Last additions
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JR Kashiwa Station East exit area has Marui.Mar 14, 2023
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JR Kashiwa Station East exit pedestrian walkway.Mar 14, 2023
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Inside Bic Camera.Mar 14, 2023
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JR Kashiwa Station built Japan's first elevated pedestrian walkway in 1973. The station has a network of pedestrian walkways. ペデストリアンデッキMar 14, 2023
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JR Kashiwa Station East exit area.Mar 14, 2023
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JR Kashiwa Station East exit area has Bic Camera.Mar 14, 2023
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JR Kashiwa Station East exit area has Bic Camera.Mar 14, 2023
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JR Kashiwa Station East exit area.Mar 14, 2023
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JR Kashiwa Station East exit. Mar 14, 2023
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JR Kashiwa Station East exit. Mar 14, 2023
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JR Kashiwa Station East exit. Mar 14, 2023
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JR Kashiwa Station turnstile.Mar 14, 2023
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JR Kashiwa Station turnstile.Mar 14, 2023
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JR Kashiwa Station platform on the JR Joban Line.Mar 14, 2023
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JR Kashiwa Station on the JR Joban Line. Always heard of Kashiwa, but never visited here even though it's close to Tokyo. Finally visited.Mar 14, 2023
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Lake Teganuma map. Possible to walk back to Abiko Station.Mar 13, 2023
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Boat rental rates.Mar 13, 2023
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Rental boats at Lake Teganuma.Mar 13, 2023
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About the Peace monument at Lake Teganuma or Lake Tega Park.Mar 13, 2023
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Peace monument at Lake Teganuma or Lake Tega Park.Mar 13, 2023
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Peace monument at Lake Teganuma or Lake Tega Park.Mar 13, 2023
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Lake Teganuma has rental boats.Mar 13, 2023
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Mar 13, 2023
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Lake Teganuma Mar 13, 2023
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Swans and ducks on Lake Teganuma.Mar 13, 2023
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Mar 13, 2023
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Lake Teganuma, Abiko, Chiba.Mar 13, 2023
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Mar 13, 2023
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With clear lakeside views, finally seems like you're at a lake here.Mar 13, 2023
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Mar 13, 2023
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Lake Tega Park's most scenic area. 手賀沼公演Mar 13, 2023
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Lake Tega Park 手賀沼公演Mar 13, 2023
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Lake Tega Park 手賀沼公演Mar 13, 2023
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Mar 13, 2023
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Mar 13, 2023
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Plaque for novelist Shiga Naoya.Mar 13, 2023
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The park was mostly closed due to renovations..Mar 13, 2023
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Small park for past literary figures who were active in Abiko.Mar 13, 2023
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Walking along Lake Teganuma. Mar 13, 2023
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Lakefront construction.Mar 13, 2023
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Walking along Lake Teganuma.Mar 13, 2023
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Tunnel below the road.Mar 13, 2023
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Walking along Lake Tega to Lake Tega Park.Mar 13, 2023
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Mar 13, 2023
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Book about Abiko's past celebrities.Mar 13, 2023
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Book about Abiko's past celebrities.Mar 13, 2023
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Mizu no Yakata also has a small exhibition room of local wildlife.Mar 13, 2023
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Second floor of Mizu no Yakata is where you can rest.Mar 13, 2023
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Mizu no Yakata also has a small exhibition room of local wildlife. Lake fish here.Mar 13, 2023
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Mizu no Yakata also has a small exhibition room of local wildlife.Mar 13, 2023
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Picture made with colored toothpicks.Mar 13, 2023
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Closeup of a picture made with 126,840 colored toothpicks.Mar 13, 2023
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Picture of the lake made with 126,840 colored toothpicks.Mar 13, 2023
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About the picture made with 126,840 colored toothpicks.Mar 13, 2023
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View behind Mizu no Yakata (Water Pavilion) lookout tower.Mar 13, 2023
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Mar 13, 2023
