 Most viewed - Otsu 大津市 |
108 views
|
|
Gate to Kangaku-in Hall, school for priests at Miidera temple in Otsu. Closed to the public.108 views
|
|
Notice the rudder. Controlled by a pair of strings held by the cox.107 views
|
|
Carrying the boat to water.107 views
|
|
Shoes are fixed to a small, angled platform.107 views
|
|
The accident occurred on April 6, 1941. The boys from Kanazawa were students at the No. 4 High School 第四高等学校 which today is Kanazawa University. The sad incident spurred Okuno to create this song.107 views
|
|
Biwako Ohashi Kome Plaza lookout deck on the 2nd floor.107 views
|
|
About Biwako Ohashi Bridge.107 views
|
|
107 views
|
|
Otsu Matsuri lantern107 views
|
|
107 views
|
|
Chimaki were also sold for 500 yen. Chimaki is a small bundle of straw wrapped with paper. They throw these from the floats during the procession on the second day of the festival.107 views
|
|
On with the procession.107 views
|
|
Delivering the tea.107 views
|
|
Tendai Zasu Abbot 天台座主107 views
|
|
Grounds of Sakamoto Castle site (Honmaru) on the lake shore.107 views
|
|
107 views
|
|
Yokawa Chudo Hall107 views
|
|
Grave107 views
|
|
Inside the Tahoto is this altar for Dainichi Nyorai. 大日如来107 views
|
|
Lake Biwa Canal Museum at bottom of Keage Incline106 viewsThe museum opened in 1996.
|
|
Water intake for Lake Biwa Canal No. 1106 views
|
|
Most people were oblivious to the boats.106 views
|
|
Gate to Gichuji. MAP106 views
|
|
Road to Gichuji (gate on left)106 views
|
|
106 views
|
|
Mt. Mikami in the distance.106 views
|
|
Back of Niomon Gate.106 views
|
|
On the right were musicians from the Jingu Kogo-yama float. They performed separately, then together. Flutes, drums, and chimes.106 views
|
|
Musicians at the Genji-yama float. 源氏山106 views
|
|
On Chuo Odori road, this spot had spectator seats (admission charged) to watch the karakuri performances which last only for a few minutes. At other spots, you can watch it for free.106 views
|
|
Biwako Sosui. The city of Otsu is thinking about resurrecting a tourist boat service on this canal. MAP106 views
|
|
Sanno-sai Festival, Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine, Otsu, Shiga Prefecture106 views
|
|
On the left is Jogyo-do Hall.106 views
|
|
Plum blossoms.106 views
|
|
Bell tower 鐘楼106 views
|
|
If you're a woman and sit on the rock under the Sutra Repository, you"re supposed be able to give birth safely. So don't be surprised to see a woman sitting under the building.106 views
|
|
106 views
|
|
106 views
|
|
Wash basin in the cafeteria.106 views
|
|
Second site of the Otsu Palace at Nishikori. MAP106 views
|
|
Karasaki Shrine has numerous pine trees, including the famous century-old pine tree.105 views
|
|
Water intake for Lake Biwa Canal No. 2105 views
|
|
The place was not as crowded as you would think.105 views
|
|
Biwako Ohashi Kome Plaza facing the lake. It also has a lookout deck on the 2nd floor.105 views
|
|
Between the Yutate-yama and Jingu Kogo-yama floats, they held a little event featuring the musicians from both floats.105 views
|
|
On the left were musicians from the Yutate-yama float. 105 views
|
|
Saigyo Sakura Tanuki-yama float is associated with the tanuki (raccoon dog) mask worn by salt vendor (shiouri) Jihei who started the festival.105 views
|
|
Him dancing on the festival float continued for over ten years after which his old age prevented him from continuing. A tanuki karakuri puppet was then used in his place on the float.105 views
|
|
105 views
|
|
More chimaki for the crowd.105 views
|
|
The karakuri has Lady Murasaki writing A Tale of Genji at Ishiyama-dera temple in Otsu.105 views
|
|
105 views
|
|
The first group start to violently rock the mikoshi back and forth.105 views
|
|
105 views
|
|
105 views
|
|
Bell tower 105 views
|
|
105 views
|
|
Statue of Nichiren at Joko-in temple.105 views
|
|
105 views
|
|
In winter. The Omido Hall is on the left, and Bishamon-do on the right.105 views
|
|
