 Most viewed - Hikone 彦根市 |
Another dog, Karawan-kun to promote castle town Karatsu, Saga Pref. 唐ワンくん (佐賀 唐津市）78 views
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Habatan is phoenix from Hyogo Pref. to promote a national sports meet. はばタン (兵庫）78 views
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Hikone Castle tower lit up at night.78 views
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Nakasendo Road77 views
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Zoom-in.77 views
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Dogs were fewer than cats. Kurawanko from Osaka. Based on the local dialectical word "Kurawanka" (Wanna eat?). くらわんこ (大阪 枚方宿鍵屋浦）77 views
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Trippy from Tottori Pref. トリピー (鳥取県)77 views
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Sagawan actually has two other siblings. she's the cute little sister.77 views
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Moat of Nishinomaru Sanju-yagura turret.77 views
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These photos were taken on Nov. 3, 2009.77 views
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Moat has lotus.77 views
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Hikone City Hall76 views
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Ohmi Railways Toriimoto Station platform76 views
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Police station76 views
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Yume-Kyobashi Castle Road was closed off to traffic for this festival. First they were going to hold the festival at a shopping center, but switched to this place after realizing how popular the event would be.76 views
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Namu-kun is modeled after Shotoku Taishi who introduced Buddhism to Japan. Created by a Buddhist association in Nara in opposition to Sento-kun (see below). But Namu-kun and Sento-kun played together at this festival in peace.76 views
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Toshinaga-kun to promote the 400th anniversary of Takaoka, Toyama Pref. Based on Lord Maeda Toshinaga. 利長くん (富山 高岡市）76 views
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You can walk further to go behind Nishinomaru Sanju-yagura turret and this is what you will see.76 views
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Miss Plum Blossom from Mito, Ibaraki Pref. Mito's connection with Hikone lies in the radical samurai who assassinated Ii Naosuke near Edo Castle.76 views
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Inside Japanese-style yakata-bune boat. Seats 11 people on tatami mats. The roof is very low. 彦根城お堀めぐり75 views
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Hikone Castle Moat Boat Ride Poster75 views
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75 views
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Sento-kun was controversial because people thought the deer antlers were an insult to the Buddha. This controversy has ironically made this mascot the most popular and famous.75 views
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Iga city PR booth passing out tourist pamphlets.75 views
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Nishinomaru Sanju-yagura turret.75 views
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75 views
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Then the curtain was lifted to show all the mascot characters as the audience began snapping pictures in a frenzy.75 views
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Scale model of original Nishinomaru Sanju-yagura turret.75 views
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Postcard of Commodore Perry and Ii Naosuke to mark the 50th anniversary of Yokohama Port's opening in 1909.75 viewsAlso see Gotokuji temple in Setgaya, Tokyo where Naosuke is buried. http://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=646
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Genkyuen Garden was designed to be enjoyed along a circular walking path.75 views
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Takamiya Shrine 高宮神社74 views
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"So what do you think of Sento-kun?" This event made news headlines on TV and in the newspapers.74 views
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Tiger74 views
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Kyobashi Bridge goes to Yume-Castle Road which is a street of local shops and restaurants. In the moat, you might see a few black swans which were gifts from Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture.74 views
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A few foreigners too.74 views
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Samurai laborers carrying luggage for a traveling daimyo.74 views
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Hiroshige's woodblock print of Takamiya (65th post town on the Nakasendo) from his Kisokaido series. Suzuka mountains in the background.74 views
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Ohmi Railways Takamiya Station platform. Map73 views
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One of many cats.73 views
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Lake shore72 views
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Hikone View Hotel, formerly known as Hikone Prince Hotel.72 views
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Introducing Sento-kun.72 views
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Nishinomaru Sanju-yagura turret.72 views
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Inflatable mascot72 views
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Sarugaku is a centuries-old form of entertainment and a precursor to Noh and Kyogen.72 views
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Across the moat from Hikone Castle is Umoregi-no-ya, a house where Lord Ii Naosuke lived and trained in various arts from age 17 to 32. 埋木舎72 views
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Scale model of Genkyuen Garden next to Hikone Castle at the top of the picture. Garden has a large pond.72 views
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Island in the pond.72 views
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Ohmi Railways Takamiya Station71 views
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A baby sumo wrestler?71 views
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Cat mascots were numerous.71 views
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Sento-kun in front of his PR booth ogled by a large crowd. We couldn't touch him.71 views
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The crowd at its thickest.71 views
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Other animals included a racoon dog71 views