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View of Lake Teganuma from Mizu no Yakata (Water Pavilion) lookout tower. Looking toward Lake Tega Park.Mar 13, 2023
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View of Lake Teganuma from Mizu no Yakata (Water Pavilion) lookout tower. Looking toward Tega Ohashi Bridge which first opened in 1964 and expanded to 4 lanes in 2001..Mar 13, 2023
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View of Lake Teganuma from Mizu no Yakata (Water Pavilion) lookout tower.Mar 13, 2023
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View of Lake Teganuma from Mizu no Yakata (Water Pavilion) lookout tower.Mar 13, 2023
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View of Lake Teganuma from Mizu no Yakata (Water Pavilion) lookout tower.Mar 13, 2023
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View from Mizu no Yakata (Water Pavilion) lookout tower.Mar 13, 2023
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Mizu no Yakata (Water Pavilion) lookout tower in Abiko, Chiba. The lookout deck is round, giving a 360˚ panorama of the surrounding area.Mar 13, 2023
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Mizu no Yakata (Water Pavilion) facing Lake Teganuma is a local community center with a local produce market, meeting rooms, and a lookout tower.Mar 13, 2023
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Lake Tega Water Park Mar 13, 2023
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Lake Tega Water Park Mar 13, 2023
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Lake Tega Water Park would have kids playing in the water in summer.Mar 13, 2023
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Mar 13, 2023
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Small sculpture in Lake Teganuma, Abiko, Chiba.Mar 13, 2023
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Mar 13, 2023
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Small sculpture in Lake Teganuma.Mar 13, 2023
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Much of Teganuma has been reclaimed to create rice paddies. It has been split into two bodies of water. The other lake is further south, named Shimotega.Mar 13, 2023
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Welcome to Lake Teganuma.Mar 13, 2023
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Lake TeganumaMar 13, 2023
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Mar 13, 2023
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Lake Tega lakeside path is lined with cherry trees. Should be nice in spring, but I visited in winter.Mar 13, 2023
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After getting off the bus, walked to Mizu no Yakata.Mar 13, 2023
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Color manhole in Abiko, Chiba Prefecture.Mar 13, 2023
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Color manhole in Abiko, Chiba Prefecture. Depicting water fowl on the lake.Mar 13, 2023
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Local bus at JR Abiko Station south entrance. Took the bus to Lake Tega.Mar 13, 2023
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Outside JR Abiko Station south entrance. Mar 13, 2023
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JR Abiko Station south entrance. Mar 13, 2023
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JR Abiko Station corridor.Mar 13, 2023
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JR Abiko Station turnstile.Mar 13, 2023
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JR Abiko StationMar 13, 2023
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JR Abiko Station is the city of Abiko's main train station in Chiba Prefecture. From Ueno Station, takes about 32 min. to Abiko Station.Mar 13, 2023
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Sights near Lake Teganuma.Mar 13, 2023
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Near JR Abiko Station, there are some sights near Lake Teganuma as shown on this sign in front of JR Abiko Station (JR Joban Line). Lake Tega Park, Bird Museum, and old villa sites.Mar 13, 2023
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Lake Tega was where some Japanese literary figures and celebs had lakeside villas. They included judo founder Kano Jingoro, writer Mushanokoji Saneatsu, novelist Shiga Naoya, and British potter Bernard Leach.Mar 13, 2023
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Hokuso Line Shin-Kamagaya StationMar 11, 2023
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Hokuso Line Shin-Kamagaya Station platform.Mar 11, 2023
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Shin-Kamagaya Station on the Shin-Keisei Line.Mar 11, 2023
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Mar 11, 2023
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Hokusō Line Shin-Kamagaya Station 新鎌ヶ谷駅Mar 11, 2023
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Shin-Kamagaya Station on Hokuso Line.Mar 11, 2023
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Shin-Kamagaya Station train lines.Mar 11, 2023
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Kamagaya Daibutsu is a longtime symbol of Kamagaya.Mar 11, 2023
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From Kamagaya-Daibutsu Station, short train ride to Shin-Kamagaya Station.Mar 11, 2023
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Kamagaya Daibutsu Station platform.Mar 11, 2023
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Kamagaya-Daibutsu Station cafe. Nice place for a coffee break or lunch with views of Kamagaya Hachiman Shrine.Mar 11, 2023
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Kamagaya-Daibutsu Station turnstile.Mar 11, 2023
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Kamagaya-Daibutsu Station on the Shin-Keisei Line.Mar 11, 2023
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Kamagaya-Daibutsu Station on the Shin-Keisei Line.Mar 11, 2023
