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Senryuji Temple, Sanmon Gate, which is the front gate. Reconstructed in 1859, and renovated in 2006-2007. The temple was founded by a monk named Roben 良弁 in 765. 山門89 views
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The house has a depressing name. "Umoregi" means petrified wood. Since he was far down the family line to succeed the lordship of his clan, Naosuke did not expect he his life would flower and thereby named this house. 埋木舎89 views
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Steam locomotive89 views
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Basho Memorial Museum along the Sumida River. Near Morishita Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line. Address: Tokiwa 1-6-3, Koto-ku, Tokyo. Phone: 03-3631-1448 芭蕉記念館89 views
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Kabuki actor89 views
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Runners and wheelchair racers warm up in front of the start line.89 views
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The mass media trucks.89 views
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Mikoshi portable shrine. Probably a shrine priest.89 views
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Stone marker for Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine.89 views
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Way to the "Front Mountain Path" (Omote Tozando). Be aware that this is the steep trail, going almost straight up the mountain. You will be going on all fours much of the way. Gloves recommended. 表登山道89 views
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Trail to summit.89 views
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500 meters until the peak.89 views
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View from Mt. Mikami, Yasu.89 views
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Beware of snakes (mamushi). Never saw any. Never saw any monkeys either.89 views
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Inside 豊浄院89 views
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Near the entrance of the supermarket is the waste vegetable oil collection box.89 views
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On the left of the Kancho-do is the Chonichi Goma-do Hall. Important Cultural Property. 長日護摩堂89 views
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Inside Kannon-do Hall89 views
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Shoreline near Nagahama Castle.89 views
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Entrance to Imasu Elementary and Junior High School. This was the site of the two Waki-Honjin lodges. 今須小中学校89 views
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Awards for nine racing categories. The Lake Biwa Rowing Song CD was also donated by Philbert Ono as one of the prizes.89 views
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Jizo-zaka as seen from Jizo-in temple. On the last day of the festival (Aug. 25)., fireworks is held from 8 pm to 8:30 pm.89 views
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Worshippers inside the Kinomoto Jizo-in temple. Scroll down further to see what it looks like without all the people.89 views
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Supporters of both teams have a friendly shout down.89 views
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JR Kichijoji Station north side89 views
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At the end, we clapped in celebration. The show was 2.5 hours long, including a 10-min. and 20-min. intermission.89 views
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Habatan is phoenix from Hyogo Pref. to promote a national sports meet. はばタン (兵庫）89 views
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Center showcase (right part).89 views
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High heels not recommended.89 views
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Easy 40-min. hike, but if's summer, it can get hot and sweaty.89 views
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Sayo サヨ89 views
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"Bunka Zone" (Culture Zone). This zone has this Japanese garden and the Museum of Modern Art and Shiga Prefectural Library.89 viewsThe Museum has several exhibition halls, rental gallery, an inner courtyard, lecture hall, reading room, museum shop, and restaurant. Admission charged.
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Festival banner89 views
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Foot of Mt. Sasaoyama was the other festival venue. The parking lot had food and souvenir stalls.89 views
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Near the foot of Sasaoyama is this clearing used as a stage.89 views
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Ishida Mitsunari acting during the Battle of Sekigahara Festival89 views
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Dunk89 views
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Bobby89 views
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Bobby Nash89 views
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We want to go straight.89 views
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Next on the program was a letter to Barack Obama read aloud by the chairman of the Obama for Obama Association. After reading it, he put the letter in an envelope to be mailed to the US President.89 views
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Sign urging the construction of a train line to Obama via Shiga Prefecture.89 views
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Izumi-cho also has a small museum for the Saba Kaido seen on the right.89 views
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The oni costumes were gorgeous and impressive.89 views
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The soybeans were thrown in little paper bags, so we could still pick them up and eat them even if they fell to the ground.89 views
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Oichi or Ichi (1547–1583) gave birth to three daughters who associated with famous men. They were Chacha (Toyotomi Hideyoshi's concubine), Hatsu (married Kyogoku Takatsugu), and Ogo (married Tokugawa Hidetada).89 views
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US Pavilion display, Mars explorer replica.89 views
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Czech Republic89 views
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Malaysian dancers on outdoor mini stage.89 views
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Half-time show by Tokyo Apache Dance Team.89 views
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Sumiyoshi Jinja Shrine 住吉神社89 views
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Noted for cherry blossoms, Kyuka Park is on the site of Kuwana Castle which was occupied by Honda Tadakatsu. 89 views
