Most viewed - MIYAGI 宮城県 |
Held annually during Aug. 6-8, the Sendai Tanabata Matsuri is Japan's largest, grandest, and most famous Tanabata Festival. Commonly called the Star Festival, Tanabata Matsuri features large colorful, streamer decorations (called take-kazari).594 views
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Matsushima is a 30-40 min. train ride from Sendai on the JR Senseki Line.463 views
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JR Sendai Station on the west side (Nishi-guchi). This is the main side. There is a tourist information office inside the station where you can pick up maps and pamphlets, maybe in English too.366 views
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You could write a wish on the paper and hang it on the bamboo branch. I wrote "Live long and prosper."309 views
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City of trees on a main road in Sendai.286 views
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In the Shimin Hiroba was also this space.268 views
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Many girls (and kids) dressed in yukata (cotton kimono) came to see the Tanabata Festival. Her facial reaction was typical.257 views
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My YouTube video of Sendai Tanabata featuring the festival eve on Aug. 5, 2009 when they had fireworks and the morning of Aug. 6 when they were setting up the Tanabata decorations. 251 views
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Street lamp249 views
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Hip hop246 views
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Even the pointer markings where the train doors will open have a photo.243 views
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The take-kazari bamboo decorations were marvelous. A myriad of designs and variety. Paper was the main material used to make all these decorations, unlike the predominant plastic found at other Tamabata Festivals in Japan.237 views
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Matsushima Kaigan Station233 views
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On the morning of Aug. 6, the first day of Sendai Tanabata, shop owners started to set up their tanabata bamboo decorations from around 8 am to 9 am.232 views
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Sendai Castle's Waki-yagura turret at the site of Otemon Gate. Reconstructed in 1965. We cannot enter it. 脇櫓230 views
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Hirose River, teeming with wildlife.226 views
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Statue of Lord Date Masamune at Sendai Castle's Honmaru. 223 views
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Waki-yagura turret at Sendai Castle.219 views
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Statue of Lord Date Masamune at Sendai Castle's Honmaru. One of the most popular and famous samurai of all time.216 views
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If you look closely, you can that see one of his eyes is blind.212 views
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Tiny origami paper cranes. Guess how many paper cranes there are? Over 1 million.211 views
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My YouTube video of Sendai Tanabata featuring Tanabata decorations and seeing the evening entertainment (Awa Odori, Tanabata dancers, etc.) on Jozenji-dori during 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. 205 views
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This was my second time to see Sendai Tanabata. The first time was quite some time ago. I had high expectations, and I was not disappointed.201 views
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View from Sendai Castle's Honmaru. Sendai has over a million people. On clear days, you can also see the Pacific Ocean.198 views
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A short walk from Jozenji-dori is the Shimin Hiroba (Citizens' Square) where there was a stage for more entertaining performances by numerous groups. The program started at 6 pm and ended at 8:45 pm.188 views
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I show you photos of the boat cruise first. There are many boats coming and going in Matsushima Bay. You have to decide which cruise to go on.162 views
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Inside Sendai Station's west side. A great greeting for visitors to Sendai during Tanabata Matsuri.159 views
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Map of Matsushima near Matsushima Kaigan Station. Places of interest include Ojima island, Matsushima boat cruise, Godaido island, Fukuura island, and Zuiganji temple.159 views
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In Sendai, famous daimyo Date Masamune had the warrior and merchant classes observe the Star Festival. 158 views
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Eye-catching trio of yukata-clad girls.156 views
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The festival is said to have originated from a Star Festival in China. According to Chinese legend, east of the Milky Way there was a Heavenly King whose daughter worked as a weaver. However, when she married a herdsman, she quit weaving. 149 views
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This decoration had little owl-shaped paper balloons. These girls are blowing air into the balloons with a straw. Sendai Tanabata.148 views
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Lucky Alex...139 views
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Map of Sendai Castle site. It's quite a large site, with museums and other facilities occupying the former castle site. The Honmaru (partially hidden) is on the right of the map.136 views
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Many of the Tanabata streamers are quite commercial, with sponsors prominently displayed on the streamers.135 views
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Route of the Sendai Loop bus. Get off at Sendai-joshi to see Sendai Castle. The bus will take you all the way to the top of the hill where the castle is. Much easier than walking up.135 views
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The yukata has become quite modern. You no longer have to put your hair up when wearing one.133 views