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Kamagaya-Daibutsu Station building.Mar 11, 2023
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Don't know why the land has been cleared of trees.Mar 11, 2023
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Dismantled torii.Mar 11, 2023
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Mar 11, 2023
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Monument marking the 60th anniversary of Emperor Hirohito's reign.Mar 11, 2023
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Monument marking Emperor Meiji's 150th anniversary of his birth.Mar 11, 2023
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Monument for Prince Shotoku Taishi at Kamagaya Hachiman Shrine.Mar 11, 2023
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Monuments at Kamagaya Hachiman Shrine.Mar 11, 2023
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Kamagaya Hachiman Shrine grounds has many monuments. This one is for the war dead.Mar 11, 2023
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Kamagaya Hachiman Shrine grounds has many tree stumps.Mar 11, 2023
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About Kamagaya Hachiman Shrine.Mar 11, 2023
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Kamagaya Hachiman ShrineMar 11, 2023
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Kamagaya Hachiman ShrineMar 11, 2023
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Gods worshiped by Kamagaya Hachiman Shrine. They include deities for transportation safety, safe childbirth, and family security.Mar 11, 2023
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Kamagaya Hachiman Shrine torii.Mar 11, 2023
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Across of Kamagaya Daibutsu Buddha is Kamagaya Hachiman Shrine.Mar 11, 2023
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Buses to Kamagaya Daibutsu also run from Funabashi Station.Mar 11, 2023
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About Kamagaya Daibutsu. In 1972, it was designated as a Cultural Property of Kamagaya.Mar 11, 2023
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Kamagaya Daibutsu is Shakyamuni Buddha (Shaka Nyorai). The statue is still owned and maintained by the Fukuda family. It's a longtime symbol of Kamagaya, Chiba Prefecture. Free to visit.Mar 11, 2023
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Kamagaya Daibutsu was made by sculptor Tagawa Shuzen (多川主膳) in Kanda, Tokyo. It's located in a local cemetery right near Kamagaya-Daibutsu Station on the Shin-Keisei Line.Mar 11, 2023
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Kamagaya Daibutsu is Japan's smallest Great Buddha bronze statue. Height is 1.8 meter. It has amazingly survived since Nov. 1776 when it was commissioned by local merchant Okuniya Fukuda Bun'emon (大国屋福田文右衛門) to memorialize his Mar 11, 2023
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JR Koga Station platform.Mar 11, 2023
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JR Koga Station platform. About 73 min. by train from central Tokyo.Mar 11, 2023
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JR Koga Station east entrance sculpture.Mar 11, 2023
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JR Koga Station east entrance.Mar 11, 2023
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JR Koga Station information center (closed).Mar 11, 2023
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JR Koga Station has a shopping mall named VAL.Mar 11, 2023
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JR Koga Station has a shopping mall named VAL.Mar 11, 2023
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Manhole in Koga, Ibaraki Prefecture showing fireworks and river.Mar 11, 2023
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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.Mar 11, 2023
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Shuttle bus schedule from JR Koga Station to Kubo Park.Mar 11, 2023
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There were free shuttle buses from Koga Station (west exit) going to and from the park.Mar 11, 2023
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JR Koga Station west exit.Mar 11, 2023
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JR Koga StationMar 11, 2023
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JR Koga Station turnstile.Mar 11, 2023
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JR Koga Station (Tohoku Main Line or Utsunomiya Line) is the closet train station to Kubo park.Mar 11, 2023
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Crowd-pleasing event.Mar 11, 2023
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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.Mar 11, 2023
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Mar 11, 2023
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This is how it looks when they are dark.Mar 11, 2023
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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.Mar 11, 2023
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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.Mar 11, 2023
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The balloon lights up only when the burner is shooting a flame under it. The flame illuminates the entire balloon. Mar 11, 2023
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When it got dark enough, all four balloons lit up their balloons simultaneously numerous times during the one-hour event.Mar 11, 2023
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Standing by for sunset.Mar 11, 2023
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The MC came up to the crowd and asked people to give the word to light up the balloons.Mar 11, 2023
