Most viewed - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

Most viewed

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One highlight of this great gathering was the performance of karakuri mechanical puppets on several of the floats.31 views

There was a great variety of karakuri mechanical puppets including swinging monkeys. Very entertaining with amusing theatrics. 31 views

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Karakuri puppet31 views

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Boat floats for tonight.31 views

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In the evening, paper lanterns were lit up to decorate the floats.31 views

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Crowd going back to the train station.31 views

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The trees are very well placed and very photogenic.31 views

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That's the bridge where everybody is going. Tsutenkyo (通天橋)31 views

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View from Tsutenkyo Bridge. That bridge in the distance is where you enter the temple.31 views

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Farmhouse lodge (農家民宿) named Pokapoka Noen. It has two main buildings.31 views

He also grows sesame seeds.31 views

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Kurotani washi has long fibers, making it very strong and durable. It has many uses such as umbrellas, shoji paper sliding doors, and packaging.31 views

Flower Clock in front of Fukuchiyama Station.31 views

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About Fukuchiyama Castle.31 views

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Oeyama oni legend.31 views

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Bench31 views

Ine has been used as a backdrop in Japanese movies (like Tora-san in movie No. 29 and Tsuribaka Nisshi in movie No. 5).31 views

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Small waterfront Ineura Park (伊根浦公園) on Ine Bay.31 views

Japan Heritage banner marking the 300th anniversary of Tango chirimen.31 views

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Tayuh Textile Co. makes almost everything, from the silk threads to the fabrics. We toured their impressive factory. 31 viewsThese are spools of silk being made into threads.

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Inside Yoshimura Shouten. They have a small office space on the right, meeting room on the left, a fireproof kura storehouse in the back, and lots of floor space for textile merchandise.31 views

He even waved goodbye to us!31 views

Maizuru City Hall is next to Maizuru Brick Park.31 views

Ceiling of the huge Maizuru World Brick Museum.31 views

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Maizuru Brick Park is right next to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's Maizuru navy base.31 views

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This is the Atago, a guided missile destroyer.31 views

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Seat back.31 views

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Paper lantern in Sanmon Gate.31 views

Chionji's main temple hall, Monjudo. 文殊堂31 views

Incense burner in front of Monjudo.31 views

About the Circle of Wisdom Lantern.31 views

Small cemetery for temple priests.31 views

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Power stones.31 views

Old porcelain toilets.31 views

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Joined the line at about 4:45 pm. The lights were to turn on at 5 pm.31 views

Well before 5 pm, people already lined up and waited to see Kobe Luminarie. "Luminarie" means "illuminations" in Italian.31 views

Kobe Luminarie's Cassa Armonica (カッサ・アルモニカ).31 views

There were also souvenir booths in the park.31 views

The sidewalk lined with shops have a roof so we're okay even on rainy days.31 views

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Toyooka City Hall31 views

Toyobra bag shop on Caban Street.31 views

The hanamichi on the left. You can walk on it too.31 views

Stage as seen from the back row.31 views

Side seats.31 views

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Very retro.31 views

The revolving stage (mawari-butai). Above the stage in the back are dressing rooms for the performers. Normally hidden by a curtain.31 views

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Booth for instrument players.31 views

Go downstairs to the basement too.31 views

They turn the rotating stage by hand.31 views

Stage wheels on a rail.31 views

Basement passage to the other end of the theater.31 views

When visiting Toyooka, visiting Izushi is also highly recommended. Short bus ride from JR Toyooka Station to the Izushi bus stop here.31 views

In Japanese, Izushi is written as 出石 which we may normally pronounce in other ways. So even the local bus makes its clear with hiranaga on how it's pronounced. Very unusual pronunciation.31 views

Izushi Castle is on a low hill. Only some steps to climb.31 views

Pulling out weeds from the stone wall.31 views

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Reconstructed West Corner Turret. 西隅櫓31 views

Izushi Castle's Honmaru has a large stone foundation for the main tower,31 views

Izushi Castle's West Corner Turret.31 views

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Entrance to the path of torii gates to Ariko-yama Inari Jinja Shrine atop Izushi Castle's main foundation. 有子山稲荷神社31 views

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Torii gates to Ariko-yama Inari Jinja Shrine atop Izushi Castle's main foundation. 有子山稲荷神社31 views

The torii gate path goes along the east side of Izushi Castle.31 views

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Ferns and trees make the place solemn.31 views

Shinkoro Clock Tower as seen from Izushi Castle.31 views

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Walking further along the picturesque river.31 views

Willow trees along the river at Kinosaki Onsen spa.31 views

Otani River has four stone bridges and each one has a name.31 views

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Ichinoyu public bath. 一の湯31 views

Men's indoor bath at Ichinoyu.31 views

Ichinoyu's outdoor bath is in a small cavern.31 views

Main drag outside Ichinoyu.31 views

Next public bath looks like a Buddhist temple or palace. It's Gosho-no-yu (御所の湯). 31 views

Side street has a Benzaiten shrine. Benzaiten is the goddess of water and music.31 views

"Zen"31 views

Gokurakuji Temple's main hall was rebuilt in 1921 after a fire in 1912 destroyed the previous hall. 本堂31 views

Kinosaki Onsen Ropeway car. Mostly standing room only. Note that the ropeway is closed on the second anf fourth Thursdays of the month.31 views

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The official website provides this very basic map of Toyosu Market. There are three blocks/buildings all connected to each other and to Shijo-mae Station via pedestrian overpasses.31 viewsThe red lines on this map show the pedestrian overpass to each block. All three buildings have a long tourist corridor with picture windows to see inside the market.

