Home > CHIBA 千葉県

Most viewed - CHIBA 千葉県
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Gauntlet of Chiba Lotte Marines cheerleaders at Chiba Marine Stadium for a baseball game.91 views
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A procession departs Tamasaki Shrine at 1 pm, led by Sarutahiko.90 views
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They then ran with the portable shrine. They will run while carrying the shrine to the beach several kilometers away.90 views
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I kept shooting their backs. Next time, I'll try to shoot more faces.90 views
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It's amazing that no one tripped and fell.90 views
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First, Matsudo Mayor Toshihisa Kawai said a few words to welcome Naoko back to Earth and to her hometown of Matsudo. 伊勢丹前広場にてオープニングセレモニー90 views
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The marching band was followed by a group of kids belonging to the Young Astronaut Club, an educational club.90 views
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After the ceremony, the bean throwers came outside.90 views
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Meanwhile, I joined many others to worship inside the temple's main hall.90 views
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Haruka Ayase throwing beans. It ended in less than 90 sec. Ridiculously short.90 views
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They kept waving their fans and cheering in the water.89 views
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Sometimes they tossed the mikoshi up.89 views
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Her biography by NASA is here.89 views
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The same banner found in Matsudo Station also hung above the stage.89 views
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Whenever someone goes into space, there was always something that's first. She's the first Japanese mom in space. The first time more than one Japanese were in space. The first time four women were in space.89 views
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She's a very attractive and charming-looking lady. Cream of the cream. Yes, she's the first Japanese mom to fly into space, but she's very bright. Graduate of Univ. of Tokyo in aeronautical engineering.89 views
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Shinshoji's main hall is decorated with Buddhist colors and red and white.89 views
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Already, hordes of people stand and wait for the second bean-throwing session 2 hours later.89 views
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This side was more crowded because that's where the celebrities would throw beans. Press cameramen were also on this side.89 views
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Names of the celebrity bean throwers.89 views
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The people (no celebrities) participating in Kaiun mamemaki had a group photo taken. Anybody could join this by paying 10,000 yen.89 views
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After the ceremony which took about 20 min., they came out of the temple and took their places for bean throwing. This is Baruto.89 views
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Traditional townscape in Sawara, Katori, Chiba Prefecture.89 views
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Ino Tadataka's former residence89 views
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They tossed the mikoshi into the air a few times.88 views
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Back on land.88 views
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Great spectacle, especially with women included. Great idea to allow women in the festival.88 views
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Then the mikoshi sped by one after another.88 views
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About the Kangun-zuka.88 views
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Behind the kids was Naoko Yamazaki's convertible from which she tirelessly waved and smiled. 88 views
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In-between the bean-throwing sessions, they held a different ceremony, called "Kaiun mamemaki" (開運豆まき), inside the main hall. They paraded into the temple at around 12:30 pm.88 views
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The ceremony was broadcast outside so we could hear it. There was some chanting and announcement of the names of the bean throwers.88 views
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Walking back to the train station.88 views
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Sawara, Katori, Chiba88 views
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You could go in front of them to shoot their faces, but the water would be deeper.87 views
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The parade route started on this narrow road near Matsudo Station, coming from Isetan Dept. Store.87 views
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The parade route was fenced off.87 views
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Isetan Dept. Store in Matsudo had a large vertical banner welcoming Naoko's return.87 views
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The ceremony was over by 2:30 pm, and she then hopped in a convertible for the parade. After the ceremony was over, I rushed out and ran to the parade route in front of Matsudo Station.87 views
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It's mind-boggling to see how much training she went through during 11 years or so before she actually went into space. It must've been hard on her husband and daughter, but they stuck it out and must be very proud.87 views
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They also start a fire inside the temple to which they expose the bean boxes to be used by the bean throwers.87 views
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Haruka Ayase posed for us for a while.87 views
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After throwing bean, they clap their hands.87 views
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At around 3:30 pm, people started to gather for the day's third and final bean-throwing by ordinary folks.87 views
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Ino Tadataka's former residence in Sawara, Chiba is open to the public.87 views
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The mikoshi start to gather for a ceremony as they all run at full speed.86 views
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After the ceremony, they head for the water.86 views
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Very jovial and noisy.86 views
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The sacred horse arrive in town.86 views
