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

Image search results - "noh"

Chiba Castle as seen from Kencho-mae monorail station.

Entrance to Inohana Park

Path to Chiba Castle (visible on left)

Chiba Castle and paper lanterns

Chiba Castle Sakura Matsuri lantern

Chiba Castle tower

Chiba Castle

Cherry blossoms and Chiba Castle

Bus going to Hinohara from Musashi-Itsukaichi Station. Takes 30 min.

Area around entrance to Hossawa Falls

Bus stop for Kichijoji Falls near central Hinohara.

Entrance to Hossawa Falls (free admission)

To Kichijoji Falls

Welcome to Hinohara village.

Signboard showing Hinohara's waterfalls

Explanation sign

Hinohara Village Office. For a small village, this is a grand building. 檜原村役場

Trail to Hossawa Falls

Down to Kichijoji Falls, right next to the highway.

Drawing of Hinohara Castle

Cherry blossoms and Chiba Castle

Trail to Hossawa Falls

Gorge

Inside Hinohara Village Office

Corners

Trail to Hossawa Falls is very lush

Downstream of falls

Hinohara Village Office has a coffee shop.

Front view

Beware of falling rocks

Akikawa River below Kichijoji Falls, Hinohara, Tokyo

Made in Hinohara, displayed in the coffee shop.

It's a short trail, but very nature-rich

Kichijoji Falls 吉祥寺滝

Jam made in Hinohara.

Kichijoji Falls 吉祥寺滝

The Village Office and coffee shop has a great view of the river.

Small river below, fed by the waterfall

Kichijoji Falls 吉祥寺滝

Hinohara village manhole

Statue of Chiba-no-suke Tsuneshige and Chiba Castle tower 千葉介常重Lord Chiba-no-suke Tsuneshige was the founder of Chiba Castle in 1126.

Monuments

Hinohara Village Tourist Info Office

Statue of Chiba-no-suke Tsuneshige built in Dec. 2001 to commemorate Chiba city's 80th anniversary. 千葉介常重Lord Chiba-no-suke Tsuneshige was the founder of Chiba Castle in 1126.

This is not the waterfall.

Upstream Kichijoji Falls

Inside Hinohara Village Tourist Info Office

Statue of Chiba-no-suke Tsuneshige 千葉介常重Lord Chiba-no-suke Tsuneshige was the founder of Chiba Castle in 1126.

Picnic pavilion near the waterfall.

Kichijoji Falls consist of three small waterfalls. Hinohara, Tokyo 吉祥寺滝

Main intersection in central Hinohara

Stone wall at entrance

Kichijoji Falls, Hinohara, Tokyo

Steps to front entrance

Finally, a sign of the waterfall.

Also see the video at YouTube.

Central Hinohara called Honshuku 本宿

Deck

There it is. Notice the smaller falls at the top.

Bus from Musashi-Itsukaichi Station.

Castle tower

Hossawa Falls, Hinohara, Tokyo

Upstream Akikawa River from the waterfalls

Akikawa River

Roof tiles with the Chiba clan's crest

Base of Hossawa Falls

Highway next to Kichijoji Falls

Akikawa River

The castle tower is built on an anti-earthquake foundation.

Hossawa Falls

Down to another scenic point near Kichijoji Falls

Banner at souvenir shop

Exhibits inside the castle, a folk and history museum for the Chiba clan and Chiba city.

Top floor of castle

Hossawa Falls

Gorge near Kichijoji Falls

Farewell to Hinohara

Balcony on top floor

Ice crystals and running water. Normally, the Hossawa waterfall freezes over in winter.

Crystal-clear water

Unfortunately, the mesh fence ruins the view and picture-taking.

Ice crystals on rocks

Akikawa River

The red fence is so low that anyone can fall over.

Hossawa Falls, Hinohara, Tokyo

To Nakayama Falls 中山の滝

View of park grounds

Also see the video at YouTube.

Nakayama Falls as seen from the road. 中山の滝

View of park grounds

Hossawa Falls is one of Japan's 100 Famous Falls. 日本の滝百選

Nakayama Falls as seen from the road. 中山の滝

Through the mesh

The waterfall is actually a series of four falls, only two of which can be seen.

Nakayama Falls 中山の滝

Toward Chiba Port

Total height of the falls is 60 meters, from the top falls not visible.

Monument saying "Thanks you for the pure water."

Trail back to the entrance

Made in Hinohara, konnyaku

Picnic area

Bridge with waterfall motif

Bekkoame candy stand

Akikawa River near the waterfall entrance

Akikawa River

Path to park exit

Akikawa River

Honshuku, center of Hinohara

Hanada Masaru

Amanohashidate is northern Kyoto's main attraction and very famous for centuries as one of Japan's Scenic Trio (Nihon Sankei 日本三景). The other two in the scenic trio are Miyajima (vermillion torii and shrine on the ocean) in Hiroshima and Matsushima (pine tree islands) near Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. It's about 3.6 km long, totally flat, and you can cross it on foot or by bicycle (rentals available) on a dirt road in the middle. The road is lined with thousands of Japanese pine trees and closed to vehicular traffic. This view is from the northern end atop Kasamatsu Park. Near Amanohashidate Station.

