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Renmyo was here.84 views
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Heiwado as seen from the station terrace.84 views
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Jizo statue and temple bell84 views
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Profile view84 views
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Basement corridor of Hondo. Totally dark. Admission 300 yen. 御戒壇巡り84 views
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Famous garden outside the shoin 文部省指定の名勝庭園84 views
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Fresh produce grown by local farmers. They don't use pesticides.84 views
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Ilf Doga Museum, works by Takei Takeo 武井武雄作品展示室84 views
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Doga-kan-dori street leading to Ilf Plaza.84 views
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Welcome to Hinohara village.84 views
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Niomon Gate, Important Cultural Property from the Muromachi Period 仁王門 (重要文化財)84 views
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Benten Pond and Hall 弁天池・弁天堂84 views
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Statue of Hijikata Toshizo. 土方歳三像84 views
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Tokyo Marathon finish line84 views
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There are plans to build a statue of Sakura, Tora-san's sister, near this statue at Shibamata Station84 views
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Trail to Shiraiwa Waterfalls84 views
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The old Sugatani Spa in mid-2004 before the new building was completed.84 views
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Tama River, very quiet and peaceful.84 views
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Crystal clear water of Tama River84 views
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Beyond the river on the other side were the Azai clan.84 views
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Hachiman Primary School 近江八幡市立八幡小学校84 views
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On the right is the House of Councillors (Sangi-in). 参議院84 views
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The trees are not well lit, but small paper lanterns make it viewable.84 views
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What is this?84 views
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Hoto tower 宝塔84 views
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White elephant is usually present during Hanamatsuri. On the day before the Buddha's mother Queen Maya gave birth, she dreamed that a white elephant entered her womb.84 views
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Shrine on Bentenjima84 views
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Gate to Eko-in temple where early sumo tournaments were held. The temple was originally built in 1657 for the repose of over 100,000 people who died in the Great Fire of Meireki (Furisode Fire). 回向院84 views
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Next to a portrait studio is a small garage with sumo photos on the walls.84 views
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Behind Ontake Shrine's main hall is a wall of sculpture.84 views
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In one swing, he cuts the rope.84 views
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Stepping stones, called Isowatari, are another major feature of the garden.84 views
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Yokaichi Exhibition, May 9-27, 2007 at Yokaichi Public Library, HigashiOmi, Shiga. Photo exhibition poster.84 views
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We passed by various scenic spots such as Shirahige Shrine, noted for the torii gate in the lake.84 views
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「周航の物語展」今津東コミセン84 views
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Awards ceremony84 views
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July 16, 2007: Initial sketching and vermilion painting. A sketch of the design was made with a charcoal pencil. 下絵・墨84 views
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Heading toward Sugaura, Nishi-Azai in northern Lake Biwa.84 views
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Fixed-seat boat フィックス艇84 views
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Eastern Skunk Cabbage flowers 座禅草84 views
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Path through the grove of Eastern Skunk Cabbage flowers 座禅草84 views
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Brothers Cazimero in Japan84 views
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Too hazy to see Sado island.84 views
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Thousands of ducks84 views
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Diamond Head as seen from Tantalus. Univ. of Hawaii at Manoa in foreground.84 views
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Half domes84 views
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Path to shrine with stone lanterns, and cars.84 views
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Stone lanterns84 views
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Inside a passenger car. Almost the same as an ordinary train. Should be a wooden floor...84 views
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Haiku poem by Basho displayed along Sumida River84 views
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Waltzing robot. This robot show was mainly still displays of robots. None of them moved except the ASIMO show.84 views
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Smile for the camera!!84 views
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Yokozuna Rikishi Monument (Yokozuna Rikishi-hi) at Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine, Koto Ward, Tokyo 横綱力士碑84 views
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He drew a very accurate coastline map of Japan and first used his own money to finance the project. Later, the government recognized the importance and accuracy of Ino's work and increased its support. He did all this while well past age 50.84 views
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Roots84 views
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Steel railing to grab.84 views
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Summit of Mt. Mikami. Only a small clearing with a bench. It was a great day for hiking. It is quite a popular mountain for climbers. Even for families with little kids. Didn't see any monkeys. No bears.84 views
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Inside Sato no Ie84 views
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Mushrooms84 views
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Cherry blossoms and softball field84 views
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Statue of St. Shinran (1173-1263) in front of the plum tree which he planted. The temple also has a scroll written by Shinran.84 views
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The plum tree blooms in March.84 views
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The Honjin's garden has a stone monument indicating that Emperor Meiji stayed here. It was during the first year of the Meiji Period when he stayed here, and it was in Tsuchiyama when he celebrated his first birthday during the Meiji Period.84 views
