 Most viewed - HYOGO 兵庫県 |
Himeji Castle tower, a National Treasure. 大天守655 views
|
|
Warrior armor displayed on second floor of Himeji Castle tower523 views
|
|
Road to Himeji Castle. From Himeji Station, the main road leads to the castle which can be seen in the distance.485 views
|
|
Since Jan. 2010 is the 15th anniversary of the Kobe earthquake that struck on Jan. 17, 1995, I decided to upload these photos for the first time. I visited Kobe 10 days after the killer quake struck. Had to take a hydrofoil from Osaka to reach Kobe.427 views
|
|
Nu-no-mon Gate (Important Cultural Property). This is the way out.421 views
|
|
Okiku's Well. Subject of a famous ghost story called "Banshu Sara Yashiki," about a castle servant named Okiku.403 views
|
|
I was amazed to see Mos Burger back in business so soon. It was another sign of a very progressive recovery.384 views
|
|
Harakiki Maru. Square where the samurai committed harakiri or seppuku. The well seen in the upper right may have been where the head was washed. The building on the right was actually a defensive post.374 views
|
|
Twin turrets of Akashi Castle363 views
|
|
Kitanozaka slope goes to the Kitano-cho area of Western homes built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many are very well-preserved and open to the public. This one has Starbucks. 北野坂（奥に北野物語館）354 views
|
|
Fukae Shopping Center332 views
|
|
Osakabe Shrine on top floor of Himeji Castle. This shrine was already on the hill before the castle was built. The shrine was moved when the castle was built, but it was brought into the castle after some "curses" occurred.329 views
|
|
Model of castle320 views
|
|
Barrels of sake displayed for Toka Ebisu inside Hanshin Nishinomiya Station.306 views
|
|
Earthquake tourists getting their picture taken.304 views
|
|
Santica building near Sannomiya Station had a middle floor crushed. As I walked around the devastation, I could see common ways in which the buildings collapsed. High rise buildings commonly collapsed on a middle floor.300 views
|
|
Toka Ebisu banner inside Umeda Station.298 views
|
|
Otemon Gate, Main gate to castle. Reconstructed in 1937. 大手門292 views
|
|
Kobe manhole283 views
|
|
Hishi Gate, Important Cultural Property. Pass though this large gate to proceed to the Ni no Maru compound. 菱門276 views
|
|
Castle tower, a National Treasure. 大天守266 views
|
|
Path to Harakiri (belly-slitting) Maru on the left or to Ri-no-mon Gate straight ahead.261 views
|
|
The family crest of the resident warlords who repaired the castle are displayed. The warlords include Hashiba (later Toyotomi) Hideyoshi, Ikeda Terumasa, Honda Tadamasa, Matsudaira Tadaaki, Matsudaira Naomoto, Sakakibara Tadatsugu, and Sakai Tadazumi.260 views
|
|
Castle view from San no Maru.257 views
|
|
Wooden framework of castle tower256 views
|
|
Family crest on roof tiles. The family crest of the resident warlords who repaired the castle remain on the roof.255 views
|
|
Uchibori Inner Moat253 views
|
|
Castle tower closeup. 大天守248 views
|
|
Road to Himeji Castle. Otemae Boulevard (Symbol Road). 大手前通り238 views
|
|
World Heritage Site marker. 世界遺産 姫路城237 views
|
|
Path to Hishi Gate. 菱門235 views
|
|
Take off your shoes before entering.234 views
|
|
Castle moat228 views
|
|
Main castle tower (donjon), called Tenshu. 大天守223 views
|
|
Weathercock House, built in 1909, is one of the main Western homes open to the public in Kobe's Kitano-cho. 旧トーマス住宅221 views
|
|
Mizu-no-ni Gate, Important Cultural Property220 views
|
|
World Heritage Site marker. 世界遺産 姫路城219 views
|
|
Himeji Station218 views
|
|
The family crest of the resident warlords who repaired the castle remain on the roof.215 views
|
|
Weapon racks called bugukake. 武具掛215 views
|
|
More exhibits215 views
|
|
213 views
|
|
Ni no Maru. After passing through Hishi Gate, this is what you see.212 views
|
|
Mizu-no-san Gate212 views
|
|
Inside Ni-no-mon Gate. A bottleneck gate designed so not many enemy soldiers can pass through at one time.211 views
|
|
Ho-no-mon Gate (lower left)211 views
|
|