The thing about Amanohashidate is that it looks very different from different lookout points. The most popular spots to view Amanohashidate are on the hilltop on the southern end and northern end.If you have time, I highly recommend that you see it from both the southern end and northern ends. Which means you should rent a bicycle and ride across Amanohashidate.

This is from the hilltop on the southern end, from a small amusement park called Amanohashidate Viewland easily accessible via chair lift or cable car, and a short walk from Amanohashidate Station. Map: https://goo.gl/maps/yNhxjwK2ocz

This southern end connects to mainland Japan, so what you see in the distance is Tango Peninsula up north.

The left side is the west side with an enclosed, but connected ocean named Asoumi Sea. The right side is the east side with white-sand beaches facing the open ocean. Ships can still go through both sides of the sandbar through a narrow strait on the southern end.

The greenery area on the lower left facing the sandbar is Chionji Temple.

Amanohashidate Station (Kyoto Tango Railway, nicknamed "Tantetsu" or "Willer Trains") is close to Amanohashidate sandbar. Trains from JR Osaka, Kyoto, and Fukuchiyama Stations stop here.

What to see from Amanohashidate Station. Best to rent a bicycle at the souvenir shop in front of the station.

My rental bicycle. Rental bicycles also available at the entrance to the Amanohashidate sandbar.

Near the entrance to Amanohashidate, this welcome sign with "One of the three famous beauty spots of Japan" has been here for decades.According to Japanese Wikipedia, the "Nihon Sankei" (Japan's Scenic Trio) label originated in 1643 by Hayashi Gaho (aka Hayashi Shunsai), a Japanese Neo-Confucian scholar who wrote a book mentioning these three sights. The expression "Nihon Sankei" was later coined in 1689 by another Japanese Neo-Confucianist scholar, Kaibara Ekken in his travel diary. So "Nihon Sankei" goes way back to the 17th century.

It's really amazing that it has stuck throughout these centuries even with Mt. Fuji not included. With Japan having so many places of beauty, it would be nearly impossible today for anyone to unilaterally declare any three sights as the "Best Three."

To the question of why it's always the best "three," the answer seems to be more complicated. It seems the Japanese have had numerical favorites for many centuries. Many odd numbers are favorites including one, three, five, and seven. This might sound familiar when you think about haiku and tanka poetry syllables, and the 7-5-3 coming of age celebration for kids. But the number "three" for "Best Three" has also stuck for centuries and still today.

On the southern end, this bridge to Amanohashidate rotates quite often to allow boats to pass.

Most of the boats carry freight.

Rotating bridge for pedestrians again.

Rotating bridge for Amanohashidate.

About the rotating bridge (Shotenkyo).

Sightseeing map of Amanohashidate.

Entrance to Amanohashidate's path to the other end. Japanese pine trees all over on both sides of the road.

How Amanohashidate sandbar formed. Sand from the east coast of Tango Peninsula carried by ocean currents were repeled by the river current of the Noda River. The sand thereby accumulated from the northern end to enclose the bay.Underwater, Amanohashidate looks like a sand wall.

Amanohashidate marker.

Monument for Emperor Showa's Amanohashidate poem he wrote when he visited this area in 1951.

Emperor Showa's Amanohashidate poem.

Jizo statue on Amanohashidate.

Amanohashidate's finger of sand that keeps growing. Every few years, they have to remove the excess sand, otherwise it will become another sandbar impeding shipping.

The sand spit gets shorter each hour.

The bridge to Amanohashidate.

Beach on the east side of Amanohashidate.

Amanohashidate poetry monument for famous travel poet Yosano Akiko and husband Yosano Tekkan. 与謝野鉄幹(与謝野寛)、与謝野晶子

About Amanohashidate's pine trees.

Wild birds found at Amanohashidate. They only wrote the scientific names of the birds. Looks like they include the seagull, egret, heron, sparrow, and cormorant.

Cycling on Amanohashidate through thousands of Japanese pine trees. It takes 10-15 min. by bicycle without stopping. But there are a number of monuments, shrine, commemorative pine trees, and beaches to photograph along the way. So it took me 30-40 min.

West side of Amanohashidate with no beaches.

Swordsman Jutaro Iwami's testing stone.

About swordsman Jutaro Iwami's testing stone.

Would you believe a cannon on Amanohashidate?

The cannon was never based or used on Amanohashidate. It was originally from the Battleship Kasuga. Donated by the Imperial Navy to the village in 1923 to promote the Imperial Navy.

Near the cannon is Amanohashidate Shrine.

Amanohashidate Shrine

About Amanohashidate Shrine.