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It's nearly impossible to define or describe an outstanding decoration, but you know it when you see it.132 views
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I arrived in Sendai on Aug. 4, 2009, two days before the festival, and Sendai Station here was already decorated with these huge tanabata streamers. Very impressive.131 views
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Shrine on Ojima130 views
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Torii to a shrine on Ojima island, Matsushima130 views
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This angered her father who banished the herdsman to the other side of the Milky Way. He allowed the two to meet only once a year on the evening of the seventh day of the seventh month (according to the lunar calendar). 129 views
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On Aug. 4, two days before the start of Tanabata Festival, the shopping arcades already had these bamboo poles with ropes set up.129 views
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Sendai International Center128 views
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Entrance to Tsutsujigaoka Park in Sendai, Miyagi. The park is near Tsutsujigaoka Station on the JR Senseki Line, one stop from Sendai Station.128 views
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Matsushima Pier. There are boats which go around the Matsushima islands and return to Matsushima. Others go to Shiogama (toward Sendai) or a longer route toward Oku Matsushima.126 views
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Kanejima126 views
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The pedestrian overpass connected to Sendai Station is also decorated.125 views
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125 views
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Miyagi-ken Gokoku Shrine in Sendai Castle. Emperor Hirohito as well as Crown Prince Akihito (current emperor) visited this shrine to pay their respects. 宮城縣護國神社125 views
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Attaching the ball to the body of the decoration.124 views
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People who wear yukata know how to enjoy each of Japan's seasons.124 views
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The boat passes by numerous pine-clad islands of Matsushima.123 views
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Waki-yagura turret at the site of Otemon Gate.123 views
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Statue of Hasekura Tsunenaga, a samurai retainer of Date Masamune who sent him to the Vatican in 1613. 支倉常長123 views
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Korean performers.122 views
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Statue of Lord Date Masamune at Sendai Castle's Honmaru. Very popular for picture-taking.121 views
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Small museum in Honmaru showing results of excavation work and stone wall reconstruction. 121 views
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Sendai Castle's Honmaru.120 views
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Bottom of the paper cranes.119 views
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This is the Hapina Nakakecho arcade. "Hapina" stands for "Heartful Amenity Place Interfaced Natural Arcade." It also refers to "happy." When the Japanese create a new name, they love puns.119 views
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These people are spreading the wings of the origami cranes.119 views
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Another famous and unique island in Matsushima is Niojima, shaped like a Deva King found at the gate of Buddhist temples. 仁王島119 views
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THis is one of the more famous Matsushima islands, named Kanejima with three holes. 鐘島118 views
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Inside Sendai Station, heading to train platforms.118 views
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Subway train in Sendai.118 views
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About the Otemon Gate.118 views
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THe Nio Maru boat which I rode for the cruise. For an extra 600 yen, you can go on the first-class upper deck. I waited until it got sunny later in the day, then went on the cruise. The islands look better when it's sunny.116 views
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Morning rush hour at Sendai Station. People heading for the exit inside Sendai Station.116 views
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During the Tohoku Industrial Expo in 1928, the forerunner of today's Tanabata Festival was held. Sendai merchants strived to uphold the tradition, resulting in today's elaborate and gaudy Tanabata decorations.115 views
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Pieces of bamboo hung from the ropes on bamboo poles.115 views
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Nishi Park in Sendai is full of people on fireworks night.115 views
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Sendai Tanabata Fireworks on Aug. 5, 7:30 pm to 9 pm. It was impressive. The theme was "Ring of Love."115 views
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115 views
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Miyagi-ken Gokoku Shrine enshrines Miyagi Prefecture's war dead since 1868. There are over 56,000 war dead.115 views
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From Matsushima Kaigan Station, almost everything is within walking distance. If it were cherry blossom season, you could proceed first to Saigyo Modoshi-no-Matsu Park on a hilltop behind the station.114 views
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Next to the boat pier is this building selling cruise tickets. No reservations required. You can buy a ticket even 5 min. before departure. 114 views
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Inside Nio Maru's lower deck. Comfortable and air-conditioned. The places of interest are explained in Japanese and English during the cruise.114 views
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These birds fly very close, within arm's reach.114 views
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The sea gulls follow where there's food, and the tourists are happy to toss junk food at them.114 views
