Last additions - Otsu Summer Festivals 大津夏まつり |
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The B-grade gourmet battle was part of the Hama-Otsu Summer Festa which included a free jazz concert. I'm sure they will hold this B-class Gourmet food festival every year. Don't miss it, and go early.Sep 01, 2011
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It was a gourmet battle, so we could vote for our favorite B-class food by throwing away the wooden chopsticks in the these trash bins for each food booth. They weighed these bags of chopsticks and the heaviest won the battle.Sep 01, 2011
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Matcha shaved ice for dessert. I ended up buying two 1000-yen ticket books. Cheap food, but you want to try as much as possible and end up spending around 2,000 yen.Sep 01, 2011
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Fish from Okishima island. 200 yen per pack.Sep 01, 2011
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Omi Italian sausage. Hot dog like I've never tasted before. Very good.Sep 01, 2011
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Sep 01, 2011
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Fried fish and sweet beans over rice. Interesting combination.Sep 01, 2011
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However, I did manage to buy some food at a few booths, and all were very good. Tasty like I've never tasted before. Unique and original dishes I would say. This is red devil's tongue with gravied bread.Sep 01, 2011
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I went on the second day in mid-afternoon and already many booths had sold out. This is a "Sold out" (kanbai 完売) sign.Sep 01, 2011
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Cold noodles with Omi beef.Sep 01, 2011
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They employed a ticket system, so we had to buy a book of tickets. Each ticket was worth 100 yen and the food was priced from 100 to 500 yen.Sep 01, 2011
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All the B-grade food served had some homegrown ingredient from Shiga. Whether it was Omi-gyu beef, red devil's tongue, Omi-mai rice, or Biwako fish. This is yaki-udon noodles.Sep 01, 2011
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There was hardly any crowd control nor crowd direction. We just had to work our way through the lines when moving to another booth. Some lines extended all the way to the hotel behind the park.Sep 01, 2011
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Long lines were the norm at most food booths lined along the lakefront.Sep 01, 2011
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The 1st Shiga B-grade (B-kyu) Gourmet Battle was held in Otsu on July 30-31, 2011 on the Hama-Otsu lakefront. B-class (B-kyu in Japanese) gourmet is food that is cheap and aimed for the working class. It could also be good 'ol home cooking. *Note that this event is no longer held annually.Sep 01, 2011
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B-grade food festivals have proven to be popular in various parts of Japan and Shiga finally started its own. With an estimated 120,000 attendees over the two-day period, Shiga's first B-class food fest was wildly popular as you can see by this crowdSep 01, 2011
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The final fireworks were half-dome explosions over the water. I missed it because I left early for the tiny train station on the Keihan Line.Dec 11, 2008
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KittyDec 11, 2008
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The crowd stretches very far down the shore.Dec 11, 2008
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I sat here.Dec 11, 2008
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This bridge seemed to be a favorite spot for photographers. It later was filled with standing-room only crowds.Dec 11, 2008
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Dec 11, 2008
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The tall building is Otsu Prince Hotel.Dec 11, 2008
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People used to place these vinyl mats to save a fireworks viewing spot as early as 2 weeks before the fireworks date. However, from Aug. 2010, the city no longer allows this. You can save a spot only on the day of the fireworks.Dec 11, 2008
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Pay money to watch the sky. I wonder if they actually filled up these seats. One of the most commercialized fireworks I've ever seen.Dec 11, 2008
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The word on her fan says it all. Otsu, Shiga.Dec 11, 2008
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Plastic mats are used to reserve spaces for groups. They would place these rocks, etc., to secure the mats. Some ill-mannered people would not bother to discard the sheets and rocks after the fireworks were over.Dec 11, 2008
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Instead of going to Hama-Otsu Station, go to Shimanoseki Station (Keihan streetcar) to reach the free viewing area.Dec 11, 2008
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A mass of people come to watch Lake Biwa Fireworks in summer. Free seating, finally. But located somewhat faraway from the prime site. びわ湖大花火大会Dec 11, 2008
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Shiga Governor Kada Yukiko joins in. 滋賀県知事 嘉田由紀子Dec 11, 2008
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浜大津と大津港の近辺では非常に不快感でした。柵で閉鎖されて有料の観客席だけ。最低の花火会場。Dec 11, 2008
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Dec 11, 2008
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No entry. From Hama-Otsu, it was very difficult to figure out where the free viewing area was. These photos were taken on Aug. 11, 2006.Dec 11, 2008
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Festival grounds after dark.Dec 11, 2008
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Dec 11, 2008
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The festival's highlight is a local bon dance called Goshu Ondo. Also see the video at YouTube.Dec 11, 2008
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Another major summer event in Otsu is the Biwako Fireworks held in Aug. Near Hama-Otsu and Otsu Port, the prime viewing place, almost the entire place was blocked off with walls and fences to give priority to paid spectator seats (several thousand yen).Dec 11, 2008
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The dance area is very big. Many of the dance groups are from local companies.Dec 11, 2008
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Yukata with a logo of Lake Biwa.Dec 11, 2008
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Local dignitaries on stage, including Kada Yukiko, newly-elected governor of Shiga. 滋賀県知事 嘉田由紀子Dec 11, 2008
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Ice sculpture contestDec 11, 2008
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Overall winner with two salmon at Otsu Summer Festival. 優勝作品Dec 11, 2008
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Okinawan eisa taiko drummer 琉友会Dec 11, 2008
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Okinawan singerDec 11, 2008
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Dec 11, 2008
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Okinawan singerDec 11, 2008
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Stage for entertainment and ceremonies. In 2006, the festival included a Balinese dancer, an Okinawan group, and ice sculpture contest.Dec 11, 2008
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The Biwako Otsu Natsu Matsuri is an annual summer festival held on Aug. 1 at Hama-Otsu, near Otsu Port. びわ湖大津夏まつり Festival groundsDec 11, 2008
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The festival starts at 5 pm with food stalls and a variety of entertainment. The stage is in the middle and the ice sculptures in the foreground. Food stalls ring the grounds.Dec 11, 2008
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Arch gate to festival grounds.Dec 11, 2008
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