View of Honmaru (Bizen Maru) and shachihoko roof ornament. The shachihoko ornament on the roof ridge guards against fire and natural disasters. Eleven of these are atop the castle.210 views
|
|
Path to Otemon Gate, the main gate to the castle. 大手門209 views
|
|
Path to Ha-no-mon Gate はの門209 views
|
|
First floor209 views
|
|
Weapon racks called bugukake. 武具掛209 views
|
|
Sword exhibit208 views
|
|
207 views
|
|
Castle tower viewed from Bizen Maru (Honmaru) 大天守207 views
|
|
Sangoku Moat in Ni no Maru, 三国堀206 views
|
|
Chi-no-mon Gate (after passing through)206 views
|
|
Ro-no-mon Gate (Important Cultural Asset) ろの門205 views
|
|
Ni-no-mon Gate (Important Cultural Asset) にの門205 views
|
|
Castle roof underside205 views
|
|
Inside storehouse205 views
|
|
Chi-no-mon Gate in the distance. On the left partially hidden is To-no-ichi Gate. ちの門205 views
|
|
View of Honmaru (Bizen Maru), main road to Himeji Station, and Nishi-no-Maru205 views
|
|
Special Historical Place marker204 views
|
|
First flight of stairs204 views
|
|
Castle ticket office and entrance. Admission is 600 yen for adults. Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (September through May) or 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.(June through August).203 views
|
|
View from He-no-mon Gate203 views
|
|
Nishi no Maru and Sangoku Moat in foreground203 views
|
|
201 views
|
|
Stone coffins at Bizen Gate. Due to a shortage of stones during the castle's construction, many stone coffins unearthed from the tumulus on the hill of the castle were used in the rock walls. The stone coffins were replaced by real stones during the c201 viewsDue to a shortage of stones during the castle's construction, many stone coffins unearthed from the tumulus on the hill of the castle were used in the rock walls. The stone coffins were replaced by real stones during the castle restoration in the 1960s.
|
|
Koshi Kuruwa storehouse (Waist Quarter) for salt and rice.200 views
|
|
Castle tower 大天守200 views
|
|
Mizu-no-ichi Gate, Important Cultural Property.200 views
|
|
San no Maru. This area is ringed by cherry trees. 三の丸広場199 views
|
|
View from the right of Hishi Gate199 views
|
|
"Sama" hole for dropping stones, throwing spears, etc.198 views
|
|
Inside Weathercock House.197 views
|
|
San no Maru cherry trees. The stone marker says that Himeji Castle is one of Japan's 100 Best Cherry Blossom Sites.195 views
|
|
View from the right of Hishi Gate195 views
|
|
I-no-mon Gate (Important Cultural Asset) いの門195 views
|
|
He-no-mon Gate への門195 views
|
|
Well Turret. The well is 16 meters deep with water 1 meter deep.195 views
|
|
Nishi no Maru and Hishi Gate (lower right)195 views
|
|
Bizen Gate entrance to Honmaru, also called Bizen-maru. Notice the coffin stone on the right of the gate. (Important Cultural Property) 備前門194 views
|
|
Sign for bugukake weapon racks. Most explanatory signs are also in English.194 views
|
|
Top floor of castle tower194 views
|
|
Well Turret sign. The turret is to defend the rear of the castle. It has three rooms, one of which has a 16-meter deep well. 井郭櫓193 views
|
|
Mizu-no-roku Gate door193 views
|
|
Storehouse192 views
|
|
Mizu-no-go Gate. 水五門192 views
|
|
Moegi no Yakata or Sharp residence 萌黄の館（シャープ住宅）192 views
|
|
Akashi Castle seen from the train platform of Akashi Station.191 views
|
|
Castle tower stone foundation190 views
|
|
Path to Ni-no-mon Gate189 views
|
|
Koshi no Kuruwa storehouse for rice and salt189 views
|
|
Inside storehouse188 views
|
|
Path to castle tower entrance188 views
|
|
188 views
|
|
Another major house is Uroko no Ie which has an art museum as well. 旧ハリヤー邸（うろこの家）188 views
|
|
British House 英国館187 views
|
|
To-no-ichi Gate との一問186 views
|
|
Mizu-no-go Gate door186 views
|
|
View of Honmaru and main road to Himeji Station, Otemae Boulevard (Symbol Road). 大手前通り186 views
|
|
Coins stuck on giant tune at Nishinomiya Shrine Toka Ebisu.186 views
|
|
View of castle tower from Chi-no-mon Gate185 views
|
|
Inside Mizu-no-roku Gate185 views
|
|
Gun racks called bugukake. 武具掛185 views
|
|
184 views
|
|
Map of Akashi Park184 viewsThe castle is now only a small part of the park.