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Sendai Castle site's torii. The torii is here because there's a Shinto shrine in Honmaru.114 views
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Kamikaze suicide fighter pilot memorial next to a war museum within the shrine.114 views
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According to the legend, the original date of Tanabata is July 7 according to the lunar calendar which is about a month behind the calendar we use today. Some places hold the festival on July 7 to match the original, numeric date.113 views
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Inside Sendai Station is a large information booth where you can obtain maps and pamphlets of Sendai and Tanabata Matsuri.113 views
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Nio Maru at Matsushima Port.113 views
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The shopping arcades on the west side of Sendai Station is where the Tanabata decorations are. The main arcades where you can see the streamers are basically on two arcade roads: Chuo-dori and Ichibancho-dori. They intersect at a T-intersection.112 views
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Local cheerleaders included these kids.112 views
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Tanabata decorations outside S-PAL, a shopping complex next to Sendai Station.112 views
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Tanabata decorations at the entrance of Sendai Station.112 views
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Most boat cruises cost 1400 yen, taking about 50 min. Boats leave almost every 30 min. The boat cruise is the main and most popular activity at Matsushima.112 views
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Way to Godaido.112 views
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Stone wall at the site of Otemon Gate.112 views
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Honmaru northern stone wall.112 views
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Map of the original Sendai Castle also called Aobajo or Aoba Castle since the castle is on Aobayama or Mt. Aoba. Sumo fans might know the name Aobajo, a sumo wrestler from Sendai active in the 1980s.112 views
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The weaver is represented by the Vega star and the herdsman by the Altair star. As a prayer to produce better arts and crafts, the Imperial Court and the warrior class paid homage to these two stars from ancient times. This practice spread to the masses.111 views
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111 views
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111 views
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Sendai City Loop bus goes to the major tourist spots in Sendai. Most convenient to get to Sendai Castle. 250 yen per ride or 600 yen for a day pass.111 views
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Site of Nenomon Gate. This leads to Sendai City Museum in the castle area called Sannomaru. 子門111 views
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The area has these nice multi-lingual plaques explaining the points of interest with a map included.111 views
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Monument for the war dead.111 views
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Tanabata Matsuri is held in many parts of Japan, usually in shopping arcades to draw customers. The more famous ones are in Hiratsuka in Kanagawa and Asagaya in Tokyo.110 views
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As each boat leaves, sea gulls follow.110 views
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They even sell bird food on the boat.110 views
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Godaido 五大堂110 views
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Godaido is also noted for wooden carvings of Eto zodiac animals. Cock.110 views
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About the Waki-yagura turret.110 views
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Next to the Honmaru northern stone wall is this large torii gate and steps going up to the Honmaru, the castle's central keep. This place in front of the torii was a parking lot before. Glad that parking is no longer allowed here.110 views
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Sample stone work on a castle wall.110 views
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It rained sometimes during the Tanabata Festival since the Tohoku region was still in the rainy season.109 views
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Setting up Tanabata bamboo decorations.109 views
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Nearby is Godaido temple on a small island close to shore. 109 views
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Godaido is another famous and storied icon of Matsushima. In any painting or depiction of Matsushima, Godaido is always there.109 views
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Sankeiden hall at Entsuin temple is an Important Cultural Property. This is a mausoleum for Date Mitsumine. 三慧殿109 views
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Trains in Tohoku have a door open/close button to save on air-conditioning or heating.109 views
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Statue of Hasekura Tsunenaga acros the road from the Waki-yagura.109 views
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From the city, this is what the castle site looks like on Aobayama. You can see the lookout deck.109 views
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Monument for Doi (Tsuchii) Bansui who created the song, "Kōjō no tsuki" (荒城の月 lit. "Moonlit castle ruins") which is about Sendai Castle. 土井 晩翠109 views
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These decorations cannot be massed produced, all one of a kind.108 views
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One bamboo pole has several decorations and each one hangs on a rope.108 views
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This is Sun Mall Ichibancho. This Ichibancho-dori road is also straight, but consists of three seamless shopping arcades: Sun Mall Ichibancho, Brand Dome Ichibancho, and Ichibancho Yon-chome.108 views
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Female lover in heaven108 views
