 Last additions |
Apr 13, 2020
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JR Ito StationApr 13, 2020
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JR Ito StationApr 13, 2020
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Manhole in Ito, Shizuoka.Apr 13, 2020
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JR Ito StationApr 13, 2020
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Welcome to Ito Onsen.Apr 13, 2020
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In front of JR Ito Station. Geisha available for hire.Apr 13, 2020
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JR Ito Station platform.Apr 13, 2020
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JR Ito StationApr 13, 2020
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JR Ito StationApr 13, 2020
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JR Ito Station, the gateway to Ito Onsen. Decorated with Tokyo 2020 banners in autumn 2019.Apr 13, 2020
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Apr 13, 2020
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There's a nice lookout point here to view the light show.Apr 13, 2020
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Apr 13, 2020
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The light patterns on the ground are animated.Apr 13, 2020
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It's quite a large spread of lights.Apr 13, 2020
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Tunnel of lights.Apr 13, 2020
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Apr 13, 2020
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Rainbow gate.Apr 13, 2020
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Izu Kogen Grand Illumination covering a huge area with 6 million colorful LED lights called "Granillumi." Also holds light shows. Izu Highlands Granillumi 伊豆ぐらんぱる公園イルミネーションApr 13, 2020
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Entrance to Izu Granpal Amusement Park.Izu Kogen Grand Illumination covering a huge area with 6 million colorful LED lights called "Granillumi." Also holds light shows. Apr 13, 2020
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Buffet at Hakone Ashinoko Hanaori hotel.Apr 13, 2020
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Hakone Ashinoko Hanaori hotel lobby with a ukiyoe mural of Hakone Pass.Apr 13, 2020
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Outdoor hot spring bath at Hakone Ashinoko Hanaori hotel.Apr 13, 2020
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Foot bath with a view of Lake Ashi at Hakone Ashinoko Hanaori hotel.Apr 13, 2020
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Hakone Ashinoko Hanaori hotel Apr 13, 2020
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Hakone Ashinoko Hanaori hotel Apr 13, 2020
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Near Togendai is Hakone Ashinoko Hanaori hotel with good views of Lake Ashi.Apr 13, 2020
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Atami Station shinkansen platform.Apr 13, 2020
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Atami Station shinkansen platform.Apr 13, 2020
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Evening view of Lake Kawaguchi and Mt. Fuji from a hillside hotel.Apr 13, 2020
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Strolling along the lake is pleasant for tourists.Apr 13, 2020
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Seat categories.Jan 29, 2020
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Saitama Super Arena's press room.Jan 29, 2020
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We also visited courtside.Jan 29, 2020
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Asami YoshidaJan 29, 2020
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Mikoto OnumaJan 29, 2020
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Saori MiyazakiJan 29, 2020
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Kadysha Juna Umezawa, from Canada.Jan 29, 2020
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Saori MiyazakiJan 29, 2020
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Jan 29, 2020
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Jan 29, 2020
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Jan 29, 2020
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Saori MiyazakiJan 29, 2020
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Eneos Sunflowers (yellow) vs. Toyota Antelopes. Asami YoshidaJan 29, 2020
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Eneos Sunflowers Jan 29, 2020
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Introducing the Toyota Antelopes.Jan 29, 2020
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Introducing the players.Jan 29, 2020
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The next semi-fonal women's basketball game for the Empress's Cup was Eneos Sunflowers vs. Toyota Antelopes.Jan 29, 2020
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Another concourse.Jan 29, 2020
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稲井 桃子 / Momoko InaiJan 29, 2020
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赤穂 ひまわり / Himawari AkahoJan 29, 2020
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This semi-final game was Denso Iris (white) vs. Mitsubishi Electric Koalas.Jan 29, 2020
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Jan 29, 2020
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Jan 29, 2020
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Saitama Super Arena concourse had a few souvenir stands.Jan 29, 2020
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We saw two women's semi-final basketball games for the 86th Empress's Cup at Saitama Super Arena.Jan 29, 2020
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Entering Saitama Super Arena, not so crowded for women's basketball games.Jan 29, 2020
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My second visit to Saitama Super Arena was on Jan. 11, 2020. It was for the Empress's Cup national baskteball tournament.Jan 29, 2020
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Olympic/Paralympic venues in Saitama Prefecture.Jan 29, 2020
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Countdown to Tokyo 2020 as of Jan. 11, 2020. Saitama Shin-toshin Station.Jan 29, 2020
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Outside the srena.Jan 29, 2020
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Seat categories.Jan 29, 2020
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Arena layout.Jan 29, 2020
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Jan 29, 2020
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Jan 29, 2020