|
|
One end of To-no-ichi Gate183 views
|
|
He-no-mon Gate in the distance. As seen from Chi-no-mon Gate.183 views
|
|
To top floor183 views
|
|
183 views
|
|
They also had a giant maguro tuna fish on display as an offering to the shrine from a fishing cooperative.183 views
|
|
Mizu-no-roku Gate182 views
|
|
Fifth floor181 views
|
|
181 views
|
|
Castle tower viewed from Bizen Maru (Honmaru). 大天守180 views
|
|
Shrine maidens selling fuku-sasa branches at Nishinomiya Shrine's Toka Ebisu.180 views
|
|
To second floor179 views
|
|
178 views
|
|
Kobe City Hall buckled at the middle floor.178 views
|
|
176 views
|
|
175 views
|
|
174 views
|
|
View of Shirotopia Memorial Park. Site of the Shirotopia Expo held in 1989 to celebrate Himeji city's centennial. シロトピア記念公園174 views
|
|
Himeji Station172 views
|
|
Inside Moegi no Yakata172 views
|
|
Going back down171 views
|
|
Ben's House170 views
|
|
Nihon Seimei Bldg. collapsed at the middle, near Sannomiya Station. It's hard to imagine what would've happened if the quake struck during working hours with people working in this building.169 views
|
|
The Japanese tile roof makes the home top-heavy, making it more vulnerable to horizontal swaying and eventual toppling.169 views
|
|
Weapons racks called bugukake. 武具掛168 views
|
|
View of Honmaru167 views
|
|
166 views
|
|
Going down165 views
|
|
162 views
|
|
Video of Toka Ebisu at Nishinomiya Shrine, Hyogo.162 views
|
|
View looking east161 views
|
|
Akashi Castle seen from the train platform of Akashi Station.161 views
|
|
Tilted buildings near Sannomiya Station. It took only 15 sec. to wreak all this damage.161 views
|
|
Animal rights activists will love this house.160 views
|
|
Hammack which Ben slept on.160 views
|
|
159 views
|
|
Akashi Station158 viewsOn the JR Sanyo Line.
|
|
Kobe Shimbun newspaper offices near Sannomiya Station was in shambles.157 views
|
|
Something unique is this upside down kadomatsu decoration flanking Nishinomiya Shrine's Haiden Hall.156 views
|
|
Shopping arcade155 views
|
|
No, my camera lens is not distorting this picture. That building is actually tilting a lot, but they still allowed traffic on the road below.153 views
|
|
152 views
|
|
Photo gallery152 views
|
|
The expressway that supposed withstand such quakes collapsed. It was a major scandal. The shinkansen bullet train tracks also had broken concrete columns which revealed pieces of scrap wood mixed in. 150 views
|
|
By this time, the tuna was dry and solid as a rock. It was impossible to stick on more coins.150 views
|
|
148 views
|
|
Near Kobe City Hall along Flower Road was this office building which had also collapsed at a middle floor.147 views
|
|
Sogo Dept. Store cracked vertically in the middle. This building was later torn down and replaced with a new dept. store building.146 views
|
|
144 views
|
|
Toka Ebisu ad inside Hanshin Line train.144 views
|
|
Castle moat143 views
|
|
Entrance to Akashi Park143 views
|
|
Interesting contrast between buildings which fell and didn't fall.143 views
|
|
Hanshin Nishinomiya Station.143 views
|
|
Castle wall141 views
|
|
Garden of Musashi 武蔵の庭園140 viewsNear the park entrance is a Japanese garden designed by Miyamoto Musashi, famous warrior.
|
|
The main square in Kitano-cho. Most of the homes charge admission. It's cheaper to buy a set of tickets to see multiple homes. Most of the major homes have a ticket booth selling these ticket sets.139 views
|
|
Where the tail is cut off.139 views
|
|
Hitsujisaru Turret (坤櫓)138 views
|
|
In front of Sannomiya Station is Sogo Dept. Store.138 views
|
|
The engineers said this would be strong enough, but they were dead wrong.138 views
|
|
138 views
|
|
View from Hitsujisaru Turret136 views
|
|
Damage to Sannomiya Station building.135 views
|
|
Inside Hitsujisaru Turret132 views
|
|
Castle moat131 views
|
|
Inside Hitsujisaru Turret131 viewsRoof tile ends on display.
|
|
Expressway pylon broken.130 views
|
|
When you arrive JR Toyooka Station, you will soon notice that the Oriental white stork ("kounotori" in Japanese) is the symbol of the city. Even the roof looks like a soaring bird. 129 views
|
|
Statue of Nakabe Ikujiro (1866－1946) 中部幾次郎128 viewsA pioneer in building up Akashi's fisheries industry. Also a philanthropist who donated money to build schools in Akashi.
|
|
Tatsumi Turret (巽櫓) (not open to visitors)127 views
|
|
Tatsumi Turret (巽櫓)127 views
|
|
Sherlock Holmes room in British House, Kobe Ijinkan127 views
|
|
Stairs inside Hitsujisaru Turret126 viewsUnfortunately, the upper floor is bnot open to visitors.