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In the same room, you can wear these traveler's costumes and take a picture.84 views
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Driving on Ozuchi Dam 青土ダム84 views
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Plum tree and Nagahama Castle.84 views
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The tall tree on a hill indicates the site of Imasu-juku's Ichirizuka or milestone. 今須宿の一里塚84 views
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Imasu Post Office84 views
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Imasu-juku on the Nakasendo84 views
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Hikawa Shrine in Omiya is the headquarters of all Hikawa shrines in Tokyo and Saitama.84 views
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This is the dance area on the street leading to the train station. This is the Odo-ren troupe, one of Inagi's local Awa Odori dance troupes. 乙奴連84 views
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The children were followed by older women dancers. Odo-ren 乙奴連84 views
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Inokashira-dori84 views
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The road was lined with PR booths for each mascot. They promoted products or tourism. The event saw about 46,000 visitors during the two days. The festival's official Web site is here.84 views
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Another cutie is Mimi-chan from Minami-ku, Sakai, Osaka Pref. A female flower promoting Minami-ku. Notice the bee on her forehead. みみちゃん (大阪 堺市南区)84 views
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The hall lobby had posters showing Maibara's major sights.84 views
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Okinawan singer84 views
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Final score, LakeStars 78, Osaka 81. The LakeStars lose their debut game by a heartbreaking 3 points.84 views
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Biwako Motorboat Race Course. Biwako Kyotei びわこ競艇場84 views
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Brayden Billbe84 views
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Dunk84 views
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Bobby84 views
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Bobby Nash84 views
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Last year's Toka Ebisu decorations are brought to the shrine and trashed.84 views
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Shrine ema tablets.84 views
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Obama soba noodles, 500 yen per bag.84 views
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Various people rang it a total of seven times to spread peace over the seven oceans of the world. The temple priest was the first to strike the bell.84 views
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The castle suffers from unsightly parking lots and private homes encroaching on its historic remains. 84 views
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On top of castle wall.84 views
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Obama Castle's foundation for a turret.84 views
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Starting point of the Saba Kaido road. 鯖街道84 views
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Then the oni ran on the elevated hanamichi making threats to an amused crowd. MAP84 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.84 views
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Bulgaria84 views
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Austria84 views
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Vietnam84 views
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South Pacific Islands84 views
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South Pacific Islands84 views
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Restaurant serving imitation (but edible) locomoco. Locomoco is a popular dish from Hawaii with rice topped with a hamburger patty covered with sunny-side up egg.84 views
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Next to Kondo Hall is a small building called the Onjoji Akaiya, an Important Cultural Property. 閼伽井屋84 views
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Glassware by Rene Lalique84 views
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Smaller temples along the way.84 views
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Main altar of Saikyoji's Hondo hall. 84 views
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Poster for song competition. 第11回「琵琶湖周航の歌」音楽祭 合唱コンクール84 viewsHeld annually in June since 1997, this song contest has over 20 choirs, mainly from western Japan, compete by singing two songs each. One song they must sing is Biwako Shuko no Uta, while the other song can be anything. On June 17, 2007, the English version, called "Lake Biwa Rowing Song," was sung for the first time at this contest. 第11回「琵琶湖周航の歌」音楽祭 合唱コンクールでジェイミーとメゲン・トンプソン姉妹がコンクールで英語版を歌った。
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Backstage84 views
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Omizo Castle 大溝城84 views
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Makino Station. Makino was the first town in Japan whose name used katakana. The town was established in 1955 upon the merger of a few villages. The new town was named after its most famous spot, the Makino Ski Grounds which used katakana for "Makino84 views
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Makino Sunny Beach is a major swimming beach on Lake Biwa in summer.84 views
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May 2 is the Shigaku 試楽 or "practice day." It started at 11 am with each float in their respective neighborhoods putting on a kabuki play by boys. Get out the south side of Tarui Station. 鳳凰山（東町）84 views
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The third float, called Shiunkaku, was near Tarui no Izumi spring. This float was renovated by Fujioka Izumi family in Nagahama, Shiga. 紫雲閣（中町）84 views
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Parade route on May 10 indicated by the red line. Quite an extensive route.84 views
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Monkeys84 views
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Here they come running.84 views
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The hikiyama storehouses line the main streets of Minakuchi. There are 16 hikiyama floats. However, only 6 or 7 of them are paraded on the streets during the festival.84 views
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On April 19, ornate floats called hikiyama are taken out of their storehouses and prepared for the festival. 84 views
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Minakuchi's hikiyama have four wheels and two levels. The wooden construction is complex and the carvings are exquisite.84 views
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Kaizu-Osaki port. Cherry blossom (sakura) cruises are great because you can get to the sakura without fighting traffic.84 viewsBest to take the cruise that lets you get off and walk around for 30 min. at Kaisu-Osaki Port. Better than the boats that only cruise and do not enter port.
