Image search results - "nishino" - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

Image search results - "nishino"

Nishino Water Tunnel is near Lake Biwa at the foot of the Yamamoto-yama mountains. There are three tunnels. The original one was built in 1845 by a local priest to alleviate frequent flooding. 西野水道 MAP

Near the tunnel entrance is a rest house where you can borrow rubber boots and flash lights for free.

Near the tunnel entrance is the Nishino Horinuki Park with various monuments. 西野ほりぬき公園

Statue and monument at Nishino Water Tunnel entrance.

Tunnel monument and song monument.

The monument shows tunnel laborers.

Monument for a song about the tunnel digging, titled "Nishino Suido Uta."

Lyrics to the song, "Nishino Suido Uta." 西野水道歌

This is the original Nishino Water Tunnel built in 1845. Engineered by a Buddhist priest named Esho and with the help of fellow villagers, it took 6 years to dig through the mountain for about 220 meters. The tunnel drained excess water to Lake Biwa.

You can enter and go through the Nishino Water Tunnel. Water does not flow through anymore, but it's still quite muddy and wet.

The problem is, it's pitch black on the inside, and the tunnel size is quite small and craggy. Hard hats required. Not recommended, especially if you are taller than a 10-year-old.

This is the other end of the original tunnel. The air was cold on this end.

This is the second water tunnel, next to the original tunnel and running parallel.

Entrance to the second water tunnel. This is much larger, large enough for a car to pass through. No longer used as a water drainage tunnel. We could easily walk through this tunnel.

Floor of second water tunnel. Some water still flows through. Boots recommended.

Other end of the second tunnel. This tunnel is no longer used for Yogo River. It is now mainly used by people wanting to go fishing.

This is the third water tunnel and currently in use. The Yogo River flows out of it to Lake Biwa. Built in 1980. Also a local fishing spot.

Yogo River mouth outside the Nishino water tunnel. Lake Biwa ahead.

Original Nishino Water Tunnel facing Lake Biwa.

Barrels of sake displayed for Toka Ebisu inside Hanshin Nishinomiya Station.

Exiting Hanshin Nishinomiya Station on Jan 10, 2011.

Ebessan-suji road going to Nishinomiya Jinja Shrine.

Entering Nishinomiya Shrine at the Omote Daimon Gate, usually called Akamon Gate. 西宮神社表大門通称赤門

Along the way, there was a place where you could throw away your old Ebisu decorations.

People on the left are leaving the shrine, while people on the right are heading for the shrine. About a million people visit Nishinomiya Shrine during Jan. 9-11.

It's a stop-and-go process.

But we got nearer and nearer so it wasn't so bad and it wasn't taking forever.

Wash basin to purify yourself. Few people stopped here.

Haiden hall up ahead. Behind it is the Honden main hall.

Nishinomiya Shrine worships a god named Hiruko (蛭子), also known as Ebisu, one of the Seven Gods of Fortune. Ebisu is regarded as the god of fishermen and good fortune depicted as a rotund, bald man holding a tai sea bream.

Nishinomiya Shrine's Haiden Hall. It took about 30 min. to get here from Akamon Gate.

On the left was a separate entrance here to see the giant tuna (maguro).

Entering the Nishinomiya Shrine's Haiden Hall.

Something unique is this upside down kadomatsu decoration flanking Nishinomiya Shrine's Haiden Hall.

About the upside down kadomatsu.

They also waved sacred staffs over our heads as we entered the Haiden.

After passing through the Haiden, there's the Honden main worship hall, the shrine's main building.

The Honden had this narrow but long offertory box. Surprisingly small for a huge occasion as this.

They also had a giant maguro tuna fish on display as an offering to the shrine from a fishing cooperative.

The tuna is 2.9 meters long weighing 280 kg. About the same as two sumo wrestlers.

The tradition is to stick on coins on the tuna.

By this time, the tuna was dry and solid as a rock. It was impossible to stick on more coins.

Coins stuck on giant tune at Nishinomiya Shrine Toka Ebisu.

They stuffed coins in every crack and crevice of the fish. I wonder who's gonna eat the fish afterward.

Where the tail is cut off.

Fruits and vegetable offerings from the local produce cooperative.

Offering of octopus (tako).

Scene after you exit the Honden.

Exiting the Honden.

Selling omikuji fortunes.

Nishinomiya Shrine's 300-yen omikuji comes with a cute tai (sea bream).

Ema tablets.

Ema tablets at Nishinomiya Shrine.

Tai sea bream display case.

Tai sea bream pair.

About the tai sea bream.

Smaller shrines in Nishinomiya Shrine.

Homusubi Shrine

About Homusubi Shrine.

Hyakudayu Shrine

About Hyakudayu Shrine.

Proceed further to see more vendors.

Sacred dancer.

Pay a fee to enter this little hall to be blessed with a sacred dance.

Fuku-zasa tree branches for prosperity and good fortune sold here.

Fuku-zasa branches cost 1000 or 3000 yen.

Nishinomiya Shrine maiden selling Fuku-zasa tree branches for Toka Ebisu. I was disappointed that the branches were plastic and all the decorations were already on them.