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Behind Nishinomaru Sanju-yagura turret.71 views
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71 views
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Foreigners carry the shishimai lion heads, but they did not perform with it.71 views
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71 views
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East entrance to Genkyuen Garden. Small admission charged or you can buy a combination ticket with the castle admission.71 views
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71 views
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71 views
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Toriimoto-juku is the sixty-third of the sixty-nine stations or shukuba post towns on the Nakasendo Road. It is the fourth Nakasendo station in Shiga (following Bamba-juku in Maibara), and one of ten Nakasendo stations in Shiga.70 views
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Ohmi Railways Toriimoto Station building70 views
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Takamiya Shrine. On the Sunday closest to April 10, the shrine's spring festival is held with a procession featuring a giant taiko drum.70 views
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PR booth for Sento-kun and Nara.70 views
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Yuru-kyara mascot characters on stage in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture.70 views
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Kawase Junior and Senior High School band.70 views
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Genkyu-en is a Japanese garden next to Hikone Castle. It was built as a castle garden in 1677 by Ii Naooki, the fourth lord of Hikone Castle. Hakkei-tei Summer House Map70 views
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In spring, white herons nest in the high trees of Genkyuen Garden.70 views
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Gate of the Honjin, the town's most exclusive lodge. The Honjin is gone, and only the gate remains.69 views
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After the stage appearance, Sento-kun appeared in front of his PR booth on the street. A huge crowd again formed to see him.69 views
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The quiet-motor Yakatabune boat is a replica of the daimyo's boat.69 views
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Firemen69 views
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Dragon dance69 views
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Genkyuen has miniature versions of Omi Hakkei (Eight Views of Omi). This is one of them, modeled after the Seta Karahashi Bridge in Otsu.69 views
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About Rakurakuen Palace.69 views
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Rakurakuen or Keyali Goten palace has a few other buildings like the Jishin-no-Ma.69 views
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Biwako Shuko no Uta song monument for Verse 568 viewsAnother boat mate matched Oguchi's lyrics to the melody based on the old song called Water Lilies as modified by a young Chiaki Yoshida. It soon became a popular dormitory song.
The song became a national hit in 1971 when singer Tokiko Kato recorded it. Numerous famous Japanese singers and groups have since released cover versions of the song. The town of Imazu even holds an annual song contest in June when choir groups from around Japan sing the song in a competition. The town even has a museum dedicated to the song.
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Road to Taga Taisha Shrine from Takamiya-juku68 views
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Hiko-nyan did not walk around the road. He only appeared on stage as an "escort" for the mascots being introduced every 15 min. all day.68 views
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Hikone Castle moat in autumn from Kyobashi Bridge.68 views
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Singer Hashi Yukio then appeared on stage.68 views
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Flags from sister cities.68 views
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They fire their matchlock guns.68 views
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They hoist up the ladder for someone to climb up.68 views
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68 views
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Across the moat from Hikone Castle is Umoregi-no-ya, a reclusive house where Lord Ii Naosuke lived and trained in various arts from age 17 to 32. 埋木舎68 views
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68 views
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Hakkei-tei68 views
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68 views
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Site of Honjin Lodge67 views
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On the right is a pine tree. A similar pine tree before this one was here when Emperor Meiji stayed over. An Imperial official told the temple to cut down the pine tree because it was a hindrance to the Emperor entering the temple.67 views
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Site of Takamiya Castle, now the Takamiya Primary School.67 views
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Kyobashi Bridge 京橋67 views
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Ride the moat boat on the Inner Moat (内堀) around the Honmaru. Operates once an hour from 10 am to 3 pm. The 45-min. tour has a Japanese guide narrating the sights.67 views
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Saba-tora Nana-chan is a cat with stripes from mackerel (saba). See the fish in her pouch. Promote Obama in Fukui Pref. さばトラななちゃん (福井 小浜市）67 views
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Castle parade route to Hikone Castle.67 views
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Heian Period (794-1185) women wearing veiled straw hats called ichime-gasa. 市女笠67 views
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Shrine maidens from Izumo67 views
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Tea house on Hosho-dai hill. This was used by the daimyo to entertain guests with good views of the garden. 鳳翔台67 views
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Hikone Castle67 views
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Biwako Shuko no Uta song monument map66 views
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Nakasendo Road in Takamiya-juku, the sixty-fourth post town on the Nakasendo Road. It was famous for Takamiya Jofu hemp cloth. Near the Ohmi Railways Takamiya Station.66 views
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Nakasendo Road in Takamiya-juku, Hikone, Shiga Prefecture.66 views