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Japan easily beat Chinese Taipei.Jan 29, 2020
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Jan 29, 2020
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Jan 29, 2020
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Yuki MiyazawaJan 29, 2020
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Nako MotohashiJan 29, 2020
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Jan 29, 2020
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Jan 29, 2020
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Kadysha Juna Umezawa, from Canada.Jan 29, 2020
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Kadysha Juna Umezawa, from Canada.Jan 29, 2020
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Jan 29, 2020
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Jan 29, 2020
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Cheerleaders shoot a prize to the crowd.Jan 29, 2020
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Jan 29, 2020
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Tip off.Jan 29, 2020
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Chinese Taipei practicing.Jan 29, 2020
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Japan women's national team in red.Jan 29, 2020
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Large block of empty seats. It seems the TV cameras needed a clear view and the red seats were for sponsors left unused. Hope we don't see this at the Olympics.Jan 29, 2020
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Jan 29, 2020
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Jan 29, 2020
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Next was the women's national team playing against Chinese Taipei. The arena became pretty empty for women's basketball. Aug. 25, 2019.Women's basketball is nowhere near as popular as men's basketball in Japan. This was my first time to see a women's basketball game in Japan.Jan 29, 2020
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Saitama Super Arena snack bar.Jan 29, 2020
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Speech by Rui Hachimura.Jan 29, 2020
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Remarks by Rui Hachimura, the main reason for Japan's renewed interest in the NBA.Jan 29, 2020
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After the game, team members lined up on the court for a thank you speech by Rui Hachimura (in black on the left).It seems men's basketball has finally become a lot more popular with Rui being drafted to the NBA's Washington Wizards and a member of Japan's national team. Rui has a Japanese mother and Beninese father. Born and raised in Toyama, Japan and fluent in Japanese. He's likely to appear in Tokyo 2020.Jan 29, 2020
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Post-game comments by Yuta Watanabe.Jan 29, 2020
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Yuta Watanabe expresses his disappointment with the loss.Jan 29, 2020
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Final score.Jan 29, 2020
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Jan 29, 2020
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Cheerleaders in a corner.Jan 29, 2020
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Today's attendance.Jan 29, 2020
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Courtside TV cameramen.Jan 29, 2020
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CourtsideJan 29, 2020
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Makoto Hiejima. Japan trailed Tunisia most of the time, but it finally caught up and tied the score during last few minutes. But a basket by Tunisia during the final seconds beat Japan. Good game.Jan 29, 2020
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This is Yuta Watanabe, one of the star players and an NBA player for the Memphis Grizzlies.The national team's other NBA player, Rui Hachimura, didn't play this day and was on the sidelines.Jan 29, 2020
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Naoto TsujiJan 29, 2020
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Naoto TsujiJan 29, 2020
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Naoto TsujiJan 29, 2020
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The national basketball team also has cheerleaders named "Akatsuki Venus." Like the players, most cheerleaders come from cheerleading squads from various pro basketball teams in Japan.Jan 29, 2020
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Jan 29, 2020
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Daiki TanakaJan 29, 2020
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Daiki TanakaJan 29, 2020
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Yuta Watanabe, one of the star players and an NBA player for the Memphis Grizzlies.Jan 29, 2020
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Daiki Tanaka. Tunisia in white.Jan 29, 2020
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Roster for Japan and Tunisia. Rui Hachimura didn't play this day and was on the courtside. Too bad! He had played the day before against Germany and the crowd went wild whenever he scored. The crowd was still very excited on this day too.Jan 29, 2020
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"Akatsuki Five" is the nickname for Japan's national basketball team (for both men and women). "Akatsuki" means "red dawn."Jan 29, 2020
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Spectators were given red-colored file folders to create this red blanket. It seems red is Saitama's sports cheering color.Jan 29, 2020
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Jan 29, 2020
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"Japan as One"Jan 29, 2020
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The crowd was excited to see their national team.Jan 29, 2020
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Jan 29, 2020
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Introducing the players.Jan 29, 2020
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Introducing the players.Jan 29, 2020
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Introducing the players.Jan 29, 2020
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Jan 29, 2020
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For smaller crowds, Saitama Super Arena can be adjusted to have only two tiers of seats.Jan 29, 2020
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For smaller crowds, Saitama Super Arena can be adjusted to have only two tiers of seats.Jan 29, 2020