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A few scenic views from the trail.84 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.84 views
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Steps going to Issaikyo-zo Hall.84 views
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Model of castle construction.84 views
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Mt. Yamamoto-yama as seen from Nagahama Castle.84 views
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This is the glowing picture on the huge wooden panel. I then had to rush back to the train station to catch the last train home.84 views
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Praying at Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15.84 views
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Inside Hajimari-no-Mori. It's not a huge place, but the main attraction is La Machine and the Yokohama Monogatari Pavilion.84 views
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Beato Photo Studio. Beato was a pioneering photographer in Japan.84 views
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Sometimes the spider would spew its web from its mouth and tail. (Actually water.)84 views
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Inside ENEOS Energy Future Pavilion84 views
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Across the road from Hajimari-no-Mori is Tomorrow Park, a smaller site, mainly an indoor theater for anime. Admission required.84 views
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Now a ride on the Kanko Maru blackship. It was a free ride for Expo Y150 admission ticket holders. Reservation tickets were available from 10 am at the entrance of Tomorrow Park which is near the boat pier.84 views
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Yokohama Bay Bridge.84 views
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Pukari Pier84 views
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There are always people riding on the roof of the floats.84 views
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Damudan-ren (Kagurazaka) だむだん連. They like to pose for the camera.84 views
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Kita-Urawa Awa Odori lanterns and signboard in front of Kita-Urawa Station.84 views
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The lobby featured chairs and benches with novel motifs. This seemed to be the most popular, sitting in a bowl of potato soup.84 views
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Monument for Albrecht Von Roretz, an Austrian doctor who served as the director of the Saiseikan Hospital and contributed to promoting Western medicine in Japan during the early Meiji Period.84 views
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They slowly walked step by step in unison.84 views
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Luke Zellar.84 views
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Hannaryz practicing.84 views
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Kyoto Hannaryz debut game tip-off.84 views
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Shiga Lakestars Gary Hamilton #284 views
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Shiga Lakestars boosters booing a Hannaryz free throw.84 views
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Luke Zellar #40 passing to Ogawa.84 views
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Paper lanterns to be mounted on a danjiri float.84 views
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Mounting paper lanterns on a danjiri float.84 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.84 views
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The seven generals were Fukushima Masanori (1561-1624), Hirano Nagayasu (1559-1628), Kasuya Takenori (1562-1607), Katagiri Katsumoto (1556-1615), Katō Kiyomasa (1562-1611), Katō Yoshiaki (1563-1631), and Wakizaka Yasuharu (1554-1626).84 views
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Near the summit are the white banners we saw from the foot of the mountain. They are written with the names of Hideyoshi's so-called "Seven Spears," in reference to his top seven samurai generals who went to battle at Shizugatake.84 views
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Mt. Fuji as seen from Mt. Nyotai.84 views
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In the middle of the two peaks is another lookout deck and gift shops.84 views
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View from Mt. Nantai on Tsukuba-san.84 views
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Sifting through the rubble.84 views
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Large flags outside the temple gates.84 views
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New Year observance schedule.84 views
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Amida-do Hall is the main hall or temple, also called the Hondo Hall. 阿弥陀堂（本堂）84 views
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Amida-domon Gate 84 views
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This year's Japan Grand Prix winner.84 views
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All kinds of orchid installations....84 views
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Rowing a boat while dressed in yukata.84 views
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Dream Ambassador from Takamatsu, Kagawa Pref.84 views
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Ponto-cho alley, enclave of geisha.84 views
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Part of the English Landscape Garden which is mainly a grassy lawn.84 views
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As soon as you get out of Oshiage Station, you can see it towering above. Already it draws many tourists to the area gawking and photographing it.84 views
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This corridor has photos of native Lake Biwa fish on the wall.84 views
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On the 3rd floor top deck, Uminoko has five cutter boats for 12 rowers each. There is also a motor boat. The cutter boats are used for rowing excursions. The cutters are named after waterfowl.84 views
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3rd floor deck.84 views
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Two-tone flowers are also quite common and very beautiful. 84 views
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Photo exhibition space which nobody sees.84 views
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View from Romon Gate.84 views
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Also during sakura season, the yakata-bune boats offer moat rides for 1,000 yen for adults. Boats leave from near The Kawara Roof Tile Museum on the east end of the moat.84 views
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Heading for Sugaura, a small lakeside village. From Sugaura, there's a scenic road going up the mountains called Oku-Biwako Parkway. Part of the road is visible here.84 views
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Group photo on the steps going to Monjuro tower.84 views
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And everyone formed a circle and danced. All the rowers who came to Japan were very happy that they decided to come. They all had an unforgettable experience. It's too bad there were many people who canceled their trip. They really missed out...84 views
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Quite a few people climbed up, and they seemed to be locals who have been climbing up the mountain a number of times even with young kids in hand.84 views
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All three mikoshi are placed near the torii,84 views
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Shrine musicians play as the mikoshi arrive.84 views
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They put the ornaments back on.84 views
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The Iba Goten Palace was a rest house for shoguns traveling between Tokyo and Kyoto during the early Tokugawa Period. 伊庭御殿遺跡84 views
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Maibara Station is Shiga's sole shinkansen bullet train station and transfer station for the Hokuriku region.84 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 crowd84 views
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Long lines were the norm at most food booths lined along the lakefront.84 views
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Konosu City Hall. In front are food booths.84 views
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Inside Konosu City Hall is this huge pyramid of hina dolls.84 views
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This stairway was also filled with dolls.84 views
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Local mascot.84 views
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