Last additions - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

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Last additions - SHIGA 滋賀県

Shin-Yokaichi Station on the Ohmi Railway, the stop before Yokaichi Station terminal.Oct 06, 2018

Glad to take the shuttle bus back to the trasin station.Oct 06, 2018

Fire walk pit still smoking.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Sacred staff for the fire walk.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

The hardest part of the fire walk was putting your shoes back on. No benches to sit on.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Cool your feet in salt.Oct 06, 2018

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I did it as well, wasn't so hot.Oct 06, 2018

Prayer before the fire walk.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Toward the end, there is fire-walking on the hot embers.Oct 06, 2018

Toward the end, there is fire-walking on the hot embers. 火渡りOct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

After the smoke is gone...Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Priests throw wooden goma prayer tablets (written with people's wishes) into the fire. Tarobogu Shrine, Higashi-Omi, Shiga.Oct 06, 2018

Priests throw wooden goma prayer tablets (written with people's wishes) into the fire.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Mountain ascetic priests chanting.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Fanning the fire.Oct 06, 2018

The smoke can get very thick. People with a lung condition or clothing sensitive to smoke should not see this.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Kind of unique festival because it combines Shinto and Buddhist practices.Oct 06, 2018

The fire's spiritual force supposed to ward off evil, accidents, and sickness and cleanse you. Tarobogu Shrine, Higashi-Omi, Shiga.Oct 06, 2018

The bonfire is used to burn about 100,000 goma prayer tablets collected from all over Japan. Tarobogu Shrine, Higashi-Omi, Shiga. Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Lighting the pile.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Pile to be burned for the bonfire.Oct 06, 2018

Get off the bus and here we are. A large clearing (shrine's parking lot) surrounded by a large crowd.Oct 06, 2018

If you don't take the bus, it's 700 steps up from here.Oct 06, 2018

On the day of the bonfire festival, they have shuttle buses going between the train station and Tarobogu Shrine. Highly recommend taking the bus.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Tarobogu Shrine on this mountain holds a bonfire festival on the first Sunday in December. Near Tarobogu-mae Station on Ohmi Railways Line from Omi-Hachiman or Yokaichi Stations.Oct 06, 2018

The first torii is near the train station.Oct 06, 2018

Nice visit to Tarobogu.Oct 06, 2018

Back down now.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Quite pleasant with all the trees.Oct 06, 2018

Lots of torii along the way.Oct 06, 2018

Going down the steps from Tarobogu Shrine. Easy descent if you can walk.Oct 06, 2018

To go back to the train station on foot, go down these stairs.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Rest houseOct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Biwa lute.Oct 06, 2018

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Tengu maskOct 06, 2018

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Thus rest house has all these old paintings and objects.Oct 06, 2018

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Interesting rock formation.Oct 06, 2018

Way back.Oct 06, 2018

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裏参道Oct 06, 2018

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To go back, no need to go the way you came, take this flat path back.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Walk around this post and another 50 meters away 100 times to eliminate your troubles.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Small stone wall pillars donated.Oct 06, 2018

Another scenic path. Flat one.Oct 06, 2018

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This way to see the Tengu statue.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Tarobogu's ema prayer tablets have a blank tengu goblin face. You draw the face yourself. How interactive.Oct 06, 2018

Ornate ceiling of Ichigansha Shrine 一願社 (一願成就社). Oct 06, 2018

Inside Ichigansha Shrine 一願社 (一願成就社). Oct 06, 2018

Ichigansha Shrine altar.Oct 06, 2018

Ichigansha Shrine 一願社 (一願成就社). Pray here for success or victory.Oct 06, 2018

Benzaiten, goddess of music and anything that flows. Tarobogu Shrine, Higashi-Omi, Shiga.Oct 06, 2018

Ichigansha Shrine 一願社 (一願成就社). Pray here for success or victory.Oct 06, 2018

Benzaiten, goddess of music has her own little shrine. Not just a statue.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Statues of the gods of good fortune are scattered around.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Suzuka mountains.Oct 06, 2018

