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Plum Blossom Queen at Kairakuen Station1365 viewsShe was passing out maps of the garden. It was a nice touch to see two of these kimono beauties greeting us.
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Plum Blossom Queen1263 views
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Plum Blossom Queens in Kairakuen, Mito1181 views
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Plum Blossom Queens in Kairakuen, Mito837 views
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White plum blossoms, the most common variety, and with the sweetest aroma.654 views
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Closeup of red plum blossom613 views
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Closeup of white plum blossom537 views
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Cherry Blossom Room, Kobuntei Villa523 views
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Red and white plum blossoms441 views
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Kobuntei Villa, fusuma sliding door with painting of maple leaves433 views
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Inside the top floor of Kobuntei Villa408 views
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Kobuntei Villa407 views
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Natto fermented beans405 views
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Kobuntei Villa403 views
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Kobuntei Villa, fusuma sliding door with painting of fall leaves396 views
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Plum blossom-viewing picnickers387 views
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Kobuntei Villa, fusuma sliding door with painting of plum trees373 views
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Kobuntei Villa364 views
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Oarai Isosaki Shrine torii at sea359 views
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Getting to Mt. Tsukuba is easy by bus from Tsukuba Station's Tsukuba Center Bus Terminal. Tsukuba-san Shuttle buses going directly to Mt. Tsukuba leave every 30 min. on weekends or every hour during weekdays and non-peak hours.352 views
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Tokiwa Shrine, Mito322 viewsDedicated to Lord Mitsukuni Tokugawa, the second lord of Mito, and Nariaki Tokugawa, the ninth lord of Mito and the one who built Kairakuen Garden.
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Welcome to Ibaraki315 viewsTrain platform of Kairakuen Station.
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Kobuntei Villa310 views
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A big, two-day August festival in Tsukuba featuring diverse dance groups, bazaar, street performances, hula dancing, and food stalls. The climax is a nebuta parade in the evening. 292 viewsEverything is near Tsukuba Station (Tsukuba Express). Ever since the Tsukuba Express train line opened in 2005 from Akihabara, getting to Tsukuba is a breeze in about 45 min. Wide streets and sidewalks. The festival's main venue centered around this brown building which you see from Exit A5.
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Osaka-zuki red plum blossoms 大盃274 viewsOsaka-zuki

大盃
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Giant votive tablet (2006 is the year of the dog)261 views
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Bonsai plum trees254 viewsI bought one of these once and the flowers smelled good before they withred away. The tree also died soon afterward.
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Map of Kairakuen, a garden built in 1841 by Tokugawa Nariaki (1800-1860), the ninth Lord of Mito. It is one of Japan's three most famous gardens.250 views
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Kobuntei Villa241 views
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Plum trees and Lake Senba236 views
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Pinickers232 views
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Isosaki Shrine's second giant torii232 views
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Higashi Mito Station (on the way to Oarai)225 views
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Train platform of Kairakuen Station224 views
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Pine trees and plum trees221 views
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Oarai Isosaki Shrine's giant torii220 views
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Train platform of Kairakuen Station219 views
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Kairakuen Station216 viewsThis station, right before Mito Station, is open only during major flower seasons of Kairakuen.
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Plum tree grove, about a week too early.211 views
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Kobuntei Villa, fusuma sliding door with painting of azalea211 views
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My video of Matsuri Tsukuba and the Nebuta parade.210 views
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Entrance to garden via Tokiwa Shrine. One of Japan's three most famous gardens, Kairakuen is especially noted for thousands of plum blossom trees which bloom in Feb. and March.209 viewsOne of Japan's three most famous gardens, Kairakuen is especially noted for thousands of plum blossom trees which bloom in Feb. and March.
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Konan Shomu plum blossom 江南所無208 viewsPrunus mume Kounanshomu
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Kobuntei Villa was originally built in 1842 by Tokugawa Nariaki (1800-1860), the ninth Lord of Mito. It was his summer villa.207 views
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Plum grove206 views
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Bamboo grove203 viewsPine trees, bamboo, and plum blossoms are called Shochikubai in Japanese. This trio of trees is most famous.
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When I was there, a helicopter hovered about Mt. Nantai to rescue an injured hiker. I took a bus back to Tsukuba Station.201 views
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Crowd at Higashi-mon East Gate200 viewsThis was the defacto main gate and most crowded since it is closest to the train station.
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Plum trees and Lake Senba197 views
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Kobuntei Villa197 views
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Isosaki Shrine197 views
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Natural spring (cold water)196 views
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Map of central Tsukuba.195 views
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Fantastically-shaped plum tree193 views
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Plum trees and Lake Senba192 views
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Plum tree grove189 views
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Kobuntei Villa188 views
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Torano-o plum blossom (Tiger's Tail) 虎の尾187 views
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Plum tree and train186 views
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Omote-mon Gate185 viewsThis supposed to be the front gate.