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So much for the first bean-throwing ceremony. I was just too far away because I arrived late.86 views
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We all patiently waited. But things happened so it made the time go by faster. Fortunately, the weather was good.86 views
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The crowds make their way into the main hall.86 views
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There is a small space between the platform and crowd.86 views
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The paper flag had Naoko Yamazaki's official logo for the STS-131 mission. (See high-quality image below.)85 views
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The plaza in front of Isetan was quite full. We were warned that we wouldn't be able to see the welcome parade afterward because they would block off the street from us. However, it was still possible for us to see the parade.85 views
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Naoko's car was followed by the mayor's car.85 views
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Along the final stretch of the too-short parade route, the huge crowd followed her. The parade ended at about 3 pm.85 views
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After passing through Somon Gate, a flight of steps ahead.85 views
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Buy this 500-yen charm and 100 yen will be donated to the city of Rikuzen-Takada in Tohoku.85 views
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People line up for lucky beans.85 views
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Built in 1884, Tojotei was the residence of Tokugawa Akitake (1853-1910), brother of the last Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu. 85 viewsMatsudo, Chiba, Prefecture
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Transom with a butterfly designin Tojotei.85 views
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The next spectacle was them running through the torii on the beach.84 views
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The boy looked thrilled to be riding at full speed. Very bumpy though.84 views
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From 6 pm, they paraded the mikoshi on the main road near Tamasaki Shrine.84 views
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Like on the beach, they wave fans and cheer.84 views
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They had this altar decoration with small branches from a tree in Tohoku. The bean throwing would also be about "throwing out hardship" in Tohoku. 特別追儺豆まき式84 views
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Inside the main hall. The altar area is behind a glass wall. Photography was not allowed inside. Impressive altar where they have a Goma prayer fire ritual every day.84 views
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The press cameramen who were on this platform were all gone after the 2nd bean-throwing session.84 views
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Bean-throwing platform.84 views
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Round window at Tojotei84 views
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Scale model of the Three-Story Pagoda at Saimyoji temple in Shiga Prefecture. Inside Nakayama Hokekyoji temple in Ichikawa, Chiba.84 views
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All the mikoshi headed for the torii.83 views
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When Naoko Yamazaki arrived by car, people started to wave the paper flags as she made her way to the stage. People behind the people in front couldn't see much because of the flags.83 views
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The flag dancers were followed by a marching band from the fire dept. 消防音楽隊83 views
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Office where you can apply to be a Kaiun mamemaki bean thrower for 10,000 yen.83 views
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Scale model of the Three-Story Pagoda at Saimyoji temple in Shiga Prefecture. Inside Nakayama Hokekyoji temple in Ichikawa, Chiba.83 views
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Making way for the horses.82 views
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Shrine priest arrives.82 views
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The parade started with this group of flag twirlers. 82 views
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I was too tired to stick around for the last bean-throwing ceremony.82 views
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People line the parade route. The parade started at about 2:35 pm.81 views
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Daruma dolls on a truck.81 views
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Everyone is yelling and cheering.80 views
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People wave flags again as Naoko Yamazaki is introduced to speak during her homecoming ceremony in Matsudo, Chiba.80 views
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The police and security people were most fearful of people falling like dominos. They kept shouting to not push forward. And to not pick up beans on the ground. I agree that it's dangerous to pick up beans on the ground.80 views
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Bathroom in Tojotei80 views
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German-style buildings are also covered with LED lights. Go inside and find only gift shops.80 views
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It would take them about an hour to get back to town.79 views
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More horses arrive.79 views
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They provided free paper flags for spectators.79 views
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They had men from a security company to control the crowds. Except for one or two people who felt ill, there was no major incident.79 views
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Statue of Oman-no-kata, daughter of Katsuura Castle lord Masaki Yoritada. She became Tokugawa Ieyasu's concubine at age 17 and gave birth to Tokugawa Yorinobu (clan in Kishu) and Yorifusa (clan in Mito).78 views
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Dragon water fountain78 views
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Tokyo German Village is a large agricultural park in the boondocks of Sodegaura, Chiba Prefecture. It puts on a grand display of Christmas lights from Nov. 1 to March 31.78 views
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I was curious to see how an amusement park in Chiba would dare to compete with Tokyo Disneyland, also in Chiba. 78 viewsBut they seem to be doing quite well with low admission fees, huge open spaces, and different attractions in each season. Saw lots of people, family-oriented too.