When the market is open (closed on Sun.), tourists can tour the three Toyosu Market buildings from 5 am to 5 pm. However, there's not much market action after late morning.

Besides the markets, there are sushi restaurants. The problem with this map is that it doesn't show where the restaurants are. They are in Blocks 6 and 7. Very crowded though.

Block 7 is where the tuna auctions are held, but the public won't be able to see the auction area until next Jan. But if you come here by 6 am or so, you should be able to see some tuna being hauled away on the floor. This block also has some restaurants.

Block 6 is the largest building of the three. This is where the sold tuna is carved up. This building also has a large sushi restaurant area that is not indicated on this map. The upper floor also has little shops (Uogashi Yokocho Market) for people who work at the market. They sell knives, tea, etc., and also sell to the public, but the shops close by 2 pm or so.

Block 5 is the fruit and vegetable market. Least crowded. No restaurants inside.

Pass through the first torii, then the taikobashi bridge.31 views

It has graduated steps.31 views

Inside Nankun-sha cat shrine (楠珺社). 31 views

Free serving of hot ginger tea. That was good. Clears your nasal passages.31 views

Kano Tenmangu Shrine office.31 views

Very simple to make. Tie the two bands into a knot, then stick the head (pin) into it. Did it in 2 minutes. Prince on the left, princess on the right.31 views

Tengokoro, for local gifts and products. てんごころ http://www.tengokoro.com/31 views

Hirakata Port is a major fishing port in Kita-Ibaraki.31 views

There are many species of angler fish in the world. The one caught in Japan is this one, Lophiomus setigerus.31 viewsMonkfish has a big head, wide mouth, and a lure on the forehead to attract small fish. Looks kind of grotesque and lives on the ocean floor.

Besides monkfish, other fishes are sold at auction. This is not yet a tourist attraction since we were the only outsiders there.31 views

Each pile of fish is for a single bid.31 views

Oh look, something's hanging there...31 views

Welcome mat saying "Yo-soro" which means "Go ahead" for boat navigation.31 views

Large room in Minshuku Uohiko.31 views

An-chan and Kou-chan mascots in Aloha shirts.31 views

My complimentary matcha tea and confections.31 views

This used to be part of Yokoyama Taikan's living room, now one of the rooms where you can stay. 31 views

Manhole card for 's manhole.31 views

Manhole card for Kusatsu's manhole.31 views

Manhole card for Ritto's manhole.31 views

On the May 3 main festival day, the boat is dragged along the same route west to east with the portable shrine and shrine priests aboard.31 viewsThis boat is here at the start point on May 3, 2019.

Back of ofune boat.31 views

Paitning of a monkfish, a delicacy of Kita-Ibaraki.31 views

Thank You Club31 views

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Shuzenji Temple was founded by Kobo Daishi (Kukai) in 807 was originally a Shingon Buddhist temple. Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture. 修禅寺31 viewshttps://shuzenji-temple.com/english.html

Mo 512 and Mo 601 trains.31 viewsモ512およびモ601

Udatsu roof firewall in Mino, Gifu.31 views

Built in 1916, Mino Bridge is Japan's oldest surviving modern bridge and a National Important Cultural Property. It's now a pedestrian and bicycle bridge 113 meters long. 美濃橋31 views

Warawame (童女) daughters of the Imperial family or nobility. They wear chihaya costume. 千早31 views

This main building is the Seiden dating from the 9th century used to conduct important ceremonies by the head of the Saikuryo and to welcome official messengers from Ise Grand Shrines and Kyoto.31 viewsNormally open to the public, free admission. 正殿

Held during the Bon season on Aug. 16, toro nagashi is candle-lit paper lanterns floated on the ocean as a Buddhist offering to the spirits of the deceased.31 viewsTsuruga holds its mass toro nagashi (6,000 lanterns) on its famous Kehi no Matsubara beach at 6:30 pm, and then shoots off a grand fireworks display. My video of Toro Nagashi and brilliant marine fireworks taken on Aug. 16, 2017.

My video of Yamagata Hanagasa Matsuri in Aug. 2009.31 views

Amazing how this little island of Rebun can pack so many sights. Must be wondrous when the flowers are in bloom.31 views

Rishiri as seen from Rebun.31 views

Rebun sunset in Hokkaido.31 views

Karamon Gate (National Treasure). A closer look is shown below.31 views

Map of Hogonji Temple. All within walking distance. Not wheelchair accessible. 1. Chikubushima: Boat dock, 2. Lake Biwa Rowing Song monument, 3. Souvenir shops, 4. Admission ticket gate (also restrooms), 5. *Tsukubusuma Shrine, 6. Haiden Hall,31 views7. Funa-roka boat corridor, 8. *Karamon Gate, 9. Benzaiten-do Hall, 10. Three-Story Pagoda, 11. Rest house. *National Treasure.
A few buildings are for temple priests only.