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Building on the site of Kuwana-juku's Waki-Honjin. It is a ryokan inn.89 views
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The floats don't look too heavy to pull at all.89 views
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Third dance called Ogi-no-Mai (Folding Fan Dance), he holds a folding fan and a gohei sacred staff. 稚児の舞 扇の舞89 views
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Torii gate for Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine on Hiyoshi Baba road which is today the main drag of Sakamoto leading to the shrine. Apparently, this road was a horse running course.89 views
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Map showing Sakamoto's historic preservation area. Sakamoto is a National Important Traditional Townscape Preservation District (重要伝統的建造物群保存地区).89 views
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Saikyoji temple cemetary.89 views
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Trophies. The 1st place winner would receive 100,000 yen, 2nd place 50,000 yen, and 3rd place 30,000 yen.89 views
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Shirahige Shrine faces a very busy road with no crosswalk to the lake. 89 views
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Shirahige Shrine is Shiga's oldest shrine with regard to the founding date. 白鬚神社89 views
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A short walk from Omi-Takashima Station is Omizo Castle's patch of stone wall still remaining.89 views
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Yamanaka-dani poster89 views
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Amusement park called Wanpaku Okoku. わんぱく王国89 views
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View of Nihonbashi from the overpass above Nihonbashi bridge. That's Mitsukoshi Dept. Store on the left.89 views
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The floats gather on Eki-dori road.89 views
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In front of Hachiman Shrine, each float rotated and performed karakuri.89 views
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At 7 pm, the paper lanterns on the floats were lit up.89 views
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Nicknamed the Hydrangea Temple (Ajisai-dera), Meigetsu-in must have one of Japan's highest concentration of ajisai within its grounds. 89 views
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Meigetsu-in's garden is also open to the public in early June when irises are in bloom.89 views
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Omiya Bridge happens to be an Important Cultural Property. 大宮橋89 views
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Shirayama-gu Shrine Haiden89 views
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Large, cracked rocks along the footpath.89 views
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The lookout point gives the best views. The Kannon-do is on the left. Central Otsu can be seen in the distance as well as Lake Biwa.89 views
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Kondo Hall 89 views
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Shinoda Shrine address: 滋賀県近江八幡市上田町161389 views
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The Orihime weaver.89 views
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Bayside Area's main venue is the Hajimari-no-Mori.89 views
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Map of the Bayside Area which consists of several expo places, three of which required admission. 89 views
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Painting depicting Perry's landing at Yokohama.89 views
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The start of new occupations.89 views
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Next activity was tying rope knots. Haven't done this since being a Boy Scout.89 views
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Red Brick Warehouse had a restaurant and souvenir shop called "Open Country, Open Port." Free admission.89 views
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When I was there in Aug. 2009, the lobby of Kajo Central had the interesting Art Chair Project. Elementary and intermediate school students in Yamagata Pref. competed in a design competition for art chairs, and the winners' works are displayed here.89 views
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Winner. The sumo matches are held as religious ceremony dedicated to the shrine's gods.89 views
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Luke Zellar.89 views
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Introduction of starting five for Hannaryz.89 views
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Shiga Lakestars Gary Hamilton #289 views
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Mike Hall #2389 views
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Men behind the danjiri pull shorter ropes attached to a steering pole. They steer the float by pulling the ropes when necessary. 89 views
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This is another part of the parade route. They are approaching an intersection called Can-Can-ba. 89 views
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A float stands by to enter Can-Can intersection.89 views
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Paper lanterns to be mounted on a danjiri float.89 views
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Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri lanterns in front of Kishiwada Station.89 views
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The roof was significantly damaged, and they just brushed aside the broken roof tiles.89 views
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I had a good viewing spot until these festival men kept standing in front of us. After passing by Kishiwada City Hall, the danjiri headed to Kishiwada Castle and then to the shrine.89 views
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On Sun. morning, the the danjiri parade is called "Miya-iri" which means that they are going to the shrine to be blessed. This is in front of Kishiwada City Hall on a slope called Konakara-zaka (こなから坂).89 views
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We were blessed with a sunny day, and castles and festival floats always look best with a blue sky.89 views
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Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri and Kishiwada Castle89 views
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They are waiting their turn to reach the shrine.89 views
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The danjiri floats turned here in front of Haruki Station. I heard that they were more radical in Haruki, but that wasn't the case.89 views
