JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

Held annually on the first to second Sunday in July. On the eighth day, a large mikoshi (portable shrine) from Yasaka Shrine on Enoshima is carried from the shrine to Koyuguri Shrine on the mainland. Along the way, the mikoshi is carried into the ocean. On the mainland, the Yasaka mikoshi is met with a mikoshi from Koyuguri Shrine. They then parade together along a shopping street before the Yasaka mikoshi goes back to Enoshima at around 6 pm. Also see the video at YouTube.
八坂神社神幸祭「神輿海中渡御」

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A small, well-known island near Kamakura. Accessible on foot by a bridge.

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Held annually on Nov. 3, a national holiday (Culture Day), the Hakone Daimyo Gyoretsu is a feudal lord procession held at Hakone's Yumoto Onsen hot spring resort. About 170 people dressed in feudal-era costume and other people in marching bands, etc., parade around the town for about 6 km. The procession reenacts the daimyo procession of Okubo Kaga, lod of Odawara on his way to Edo (Tokyo) for the periodic sankin kotai procession.

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One of Japan's most popular tour routes. With the Hakone Freepass, ride the Odakyu Line from Shinjuku, Tokyo directly to Hakone-Yumoto. Take the Hakone Tozan Railway train to Gora. Ride the Hakone Tozan Cable Car up the slope to to Sounzan. Then take the Hakone Ropeway high above to Lake Ashi for a cruise on a pirate boat to Hakone-machi Port or Moto-Hakone. Dramatic views of Mt. Fuji. Hakone is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

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At Hakone-machi on the shore of Lake Ashi, a fantastic reconstruction of the Hakone Sekisho Checkpoint. After years of research, excavations, and construction, the reconstruction was finally completed in 2007 based on accurate records of the major buildings. The reconstructed buildings were built on the exact spot of the original sekisho buildings. Hakone Sekisho was one of 53 checkpoints along the major roads during the Edo Period. It's where they checked the identities of women leaving Edo to make sure they were not the hostage daimyo wives and children fleeing Edo.
Moto-Hakone is the other port town on Lake Ashi, highlighted by Hakone Shrine (the torii in the water).

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Large, outdoor museum of exquisite sculptures. Many nudes (female) and Henry Moore pieces outside. Also the Picasso Pavilion. Both the art and grounds are very impressive. Near Chokoku no Mori Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway.

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Hakone-Yumoto Station is the main gateway to Hakone's hot springs, sights, and attractions. Hakone Kowakien Yunessun is famous for hot spring baths in different flavors. Like the wine bath, tea bath, coffee bath, and sake bath. The flavored baths are for both men and women in bathing suits. They also have a pure hot spring area where bathing suits are not allowed.

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Held for four days from the first Thursday of July, this is one of the largest Tanabata Festivals in the Kanto region. Usually called the Star Festival, about 3,000 colorful streamers hang all around the city center in the shopping district. There is also a parade and nighttime illumination of the streamers. Until 2008, the festival used to be held on and around July 7, but now depending on the year, July 7 might not fall within the festival period.

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Mt. Oyama in Isehara, Kanagawa is about halfway to Hakone near Mt. Fuji. Easy day trip from Tokyo. During the Edo Period (1603–1867), Mt. Oyama was very popular for pilgrimages by the fun-loving masses in Edo/Tokyo. It had many shrines and temples and mountain ascetic priests. Today, there are fewer shrines and temples and pilgrims, but it's still a pleasant place to visit and less crowded than more well-known spots. The main attractions are Oyama Afuri Shrine and Oyama-dera Temple. In Oct., Takigi Noh is held, and autumn leaves in mid-Nov. are also stunning. Part of the Tanzawa-Ōyama Quasi-National Park.
From Shinjuku, take the Odakyu Line to Isehara Station (about 1 hour). Get out the North Exit, and go to bus stop 4 to take the bus to the Oyama Cable stop. Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/b5ZvK3AAwvBEuGut8

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The Great Buddha of Kamakura is one of Japan's symbols among the most beautiful Buddha statues. After the Great Buddha at Todaiji Temple in Nara, this is Japan's second largest Buddha statue.

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One of the top three attractions of Kamakura (besides the Daibutsu and Enoshima), Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine is famous for cherry blossoms and peonies in April.

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Nicknamed the Hydrangea Temple (Ajisai-dera), Meigetsu-in must have one of Japan's highest concentration of ajisai within its grounds. During the first half of June, the Hime-ajisai variety of blue hydrangea bloom all at once. Near Kita-Kamakura Station on the JR Yokosuka Line, the temple belongs to the Rinzai Zen Buddhist sect.

