Balloon Glow Night バルーングローナイト
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The "Balloon Glow" event at Koga Kubo Park in Jan. 2023 was colorful and impressive even when the balloons did not fly. Free event, mainly local crowds.This was actually a 2022 Christmas Eve event, but it was postponed twice due to bad weather or strong winds. Finally held on Jan. 22, 2023.
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Map of Koga Kubo Park. Large park noted for peach blossoms from late March to early April. Also has irises and lotus in summer. 古河公方公園
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Koga Kubo Park has Gosho-numa Pond.
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Koga Kubo Park opened on March 24, 1975. It's quite a large park.
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Fujimi-zuka Hill 富士見塚
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Pheasant bird cage. 鳥小屋
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Food trucks for the balloon glow event.
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Kubo Park's grassy lawn where four hot-air balloons were placed, rolled out flat on a blue tarp over the grass. 芝生広場
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Inflating the balloon.
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The balloons inflated quite quickly.
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Inflating the hot-air balloon.
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Hot-air balloons are vulnerable to strong winds. See how the balloon can sway in strong winds.
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Burner is lit every so often to maintain the hot air.
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They started blowing flames into the balloon.
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The MC came up to the crowd and asked people to give the word to light up the balloons.
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Standing by for sunset.
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When it got dark enough, all four balloons lit up their balloons simultaneously numerous times during the one-hour event.
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The balloon lights up only when the burner is shooting a flame under it. The flame illuminates the entire balloon.
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This photo was taken during the several seconds when the burners of all four balloons were flaming into the balloons at the same time.
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All four balloons lit up at the same time many times during the one-hour balloon glow event. They played J-pop music in the background.
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This is how it looks when they are dark.
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Crowd-pleasing event.
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JR Koga Station (Tohoku Main Line or Utsunomiya Line) is the closet train station to Kubo park.
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JR Koga Station turnstile.
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JR Koga Station
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JR Koga Station west exit.
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There were free shuttle buses from Koga Station (west exit) going to and from the park.
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Shuttle bus schedule from JR Koga Station to Kubo Park.
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Free shuttle buses from Koga Station going to and from the park. This is the Kubo Park parking lot. The return bus is also here.
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Manhole in Koga, Ibaraki Prefecture showing fireworks and river.
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JR Koga Station has a shopping mall named VAL.
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JR Koga Station has a shopping mall named VAL.
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JR Koga Station information center (closed).
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JR Koga Station east entrance.
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JR Koga Station east entrance sculpture.
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JR Koga Station platform. About 73 min. by train from central Tokyo.
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JR Koga Station platform.
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