 Most viewed - Fukushima city 福島市 |
Belly dancer at Fukushima Waraji Matsuri.1695 views
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Belly dancer at Fukushima Waraji Matsuri.1198 views
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Belly dancer at Fukushima Waraji Matsuri.1168 views
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My YouTube video featuring Diverse dance troupes on the streets of Fukushima in the evening at the annual Fukushima Waraji Matsuri. This is the evening parade (Dancing Soda Night) on Aug. 8, 2009.556 views
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My YouTube video featuring hula dancers in waraji straw sandals, hip-hop, belly dancers, and more during the 1st Waraji Day Dance Contest on Ekimae-dori near Fukushima Station on Aug. 8, 2009 at 12:30 pm. Also, giant waraji races.452 views
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Fukushima Waraji Matsuri221 views
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Fukushima Waraji Matsuri199 views
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During April when the spring flowers are in bloom, a convenient shuttle bus runs from JR Fukushima Station to Hanamiyama Park. A short bus ride.194 views
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JR Fukushima Station on the west side (Nishi-guchi).193 views
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Fukushima Hanamiyama Park 193 views
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189 views
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Fukushima Hanamiyama Park spring flowers 189 views
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Many of the dancers wore waraji-related things.188 views
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Nanohana rape blossoms. In the distance are gift shops.188 views
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183 views
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Fukushima manhole. I think it's waraji straw sandals.182 views
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Hanamiyama Park, Fukushima city.182 views
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181 views
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Held on the first Fri. and Sat. of Aug., the Fukushima Waraji Matsuri is mainly an evening parade of dancers. During Aug. 7-8, 2009, the 40th Fukushima Waraji Festival was held. I saw it on the second day.178 views
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Fukushima Hanamiyama Park spring flowers 177 views
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Fukushima Hanamiyama Park spring flowers 175 views
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173 views
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172 views
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Fukushima Hanamiyama Park spring flowers 171 views
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This girl's homemade happi coat says "Waraji Matsuri."160 views
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Photo gallery152 views
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Gift shop135 views
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About Hanamiyama Park.131 views
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Clear view of Mt. Shinobuyama 信夫山128 views
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Awards ceremony. The festival ended at about 9:30 pm.126 views
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Before you go to Hanamiyama Park, you can leave your luggage here right next to the bus stop.123 views
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Map of Hanamiyama Park. It's kind of hard to figure out.122 views
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121 views
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Hanamiyama Park is literally a Flower-Viewing Mountain Park famous for spring flowers especially cherry blossoms sprinkled on the mountainsides. 118 views
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A trio of belly dancers.117 views
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Notice anything unusual about these hula dancers?113 views
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Look at their footwear. They are wearing a pair of waraji straw sandals.111 views
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On Aug. 8, 2009 at 12:30 pm, they held the 1st Waraji Day Dance Contest on Ekimae-dori. (わらじDayダンス選手権)108 views
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From the bus stop, you walk a bit to Hanamiyama Park. Very pleasant walk.107 views
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105 views
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105 views
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View of Fukushima Station's east side.104 views
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It started in 1935 when local flower growers began planting flowers. In April 1959, it became Hanamiyama Park.104 views
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Although Hanamiyama Park is most famous for cherry blossoms (which past their peak when I visited), there are many other spring flowers as well.104 views
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104 views
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104 views
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103 views
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103 views
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For a few hours, numerous dance groups performed in a contest. They even had a hula troupe dance, to my delight as I'm from Hawaii.102 views
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102 views
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102 views
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100 views
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99 views
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99 views
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Hanamiyama Park, Fukushima city.99 views
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98 views
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98 views
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98 views
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97 views
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Cherry blossoms past thir peak.97 views
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96 views
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96 views
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96 views
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Monument on the west side of Fukushima Station. The shinkansen train can be seen.95 views
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95 views
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94 views
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The park include residential and farming areas so there are roads and areas off limits to tourists.94 views
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A panel of judges were there to judge the dancers.93 views
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93 views
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Road back to the parking lot.93 views
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East exit of JR Fukushima Station has a statue of Haiku poet Matsuo Basho and his traveling companion Sora.92 views
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They also displayed this giant golden waraji.91 views
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91 views