|
|
Twin turrets of Akashi Castle125 viewsThe left turret is called the Hitsujisaru Turret (坤櫓) and the right one is called the Tatsumi Turret (巽櫓).
|
|
Tatsumi Turret (巽櫓)125 views
|
|
The building next to Washington Hotel scraped against the hotel as it fell.125 views
|
|
Crushed car125 views
|
|
Hitsujisaru Turret (坤櫓) is open to visitors.124 views
|
|
Shop shutters along Ikuta Road are tilted due to the crushing weight.124 views
|
|
Steps to turrets123 views
|
|
Tatsumi Turret (巽櫓)123 views
|
|
View from castle122 viewsThe train station can be seen in the distance.
|
|
Castle wall and Hitsujisaru Turret (坤櫓)120 views
|
|
120 views
|
|
Another common way in which buildings collapsed was the 1st floor giving way like this small hotel.120 views
|
|
Sannomiya Station119 views
|
|
Inside Hitsujisaru Turret118 views
|
|
Statue of Nakabe Ikujiro (1866－1946) 中部幾次郎118 viewsA pioneer in building up Akashi's fisheries industry. Also a philanthropist who donated money to build schools in Akashi.
|
|
Exiting Hanshin Nishinomiya Station on Jan 10, 2011.118 views
|
|
Cracked Sogo Dept. Store in Sannomiya.116 views
|
|
Inside Hitsujisaru Turret115 views
|
|
So named because of a weathercock (rooster) on the spire.115 views
|
|
Selling omikuji fortunes.115 views
|
|
Path to turrets114 views
|
|
113 views
|
|
Kobe Port. Most of the people entering Kobe during this time were relatives and friends of Kobe residents, bringing relief goods.113 views
|
|
Hitsujisaru Turret (坤櫓) and castle tower foundation112 views
|
|
Distribution place for relief goods. Ten days after the earthquake, the initial fires, confusion, and pandemonium had subsided. It was pretty calm by then, but the damage was still visible.112 views
|
|
Castle tower foundation111 views
|
|
Hankyu Railways' Sannomiya Station being torn down.110 views
|
|
Crushed car109 views
|
|
Oriental White Stork manhole in Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture.109 views
|
|
108 views
|
|
108 views
|
|
Rhine House (free admission) 旧ドレウェル邸（ラインの館）107 views
|
|
Crushed Audi.107 views
|
|
Ebessan-suji road going to Nishinomiya Jinja Shrine.107 views
|
|
Directional sign at JR Toyooka Station.107 views
|
|
Fallen clock which stopped at the time of the earthquake.106 views
|
|
Jazz sculptures accent the Kitano-cho area.105 views
|
|
105 views
|
|
Way to Hanshin Nishinomiya Station.105 views
|
|
104 views
|
|
Employees are removing merchandise from Sogo Dept. Store.104 views
|
|
Amid the rubble of a collapsed building, a yakisoba stall sold yakisoba noodles.104 views
|
|
103 views
|
|
103 views
|
|
The next day, I again visited Kobe, this time by train to Ashiya Station. See gravestones overturned.103 views
|
|
Collapsed shopping center near Ashiya Station. That's the 2nd floor which now looks like the 1st floor.102 views
|
|
102 views
|
|
Ashiya Station101 views
|
|
Oriental white stork eating a fish.101 views
|
|
Oriental White Stork manhole in Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture.101 views
|
|
100 views
|
|
Nihon Seimei Bldg. collapsed at the middle.100 views
|
|
People eating yakisoba amid the rubble.100 views
|
|
The 1st floor is totally flattened.100 views
|
|
100 views
|
|
100 views
|
|
I didn't expect to see the storks flying around, so I was thrilled when a few of them flew overhead while I was in the park. They flew in during feeding time.100 views
|
|
This Kitano area is also a National Important Traditional Townscape Preservation District (重要伝統的建造物群保存地区).99 views
|
|
99 views
|
|
99 views
|
|
Store in shambles.99 views
|
|
99 views
|
|
98 views
|
|
Backstreet destruction.98 views
|
|
I really felt sorry for the people who had just bought a house or condo with a 35-year mortgage and the house or condo was destroyed by the quake. They are stuck paying off the housing loan and also have to pay monthly rent at a new place.98 views
|
|
People on the left are leaving the shrine, while people on the right are heading for the shrine. About a million people visit Nishinomiya Shrine during Jan. 9-11.98 views
|
|
At Osaka's Imamiya Shrine (another big Ebisu shrine), the tree branches are real and you can choose which decorations to put on it.98 views
|
|
97 views
|
|
A mess inside a restaurant.97 views
|
|
On the left was a separate entrance here to see the giant tuna (maguro).97 views
|
|
97 views
|
|
| 1000 files on 4 page(s) |
1 |
 |
|