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Kobuntei Villa184 views
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Kobuntei Villa has exquisite Japanese-style paintings on paper sliding doors. Kobuntei was damaged by the March 2011 Tohoku earthquake and was closed until early 2012 for repairs.183 views
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View from the top floor of Kobuntei Villa181 views
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View from the top floor of Kobuntei Villa180 views
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Balcony on the top floor of Kobuntei Villa180 views
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Torii to Tsukuba-san Jinja Shrine180 views
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Mt. Tsukuba tourist info office. Also see Ibaraki Guide's Mt. Tsukuba blog post showing the route in the opposite direction from Nantai to Nyotai.179 views
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Path to natural spring178 views
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Kobuntei Villa178 views
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Kobuntei Villa, fusuma sliding door with painting of cherry blossoms177 views
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Poem monument176 views
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Monument proclaiming Kairakuen as one of Ibaraki's 100 Best Sights175 views
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Inside the top floor of Kobuntei Villa174 views
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Kobuntei Villa173 views
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View from the top floor of Kobuntei Villa172 views
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Matsuri Tsukuba posters172 views
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Kobuntei Villa170 views
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Kobuntei Villa170 views
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Kobuntei Villa169 views
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Kobuntei Villa168 views
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Kobuntei Villa161 views
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View from the top floor of Kobuntei Villa154 views
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Kobuntei suffered quite a bit of damage during the big earthquake on March 11, 2011. Repairs have started in Sept. 2011, and they hope to reopen the Kobuntei by Feb. 2012.151 views
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Oarai Isosaki Shrine's giant torii146 views
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Oarai Isosaki Shrine torii at sea132 views
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Train back to Mito.132 views
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For the finale, all the giant nebuta gathered at the large intersection. They didn't do much.126 views
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Haneto126 views
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Resort hotel122 views
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Wave breakers122 views
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Nebuta face-off.122 views
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Dried fish121 views
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Rear view has a sleeping cat.121 views
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Oarai Isosaki Shrine torii at sea120 views
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A third giant nebuta depicts the Pharaoh Ramses II. Seeing an Egyptian theme on a Japanese float was interesting.120 views
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The beach119 views
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There are many things going on at the same time all day long for two days from 10 am to 9 pm. 119 views
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A hula troupe dances next to a yosakoi group.119 views
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The fourth giant nebuta was perhaps the most unique. It was made of inflatable vinyl. It is partially deflated here.119 views
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Ika squid118 views
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In Oshimizu Park were these nebuta tents where they store the nebuta floats. 大清水公演118 views
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A short walk away is this large road serving as a venue for numerous dance groups performing almost all day long. This is also where the nebuta floats would be paraded in the eveing.116 views
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Rear view of Ramses II116 views
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Center Hiroba outdoor stage センター広場特設ステージ115 views
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This float by a junior high school.115 views
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This is Tsukuba Center Hiroba, the central part of the festival where there are food stalls and information booth.114 views
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It drizzled off and on during the day.114 views
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The first big one squeezes under the bridge. 114 views
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Then came this giant mikoshi portable shrine called the Tsukuba Manto Mikoshi. It doesn't seem to belong to any shrine. つくば万灯神輿113 views
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Matsuri Tsukuba official website here.113 views
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Torii at sea112 views
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Almost fully inflated.112 views
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Hayashi festival music112 views
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The inflated nebuta comes around.112 views
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Poor dragon112 views
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Each giant nebuta float is preceded by a set of drums and drummers.112 views
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Seafood restaurants111 views
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Tsukuba Tourism Ambassadors111 views
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English translators available! I noticed quite a few foreigners in Tsukuba, a national science and technology research and academic center.111 views
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The program was called Happy Hawaiian Stage. ハッピーハワイアンステージ111 views
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Kabuki-like magician.111 views
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Street performer (Sign says, "Photography allowed.")111 views
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Chuo Park bazaar111 views
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Inside the nebuta tent.111 views
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The mikoshi goes to meet the float.111 views
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The floats were covered with plastic due to drizzling rain.111 views
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The slayed dragon exhaled smoke.111 views
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A nice elevated walkway connected Chuo Park and the main festival area.110 views
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At first glance, it looks very strange. But they soon inflated it.110 views
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Haneto dancers. Much fewer of them than in Aomori.110 views
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Kids dancing110 views
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This small float by local Boy Scouts.110 views
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Quite dramatic indeed.110 views
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At the very end, despite the rain, they took off the vinyl.110 views
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And other musicians.110 views
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Anko seafood soup (miso-based)109 views
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Walking further down the Tsukuba Koen-dori road toward Oshimizu Park.109 views
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Banpaku Float109 views
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Being inflated now.109 views
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Ramses II109 views
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Shoreline108 views
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Haneto108 views
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At first, I thought it looked kind of gimmicky, comical, and fake, but it turned out to be quite impressive.108 views
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Too bad the plastic was on the floats. 108 views
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Oarai town107 views
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Isosaki Shrine torii107 views
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On the other side of the underground train station is Chuo Park where Art Town Tsukuba and street performances were held. アートタウンつくば2009 ~大道芸フェスティバル~107 views
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Another giant nebuta float.107 views
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Another one squeezes through. 107 views
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Seafood restaurants106 views
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What would a festival be without taiko drummers?106 views
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万博山車パレード106 views
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Koma-inu lion dog and lanterns105 views
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Baby scallops105 views
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Fresh oysters105 views
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Patching up the damaged parts of the float. Apparently, it got damaged as it passed under a bridge that is a little too low for the giant nebuta.105 views
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From about 4 pm, they had the Matsuri Parade on the main road. まつりパレード 万博山車パレード105 views
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Rear view.105 views
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Without the plastic covering.105 views
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Another venue in Creo Square was this small outdoor stage featuring hula dancing all afternoon long by various groups. クレオ前広場104 views
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Street performers104 views
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The nebuta tents were built in late July. No kids around sketching the nebuta though, as they do in Aomori during the day.104 views
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Inside the nebuta tent was this nebuta float from Aomori, arrived earlier in Aug.104 views
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Monkey's underarm has patch-up work.103 views
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At 5 pm, the Nebuta Parade started. It was kind of strange to see a nebuta parade in almost broad daylight. 102 views
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Sign saying Oarai is famous for noren curtains.100 views
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Isosaki Shrine torii as seen from the beach99 views
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Oarai Station99 viewsShort ride from Mito Station.
