 Image search results - "ogaki" |
Ogaki has a city-operated bicycle racetrack called the Ogaki Keirinjo or Ogaki Cycling Stadium. This is the entrance. Admission is 100 yen. 大垣競輪場
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Outside the Ogaki cycling stadium which was first built in 1952. On race days, free shuttle buses run often between Ogaki Station and the stadium. It takes 10 min.
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Betting ticket counters inside the cycling stadium.
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There are three classes of spectator seats. At the bottom is open-air seating. Pay 500 yen for the glass-enclosed seating above, and a higher fee for suite rooms higher up.
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Panoramic view of the Ogaki Cycling Stadium bicycle racetrack as seen from the free seating section.
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Starting line. The entire track is ringed by a fence, making it difficult to shoot close-ups of the racers.
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Starting line. On a race day, a series of races are held from morning to late afternoon.
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And they're off.
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In the middle is a small pond and a Japanese-style bridge.
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On the bank.
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I once rode on a similar bicycle racetrack and those banks are very steep and scary. If you fall, you will tumble downward for sure.
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Two cyclists apparently collided and took a spill.
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The fallen cyclists are taken away by stretcher. The first bicycle race I see in Japan occurs with two riders taking a fall. How dramatic.
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Cyclists hauled away.
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From Ogaki Station, a straight shopping road (Eki-dori) goes through the center of the city. A marker shows where you turn to visit Ogaki Castle.
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Marker pointing the way to Ogaki Castle, the symbol and main attraction of the city.
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Turn here to visit Ogaki Castle.
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East Gate, now the main gate to Ogaki Castle. 東門
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The original Ogaki Castle was said to be built in 1535 by the Toki Clan who ruled Mino Province (now Gifu).
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Ogaki Castle's East Gate (looking from the inside). This is not the Omotemon front gate which was a distance away from here (photos at bottom).
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Ogaki Castle's East Gate (looking from the inside).
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Ogaki Castle tower. In 1600 for the Battle of Sekigahara, Ogaki Castle was the base for Lord Ishida Mitsunari who led the Western Forces.
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Ogaki Castle tower (donjon) is four stories high. Now a museum.
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Site of a castle gate.
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West Gate 西門
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Ogaki Castle's cherry blossoms were more beautiful than I had expected.
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Ogaki Castle
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Ogaki Castle in April
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Ogaki Castle is within Ogaki Park.
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Ogaki Castle and cherry blossoms
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Ogaki Castle tower. In 1936, Ogaki Castle was designated as a National Treasure. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by fire in July 1945 due to World War II.
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Statue of Lord Toda Ujikane who was the castle lord in 1635. The Toda Clan occupied Ogaki Castle until the feudal era ended with Meiji Period.
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Statue of Lord Toda Ujikane who was the Ogaki Castle lord in 1635.
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Ogaki Castle
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Ogaki Castle's Inui Turret
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Inui Turret
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Entrance to Ogaki Castle tower. Admission 100 yen. Open 9 am to 5 pm (enter by 4:30 pm). Closed Tue. The castle tower was rebuilt in April 1959.
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Inside Ogaki Castle tower that is a castle history museum with a good display of samurai stuff.
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The first floor has exhibits related to Ogaki Castle and the Battle of Sekigahara. Samurai armor
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Explaining the parts of samurai armor.
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Touch-and-feel samurai weapons. Matchlock gun, bow, and spear (behind).
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Range of various weapons: Spear 6 meters, arrow 30 meters, bullet 200 meters, and cannon 1800 meters.
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Deadly spears
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Parts of a samurai warrior on horseback.
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Writing by Ishida Mitsunari and other allies. (Facsimile)
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Model of a battle
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Even computers for more info.
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Portraits of all the lords of Ogaki Castle.
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Toda Kazuaki (1541-1603), first lord of Ogaki Castle. 戸田一西
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Toda Ujitaka (1854-1936), last lord of Ogaki Castle. (Toda family)
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Top 4th floor of Ogaki Castle tower. There is no balcony, only glass windows.
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Taiko drum on top floor.
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View from the top floor of Ogaki Castle tower. This faces the adjacent park.
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In other directions, not much of a view from the Ogaki Castle tower.
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Even toward the city center, mostly trees blocking the worthless view.
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Looking toward Inui Turret.
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Inui Turret (not open to the public).
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Castle wall with weapon holes.
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Flood marker
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Small waterfall.
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Map of the original Ogaki Castle.
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Some distance away from the main castle tower is the site of Ogaki Castle's Omotemon Gate which was the front gate. Nothing remains today, only a small shrine.
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The site is squeezed into a small space by a big building.