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For smaller crowds, Saitama Super Arena can be adjusted to have only two tiers of seats. The ceiling is lowered to hide the third tier on the top.Jan 29, 2020
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When full, Saitama Super Arena has three tiers of seats.Jan 29, 2020
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When full, Saitama Super Arena has three tiers of seats.Jan 29, 2020
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The men's basketball game was held first, with Japan vs. Tunisia. The stadium was packed with over 18,000.Jan 29, 2020
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When full, Saitama Super Arena has three tiers of seats.Jan 29, 2020
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Corridor in Saitama Super Arena. Jan 29, 2020
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Posing with player cutouts.Jan 29, 2020
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Long line to buy basketball merchandise outside the stadium.Jan 29, 2020
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Hallway after showing your ticket. Long line to pose with player cutouts.Jan 29, 2020
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Entering Saitama Super Arena.Jan 29, 2020
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International Basketball Games was held first, with Japan vs. Tunisia on Aug. 25, 2019.Jan 29, 2020
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Long line to buy basketball merchandise outside the stadium. Can well imagine what it will be like during the Olympics...Jan 29, 2020
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Front side of Saitama Super Arena. Enter toward the left side. Looks like a complicated structure from the outside.I was here to see men's and women's basketball games were held on Aug. 25, 2019 as part of the five-day International Basketball Games event for men and the Mitsui Fudosan Cup for women. It was also an Olympic test event.Jan 29, 2020
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Countdown to Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics as of Aug. 25, 2019.Jan 29, 2020
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JR Saitama-Shintoshin Station exterior view.Jan 29, 2020
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JR Saitama-Shintoshin Station outside the turnstile. Go left.Jan 29, 2020
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JR Saitama-Shintoshin Station heading out the turnstile.Jan 29, 2020
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Saitama Super Arena is right near JR Saitama-Shintoshin Station, about 40 min. from Tokyo Station on the JR Takasaki Line (30 min. via Ueno-Tokyo Line) and Keihin-Tohoku Line (42 min.).Very convenient because this train line runs between Saitama and Yokohama and passes through central Tokyo including major train stations. Jan 29, 2020
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Keisai Eisen's print shows a traveler approaching a house to ask for directions to Hikawa Tenman Shrine. A woman farmer is threshing grain, and her husband smoking a pipe in the house. Tobacco leaves are drying from the eaves. A man sits sideways on a pack horse headed in the opposite direction. 岐阻街道 桶川宿 曠原之景Jan 28, 2020
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CorridorJan 28, 2020
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Fusuma sliding door.Jan 28, 2020
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Fusuma sliding door.Jan 28, 2020
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Very rare Yaku-sugi wood ceiling from Japanese cedar trees found on Yakushima island in Kagoshima Prefecture. Beautiful wood grain. Such wood comes from trees as old as 1,000 years. Now illegal to cut down yaku-sugi trees. 屋久杉Jan 28, 2020
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Very rare Yaku-sugi wood ceiling from Japanese cedar trees found on Yakushima island in Kagoshima Prefecture. Jan 28, 2020
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Tea ceremony room.Jan 28, 2020
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Jan 28, 2020
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Scroll depicting a woman dancer with a lion head.Jan 28, 2020
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Jan 28, 2020
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Tea ceremony room alcove.Jan 28, 2020
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Transom with a paulownia design.Jan 28, 2020
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Tea ceremony room.Jan 28, 2020
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Fancy ceiling.Jan 28, 2020
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Jan 28, 2020
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Fusuma sliding door.Jan 28, 2020
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Jan 28, 2020
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Storehouse door, fireproof.Jan 28, 2020
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TransomJan 28, 2020
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Bath tubJan 28, 2020
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Bathroom sink.Jan 28, 2020
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Jan 28, 2020
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Tokonoma alcove.Jan 28, 2020
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Straight-line wood grain on another ceiling.Jan 28, 2020
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Very rare Yaku-sugi wood ceiling from Japanese cedar trees found on Yakushima island in Kagoshima Prefecture. Beautiful wood grain.Such wood comes from trees as old as 1,000 years. Now illegal to cut down yaku-sugi trees. 屋久杉Jan 28, 2020
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Jan 28, 2020
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GardenJan 28, 2020
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It's quite hard for beginners to even knock it down because the fan tends to fly in unpredictable directions.Jan 28, 2020
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The imported glass was also expensive.Jan 28, 2020
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Our tosenkyo instructor takes aim. Jan 28, 2020
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Called "cho" (butterfly), the target is shaped like a gingko leaf. The number of points you earn depends on how well you knock down the target.Jan 28, 2020
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We tried playing a traditional fan-tossing game called tosenkyo (投扇興). You toss a folding fan at a small target on a small block. Jan 28, 2020
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Japanese-syle room in the West Wing.Jan 28, 2020