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91 views
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91 views
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Local guides show you the flowers for free.90 views
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90 views
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90 views
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90 views
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Waraji race at Fukushima Waraji Matsuri Festival. Each race team had to have 10 members. Also see my YouTube video here.89 views
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89 views
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89 views
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Irises for June.89 views
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You can sit here.89 views
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Plants for sale.89 views
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88 views
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88 views
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88 views
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Nice views all around.87 views
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View of Fukushima Station's east side.87 views
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87 views
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87 views
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Each dance group had to perform two numbers. The first one had to be "Dancing Soda Night" for 3 min. and the second one could be anything for 5 min. or less.86 views
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Announcement of the winners.86 views
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School girls86 views
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86 views
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86 views
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"Waraji" means straw sandals. In central Fukushima city, Ashio Shrine (足尾神社) at a mountain called Shinobu-yama (信夫山) has Japan's largest waraji at 12 meters long and weighing 2 tons. 85 views
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The giant waraji sandal is an offering for healthy legs/feet. On the first day of the festival (which I missed in 2009), they carry this giant waraji to the festival grounds along Route 13. Here it is displayed at the intersection.85 views
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Near the intersection of Ekimae-dori and Route 13 was this entertainment stage.85 views
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Eisa group from Okinawa85 views
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Toward the west exit the tourist info office on the left. Pick up pamphlets and maps.85 views
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Inside the shop, you can find the best products of Fukushima, including edibles.85 views
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Giant golden waraji had ema votive tablets written with people's wishes.84 views
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Inside JR Fukushima Station. Sample fireworks balls.84 views
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Groups of children, women, etc., were to pull this large waraji on wheels on the 300-meter long race course along Route 13. A pair of large waraji were raced down the road. Then raced back by another pair of racers.83 views
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Inside JR Fukushima Station.83 views
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Corasse Fukushima also has a lookout deck on the top 12th floor. コラッセふくしま83 views
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A good-size crowd watched the dance contest.82 views
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Some fireworks82 views
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Paseo Road Tanabata Matsuri, Fukushima82 views
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Ekimae-dori street leading to Fukushima Station is closed to traffic.81 views
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81 views
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At the intersection. Notice the giant waraji straw sandal.81 views
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81 views
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81 views
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Paseo Road also intersects with Bunka-dori road which also has its own Tanabata Matsuri with bamboo branches hung with wishes.81 views
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Closeup of the giant waraji. 80 views
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They weren't wearing waraji.80 views
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JR Fukushima Station with shinkansen approaching.80 views
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JR Fukushima Station on the east side (Higashi-guchi).79 views
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Inside JR Fukushima Station.79 views
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78 views
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Finally at 7:30 pm, the main event called Dancing Soda Night started along Route 13 and Ekimae-dori.78 views
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JR Fukushima Station shinkansen platform.78 views
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77 views
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The giant golden waraji was used to open the waraji races on the second day of the festival.77 views
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77 views
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Apparently, it was their first time to appear in this festival.77 views
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77 views
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Many of the dance groups were from dance studios or schools.77 views
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On Aug. 8, 2009 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, the second day of the festival, they held waraji races along Route 13 (Shinobu-dori).76 views
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After the waraji races, they also had taiko float races where people pulled/pushed a taiko float in a race.76 views
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JR Fukushima Station shinkansen platform.76 views
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Entrance to the shinkansen tracks.75 views
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Around Aug. 7, the Tanabata Matsuri Star Festival is held along Paseo Road, a short walk from the east side of Fukushima Station.75 views
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Bunka-dori road Tanabata Matsuri75 views
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Children's wishes for Tanabata Matsuri on Bunka-dori Road.75 views
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On the west side of Fukushima Station is a tall building called Corasse Fukushima. The ground floor has the Fukushima Tourism and Product Center selling products of Fukushima.75 views
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74 views
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Poster for Bunka-dori Tanabata Matsuri.74 views
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Hula dancers71 views
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70 views
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