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Shrine at the site of Ogaki Castle's Omotemon Gate.
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site of Ogaki Castle's Omotemon Gate.
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Site of Ogaki Castle's Omotemon Gate. It's within walking distance from the castle tower, but you'll need a map to find it.
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Near Ogaki Station is a small plaza with signs telling you that Haiku poet Matsuo Basho came here and that Ogaki was his last stop on his Oku no Hosomichi journey.
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The Shiki no Michi Promenade starts near Ogaki Station and follows along a moat or canal for about 2.2 km. There is a nice walking path and some parts have cherry blossoms.
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The promenade goes along the Suimon River which used to be Ogaki Castle's Sotobori Outer Moat.
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In early April when the cherries are in bloom, rides on wooden tub boats (tarai-bune) are offered. The rides sell out quickly.
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Site of Ogaki Castle's Takebashi-guchi Gate
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The building in the background is the Oku no Hosomichi Musubi no chi Memorial Hall.
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Tarai-bune wooden tub boats and cherry blossoms.
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End of the boat ride.
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Inside Oku no Hosomichi Musubi no chi Memorial Hall. Many exhibits about Basho and haiku.
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Model of what Ogaki Castle looked like.
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Road marker indicating the way to Edo (right) and Kyoto (left).
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Boat landing
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End of the road/journey for Basho's Okuno Hosomichi.
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Statue of Matsuo Basho who ended his Okuno hosomichi journey in Ogaki.
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Historical marker for Oku no Hosomichi.
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Ogaki manhole, Gifu Pref.
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Site of Ogaki-juku's Honjin
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Emperor Meiji also once stayed here.
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About Ogaki's Honjin
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Site of Ogaki-juku's Waki-Honjin
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Natural spring in Ogaki
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JR Ogaki Station
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Near JR Ogaki Station
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Eki-dori shopping street
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Ogaki manhole, Gifu Pref.
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Basic layout of the city center. Ogaki Station is on the upper right. Canals used to be the castle moat.
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Ogaki's biggest festival held on the weekend on or before May 15 has 13 ornate floats called "yama." They are paraded along the streets in central Ogaki. The road leading to Hachiman Shrine is lined with food stalls.There are different types of floats. Mostly karakuri doll floats, but also two floats with a stage for traditional Japanese dances by young kids. The floats were inspired by karakuri floats in Aichi Prefecture and kabuki floats in Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture.
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Entrance to Ogaki Hachiman Shrine. Highlights include karakuri mechanical doll performances atop the floats and the floats lit up at night with paper lanterns. Held by Hachiman Jinja Shrine.On Dec. 1, 2016 (JST), Ogaki Matsuri Festival was inscribed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as one of 33 "Yama, Hoko, and Yatai float festivals in Japan."
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Flower tower and Hachiman Shrine torii.
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Hachiman Shrine
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Hachiman Shrine 八幡神社
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Hachiman Shrine
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Hachiman Shrine
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Natural spring in Hachiman Shrine.
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The first of eleven floats is called Kagura-yama. 神楽 (本町・中町・新町)
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Daikoku-yama float 大黒 (魚屋町・竹島町・俵町)
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Ebisu-yama float. 恵比須(船町・伝馬町・岐阜町・宮町)
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Aioi-yama float. This is the newest float, reconstructed in 1996. 相生 (本町)
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Sugawara-yama float. 菅原(新町)
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The karakuri doll is actually writing "Ogaki Matsuri" on a piece of paper.
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Namazu-yama float. 鯰 (魚屋町)
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Namazu means catfish.
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Sakaki-yama float. 榊 (竹島町)
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Sakaki-yama at night in front of Hachiman Shrine.
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Tamanoi-yama float. 玉の井 (船町)
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This float features dancing by children in kimono. The back has a painting of a pine tree.
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Renjishi lion dance.
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The Tamanoi-yama was a crowd pleaser with so many child dancers.
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Shochiku-yama float. 松竹 (伝馬町)
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Top of Shochiku-yama is a statue of Benzaiten.
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Shochiku-yama also features dances by children in kimono.
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Tamanoi-yama is based on Omi-Hakkei (Eight Views of Omi) in Shiga Prefecture).
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The tapestry features the Omi-Hakkei scenes.
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Atago-yama float. 愛宕 (岐阜町)
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The pigeons' head actually move as well.
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After the end of the karakuri performance, they tossed out small bags of beans like setsubun.
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Shojo-yama float. 猩々(宮町)
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On the first day of May 9 called Shigaku (試楽), the eleven floats first performed in front of Hachiman Shrine, then proceeded to Ogaki City Hall where also performed karakuri.
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Lining up to Ogaki City Hall.
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