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Gate to Tsukuba-san Jinja Shrine's Haiden Hall98 views
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Path from shrine97 views
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The ropeway runs every 20 min. The fare is 600 yen one way.96 views
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Observation tower at the beach and a symbol of Oarai95 views
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Isosaki Shrine torii94 views
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Ferry port (service to Otaru, Hokkaido)94 views
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Mt. Tsukuba ahead. It takes about 50 min. to reach Mt. Tsukuba by bus from Tsukuba Center Bus Terminal.93 views
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Shrine92 views
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Boat museum within the shrine grounds92 views
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Tsutsujigaoka has a ropeway aerial tram terminal taking you up to Mt. Nyotai, Mt. Tsukuba's female peak. 女体山91 views
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I got off the bus at Tsutsujigaoka, the last stop. I hiked it from Mt. Nyotai (female peak) to Mt. Nantai (male peak). It's also possible to do it in the opposite direction from Nantai to Nyotai. つつじヶ丘91 views
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Mt. Tsukuba has two peaks, Mt. Nantai (male peak) on the left and Mt. Nyotai (female peak) on the right. They are wedded peaks due to the wedded gods Izanami and Izanagi. 男体山 女体山86 views
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Hanazono Shrine also has a version of the three monkeys here on the Honden shrine hall, but only half the mouth, only one ear, and only one eye are covered as you can see here. 86 views
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Lookout deck on Mt. Nyotai on Mt. Tsukuba.85 views
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People climbing on the narrow peak of Nyotai. Mt. Tsukuba is one of Japan's 100 Famous Peaks.85 views
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It's possible to climb up to Mt. Nyotai as well.84 views
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Tsutsujigaoka Ropeway Station below, as seen from the summit of Mt. Nyotai on Mt. Tsukuba.84 views
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View from Mt. Nyotai.83 views
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Climbing up the peak of Mt. Nyotai.83 views
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Views from the summit of Mt. Nyotai on Mt. Tsukuba.83 views
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Rock formation called Gama-ishi. ガマ石83 views
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Approaching Mt. Nyotai. Mt. Tsukuba is noted for fall leaves. But I was a little too late. The leaves here turn color earlier than on the plains. 女体山81 views
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View from Mt. Nyotai.81 views
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Mt. Nantai in the distance.81 views
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Atop the summit of Mt. Nyotai on Mt. Tsukuba.81 views
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The trail continues to a clearing in the middle of the two peaks.81 views
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Tsukuba-san Jinja Shrine's Nyotai Honden on Mt. Nyotai. It worships Izanami, wife of Izanagi.80 views
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Between Mt. Nyotai and Nantai on Mt. Tsukuba is a row of tourist shops in this palce called Miyukigahara (御幸ケ原). That's Mt. Nantai in the background.80 views
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View from Mt. Nantai on Tsukuba-san.80 views
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Mt. Fuji as seen from Mt. Nyotai.79 views
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From Mt. Nyotai, it's an easy hike but rocky trail to Mt. Nantai.79 views
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The round building has a gift shop on the bottom, restaurant on the 2nd floor, and a revolving lookout deck on the roof (free admission).79 views
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Bottom cable car station.79 views
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In the middle of the two peaks is another lookout deck and gift shops.78 views
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In Kita-Ibaraki, Hanazono Shrine's pregnant tree, now an object of worship for wannabe mothers and pregnant mothers for a safe childbirth. Near the first torii.78 views
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View from Miyukigahara.77 views
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Tsukuba-san Shrine on Mt. Nantai, the male peak.77 views
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Miyukigahara.77 views
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