 Last additions - IBARAKI 茨城県 |
On the other side of the underground train station is Chuo Park where Art Town Tsukuba and street performances were held. アートタウンつくば2009 ～大道芸フェスティバル～Aug 31, 2009
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Aug 31, 2009
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Aug 31, 2009
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What would a festival be without taiko drummers?Aug 31, 2009
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A hula troupe dances next to a yosakoi group.Aug 31, 2009
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A short walk away is this large road serving as a venue for numerous dance groups performing almost all day long. This is also where the nebuta floats would be paraded in the eveing.Aug 31, 2009
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It drizzled off and on during the day.Aug 31, 2009
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English translators available! I noticed quite a few foreigners in Tsukuba, a national science and technology research and academic center.Aug 31, 2009
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Center Hiroba outdoor stage センター広場特設ステージAug 31, 2009
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Tsukuba Tourism AmbassadorsAug 31, 2009
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There are many things going on at the same time all day long for two days from 10 am to 9 pm. Aug 31, 2009
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A big, two-day August festival in Tsukuba featuring diverse dance groups, bazaar, street performances, hula dancing, and food stalls. The climax is a nebuta parade in the evening. Everything is near Tsukuba Station (Tsukuba Express). Ever since the Tsukuba Express train line opened in 2005 from Akihabara, getting to Tsukuba is a breeze in about 45 min. Wide streets and sidewalks. The festival's main venue centered around this brown building which you see from Exit A5.Aug 31, 2009
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This is Tsukuba Center Hiroba, the central part of the festival where there are food stalls and information booth.Aug 31, 2009
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Train back to Mito.Apr 12, 2006
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Fresh oystersApr 12, 2006
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Ika squidApr 12, 2006
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Baby scallopsApr 12, 2006
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Dried fishApr 12, 2006
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Seafood restaurantsApr 12, 2006
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The beachApr 12, 2006
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Seafood restaurantsApr 12, 2006
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Anko seafood soup (miso-based)Apr 12, 2006
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Wave breakersApr 12, 2006
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Resort hotelApr 12, 2006
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Sign saying Oarai is famous for noren curtains.Apr 12, 2006
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Apr 12, 2006
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Higashi Mito Station (on the way to Oarai)Apr 12, 2006
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Oarai StationShort ride from Mito Station.Apr 12, 2006
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Observation tower at the beach and a symbol of OaraiApr 12, 2006
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Ferry port (service to Otaru, Hokkaido)Apr 12, 2006
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Path from shrineApr 12, 2006
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Boat museum within the shrine groundsApr 12, 2006
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ShrineApr 12, 2006
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Giant votive tablet (2006 is the year of the dog)Apr 12, 2006
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Isosaki ShrineApr 12, 2006
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Koma-inu lion dog and lanternsApr 12, 2006
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Isosaki Shrine toriiApr 12, 2006
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Isosaki Shrine torii as seen from the beachApr 12, 2006
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Isosaki Shrine's second giant toriiApr 12, 2006
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Isosaki Shrine toriiApr 12, 2006
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Torii at seaApr 12, 2006
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Oarai Isosaki Shrine torii at seaApr 12, 2006
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ShorelineApr 12, 2006
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Oarai Isosaki Shrine torii at seaApr 12, 2006
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Oarai Isosaki Shrine's giant toriiApr 12, 2006
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Oarai townApr 12, 2006
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Oarai Isosaki Shrine's giant toriiApr 12, 2006
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Oarai Isosaki Shrine torii at seaApr 12, 2006
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Kairakuen StationThis station, right before Mito Station, is open only during major flower seasons of Kairakuen.Mar 22, 2006
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Mar 22, 2006
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Kobuntei VillaMar 22, 2006
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Inside the top floor of Kobuntei VillaMar 22, 2006
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Inside the top floor of Kobuntei VillaMar 22, 2006
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Kobuntei VillaMar 22, 2006
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Natto fermented beansMar 22, 2006
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View from the top floor of Kobuntei VillaMar 22, 2006
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View from the top floor of Kobuntei VillaMar 22, 2006
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Mar 22, 2006
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Kobuntei VillaMar 22, 2006
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Mar 22, 2006
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Mar 22, 2006
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Balcony on the top floor of Kobuntei VillaMar 22, 2006
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View from the top floor of Kobuntei VillaMar 22, 2006
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View from the top floor of Kobuntei VillaMar 22, 2006
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Mar 22, 2006
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Kobuntei VillaMar 22, 2006
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Kobuntei VillaMar 22, 2006
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Mar 22, 2006
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Mar 22, 2006