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Huge Zen Buddhist temple complex near Kita-Kamakura Station. Numerous buildings include two structures which are National Treasures. One of them is the Ogane temple bell.

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Nichiren Buddhist temple founded in 1260. Site was formerly the estate of the Hiki Yoshikazu, a senior retainer of Minamoto Yoritomo. The temple grounds is noted for cherry blossoms and other flowers. 10-min. walk from Kamakura Station.

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The Ofuna Kannon temple is a Zen temple noted for its giant, white Kannon statue near JR Ofuna Station. It's on a hill so the Kannon statue is visible from trains and cars passing by. The temple belongs to the Soto sect. It held a Setsubun bean-throwing ceremony on Feb. 1, 2013. Also see my video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYXmGezsrmE

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Kanayama Jinja Shrine is a small shrine within the grounds of the Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine near Kawasaki Daishi Station. On the first Sun. of April, it holds this now-famous Kanamara Festival nicknamed the Phallus or Fertility Festival. The festival has grown from a small local matsuri to a large, international gathering. Also see the video at YouTube. 金山神社　若宮八幡宮

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Belonging to the Shingon Buddhist sect founded by Kobo Daishi, this temple is one of the Kanto Region's Big Three Shingon temples (other two being Narita-san in Chiba and Yakuoin in Mt. Takao). Near Kawasaki Daishi Station.

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Outdoor museum of traditional farm and merchant houses with thatched roofs. They have 25 homes from around Japan many were donated to the museum for preservation. If you're interested in traditional Japanese architecture, visit this park. Near Mukogaoka-yuen Station on the Odakyu Line. Closed Mon. Admission 500 yen. 横須賀市

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Train and Bus Museum is a medium-size museum, not really a must-see, but if you're in the area, it may be nice to visit. Only a few train cars and buses and even an airplane cockpit are displayed in two separate buildings. However, that's enough to keep the kids occupied. The museum was renovated in 2016, so it may look different from the photos shown here. Near Miyazaki-dai Station on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line connected to Shibuya.

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On a hillside near Odakyu Shin-Matsuda and JR Matsuda Stations, a large patch of cherry blossoms bloom in mid-February to late March. These are early-blooming (hayasaki) sakura. The place is spectacular when the cherries are in full bloom. There are rape blossoms and views of Mt. Fuji and the ocean. Free admission.

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Odawara Castle was the base for the Hojo Clan during the feudal era. It is one of Japan's 100 Best Cherry Blossoms Spots. They have been reconstructing a few castle buildings while the main tower is a local samurai history museum. It is within a park including a small zoo and cherry trees. The present castle tower was rebuilt in 1960. A short walk from Odawara Station.

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Odawara-juku was the 9th post town on the old Tokaido Road. Today, there is nothing left of the old post town except for a few stone markers. A short walk from Odawara Castle and close to the beach.

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Odawara Station, shopping areas, and the beach are among the other sights in the city.

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Held annually on May 4 and 5 along the Sagami River from 10 am to 4 pm. They fly the giant kite a few times each day depending on the wind. For 2019, the giant kite celebrated the new Reiwa Era by having the kanji characters for Reiwa on the giant kite. Photos were taken on May 5, 2019 and May 5, 2005. Nearest train station is Sobudaishita Station on the JR Sagami Line (20-min. walk to the festival site). They have shuttle buses between the train station and festival site. Also see my old video at YouTube.

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From late April to early May, five long strings of giant carp streamers swim in the air high above the Sagami River. Also see the video at YouTube.

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Kanagawa Prefecture's largest Awa Odori is held annually during the last weekend in July in this city of Yamato. It is not so crowded so it is easy to watch and photograph. These pictures were taken in 2005. Also see the video at YouTube.

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Feb. 10, 2013 was the Chinese New Year's Day in Japan's largest Chinatown in Yokohama. Lion dances and firecrackers abound during the late afternoon and early evening. My first Chinese New Year in Japan, called "shunsetsu" in Japanese (春節). New Year's events also held on a few weekends after the Chinese New year's. Glad to see that China-Japan relations are alive and well here, regardless of political differences.

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The annual Noge Daidogei street performance festival was held on April 24-25, 2010 near Sakuragicho Station. Street performers included topless butoh dancers painted in gold, incredible Chinese acrobats, street jugglers, and Japanese belly dancers.

