 Last additions - Takao Baigo Plum Blossoms 高尾梅郷 |
Hachioji manhole cover. It depicts a Sanbaso dancer (三番叟). Sanbaso is a well-known dancer in Noh and kabuki. He comes from a Noh prayer dance called Okina (翁) dating from the 14th century as a religious ritual. Hachioji's manhole shows the Sanbaso as a Hachioji Kuruma Ningyo puppet (八王子車人形). It's a unique offshoot of bunraku puppetry performed by a troupe based in Hachioji.
Here's a video that shows exactly what it is: https://youtu.be/XV8gVw5RhwgApr 02, 2022
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Plum blossom bus at Takao Station (North exit). They have two buses running at the same time between Takao Station (North exit) and the plum groves. Apr 02, 2022
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Yuhodo Bairin (遊歩道梅林)Apr 02, 2022
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Yuhodo Bairin (遊歩道梅林)Apr 02, 2022
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Yuhodo Bairin (遊歩道梅林)Apr 02, 2022
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Yuhodo Bairin. There's usually a Plum Blossom Matsuri festival on one of the weekends, but it was canceled in 2021 and 2022 due to Covid-19.Apr 02, 2022
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However, it seems most people first take the bus from Takao Station to Kogesawa Bairin and then start from there which is what I did.Apr 02, 2022
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Entrance to the walking path to see Yuhodo Bairin (遊歩道梅林). From Takao Station, it's a 15-min. walk to here.The path goes along the river and you can walk all the way to Kogesawa Bairin on the far end, about 5 km away. It would take about 90 min. one way. Then take the bus back to Takao Station.Apr 02, 2022
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Yuhodo Bairin (遊歩道梅林)Apr 02, 2022
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Toward the end (or beginning) of the trail are more plum blossoms called Yuhodo Bairin (遊歩道梅林).Apr 02, 2022
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This is near the entrance to this walking path.Apr 02, 2022
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Apr 02, 2022
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Turn left to see another plum grove, but I was too tired and just went straight.Apr 02, 2022
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Red plum blossoms in a small park.Apr 02, 2022
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This part of the river was dry due to construction work upstream.Apr 02, 2022
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Homes along the river.Apr 02, 2022
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Walking path along the river.Apr 02, 2022
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Next to Tenjin Bairin is this reforestation area.Apr 02, 2022
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People in this Takao area have been worshipping Tenjin for centuries. Most all Tenmangu/Tenjin shrines (thousands of them) have plum blossoms.Apr 02, 2022
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At the top of Tenjin Bairin grove is this small Takao Tenmangu Shrine. Tenmangu (or Tenjin) shrines are dedicated to famous Japanese scholar Sugawara Michizane (845–903) deified as Tenjin, the god of learning and scholarship.Apr 02, 2022
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About Takao Tenmangu Shrine. Plum blossoms are associated with Sugawara Michizane because he once wrote a poem for his beloved plum blossoms that "flew through the air" to follow him when he was exiled to Dazaifu, Fukuoka.Apr 02, 2022
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Go up the hill to see the shrine.Apr 02, 2022
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Another noted plum grove is Tenjin Bairin (天神梅林) named after Takao Tenmangu Shrine on the top of this hill. Apr 02, 2022
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Tenjin Bairin well.Apr 02, 2022
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Bridge to Tenjin Bairin from the road.Apr 02, 2022
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Next plum grove was Tenjin Bairin. It's somewhat hidden behind trees, but there's a sign and bridge to get there.Apr 02, 2022
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Takao Baigo stone monument at Takao Ume-no-Sato Machi-no-Hiroba.Apr 02, 2022
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Takao Baigo stone monument at Takao Ume-no-Sato Machi-no-Hiroba.Apr 02, 2022
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Map of Takao Baigo.Apr 02, 2022
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Map of Takao Baigo.Apr 02, 2022
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Takao Ume-no-Sato Machi-no-Hiroba is right under the expressway.Apr 02, 2022
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Takao Ume-no-Sato Machi-no-HirobaApr 02, 2022
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Takao Ume-no-Sato Machi-no-Hiroba has restrooms.Apr 02, 2022
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Takao Ume-no-Sato Machi-no-HirobaApr 02, 2022
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Takao Ume-no-Sato Machi-no-Hiroba is more for picnicking.Apr 02, 2022
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A grove named Takao Ume-no-Sato Machi-no-Hiroba. Apr 02, 2022
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Riverside path map.Apr 02, 2022
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Riverside path.Apr 02, 2022
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Yunohana BairinApr 02, 2022
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Yunohana BairinApr 02, 2022
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Yunohana BairinApr 02, 2022
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The public cannot enter Yunohana Bairin, so you just see it from the road.Apr 02, 2022
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Walked further along the road for the next grove named Yunohana Bairin (湯の花梅林). Apr 02, 2022
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Other end of Surusashi Bairin.Apr 02, 2022
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Since they are so few in Takao, the red plums really stand out.Apr 02, 2022
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Other end of Surusashi Bairin.Apr 02, 2022
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Surusashi BairinApr 02, 2022
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Surusashi BairinApr 02, 2022
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Surusashi BairinApr 02, 2022
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Surusashi Bairin has just one main path in the middle. The Chuo Expressway (goes to Nagoya via Nagano) is in the background.Apr 02, 2022
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Surusashi Bairin grove covers a long, rectangular area. This is one end of it.Apr 02, 2022
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Surusashi Bairin (するさし梅林) is also gated and open to the public only when the flowers are in bloom.Apr 02, 2022
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The next plum grove was Surusashi Bairin (するさし梅林). This might be the second largest plum grove in Takao Baigo.Apr 02, 2022
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Kobotoke River and plum blossoms.Apr 02, 2022
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Pruning plum trees.Apr 02, 2022