Near Amanohashidate Shrine is this well of pure spring water named "Iso-shimizu" (磯清水) famous since the Heian Period.

About "Iso-shimizu" (磯清水).

About "Iso-shimizu" (磯清水) well.

Poetry monument for Buson, a famous poet.

About Buson, a famous poet.

Many pine trees have names.

Path on Amanohashidate going north. Almost endless forest of pine trees. Very pleasant cycling ride or walk.

West side of Amanohashidate.

Marker for Emperor Taisho's visit. Anybody who is a somebody has visited Amanohashidate.

The ocean and beach.

This part of the beach had many little piles of driftwood which they were cleaning up.

A few pine trees died or were knocked down.

Good to know how far away you are.

Wedded pine trees on Amanohashidate. (夫婦松)

Wind-blown pine trees.

Pine tree for the sawn maiden's clothes. 羽衣の松

Looks like another wedded pair of pine trees, but it is named "Good Friends pine trees." なかよしの松

Don't ever get tired of the scenery.

Sunny beach on Amanohashidate.

The Twin Dragon Pine Trees were broken. 双龍の松

East edge of Amanohashidate looking toward Kasamatsu Park on the hill.

Kasamatsu Park on the hill as seen from Amanohashidate.

Fork in the road. Go left.

Fuchu Station is the Cable Car and Chair Lift station to go up to Kasamatsu Park on the northern end of Amanohashidate.

Cable Car and Chair Lift station to go up to Kasamatsu Park.

Time schedule and fares for Cable Car and Chair Lift. The chair lift runs non-stop so it's faster than waiting for the next cable car.

If you're not afraid of heights, take the chair lift. They keep telling you not to jump off even if you dropped something.

Chair lift to Kasamatsu Park.

Arriving Kasamatsu Park on the chairlift.

Chair lift to Kasamatsu Park.

Cable car if you're afraid of heights.

Cable car to Kasamatsu Park.

Arriving Kasamatsu Park on cable car.

Amanohashidate as seen from the northern end atop Kasamatsu Park.Amanohashidate is a sandbar created since thousands of years ago by opposing ocean currents carrying sand. According to Japanese mythology, Amanohashidate was created during the age of gods (before man appeared). The great god Izanagi in Heaven, built a long floating ladder-bridge from Heaven to Earth so he could see his wife the goddess Izanami who was living at Moto-Ise Kono Shrine on Earth. However, in a single night while he was asleep, the bridge collapsed and fell to Earth, where Amanohashidate is today. And so if you view it upside down at Kasamatsu Park, it's supposed to look like a bridge to heaven which is what "Amanohashidate" means.

Amanohashidate as seen from the northern end atop Kasamatsu Park.

Look at Amanohashidate upside down.

Upside down, it supposed to look like a bridge to heaven.

Closeup of Amanohashidate.

Southern end of Amanohashidate. Amanohashidate Viewland can be seen.

Kasamatsu Park has the usual touristy restaurants and shops. Nice benches and no amusement park.

Another Ring of Wisdom on Kasamatsu Park.

And so Amanohashidate symbolizes a link between Heaven and Earth and between two lovers. That's why you may also see heart or love symbols at Amanohashidate.

Padlocks for lovers.

Autumn heart at Amanohashidate.

How Amanohashidate was formed, according to mythology.

Bus stop to Nariaiji temple further up the hill, one of the 33 Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage Temples.

Entrance to chair lift to go down from Kasamatsu Park.

Chair lift to go down from Kasamatsu Park.

Chair lift down from Kasamatsu Park has nice views.

Souvenir shops near the chair lift station at Fuchu Station.

Amanohashidate sardines supposed to be good.

Old postbox and a message.

Puffer fish.

Path to nearby Moto-Ise Kono Shrine is lined with souvenir shops.

Path to nearby Moto-Ise Kono Shrine.

Moto-Ise Kono Shrine (元伊勢籠神社)Ise Grand Shrines (Ise Jingu) in Mie Prefecture are Japan's most sacred Shinto shrines. They are dedicated to the Sun Goddess Amaterasu (Shinto's most important goddess and legendary ancestor of the Imperial family) and Toyouke-Omikami (豊受大神), goddess of agriculture.

About Moto-Ise Kono Shrine (元伊勢籠神社). Before Ise Jingu was established around the 7th century (or earlier), a number of shrines for these two deities were temporarily or permanently established in various locations including this Kono Shrine. These pre-Ise Jingu shrines are prefixed with "Moto-Ise." Kono Shrine worships five gods and one of them is Toyouke-Omikami (豊受大神), the same goddess of agriculture worshiped in Ise.

Purify yourself here.

Moto-Ise Kono Shrine torii. No photos beyond this torii.

Lucky to see a shrine priest bless a vehicle for traffic safety.

Boat dock on the northern end to cross by boat if you don't want to cycle.

Amanohashidate

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