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Shinto shrine altar near the fancy ceiling.Jan 28, 2020
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Jan 28, 2020
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Farmhouse room.Jan 28, 2020
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Entrance hall has this rare stone tiles on the floor.Jan 28, 2020
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Entrance hall has this rare stone tiles on the floor.Jan 28, 2020
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This West Wing part of the house is desiged like a tea ceremony room.Jan 28, 2020
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The home has three wings, this wing witth a thatched roof is designed like a farmhouse.Jan 28, 2020
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Toyama Memorial Museum (遠山記念館) has this thatched-roof home built in 1936 by Kawajima-native Toyama Gen'ichi (遠山元一 1890–1972), the founder of Nikko Securities. It was a home for his mother. Jan 28, 2020
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About Toyama Memorial Museum (遠山記念館).Jan 28, 2020
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Sightseeing map of Kawajima town in Saitama Prefecture. Looks like it has a lot to see.Jan 28, 2020
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Entrance to Toyama Memorial Museum (遠山記念館).Jan 28, 2020
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Shoyu soft-serve ice cream.Jan 28, 2020
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Waste materials from making shoyu.Jan 28, 2020
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Different stages of fermenting. We could taste the difference.Jan 28, 2020
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What the vats look like down below.Jan 28, 2020
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Large wooden vats where the soy sauce is fermented and aged.Jan 28, 2020
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Old warehouse.Jan 28, 2020
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Inside the vat of fermenting shoyu.Jan 28, 2020
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Jan 28, 2020
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He showed us how to mix the vat.Jan 28, 2020
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A sample vat that we could mix using a long stick.Jan 28, 2020
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Lots of salt.Jan 28, 2020
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The ingredients used in making shoyu. Lots of soybeans and salt. Jan 28, 2020
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Fueki Masatsugu explains about a large vat of what will become soy sauce.Jan 28, 2020
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Kinbue also makes large wooden vats for shoyu making.Jan 28, 2020
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Jan 28, 2020
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SoybeansJan 28, 2020
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Our factory guide was Fueki Masatsugu, the 12th-generation proprietor of the shoyu brewing company.Jan 28, 2020
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Jan 28, 2020
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Kinbue Syoyu Park offers a factory tour of their soy sauce (shoyu) factory operated by Fueki Syoyu Brewing Co. (笛木醤油株式会社). Their shoyu products are sold under the "Kinbue" brand name (金笛). They've been in business since This traditional building houses a gift shop and restaurant.Jan 28, 2020
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Jan 28, 2020
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Oke-chan is Okegawa's official mascot. He is a Nakasendo traveler sporting a safflower on this head.Jan 28, 2020
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Stone tabletsJan 28, 2020
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Jonenji's main worship hall is new, rebuilt in 2004.Jan 28, 2020
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About the gate's Nio statues.Jan 28, 2020
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About Jonenji Temple in Okegawa-juku. It's a Jodo-shu Pure Land Sect Buddhist temple.Jan 28, 2020
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Gate to Jonenji Temple in Okegawa-juku. 浄念寺Jan 28, 2020
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A former Hatago inn for travelers now called the Kobayashi residence. It's now a coffee shop. 旧・旅籠（小林家）Jan 28, 2020
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Jan 28, 2020
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A former Okegawa-juku Hatago inn for travelers now called the Kobayashi residence. Dates from the Edo Period. 旧・旅籠（小林家）Jan 28, 2020
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From a side street, we could see the roof of the Honjin stil remaining.Jan 28, 2020
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Emperor Meiji also once rested here while passing through in 1878 and there's this stone marker for it at the Honjin gate.Jan 28, 2020
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Only part of Okegawa's Honjin remains today, but it is private property and normally not open to the public. We could only see the entrance gate.During its heyday, Okegawa-juku saw VIP guests such as the Maeda daimyo from Kaga (Ishikawa Prefecture) and Tokugawa Nariaki (1800–1860) from Mito (Ibaraki Prefecture). But the most famous VIP to stay in Okegawa was an emperor's daughter named Princess Kazunomiya (1846–1877).Jan 28, 2020
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About Okegawa-juku's Honjin luxury lodge (本陣) where VIP travelers like the emperor, daimyo, shogun, or Imperial princess stayed.Jan 28, 2020
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Another Shimamura family building, now a tea shop sandwiched by modern buildings.Jan 28, 2020
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The Shimamura family storehouse is normally open only on the first Saturday of the month from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. However, groups can arrange to enter the storehouse on other days by appointment. (Call the Okegawa Tourist Association.)Jan 28, 2020
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Little Mermaid design.Jan 28, 2020
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Meiji Period dishes.Jan 28, 2020
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Jan 28, 2020
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Luggage case.Jan 28, 2020
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Third floor with roof beams. Jan 28, 2020
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