrine's East Gate. 宝恵駕籠120 views
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120 views
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Geisha120 views
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120 views
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Even a bunraku puppet walks in the parade.119 views
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118 views
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118 views
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117 views
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Cart for Miss Ebisu-bashi116 views
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National Bunraku Puppet Theater. Bunraku is over 370 years old, even older than kabuki. 115 views
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Shinsaibashi Top Lady cart115 views
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115 views
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Slim-looking Ebisu114 views
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112 views
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111 views
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Cart for the Lucky Maiden109 views
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Sumiyoshi Taisha's Hongu No. 1 shrine, a National Treasure. Osaka city. Worships Sokotsutsu no Onomikoto (底筒男命).90 views
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The inside of the taiko drums is covered with gold leaf for better sound.88 views
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83 views
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Manhole in Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka.82 views
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Going up the shrine's taikobashi arch bridge called Sorihashi (反橋).79 views
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Sumiyoshi Taisha's ema prayer tablet for 2019, Year of the Boar. ¥1000 絵馬79 views
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78 views
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78 views
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78 views
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Inside Osaka Station.77 views
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77 views
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Inside Grand Front Osaka, this coffee shop from Hawaii (serving Kona coffee) with a long line of people waiting to get in. We couldn't wait and reluctantly went to Starbucks instead.77 views
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76 views
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76 views
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The pedestrian bridge above the train tracks gives a bird's-eye view of all or most of the tracks. I could never figure out Osaka Station until now.75 views
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75 views
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75 views
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75 views
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75 views
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75 views
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74 views
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74 views
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74 views
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74 views
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The new station buildings also have pleasant rooftop parks with a view.74 views
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74 views
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74 views
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