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I then went to a more remote intersection here, called Takamatsu. 89 views
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Approaching Mt. Nyotai. Mt. Tsukuba is noted for fall leaves. But I was a little too late. The leaves here turn color earlier than on the plains. 女体山89 views
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Another distinct pattern was buildings on stilts easily collapsing.89 views
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A makeshift altar placed on the collapsed home. Someone died here. By the time I visited, most of the trapped people had been rescued.89 views
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Roof of Goeido Founder's Hall89 views
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Corridor connecting the Goeido (left) and Amida-do (right) Halls.89 views
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View from corridor.89 views
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Check out this orchid windmill, one of the showpiece exhibits.89 views
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Yukata girls in a rowboat.89 views
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Fireman's acrobatics is a crowd pleaser.89 views
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Tamamo Pond89 views
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Unfortunately, I had to answer my cell phone during this performance and couldn't shoot the rest of their act.89 views
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Statue of Ii Naosuke and Landmark Tower in Yokohama.89 views
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The plaza in front of Isetan was quite full. We were warned that we wouldn't be able to see the welcome parade afterward because they would block off the street from us. However, it was still possible for us to see the parade.89 views
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People line the parade route. The parade started at about 2:35 pm.89 views
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The parade started with this group of flag twirlers. 89 views
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But now, anyone can enter this reconstruction for free. There was a long line, but it proceeded quickly and it took only 10-min. or so to get in.89 views
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At the Mahoroba Stage, the Sento-kun show was held to a full house. (Standing room only.)89 views
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Kenketo Odori is a dance performed by eight boys aged 7 to 12. The dance was originally started to ward off calamities. The boys wear tall peacock feathers on their heads. 89 views
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Tora-nyan, Kora's official mascot.89 views
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Sculpture for sitting.89 views
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Directional sign89 views
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Before we could board, they had this flag signal session.89 views
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An earlier photo of the Michigan. Notice the different trimmings.89 views
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Wooden staircase on the Michigan paddlewheel boat.89 views
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Open deck.89 views
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Featuring an entertainment stage, Becky's Square on the 3rd floor is the largest area for passengers. Unfortunately, it's not air-conditioned.89 views
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Mt. Mikami (Omi-Fuji).89 views
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The festival started at 5 pm when the mikoshi (portable shrine) procession departed Takebe Taisha Shrine about 500 meters from the east end of Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge.89 views
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The shapes, sizes, and colors are so incredibly varied.89 views
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The crowd behind me in front of the Noh stage. I got there at 11:30 am, and luckily found a seat in the 3rd row. The karuta hajime was to start at 1 pm. It was pretty cold waiting for 90 min.89 views
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Arched bridge too steep to cross over.89 views
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Inaba Shrine has a few other lesser shrines.89 views
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Hiroshige's woodblock print of Okazaki (39th post town on the Tokaido) from his "Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido Road" series. Crossing the Yahagi River with Okazaki Castle in the distance.89 views
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The third and red mikoshi Ninomiya passes through the torii. 二の宮89 views
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All three mikoshi are placed near the torii,89 views
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They put the ornaments back on.89 views
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B-grade food festivals have proven to be popular in various parts of Japan and Shiga finally started its own. With an estimated 120,000 attendees over the two-day period, Shiga's first B-class food fest was wildly popular as you can see by this crowd89 views
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Long lines were the norm at most food booths lined along the lakefront.89 views
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Welcome message to exhibition visitors.89 views
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Konosu has a long doll-making history dating back to the Edo Period.89 views
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Inside Konosu City Hall is this huge pyramid of hina dolls.89 views
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Nishihirabatake Park also has a Herb Garden.89 views
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Shop inside the Herb Pavilion.89 views
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Morinji's Hondo hall also has statues of the temple founder Chief Priest Dairin Shotsu-Osho (大林正通大和尚) and longtime assistant Priest Shukaku-Osho (守鶴和尚).89 views
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Tanuki statues at Shukaku-do.89 views
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Wisteria tree89 views
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Bike path89 views
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These trees were planted here 30 years ago from American saplings taken from cherry trees which originally came from Adachi Ward in 1912. They are called "homecoming trees" (里帰りの桜).89 views
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