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Bus stopApr 02, 2022
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It's a quiet, rural, residential area along a small river. As you keep walking, you see plum trees here and there.Apr 02, 2022
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After Kogesawa Bairin, walked along on Kyu-Koshu Kaido road to see more plum groves.Apr 02, 2022
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Kogesawa BairinApr 02, 2022
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Kogesawa Bairin from outside the fence at ground level.Apr 02, 2022
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Kogesawa Bairin plum grove at Takao Baigo, Hachioji, Tokyo.Apr 02, 2022
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Kogesawa Bairin plum grove at Takao Baigo, Hachioji, Tokyo.Apr 02, 2022
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Kogesawa BairinApr 02, 2022
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Kogesawa BairinApr 02, 2022
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Kogesawa BairinApr 02, 2022
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Kogesawa BairinApr 02, 2022
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Walking path near the Chuo Expressway.Apr 02, 2022
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Another nice spot for a picnic.Apr 02, 2022
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The grove is near the mountains, so there's a nice backdrop.Apr 02, 2022
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Some plum trees with pruned branches. May they flower again someday.Apr 02, 2022
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Kogesawa Bairin hillside walking path.Apr 02, 2022
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Steps going down hill of plum trees at Kogesawa Bairin.Apr 02, 2022
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Looking down the hillside of white plum trees.Apr 02, 2022
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Plum trees also have lichens growing on the trunk and branches. These lichens form on plum trees in rural areas. We don't see them on plum trees in the city because exhaust fumes from vehicles kill them. So if you see these lichens on plum trees, it means the surrounding environment is very clean. (Parmotrema tinctorum ウメノキゴケ)Apr 02, 2022
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Top of Kogesawa Bairin. Plum tree branches seem to grow in random directions, but the tree always maintains its balance.Apr 02, 2022
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Top of Kogesawa Bairin. Apr 02, 2022
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Top of Kogesawa Bairin.Apr 02, 2022
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Top of Kogesawa plum grove hill has this small area for picnickers. A few benches and tree stumps to sit on. Good idea to bring takeout food. Pleasant to have lunch here.Apr 02, 2022
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Top of Kogesawa Bairin with benches and picnic area near the plum trees. Apr 02, 2022
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Top of Kogesawa Bairin with benches and picnic area near the plum trees. Apr 02, 2022
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On the top of Kogesawa Bairin, there are benches and picnic area near the plum trees. Apr 02, 2022
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The plum grove has walking paths across the slope.Apr 02, 2022
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Kogesawa Bairin is on a hillside.Apr 02, 2022
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Walking up to the top of Kogesawa Bairin along this path on the periphery.Apr 02, 2022
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Kogesawa Bairin is on a hillside with walking paths along the trees. Mostly white plum blossoms, but a few red and pink flowers too. ("Bairin" means "plum grove.")Apr 02, 2022
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Gate to Kogesawa Bairin. All the plum groves have free admission. Kogesawa Bairin is open to the public only when the flowers are on bloom. Otherwise, it's closed to the public (surrounded by a fence).Apr 02, 2022
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Kogesawa Bairin near the Chuo Expressway overhead.Apr 02, 2022
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Walking to Kogesawa Bairin near the Chuo Expressway overhead. (木下沢梅林)Apr 02, 2022
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Walking to Kogesawa Bairin.Apr 02, 2022
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From the Oshimo bus stop, walking to Kogesawa Bairin. A short walk.Apr 02, 2022
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Bus stops between the two nearest train stations and Takao Baigo.Apr 02, 2022
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If you want to see the largest plum grove first (Kogesawa Bairin), get off here at the Oshimo stop (大下). Takes about 20-30 min. from Takao Station.Apr 02, 2022
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You can see the plum groves either from the start of the road or from the end of the road where the largest plum grove is located. I took the bus to the end and walked back toward the train station.Apr 02, 2022
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When I took the bus from Takao Station in mid-morning, it was packed even on a weekday during peak bloom.Apr 02, 2022
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Buses run only once an hour on weekdays and two or three times per hour on weekends. Take the bus going to Kobotoke (小仏).Apr 02, 2022
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From the north exit,go left to the bus stops to catch a us to Takao Baigo. Otherwise, it's a 15-min. walk. Apr 02, 2022
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JR Takao Station. Get out the north exit (Kitaguchi).Apr 02, 2022
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JR Takao Station. Takes a little over an hour from Tokyo Station on the JR Chuo Line.Apr 02, 2022
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Takao Baigo is near JR Takao Station and Keio Line Takaosanguchi Station. JR Takao Station has this giant tengu mask on the platform. Mt. Takao, which has long been a sacred mountain, supposed to be where one of the major tengu dwells. So the tengu is a local symbol.Apr 02, 2022
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Red plum blossoms really stand out.Apr 02, 2022
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Takao Baigo was established in 1964 by a local tourist group. They happened to have multiple plum groves in this area, so they decided to market them together as a tourist attraction named "Takao Baigo" (Takao Plum Blossom Area).Apr 02, 2022
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Takao Baigo is in the area of the famous Mt. Takao. Plum blossoms here bloom in March, so if you were too busy to see plum blossoms in Feb., you can still see the ume blossoms in mountainous western Tokyo.Apr 02, 2022
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Takao Baigo is in the area of the famous Mt. Takao. It's an area with several plum blossom groves mainly along a road called Kyu-Koshu Kaido (旧甲州街道) near JR Takao Station and Keio Line Takaosanguchi Station. Apr 02, 2022
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