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THe name "Matsushima" of course means "Pine Islands," so you may hear "Matsushima" in other places in Japan wherever there are pine-clad islands. 108 views
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Sculpture in Sannomaru.108 views
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View from Sendai Castle's Honmaru.108 views
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Hiroshige's woodblock print of Matsushima from his "Famous Views of the 60 Provinces" series.108 views
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It's also possible to walk to the park from Sendai Station, about 20 min.108 views
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The decorations can cost thousands of dollars or even tens of thousands of dollars (US$). (Hundreds of thousands of yen or a few million yen.) 107 views
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Origami paper cranes is actually one type of Tanabata decorations. Many decorations had paper cranes as you can see here.107 views
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Kids loved to jump and try to touch the streamers.107 views
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First time I saw a train station sign on the platform with a photo on it.107 views
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Matsushima Kaigan Station107 views
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Welcome to Matsushima. Getting out of Matsushima Kaigan Station.107 views
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Goshikunuma Swamp is a moat of Sannomaru.107 views
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As you climb up the Aobayama, you pass through the sites of former gates. This one was Nakanomon Gate. 中門107 views
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The streamers can also be quite hypnotizing if not captivating.106 views
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During the morning of Aug. 6 the first day, a team of judges wearing a white cap and yellow shirt proceed through the decorations for judging. Dressed in pink is the back is one of the three Sendai Goodwill Ambassadors (not Miss Tanabata).106 views
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Organizations who made the 1 million+ paper cranes. About 25,000 people from all over Japan from age 5 to 103 made over 1 million paper cranes. That's an average of 40 cranes per person.106 views
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Tourist info next to Matsushima Kaigan Station.106 views
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The first bridge to Godaidojima island.106 views
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This road was filled with people as well for the fireworks.105 views
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You can see Tanabata in various locations (smaller scale) in Japan such as Hiratsuka in Kanagawa held around July 7 and Asagaya and Fussa in Tokyo around Aug. 7.105 views
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Godaido temple in Matsushima. This building was built in 1604 by Lord Date Masamune.105 views
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Map of Fukuura island. Points 3 and 5 are worth seeing. You have to leave the island by 5 pm or (4:30 pm during winter months).105 views
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Outside Sendai Station, they are constructing the Tozai subway line due to open in 2015.105 views
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Inside Sendai subway train.105 views
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The Chuo-dori arcade is about 750 meters long. Although this arcade is a straight and continuous road, it is actually consists of three seamless arcades named Hapina Nakakecho (ハピナ名掛丁), Clis Road, and Marble Road Omachi.104 views
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The crowd take pictures in front of this Outstanding Award decoration.104 views
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After the festival ends, many of these decorations are discarded. But some are donated to a shopping arcade in Fukuoka (Kyushu). 104 views
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Matsushima would also be interesting to geologists.104 views
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Famous for centuries, Matsushima has inspired many haiku poets like Matsuo Basho and painters.104 views
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This was my favorite island in Matsushima.104 views
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Godaido enshrines five statues representing the Mikkyo teachings of Shingon Buddhism.104 views
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Godaido 五大堂104 views
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Boar104 views
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This odd-loking building calls itself Matsushima Castle. I saw nobody there so decided not to enter.104 views
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Altar inside Sankeiden with a statue of Mitsumune.104 views
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Climb further and you'll reach large stone walls, called the Honmaru northern stone wall. 104 views
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View from Sendai Castle's Honmaru.104 views
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Origami paper cranes.103 views
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People were amazed at these cranes. This is one type of streamer you won't see at other Tanabata Festivals in Japan.103 views
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By 10 am on the first day of Aug. 6, most all of the Tanabata decorations were set up. Large crowds soon followed.103 views
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The decorations are given awards such as the Gold and Silver Awards. The winners are announced later in the day, and the winning decorations are tagged with the awards. This is the Gold Award.103 views
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Write your wish on a paper tag and affix it to the bamboo branch.103 views
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Hoisting up the bamboo support pole.103 views
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Matsushima Kaigan Station on the JR Senseki Line. This is the closest to Matsushima's main attractions. Note that there is also a Matsushima Station. Don't get off there.103 views