One-yen coins are stuffed into the cracks of the stone.105 views
|
|
105 views
|
|
In fall105 views
|
|
Memorials next to Tahoto dedicated to Minamoto Yoritomo and Kamegayatsu. 源頼朝 亀ケ谷禅尼105 views
|
|
105 views
|
|
105 views
|
|
Mt. Mikami + Pine Tree at Karasaki.104 views
|
|
104 views
|
|
She is the cox sitting at the rear and controlling the rudder with a pair of strings. コックス104 views
|
|
Rinsing the shell with fresh water.104 views
|
|
The boat is pencil-thin.104 views
|
|
Biwako Ohashi as seen from the lookout deck on the 2nd floor. The bridge makes it almost 50 min. faster to go to the other side of the lake.104 views
|
|
These pictures were taken on Oct. 12, 2008. This is the first float in the procession, called Saigyo Sakura Tanuki-yama. 西行桜狸山104 views
|
|
The floats are steered by men behind the wheels.104 views
|
|
The third float is Genji-yama. 源氏山／中京町104 views
|
|
Trojan War tapestry104 views
|
|
Ornate, carved ceiling.104 views
|
|
104 views
|
|
No. 1 Tunnel entrance. The first and longest tunnel under a mountain. The entrance is very artistic.104 views
|
|
Evidence of how close Shinto and Buddhism were in past centuries in Japan.104 views
|
|
Torii at night in autumn. Hiyoshi literally means "Good Day" or "Fortunate Day." People pray here to have a good day. Having a good day every day leads to a good life. Taisha means "grand shrine."104 views
|
|
Sacred Monkey. The monkey is the shrine god's messenger.104 views
|
|
104 views
|
|
Japanese garden104 views
|
|
104 views
|
|
Podium in the Study Room.104 views
|
|
Along the way from Omi Jingu-mae Station to Omi Jingu Shrine, there are two sites of the old Omi-Otsu Palace built when Japan's capital was located here in 667. 近江大津宮錦織遺跡 MAP104 views
|
|
Omi Jingu Shrine's Rōmon Gate (楼門)104 views
|
|
Karasaki Pine Tree was still healthy and deep green in 2004.103 views
|
|
103 views
|
|
Univ. of Tokyo alumni crew in light blue T-shirts103 views
|
|
103 views
|
|
Okinado Hall 翁堂103 views
|
|
Legend of Seta Karahashi Bridge about Fujiwara Hidesato who killed the giant centipede on Mt. Mikami.103 views
|
|
Inside 豊浄院 is more Genji-related exhibits.103 views
|
|
Karakuri puppet from the Genji-yama float. 源氏山103 views
|
|
Karakuri dolls from Gekkyuden-zan float.103 views
|
|
The crowd wait for chimaki to be thrown. This is something even Kyoto's Gion Matsuri does not do. (They used to do it.)103 views
|
|
103 views
|
|
Otsu Castle site. There's a lot of open land here, so it would be great if they decided to reconstruct the castle. A perfect location for a castle.103 views
|
|
The tea is offered to each of the four mikoshi which had been brought down from Mt. Hachioji the night before. The tea is said to bring safe childbirths.103 views
|
|
The Flower Procession ends at the Yomiya-jo where they bless the child in front of the mikoshi. This Flower Procession ceremony costs the proud, doting parents big bucks.103 views
|
|
The Tendai Abbot chants a sutra in front of the Honden at Nishi Hongu. 読経103 views
|
|
103 views
|
|
Sacred Rock for the monkey spirit. 猿の霊石103 views
|
|
103 views
|
|
In fall.103 views
|
|
Sutra Repository 経蔵103 views
|
|
103 views
|
|
Uminoko is 65 meters long, 12 meters wide, and 20 meters high. It weighs 928 tons and can carry 240 people. It can cruise up to 8 or 9 knots. Hitachi Zosen built the boat in pieces in Kanagawa Prefecture which were then trucked to Lake Biwa and assembled.103 views
|
|
The two Biwako Otsu Tourist Ambassadors for 2010. びわ湖大津観光大使：井上まどか、永田めぐみ103 views
|
|
Near the first Otsu Palace site is this second site of the Otsu Palace's main building when Otsu was Japan's capital for 5 years from 667. Now an open space. 近江大津宮錦織遺跡103 views
|
|
Bottom of Keage Incline102 viewsThe Keage Incline was a dry slope which connected the upper part of the canal with the lower part of the canal. Since the canal was disconnected by this dry slope, boat trolleys on rails ferried boats between the upper and lower sections of the canal. It was in operation until 1948.