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Japan's largest museum dedicated to the nikkei experience. There are permanent exhibitions explaining the immigration to Hawai'i, continental USA, and other countries especially South America. There are also changing or special exhibitions so it's worth visiting more than once. Besides exhibition rooms, the museum has a reference library (closed on Sun.) with a collection of 20,000 books and materials about Japan's immigration. It even has kami-shibai (picture card stories). You can browse through recent Japanese novels such as "Japanese-Americans 99 Years of Love." The museum also has a restaurant with an outdoor terrace (open 11:30 am - 1:30 pm, 5:30 pm - 9 pm). The museum is operated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) which is Japan's version of the Peace Corps.

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The Japanese Overseas Migration Museum (JOMM) in Yokohama held a special exhibition titled, "Hawai’i's Nikkeijin Matsuri—Oshogatsu and Bon Dance" (ハワイの日系人のまつり －お正月とボンダンス－) from Dec. 23 to Feb. 12, 2017.
It's about New Year's and bon dance in Hawai’i. (Open 10 am–6:00 pm, enter by 5:30 pm, closed Mon.). Free admission. The museum is a 10-15 min. walk from JR Sakuragicho Station or 10-min. walk from Bashamichi Station (Minato Mirai Line).

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Near Sakuragicho Station, Kamonyama Park features a statue of Lord Ii Naosuke of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture. He was the Chief Minister in the Tokugawa Government and the key person to open up Japan to the world in the late 19th century. Yokohama was one of the ports opened to foreign trade as a result.

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Hawaii's most famous canoe named Hokule'a departed Hawaii in Jan. 2007 and sailed to Micronesia and arrived in Japan in April. It visited Okinawa, Kyushu, Shikoku, Hiroshima, and other places until arriving in Yokohama on June 9, 2007, the final stop. I went to see the Hokulea canoe arrive in Yokohama. Like at its other stops in Japan, Hokule'a offered free onboard canoe tours to the public during its one-week stay in Yokohama. We could see the top deck, rudder, masts, cramped sleeping quarters, food pantry, and more of this legendary canoe named after a star named Hokulea in Hawaiian.

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What may be Japan's largest Hawaiian festival was held in two locations in Yokohama during July 25-27, 2008. The main venue was at the huge Osanbashi Pier normally used to receive large passenger ships. It is cavernous hall used by the three-day festival to set up four stages and numerous booths selling Hawaiian goods and food. The other location was Landmark Plaza in Minato Mirai.

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Yokohama Port was opened to the world in 1859, making 2009 the 150th anniversary of the port's opening. To celebrate, Yokohama held EXPO Y150 during April 28 to Sept. 27, 2009, a modest-scale expo featuring pavilions, theaters, and performances. The expo has three areas, with the Bayside Area being the main one at the waterfront area next to the Red Brick Warehouses. Also see my video at YouTube.

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Photos of the 1st and 2nd CP+ Camera and Photo Imaging Show held in Yokohama. The 1st CP+ was held during March 11-14, 2010. The 2nd CP+ was held on Feb. 9-13, 2011. It replaces the old photo expo held in Tokyo called Photo Imaging Expo (PIE). Over 41,000 people attended CP+ in 2010.

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Sights near Keikyu Yokosuka Chuo Station and JR Yokosuka Station include Mikasa Park, Verny Park, Dobuita Street, and Cape Kannonzaki where numerous ships pass through the narrow Uraga Channel at the mouth of Tokyo Bay.

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Kurihama is in southeastern Yokosuka, a small bay with a beach. Famous as the landing place of Commodore Mathew Perry who arrived on July 8, 1853 and landed ashore on July 14. A monument to this historic landing is near the beach, as well as the Perry Memorial Hall.

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The USS George Washington aircraft carrier arrived at her new home port in Yokosuka on Sept. 25, 2008. Replacing the retiring USS Kitty Hawk, the GW is the first nuclear-powered carrier to be deployed in Japan. The usual protesters also showed up. Aircraft carrier photos by the US Navy.

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The USS Kitty Hawk was home-ported in Yokosuka from Aug. 11, 1998 to May 2008. These photos by the US Navy shows some of the good times and drama aboard the carrier, as well as the Sayonara day when the ship left Yokosuka for good.

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Yokosuka is the home port to the only US aircraft carrier based outside the US. First it was the USS Midway, then the Independence, Kitty Hawk, and now the George Washington. These are photos of the USS Independence (CV-62) and USS Midway taken in the early 1990s when I was with a group touring the aircraft carriers.

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Held annually on May 4 and 5 along the Sagami River from 10 am to 4 pm. They fly the giant kite a few times each day depending on the wind. For 2019, the giant kite celebrated the new Reiwa Era by having the kanji characters for Reiwa on the giant kite. Photos were taken on May 5, 2019 and May 5, 2005. Nearest train station is Sobudaimae Station on the Odakyu Line. They have shuttle buses between the train station and festival site.

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