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Taga Taisha torii gate on Taga-michi road which goes to Taga Taisha Shrine in neighboring Taga town.66 views
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Site of the Waki Honjin on the right. 旧脇本陣66 views
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The priest refused to cut down the pine tree. Turns out that Emperor Meiji did not mind walking around the tree to enter the temple.66 views
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Everyone snap away with their camera phones when Sento-kun got on stage.66 views
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Lake Biwa as seen from Nishinomaru.66 views
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Always scenic to see Hikone Castle overlooking Genkyuen Garden.66 views
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Boat landing.66 views
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Inside Hosho-dai tea house. They actually serve tea for a fee. 鳳翔台66 views
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Entrance to Keyaki Goten Palace or Rakuraku-en. Completed in 1679 by the fourth castle lord Ii Naooki as a familiy residence. It took two years to build. It was highly admired for its beauty. 槻御殿66 views
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Low-cost tourist shuttle bus65 views
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After visiting the Hikone Castle Tower. There are a few ways to exit. One way is going through this Otemon Gate to Kyobashi Bridge.65 views
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Hikone Traditional Fireman Preservation Group65 views
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Hosho-dai 鳳翔台65 views
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Ohmi Railways Toriimoto Station building64 views
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Lantern with Nakasendo Takamiya-juku written.64 views
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Takamiya temple64 views
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Lake Biwa fishes64 views
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Some talking between Hashi and Miura. (The woman is the MC.)64 views
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And there they are on stage in Hikone. Notably absent was Sento-kun from Nara. (Boy priest with antlers.)64 views
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Tourist Site Clean Campaign64 views
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Chief retainer who started the construction of Hikone Castle upon the wishes of Ii Naomasa. 家老の木俣守勝64 views
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Samurai wives64 views
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Dancers from Muromachi Period (1337-1573)64 views
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Ii Clan's "Red Devil" samurai vassals wearing their trademark red armor.64 views
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Banners with the crest of the Ii clan.64 views
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Inside the entrance of Rakurakuen.64 views
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View from top floor of Hikone Castle's Nishinomaru turret.64 views
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View from top floor of Hikone Castle's Nishinomaru turret.64 views
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Lake Biwa Rowing Song (Biwako Shuko no Uta) monument at Hikone Port. Map63 viewsIn June 1917, a song called Biwako Shuko no Uta (Lake Biwa Rowing Song) was composed by college student Taro Oguchi during a boat rowing trip around Lake Biwa. He was a member of the rowing club at Dai-san High School (now Kyoto University). He composed it in Imazu, Shiga Prefecture during the second night of the trip.
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The Takamiya Station building is also a Community Center with an information counter and exhibition space.63 views
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Takamiya Post Office and a giant torii for Taga Taisha Shrine.63 views
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Nakasendo Road in Takamiya-juku, near the Taga-michi road.63 views
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Nakasendo sign63 views
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Gate to Enshoji temple, established in 1498. It belongs to the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji Sect. 円照寺63 views
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Marker for Takamiya Castle63 views
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An outdoor tent art show.63 views
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The art theme was "Lake Biwa: Life-giving Water." The show was from June 1 to July 20, 2008.63 views
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Hashi Yukio sings the "Yuru-kyara Ondo" in front of Yuru-Kyara characters in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture.63 views
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Food mascots63 views
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Sitting like royalty, local politicians such as the mayor sit in a special stand on the right in front of the horse stable. The rest of us stand and watch like peasants.63 views
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Fireman's ladder63 views
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About Kannon-dai temple 63 views
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Rakuraku-en or Rakuraku no Ma. In the 1800s, the 12th lord Ii Naoaki built an annex building called Rakuraku-en which faces the garden. 楽々園63 views
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On the Nakasendo in Takamiya62 views
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Kamiko Memorial62 views
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Enshoji temple was also where Emperor Meiji once stayed.62 views
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Gate to Takamiya temple62 views
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Hashi Yukio even danced with a few mascot characters.62 views
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Pig62 views
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A water drop and water faucet pose together.62 views
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Katsugi veiled kimono worn by the nobility in the Muromachi Period.62 views
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Main building of Rakurakuen.62 views
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Inside tourist bus61 views
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The boat is powered by very silent, battery-powered outboard motors.61 views
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Taga Taisha's first torii. Takamiya-juku was also the entry town to Taga Taisha Shrine in neighboring Taga town.61 views
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