 Last additions - Onjuku 御宿町 |
Another room in the museum describes how the Spanish galleon "San Francisco" was shipwrecked on Onjuku Beach in 1609. Over 300 of the crew were rescued by local residents.Feb 21, 2009
|
|
Model of the shipwrecked Spanish galleon. The ama women divers even used their bodies to warm the bodies of the weak Spanish crewmen. This has led to friendly relations between Onjuku and Spain.Feb 21, 2009
|
|
Some photos taken by Iwase. There are still ama divers in Onjuku, but they now wear wetsuits. No topless women.Feb 21, 2009
|
|
Poster for a local festival.Feb 21, 2009
|
|
Negatives of photos taken by Iwase who was a sake brewer in Onjuku. He was an avid amateur shutterbug who tended to ignore his sake-brewing duties and went after the ama divers instead. (Can't blame him.)Feb 21, 2009
|
|
Iwase took many precious photos of these young and old hardworking women. He put them in a book called Groups of Women Ama Divers. They were topless because it felt more comfortable.Feb 21, 2009
|
|
Picture of Iwase Yoshiyuki (1904-2001) who photographed many topless ama women divers in Onjuku during the 1930s to 1960s. He even organized photo shoots featuring the divers.Feb 21, 2009
|
|
Inside Onjuku Museum of History and Folklore. This room shows noted people of Onjuku.Feb 21, 2009
|
|
A bridge leads to the Desert of the Moon Museum that shows works by songwriter and artist Kato Masao. Admission charged. Open 9 am to 5 pm. Closed Wed. Feb 21, 2009
|
|
Onjuku BeachFeb 21, 2009
|
|
Feb 21, 2009
|
|
A prince and princess on camels. This monument was built in 1969. 月の沙漠Feb 21, 2009
|
|
Onjuku Museum of History and Folklore. Free admission. Open 9 am to 5 pm. Closed Mon. 御宿歴史民俗資料館Feb 21, 2009
|
|
Princess on camelFeb 21, 2009
|
|
Feb 21, 2009
|
|
Monument for "Desert of the Moon," a famous children's song created on Onjuku Beach in 1923 by Kato Masao (加藤まさを). (Tsuki no Sabaku) 月の沙漠Feb 21, 2009
|
|
Looks like a sand dune, but it's solid concrete looking like sand.Feb 21, 2009
|
|
The beach sand is very fine.Feb 21, 2009
|
|
Feb 21, 2009
|
|
Feb 21, 2009
|
|
Windsurfing at OnjukuFeb 21, 2009
|
|
Feb 21, 2009
|
|
A few hotels overlook the beach.Feb 21, 2009
|
|
Feb 21, 2009
|
|
Feb 21, 2009
|
|
Onjuku BeachFeb 21, 2009
|
|
Feb 21, 2009
|
|
Beach volleyball courts. Should come back in summer.Feb 21, 2009
|
|
When it's windy, the sand flies.Feb 21, 2009
|
|
Entrance to Onjuku Beach. Onjuku has various Spanish touches.Feb 21, 2009
|
|
Onjuku Beach is a wide, expansive beach. 御宿海岸Feb 21, 2009
|
|
Feb 21, 2009
|
|
JR Onjuku Station on the Sotobo Line. From Tokyo Station, catch the Yokosuka or Sobu Line to Chiba Station, then switch to the Sotobo Line. Takes about 2 hours by local train. Faster by express train. There are no coin-operated lockers.Feb 21, 2009
|
|
The road in front of Onjuku Station goes toward the beach. Follow the palm trees. A short walk to the beach.Feb 21, 2009
|
|
This was Feb. and cherry blossoms appeared.Feb 21, 2009
|
|
Next to Onjuku Station is this tourist information office.Feb 21, 2009
|
|
Feb 21, 2009
|
|
Statue of an ama woman diver sitting on a rock on the Onjuku Station train platform. These women dived deep in the ocean (without scuba gear) from small boats to harvest shellfish and other seafood.Feb 21, 2009
|
|
Inside Onjuku Station.Feb 21, 2009
|
|
|
|
|