|
|
Statue of Sakuro Tanabe, the canal engineer102 viewsIn the park near top of Keage Incline. The canal is lined with various monuments and writings, especially on the canal tunnel entrances.
|
|
Water intake for Lake Biwa Canal No. 1. Kyoto was thereby revitalized with electric power and a stable water supply. A second, almost parallel canal for drinking water was also constructed in 1912. 102 views
|
|
The orange boat decided to go ashore where it was less crowded.102 views
|
|
The boats are stored outside since there is no room inside the boathouse which stores the most expensive boats.102 views
|
|
Also on display in the house was this folding screen.102 views
|
|
Float's front wheel, made of wood. The floats creek as they move.102 views
|
|
At various spots along the procession route, each float stops to perform the karakuri puppets.102 views
|
|
Musicians chime in.102 views
|
|
Sign says, "Throw us chimaki!"102 views
|
|
102 views
|
|
Sake is poured from a keg for the Shojo to drink.102 views
|
|
These photos were taken on April 13-14, 2009. I still have to see the other ceremonies.102 views
|
|
The fun is not over until they start to carry the mikoshi out of the Yomiya-jo. They run with the mikoshi and make it very dramatic (and dangerous if you're in their way).102 views
|
|
The entrance pathway has picture panels explaining about the famous founders of Japanese Buddhist sects.102 views
|
|
102 views
|
|
102 views
|
|
102 views
|
|
View of fall leaves below Hondo Hall 本堂102 views
|
|
Ishiyama-dera also has a grove of plum blossoms which bloom in Feb.102 views
|
|
Keage Incline boat trolley101 views
|
|
Naihaiden Hall (Inner Haiden 内拝殿)101 views
|
|
Singing "Lake Biwa Rowing Song" (Biwako Shuko no Uta)101 views
|
|
The beautiful 15-page program included an ad for the Lake Biwa Rowing Song CD.101 views
|
|
Notice the gold carvings on the ceiling.101 views
|
|
101 views
|
|
A chimaki supposed to ward off bad luck, so we all want to catch one. You hang it above an entrance or under the eaves.101 views
|
|
From noon to 1:45 pm, the floats gathered here on Chuo Odori, a wide road leading to Otsu Station. It was a lunch break and a chance for us to look at the floats up close.101 views
|
|
101 views
|
|
101 views
|
|
Beautiful painted ceiling.101 views
|
|
The rock is cracked open, and the lady changes into a fox.101 views
|
|
Lakefront101 views
|
|
Hi kids!101 views
|
|
April 13 climaxes in the evening with the Yomiya Otoshi Ceremony starting with a torch procession around the streets near Hiyoshi Taisha from 6 pm.101 views
|
|
More bowing between priests.101 views
|
|
Interesting to see Buddhist priests chanting Buddhist sutras in front of a Shinto shrine.101 views
|
|
101 views
|
|
101 views
|
|
Directly behind the Haiden is the Nishi Hongu Honden Hall101 views
|
|
It is actually a boat dock on Lake Biwa.101 views
|
|
Sacred Monkey cage on left and Sacred Horse on the right (dummy horse).101 views
|
|
101 views
|
|
101 views
|
|
101 views
|
|
Escorted by taiko drummers, the main mikoshi arrives at the east end of Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge.101 views
|
|
Second site of the Otsu Palace at Nishikori is a National Historic Site called Omi-Otsu-no-Miya Nishikori Iseki.101 views
|
|
100 views
|
|
Lake Biwa Canal Museum100 viewsModel of Keage Incline.