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Matsushima Rest House is next to the pier, where you can buy cruise tickets or just rest on chairs. Tourist info counter also provided.103 views
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Original letter written by Lord Date Masamune from a battlefield.103 views
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Inside Sankeiden hall which also has a painting of a rose.103 views
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About the Honmaru northern stone wall.103 views
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Interview by local TV.102 views
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This large tanabata bamboo was being set up on Aug. 4.102 views
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Gold Award + Outstanding Award.102 views
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Face to face with a bird. "Hey, any food for me??"102 views
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Second bridge to Godaido.102 views
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Monkey102 views
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Another noted building in Matsushima is Kanrantei, perched on a low hill. Now it is a rest place where they serve tea.102 views
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About Zuiganji temple caves.102 views
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About Enmei Jizo, the Guardian Deity of Lnogevity.102 views
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About the sample stone walls.102 views
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Also in the Honmaru area is Gokoku Shrine decorated here during the Tanabata Star Festival in early Aug. 宮城縣護國神社102 views
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Silver Award. Besides awards for individual decorations, awards are given to the shopping arcade as a whole for the bext decorations.101 views
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It says "No More Hiroshima."101 views
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Godaido was first erected in 807 called Bishamondo. We cannot go inside. Important Cultural Property.101 views
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Ojima island is accessible by a red bridge.101 views
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Nice walking path on Ojima101 views
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Waki-yagura as seen from afar.101 views
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These photos were taken in early May 2012.101 views
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Sendai's shopping arcades were obviously designed for tanabata decorations. There are eyelets or hooks for ropes on the ceiling.100 views
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Peace message.100 views
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Route 45 running parallel to the shore. Busy road with shops and restaurants.100 views
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On the right side toward Zuiganji are these huge caves.100 views
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Corner of Honmaru northern stone wall.100 views
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Honmaru is a large flat area overlooking central Sendai. This was where the castle palace was, the castle lord's actual residence.100 views
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Lookout point on Sendai Castle's Honmaru.100 views
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These are original Edo Period stones removed when the stone wall was renovated. These stones could not be reused.100 views
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Votive tablets for sale at Gokoku Shrine. Special tanabata ones during early Aug.100 views
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Another crowd favorite was these streamers made of tiny origami paper cranes. 99 views
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Hapina arcade99 views
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Attaching ropes. The decorations will later be attached to these ropes.99 views
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Closeups of one of the best take-kazari of 2009.99 views
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On the evening of Aug. 5, the Tanabata Festival Eve, a fireworks display is held at Nishi Koen Park. Here are many girls in yukata waiting for friends at Sendai Station to see the fireworks.99 views
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The original Otemon Gate was here, between the Waki-yagura on the right and stone wall on the left.99 views
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Sample stone work on a castle wall.99 views
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Sendai Castle marker99 views
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Kids writing their wishes.98 views
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No smoking in the shopping arcades.98 views
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This was the 34th Tanabata Decoration of Peace. Aug. 6, the first day of the Sendai Tanabata Matsuri, also happens to be the anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing.98 views
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Fujisaki's decoration is at the T-intersection between Chuo-dori and Ichibancho-dori.98 views
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The decorations usually arrive in huge plastic bags, especially the outdoor ones. This is the Fujisaki decoration.98 views
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Perhaps she wished for a rich husband.98 views
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Cave of graves.98 views
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The walls also have eyelets/hooks for ropes to support the bamboo poles.97 views
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Male lover in heaven97 views
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When the decorations are unpacked or unraveled, they are freshened up. 97 views
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Types of tanabata decorations.97 views
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Extravagant Award97 views
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