Near the first torii in front of the train station.Oct 06, 2018

Beautiful views from Tarobogu Shrine.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Inside Tarobogu's Honden main shrine. Surprisingly small building.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Legend says that the god split the Wedded Rocks in two. Legend also says that the rocks will crush any person who has a malicious heart or has told a lie. Most local kids therefore run through here to escape the god's crush. Meoto-iwa 夫婦岩Oct 06, 2018

This narrow slit separates the Wedded Rocks, wide enough for normal-size people to pass through. Meoto-iwa 夫婦岩Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Omotesando path to the main shrine. 表参道Oct 06, 2018

Haiden ceremony hall 拝殿Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Inside Sanshuden Hall. 参集殿Oct 06, 2018

View from Sanshuden Hall. Oct 06, 2018

Great thing about Tarobogu Shrine is the views.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Going up to Sanshuden Hall is a modern building where they sell amulets. 参集殿Oct 06, 2018

More stairs to go to the Honden main shrine.Oct 06, 2018

PriestsOct 06, 2018

They held the bonfire festival in Dec. (See the separate album for this.)Oct 06, 2018

There a flat piece of land for the shrine.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

A significant rock.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

It's not so bad if you're in shape. Actually, I took these going-up pictures while going down the steps. (Went up by bus.)Oct 06, 2018

Yes, up this way.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Go up these steps.Oct 06, 2018

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Good luck.Oct 06, 2018

If you don't have a car or if there'sno shuttle bus, you get to climb up 700 stone steps to the shrine. This is the entrance to the climb up.Oct 06, 2018

About the Jizo statue.Oct 06, 2018

Jizo statueOct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Second torii to Tarobogu Shrine.Oct 06, 2018

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The second torii near the foot of the mountain.Oct 06, 2018

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Entrance to the shrine's rice paddy.Oct 06, 2018

This is where the shrine holds the rice-planting festival on the third Sunday of May.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Sanshuden Hall is a modern building where they sell amulets. Also has meeting rooms. 参集殿Oct 06, 2018

Honden shrine can be seen.Oct 06, 2018

Mt. Mitsukuriyama, home of Tarobogu Shrine.Oct 06, 2018

You can drive up halfway up the mountain (called Mitsukuriyama 箕作山) which is 350 meters high. If you don't have a car, climb over 700 steps to reach the shrine's main hall.Oct 06, 2018

Oct 06, 2018

Tobidashi boyaOct 06, 2018

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Just head toward this pointy mountain.Oct 06, 2018

Farm land along the way.Oct 06, 2018

The first torii you see right near the train station.Oct 06, 2018

Tarobogu-mae Station entrance.Oct 06, 2018

It was autumn when I revisited Tarobogu.Oct 06, 2018

Tarobogu-mae Station's rundown bicycle lot. How rustic.Oct 06, 2018

Tarobogu-mae Station exit has a tengu goblin.Oct 06, 2018

Tarobogu-mae Station on the Ohmi Railways. Oct 06, 2018

Tarobogu-mae Station on the Ohmi Railways. Trains come from Omi-Hachiman and Yokaichi Stations.Oct 06, 2018

Saicho, founder of Tendai Buddhist Sect, also prayed at Tarobo. Up to when Shinto and Buddhism was separated during the Meiji Period, both Shinto and Tendai followers worshipped at Tarobo."Tarobo" is the name of the Tengu goblin serving as the guardian of this shrine. The shrine god is known as the "God of Victory," for business prosperity, winning something, beating a disease, or passing an exam.Oct 06, 2018

The shrine has a long history, spanning 1,400 years beginning with Shotoku Taishi who built Kawaraji temple on this mountain and also prayed at Tarobo shrine known for making miracles happen. MapOct 06, 2018

Oct 04, 2018

After all the big prizes were given out, the remaining women were eligible to receive door prizes so they stood in line for that.Oct 04, 2018

This is the super lucky girl who won the free trip to Hawaii. She was from the neighboring city of Maibara and plans to take her younger sister to Hawaii.Congratulations!!! Doesn't she look like a deserving person? Hope you enjoy my home state, Aloha and bon voyage!!Oct 04, 2018

Oct 04, 2018

On the stage, local sponsors and dignitaries pulled out the lucky lots one by one.Besides the trip to Hawaii as the grand prize, they gave out kimono fabric, travel certificates, free hotel rooms, and other valuable prizes sponsored by local businesses.Oct 04, 2018