|
|
Keage Incline100 viewsThe Keage Incline was a dry slope which connected the upper part of the canal with the lower part of the canal. Since the canal was disconnected by this dry slope, boat trolleys on rails ferried boats between the upper and lower sections of the canal. It was in operation until 1948.
|
|
Water intake for Lake Biwa Canal No. 1 at Mihogasaki100 views
|
|
Landed in fishing lines.100 views
|
|
South of Biwako Ohashi Bridge.100 views
|
|
Omi-Fuji (Mt. Mikami) and Karasuma Peninsula. 近江富士（三上山）と烏丸半島100 views
|
|
The Lake Biwa Rowing Song CDs were donated by Philbert Ono.100 views
|
|
Saigyo Sakura Tanuki-yama float with musicians playing on the bridge. 西行桜狸山100 views
|
|
It was in 1638 when the tri-wheel hikiyama floats started to be constructed for the festival. As Otsu prospered, more floats were built until 1776 when the last Otsu Matsuri float (Gekkyuden-zan) was built.100 views
|
|
The floats gathered at Chuo-dori one after another.100 views
|
|
Shrine priest on horseback.100 views
|
|
Must be a great view from the window.100 views
|
|
This is another spot where the karakuri dolls perform.100 views
|
|
So let me introduce all the thirteen floats of the Otsu Matsuri.100 views
|
|
This red-haired Chinese lion comes out of a rock on Mt. Tiantaishan in China and jumps and spins all around amid peony flowers. Quite comical.100 views
|
|
100 views
|
|
The procession includes samurai.100 views
|
|
Family portrait with the chigo child.100 views
|
|
Shogenji temple where all the torch bearers will gather later. Shogenji is a Tendai Buddhist temple on the Sando road. 生源寺100 views
|
|
These guys can get pretty drunk as they haul the torches.100 views
|
|
They stop and after a few speeches, they drop the mikoshi with a bang to symbolize the birth of the child god. Also see my YouTube video here.100 views
|
|
Hiyoshi Taisha's tea field, Japan's oldest.100 viewsDuring the latter half of November, Hiyoshi Taisha has 3,000 maple trees lit up at night 5:00 pm–8:30 pm. Even the green leaves look great against the dark sky. Info in Japanese:
http://hiyoshitaisha.jp/event/momiji/
|
|
Nishi Hongu Honden Hall worships the god (Onamuchi-no-kami) protecting the nation. This current structure was built in 1586. 西本宮 本殿100 views
|
|
Sign explaining the Natural Monument.100 views
|
|
100 views
|
|
100 views
|
|
Entertainment stage on 3rd floor. The entertainers always seem to be from Australia. Instead of a trio, I think they now got only one entertainer.100 views
|
|
National Historic Site of Omi-Otsu Palace building in Nishikori. Thirteen large pillar holes of a long building was first discovered here in 1974. Otsu was Japan's capital for only 5 years from 667. 近江大津宮100 views
|
|
Karasaki Shrine torii. It is a branch shrine of Hiyoshi Taisha. 唐崎神社 MAP99 views
|
|
Keage Incline99 views
|
|
Starting line staff99 views
|
|
Arriving Omi-Maiko on Day 1. Rowing around the lake has been an annual tradition.99 views
|
|
Departing Manohama at about 11:30 am. 真野浜出発99 views
|
|
The boat is deluged with large swells spilling into the boat. 大波99 views
|
|
Karakuri puppet from the Genji-yama float. This is Lady Murasaki writing The Tale of Genji. 2008 is a special year for this float because of the novel's 1000th anniversary. 源氏山99 views
|
|
Parading on Chuo Odori road. 99 views
|
|
The karakuri shows a hermit emerging from the flowers and talking with Priest Saigyo.99 views
|
|
The fifth float is Shojo-yama. 猩々山／南保町99 views
|
|
The tenth float was Kakkyo-yama, originally built in 1693. 郭巨山／後在家町・下小唐崎町99 views