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They started blowing flames into the balloon.Mar 11, 2023
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Mar 11, 2023
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Burner is lit every so often to maintain the hot air.Mar 11, 2023
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Mar 11, 2023
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Hot-air balloons are vulnerable to strong winds. See how the balloon can sway in strong winds.Mar 11, 2023
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Mar 11, 2023
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Inflating the hot-air balloon.Mar 11, 2023
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The balloons inflated quite quickly.Mar 11, 2023
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Inflating the balloon.Mar 11, 2023
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Mar 11, 2023
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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Mar 11, 2023
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Food trucks for the balloon glow event.Mar 11, 2023
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Mar 11, 2023
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Pheasant bird cage. 鳥小屋Mar 11, 2023
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Mar 11, 2023
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Fujimi-zuka Hill 富士見塚Mar 11, 2023
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Koga Kubo Park opened on March 24, 1975. It's quite a large park.Mar 11, 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Mar 11, 2023
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Koga Kubo Park has Gosho-numa Pond. Mar 11, 2023
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Soka's manhole depicts Hyakutai-bashi (百代橋) and Soka-Matsubara pine trees in Soka, Saitama. "Hyakutai" (Eternity) comes from Basho's Oku-no-Hosomichi poetry collection.Mar 11, 2023
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Model of AKOS shopping complex in front of Soka Station.Mar 10, 2023
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Soka Station history.Mar 10, 2023
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Push button phone widely used in Japan until the early 1990s.Mar 10, 2023
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Pink pay phone in Japan. Now obsolete. Took only ¥10 coins.Mar 10, 2023
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Old telephone still widely used in Japan until the 1980s.Mar 10, 2023
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Old telephone.Mar 10, 2023
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Old telephone from 1931. Soka started telephone service in 1918. Only 60 phone numbers at first. By 1953, 431 people had a telephone number.デルビル磁石式壁掛電話機Mar 10, 2023
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Army helmetMar 10, 2023
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Japanese soldier's bag and boots from 1930s.Mar 10, 2023
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Japanese soldiers returning from the war gave these gifts to their well-wishers. From the 1930s. These are ceremonial sake cups. 兵隊盃Mar 10, 2023
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About Heihachiro Okawa.Mar 10, 2023
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Movie actor from Soka named Okawa Heihachiro (1905–1971) (aka Henry Okawa) who made it to Hollywood. He was in "The Bridge on the River Kwai" movie. 大川 平八郎Mar 10, 2023
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History of the museum/school.Mar 10, 2023
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History of the museum/school.Mar 10, 2023
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Soka Elementary School was built in 1926. Two-story, ferro-concrete building with six classrooms. Architect was Soka-native Okawa Isamu who even attended Soka Elementary School (right photo)..Mar 10, 2023
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Mar 10, 2023
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Former classroom used as a meeting room.Mar 10, 2023
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2nd floor hallway.Mar 10, 2023
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On the 2nd floor, Hinamatsuri Girl's Day dolls.Mar 10, 2023
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On the 2nd floor, Hinamatsuri Girl's Day dolls.Mar 10, 2023
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2023 is the Year of the Rabbit.Mar 10, 2023
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On the 2nd floor, Hinamatsuri Girl's Day dolls.Mar 10, 2023
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On the 2nd floor, Hinamatsuri Girl's Day dolls.Mar 10, 2023
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On the 2nd floor, Hinamatsuri Girl's Day dolls.Mar 10, 2023
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On the 2nd floor, Hinamatsuri Girl's Day dolls.Mar 10, 2023
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Leather footwear and yukata kimono are also made in Soka.Mar 10, 2023
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Mar 10, 2023
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Senbei production equipment for roasting and drying.Mar 10, 2023
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Senbei production equipment.Mar 10, 2023
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Senbei production equipment for mochi pounding.Mar 10, 2023
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Factory equipmentMar 10, 2023
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About Emperor Meiji's visit to Soka in 1876 and 1881 when he was traveling to Tohoku or Hokkaido.Mar 10, 2023
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Basho and Kawai Sora visited Soka-juku on March 27, 1689.Mar 10, 2023