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Tunnel to the rolling, illuminated hills.78 views
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First were the horses galloping through. Each horse was guided by two men running alongside.77 views
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The small plaza in front of Isetan served as the venue for Naoko Yamazaki's welcome home ceremony. They had a small, elevated stage. The place was divided into squares for people to stand in.77 views
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This is the center of the park, with German-style buildings. Perhaps modeled after Rothenburg.77 views
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No brotchen or German bread.77 views
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The lights did not disappoint. Very impressive. 77 views
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Picture-taking service77 views
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Very impressive, it was worth the trouble to get here by bus.77 views
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Matsudo Shrine is popular for New Year's prayers.76 views
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Narita-san is a large temple complex that includes a Japanese garden, including cherry blossoms.76 views
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There's wide open lawn to walk across to get to the center of the park.76 views
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LEDS lights on the facade.76 views
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This facade is covered with musician LED designs.76 views
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One claim to fame in Matsudo is the number of sumo stables in this city. Six of them, all listed on this panel in Matsudo Station.75 views
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Edogawa River bank.75 views
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Map of Narita-san temple buildings.75 views
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If you don't have a car, you can go there by bus from Sodegaura Bus Terminal or JR Sodegaura Station. Only three buses a day.75 views
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They have "Tokyo" in their name, but it's quite far from Tokyo. 75 views
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Inside the German-style building is only a gift shop.75 views
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Restaurant hardly served German food.75 views
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Matsudo Shrine is near Matsudo Station.74 views
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Matsudo Shrine's bulletin board in 2010.74 views
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German beer74 views
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Every 30 min., a song by the boy band SMAP blared through the speakers and the lights blinked along with the song. No German music.74 views
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They also had a hilltop lookout point (seen here in the distance) to get a bird's eye view, but I didn't go up there.74 views
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Hachiman Misaki Park was the former site of Katsuura Castle. Masaki Yoritada was the castle lord until 1590.73 views
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Matsudo Shrine73 views
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Entrance to Tokyo German Village where you pay admission. Very cheap compared to Tokyo Disneyland, also in Chiba Prefecture.73 views
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Wide open lawn also has LED lights embedded in some areas.73 views
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Sausage with mochi twist.73 views
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The lights turn on right after sunset which is 5 pm or later. People waited to see it turn on.73 views
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Besides the Village, they light up a large swath of the surrounding rolling hills. They have a few footpaths to walk through the lights on the ground.73 views
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Magic mushrooms.73 views
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Rocket near the ferris wheel.73 views
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Katsuura port with fishing boats.72 views
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Katsuura Lighthouse72 views
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Katsuura Lighthouse and cherry blossoms72 views
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About Narita-san temple.72 views
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JR Sodegaura Station. By bus it takes 45 min. or longer to get to the German Village.72 views
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Small ferris wheel72 views
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Restaurant72 views
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Torii island71 views
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When Oman-no-kata was 14, Katsuura Castle was beseiged by Hideyoshi's forces and she, her mother and little brother escaped near here by using a white sheet to go down the cliff to a small boat which took them to Tateyama.71 views
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Matsudo Shrine omikuji paper fortunes.71 views
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Ducks71 views
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Kangun-zuka Memorial. During the Boshin War between the forces of the shogun and Emperor Meiji, a ship carrying the Kumamoto clan to Hakodate's Goryokaku fortress sank off this shore. This memorial is for the 135 people who died on the ship. 官軍塚70 views
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JR Matsudo Station70 views
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Narita-san's Three-story Pagoda was first built in 1712.70 views
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Talisman for sale70 views
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I'm inclined to believe their claim to have the biggest Christmas light decorations in the Tokyo area.70 views
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Katsuura has a scenic coastline. This is the Pacific Ocean.69 views
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That white tower is the Katsuura Underwater Marine Tower for observing fish.69 views
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Map of Hachiman Misaki Park, an easy walk from central Katsuura.69 views
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Sodegaura Bus Terminal, bus stop 5.69 views
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Aji68 views
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Lookout point68 views
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About Matsudo Shrine in Japanese. Worships Yamato Takeru.68 views
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Next is Niomon Gate, an Important Cultural Property built in 1830. 仁王門68 views
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Going through Niomon Gate which has a large paper lantern.68 views
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The East Wing sells talismans.68 views
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Prayer tablets68 views
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Main temple office68 views
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The lookout point on Hachiman Misaki Park can be seen.67 views
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Katsuura Lighthouse and cherry blossoms67 views
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Incense burner in front of the main hall.67 views
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About Issaikyodo Hall (Buddhist Scriptures Hall) 一切経堂67 views
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Squid66 views
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Nice costal views as you walk from Hachiman Misaki to Katsuura Lighthouse.66 views
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Going through Niomon Gate which has a large paper lantern.66 views
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Inside Narita-san Shinshijo temple's Dai-hondo main worship hall.66 views
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Bell Tower first built in 1701.66 views
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