|
|
The tapestry on the back is said to been made in Flanders, Begium in the 17th century.99 views
|
|
Kakkyo (Guo Ju in Chinese) was one of the 24 Chinese filial exemplars.99 views
|
|
Wheel stopper99 views
|
|
99 views
|
|
A young court lady who was actually a fox aiming to kill the Emperor was turned into a rock by this priest.99 views
|
|
Some kids get tried and end up being carried.99 views
|
|
All four groups have arrived and they stand around the mikoshi. There are more people behind the mikoshi as well.99 views
|
|
Yomiya-jo99 views
|
|
The Shinto priests proceed to Nishi Hongu.99 views
|
|
The Tendai Abbot leaving Nishi Hongu.99 views
|
|
Sanno Torii has a unique shape. The triangular gable on top represents the integration of Buddhism's Womb Realm and Diamond Realm with Shinto. 山王鳥居99 views
|
|
99 views
|
|
About the altar inside the Tahoto.99 views
|
|
Ishiyama-dera's Japanese garden in spring.99 views
|
|
99 views
|
|
About the Tahoto99 views
|
|
Hall to Moon-viewing Pavilion. 99 views
|
|
Plum blossoms99 views
|
|
99 views
|
|
99 views
|
|
99 views
|
|
The cafeteria is on the 2nd floor toward the stern. It can hold 112 kids at one time. The chairs are small and immovable, designed for 5th graders. But adults won't have problems sitting.99 views
|
|
Otsu Port for Michigan. These photos were taken in Aug. 2010 and earlier years. You can see how the boat's trimmings look different.99 views
|
|
Kyoto Univ. in dark blue T-shirts98 views
|
|
Built in 1905, gate of Nagara Jinja Shrine.98 views
|
|
This house in Kajiya-cho was open to the public to exhibit stuff related to the lead float Saigyo Sakura Tanuki-yama.98 views
|
|
Karakuri dolls from the Kakkyo-yama float.98 views
|
|
Saigyo Sakura Tanuki-yama. Notice the three wheels instead of four. 西行桜狸山98 views
|
|
98 views
|
|
The crowd desperate to catch a chimaki. People tend to push and shove, and fight for one.98 views
|
|
Alright! I caught one! No more bad luck and misfortune to me!! It might make me immune to black cats always crossing my path. The chimaki lasts for one year after which you supposed to return it to the shrine to be burned during the Dondo-yaki Festival.98 views
|
|
The second float is Yutate-yama. 湯立山／玉屋町98 views
|
|
98 views
|
|
98 views
|
|
The float has much Chinese influence in its artwork.98 views
|
|
The sixth float is Nishinomiya Ebisu-yama. 西宮蛭子山／白玉町98 views
|
|
The eighth float is Gekkyuden-zan. 月宮殿山／上京町98 views
|
|
The eleventh float was Sesshoseki-zan, originally built in 1673. 殺生石山／柳町98 views
|
|
Flower Procession draws large crowds.98 views
|
|
Flower Procession. They walk slowly and deliberately with parents and relatives in tow. 花渡り式98 views
|
|
Flower Procession on Sando 花渡り式98 views
|
|
Shrine parishioners carry giant torches around the streets of Sakamoto the neighborhood of Hiyoshi Taisha.98 views
|
|
98 views
|
|
The Tendai Zasu Abbot is escorted to the Honden.98 views
|
|
Nishi Hongu Haiden Hall98 views
|
|
98 views
|
|
About the memorials.98 views
|
|
98 views
|
|
By 6 pm, all the boats left and we would have to wait 2 hours to see the fireworks when they returned. Unfortunately, I couldn't stand the heat and left. Perhaps I'll see the fireworks someday.98 views
|
|
Karahashi Bridge as the starting point for alumni races97 views
|
|
Small motorboat which accompanies the three rowing boats. I was aboard this motorboat and took pictures.97 views
|
|
Keihan Zeze Station 京阪電鉄膳所駅97 views
|
|
| 2449 files on 10 page(s) |
 |
|
4 | |
|
|