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Replica scroll painting of Matsu Basho and Kawai Sora who visited Soka in 1689.Mar 10, 2023
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Documents related to traveling on the Nikko Kaido.Mar 10, 2023
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A few implements from the Okawa Honjin lodge.Mar 10, 2023
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About the ancient dugout canoe excavated from Ayase River in 1929.Mar 10, 2023
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About the dugout canoe from 5,300 years ago.Mar 10, 2023
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Mar 10, 2023
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Remains of an ancient dugout canoe excavated from Ayase River in 1929.Mar 10, 2023
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Ancient pottery found in Soka.Mar 10, 2023
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Scale model of the Okawa Honjin lodge in Soka-juku.Mar 10, 2023
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Following Senju-juku (Adachi Ward, Tokyo), Soka-juku was the second post town on the old Nikko Kaido Road from Tokyo (Nihonbashi) to Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture. However, no original buildings from Soka-juku remain. Part of the Nikko Kaido road remains, and a few monuments mark the location of the Honjin VIP lodges and road marker. This is a scale model of Soka-juku displayed in the local history museum.Mar 10, 2023
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Scale model of Soka-juku post town along the Nikko Kaido. The red tag on the lower left is where the folk history museum is.Mar 10, 2023
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First floor exhibition room.Mar 10, 2023
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First floor exhibition room displays old farming equipment.Mar 10, 2023
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First floor hallway.Mar 10, 2023
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Mar 10, 2023
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Museum hallway looks like a school hallway. When you enter the museum, they want you to sign your name on the reception sheet.Mar 10, 2023
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Floor layout on the 1st and 2nd floors. The old classrooms are now exhibition rooms for local history and artifacts.Mar 10, 2023
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Soka folk history museum entrance. Free admission.Mar 10, 2023
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Soka folk history museum. 草加 歴史民俗資料館Mar 10, 2023
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Soka folk history museum used to be Soka Elementary School built in 1926. New school buildings were built to replace this old building which opened in 1983 as a local history museum.Mar 10, 2023
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Soka folk history museum is near the old Nikko Kaido. 歴史民俗資料館Mar 10, 2023
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Original road marker in Soka-shuku, Saitama on the Nikko Kaido. 道標元標Mar 10, 2023
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Original road marker reinforced with steel. Rare remnant of Soka-juku on the Nikko Kaido. 道標元標Mar 10, 2023
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Original road marker in Soka-shuku, Saitama on the Nikko Kaido. 道標元標Mar 10, 2023
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Okawa Honjin lodge monument in Soka-juku, Nikko Kaido Road. There was also another Honjin in Soka-juku. 大川本陣跡碑Mar 10, 2023
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Honjin lodge monument in Soka-juku, Nikko Kaido Road. 大川本陣跡碑Mar 10, 2023
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Mar 10, 2023
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What the old Nikko Kaido Road looks like today.Mar 10, 2023
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About Tofukuji's bell tower.Mar 10, 2023
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Mar 10, 2023
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Tofukuji's bell tower dragon wood carvings. Mar 10, 2023
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Tofukuji Temple in Soka, Saitama.Mar 10, 2023
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Tofukuji's bell tower is noted for wood carvings. Mar 10, 2023
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Tofukuji's bell tower.Mar 10, 2023
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Mar 10, 2023
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About Tofukuji Temple Hondo main hall wood carvings. Mar 10, 2023
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Tofukuji Temple Hondo main hall in Soka, Saitama. The temple is noted for wood carvings on this main hall. (Not to be confused with other temples named "Tofukuji.") 東福寺Mar 10, 2023
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Tofukuji Temple was first built in 1606 by Okawa Zusho who once served the Hojo Clan in Odawara, Kanagawa.Mar 10, 2023
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Tofukuji Temple gate.Mar 10, 2023
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Way to Tofukuji Temple.Mar 10, 2023
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What the old Nikko Kaido looks like today. Nikko Kaido was one of the five main roads from Edo (Tokyo) during the Edo Period (17th to 19h centuries). Nikko was important for having the splendid mausoleum for Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa shogun.Mar 10, 2023
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I think this is a bus stop on the Nikko Kaido.Mar 10, 2023
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Soka senbei rice cracker. ¥90Mar 10, 2023
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