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Kobuntei VillaMar 22, 2006
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Kobuntei suffered quite a bit of damage during the big earthquake on March 11, 2011. Repairs have started in Sept. 2011, and they hope to reopen the Kobuntei by Feb. 2012.Mar 22, 2006
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Kobuntei Villa, fusuma sliding door with painting of cherry blossomsMar 22, 2006
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Kobuntei VillaMar 22, 2006
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Cherry Blossom Room, Kobuntei VillaMar 22, 2006
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Kobuntei VillaMar 22, 2006
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Kobuntei VillaMar 22, 2006
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Kobuntei VillaMar 22, 2006
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Kobuntei VillaMar 22, 2006
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Kobuntei VillaMar 22, 2006
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Kobuntei VillaMar 22, 2006
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Kobuntei Villa, fusuma sliding door with painting of maple leavesMar 22, 2006
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Kobuntei VillaMar 22, 2006
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Kobuntei VillaMar 22, 2006
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Kobuntei Villa, fusuma sliding door with painting of azaleaMar 22, 2006
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Kobuntei Villa, fusuma sliding door with painting of fall leavesMar 22, 2006
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Kobuntei Villa, fusuma sliding door with painting of plum treesMar 22, 2006
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Kobuntei Villa was originally built in 1842 by Tokugawa Nariaki (1800-1860), the ninth Lord of Mito. It was his summer villa.Mar 22, 2006
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Natural spring (cold water)Mar 22, 2006
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Omote-mon GateThis supposed to be the front gate.Mar 22, 2006
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Bamboo grovePine trees, bamboo, and plum blossoms are called Shochikubai in Japanese. This trio of trees is most famous.Mar 22, 2006
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Kobuntei Villa has exquisite Japanese-style paintings on paper sliding doors. Kobuntei was damaged by the March 2011 Tohoku earthquake and was closed until early 2012 for repairs.Mar 22, 2006
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Path to natural springMar 22, 2006
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Closeup of red plum blossomMar 22, 2006
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Mar 22, 2006
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Mar 22, 2006
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Plum groveMar 22, 2006
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Poem monumentMar 22, 2006
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Mar 22, 2006
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Closeup of white plum blossomMar 22, 2006
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Monument proclaiming Kairakuen as one of Ibaraki's 100 Best SightsMar 22, 2006
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Pine trees and plum treesMar 22, 2006
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Plum tree and trainMar 22, 2006
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Plum tree groveMar 22, 2006
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Torano-o plum blossom (Tiger's Tail) 虎の尾Mar 22, 2006
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Plum trees and Lake SenbaMar 22, 2006
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Plum trees and Lake SenbaMar 22, 2006
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Mar 22, 2006
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Mar 22, 2006
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Plum trees and Lake SenbaMar 22, 2006
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Plum Blossom Queens in Kairakuen, MitoMar 22, 2006
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Plum Blossom Queens in Kairakuen, MitoMar 22, 2006
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Osaka-zuki red plum blossoms 大盃Osaka-zuki
大盃Mar 22, 2006
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Konan Shomu plum blossom 江南所無Prunus mume KounanshomuMar 22, 2006
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Fantastically-shaped plum treeMar 22, 2006
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Plum tree grove, about a week too early.Mar 22, 2006
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Red and white plum blossomsMar 22, 2006
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White plum blossoms, the most common variety, and with the sweetest aroma.Mar 22, 2006
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Mar 22, 2006
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Mar 22, 2006
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PinickersMar 22, 2006
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Crowd at Higashi-mon East GateThis was the defacto main gate and most crowded since it is closest to the train station.Mar 22, 2006
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Plum blossom-viewing picnickersMar 22, 2006
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Map of Kairakuen, a garden built in 1841 by Tokugawa Nariaki (1800-1860), the ninth Lord of Mito. It is one of Japan's three most famous gardens.Mar 22, 2006
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Tokiwa Shrine, MitoDedicated to Lord Mitsukuni Tokugawa, the second lord of Mito, and Nariaki Tokugawa, the ninth lord of Mito and the one who built Kairakuen Garden.Mar 22, 2006
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Plum Blossom QueenMar 22, 2006
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Bonsai plum treesI bought one of these once and the flowers smelled good before they withred away. The tree also died soon afterward.Mar 22, 2006
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Entrance to garden via Tokiwa Shrine. One of Japan's three most famous gardens, Kairakuen is especially noted for thousands of plum blossom trees which bloom in Feb. and March.One of Japan's three most famous gardens, Kairakuen is especially noted for thousands of plum blossom trees which bloom in Feb. and March. Mar 22, 2006
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Train platform of Kairakuen StationMar 22, 2006
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Plum Blossom Queen at Kairakuen StationShe was passing out maps of the garden. It was a nice touch to see two of these kimono beauties greeting us.Mar 22, 2006
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Welcome to IbarakiTrain platform of Kairakuen Station.Mar 22, 2006
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Train platform of Kairakuen StationMar 22, 2006
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