Last additions - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

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Last additions - AICHI 愛知県

Map of Ajisai no Sato hydrangea garden. Main entrance is on the right where the main road meets the slope of hydrangea. There's a walking path around the hilltop pond.Remember that June is the rainy season, so bring an umbrella in case it rains. Also see my blog post for more details: https://photoguide.jp/log/2023/06/katahara-onsen-ajisai-gamagori-aichi/Jun 05, 2023

Katahara Onsen Ajisai no Sato in Gamagori, Aichi in June. In June 2023 during the Hydrangea Festival, there is a bus that runs from JR Gamagori Station (south exit, bus stop No. 3) to Katahara Onsen (Ajisai no Sato) hydrangea garden. Bus fare is ¥390 one way. On weekdays, the bus runs once or twice an hour from 9:40 am to 2:50 pm. The last bus leaves Katahara Onsen at 3:15 pm. On weekends, it runs twice an hour from 9:25 am to 4:25 pm and the last bus leaves Katahara Onsen at 8:50 pm. The bus ride takes about 20 min.Jun 05, 2023

The garden is also illuminated at night, and you might even see fireflies if you're lucky. Jun 05, 2023

The garden is on a hill with the front slope covered with hydrangea. The hilltop has Hodagaike Pond and walking paths lined with hydrangea.Jun 05, 2023

Lots of visitors going up the hill of hydrangea.Jun 05, 2023

Ticket booth. Admission: ¥500 for adults and free for junior high schoolers and younger. In June, open 8:00 am to 9:00 pm. (Enter by 8:30 pm.)Jun 05, 2023

Katahara Onsen Ajisai no Sato (形原温泉あじさいの里) Main gate 正面ゲ~トJun 05, 2023

Some indoor entertainment at Clacity.Oct 07, 2018

Crowd going back to the train station.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

There were riverside fireworks at 8 pm. These men are holding fireworks cannons (tezutsu hanabi) made of bamboo and filled with gunpowder. They last only several seconds.Fireworks cannons are famous in the nearby city of Toyohashi. The festival was well worth seeing. 手筒花火Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Crowd to see the fireworks.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Sanbaso dancer on the boat float.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Chintoro-bune boat floats on the river. ちんとろ船Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

No cigarette lighters, just a bunsen burner to quickly light the candles in the lanterns.Oct 07, 2018

In the evening, paper lanterns were lit up to decorate the floats.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Floats with lanterns in the evening. It was an all-day festival lasting until around 9 pm. It's held on Sat. and Sun. and the same thing is basically repeated on both days.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Boat floats for tonight.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

After the big gathering at the parking lot, the floats leave and go back to the streets to prepare for the evening.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Handa Dashi Matsuri float in Handa, Aichi.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Handa Dashi Matsuri float in Handa, Aichi.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

Karakuri puppetOct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

I didn't have time to learn about the story behind each puppet performance, but it's usually based on Chinese or local legends.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

The 31 floats would be gathered here for only 2 hours until 4 pm. I rushed to photograph each float.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

There was a great variety of karakuri mechanical puppets including swinging monkeys. Very entertaining with amusing theatrics. Oct 07, 2018

One highlight of this great gathering was the performance of karakuri mechanical puppets on several of the floats.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

After the last float was parked here, there were brief fireworks and much applause. Spectators were then allowed onto the parking lot to see the floats up close.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

By 2:10 pm, all 31 floats gathered here. They would remain here here until 4 pm. Floats with karakuri mechanical puppets would perform during this time.Oct 07, 2018

The parking lot gradually filled up with the 31 floats. Seeing as many as 31 floats gathered in one place was a spectacle I couldn't miss.Especially when it happens only once every 5 years. The vast majority of traditional float festivals in Japan have no more than 10 floats or so.Oct 07, 2018

Oct 07, 2018

For about 90 min., the 31 floats arrived at the parking lot one after another like clockwork in the specified order. Each float was introduced over the PA system as they arrived. Except for the bleachers, spectators were not allowed to enter the parking lot while the floats were arriving.Oct 07, 2018

From 12:30 pm on Oct. 17, 2017, the floats started to gather at this large parking lot with bleachers (¥4,000 paid seating). Too bad the bleachers were all sold out for this day.Otherwise, it would've provided a great vantage point to photograph all the floats lineOct 07, 2018