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Otori shopping arcade.28 views
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The marathon's lead and end police cars.28 views
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Ojiyama Stadium's exit and entry gate for the runners.28 views
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The runners start walking to the start line.28 views
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And they are off!! Good luck to them all!!28 views
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We visited his modest studio for a hands-on pottery lesson. First he demonstrated what we have to do. He made it look so quick and easy. 土の夢陶房 (菊池 秀利・美恵)28 views
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Ishiwata Chifumi and Sumi-chan.28 views
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The miso soybean paste in the tonjiru pork miso soup was made by Sumi-chan, a "miso meijin" (味噌名人) or expert miso cook. 28 views
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Our lunch at Arigatee. Chicken drumstick, vegetables, rice, and tonjiru (pork and vegetables) soup.28 views
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Former horse stable.28 views
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Chain saw sculptures.28 views
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Silica Glass Museum is on a hill with great views of the city. Also offers hands-on glass-making lessons. http://www.studiosilica.com/28 views
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Glass Studio Silica gift shop. ガラス工房シリカ28 views
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Glass Studio Silica with a glass sculpture of monkfish.28 views
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Gallery Salamat Po. "Salamat Po" means "Thank you" in Tagalog. (ぎゃらりー さらま・ぽ) (ぎゃらりー さらま・ぽ)28 views
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Inside Tengokoro.28 views
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Our dorayaki teacher and Tengokoro store manager.28 views
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It's the city's grandest festival and very unique because this boat is pulled on city streets instead of sailing on the water. 28 views
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Display of all the fishes caught in Kita-Ibaraki.28 views
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Yo-soro Museum also has this kami-shibai storytelling room. Story about British whalers who landed on Otsuhama beach in Kita-Ibaraki in May 1824 in search of food and water.28 viewsIt was during the time Japan largely prohibited contact with foreigners. By the 1800s, whaling ships from the West were frequently seen off the coast of Japan. In May 1824, multiple British whaling ships appeared off the coast of Kita-Ibaraki.
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The crew suffered from scurvy due to the lack of vitamin C. They needed water and vegetables so 12 British whalers landed on Otsuhama beach in Kita-Ibaraki. They were willing to barter guns, spears, gold, etc., as payment. (大津浜事件) 28 views
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Hanazono Gorge, a major tourist spot in Kita-Ibaraki.28 views
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Romon Gate28 views
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Romon Gate28 views
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Romon Gate28 views
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Ema prayer tablet28 views
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Kaguraden28 views
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Gods worshipped by Hanazono Shrine includes Sanno, the mountain deity. 28 views
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Rare cedar with three trunks.28 views
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Itsuura Kanko Hotel is quite unique and historical because it renovated the artist residences of Nihonga painters Yokoyama Taikan and Kimura Buzan and uses them as part of the hotel where guests can stay. 28 viewsWe actually stayed in the Yokoyama Taikan residence here. (横山大観記念館 特別室)
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Entrance foyer of Yokoyama Taikan Memorial Hall where we stayed. Great private lodging for groups up to 22 people.28 views
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Statue of Yokoyama Taikan (横山大観), a very famous Japanese Nihonga painter. Taikan was born in Mito, the capital of Ibaraki. (横山大観)28 views
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Another room of the living room.28 views
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View from the hotel's modern tower.28 views
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Hotel gift shop.28 views
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Hotel gift shop had this noren curtain with Rokkakudo design.28 views
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Itsuura Kanko Hotel Honkan lobby.28 views
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Different parts of the residence are connected by enclosed corridors.28 views
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Entrance lobby of Kimura Buzan home. The wooden sign says "Buzan Residence." 武山邸28 views
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Tokonoma of another guest room. Many of the materials are quite rare and valuable today.28 views
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One of the most elegant Japanese-style hotels I've ever seen. Precious artwork everywhere. It's like staying in an art museum.28 views
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Manhole card for Kusatsu's manhole.28 views
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The bow has this shed for the portable shrine to be loaded on. Festival was designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property (重要無形民俗文化財) in 2017.28 views
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The boat rests on wooden pallets called "soroban." It is dragged on a bed of soroban pallets.28 views
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The festival participants belong to different fishermen's groups indicated by their shirt. They are from a group called Fudo-maru.28 views
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Removing in the boat railingsbefore people boarded.28 views
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After being paraded around town all morning, the portable shrine arrives near the boat.28 views
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The boat hull has small center ridges that keep it standing upright. It's also designed not to topple over when rocked.28 views
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Turning the boat 90 degrees.28 views
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JR Otsuko Station platform.28 views
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Mino Station ticket office.28 views
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Built in 1769, the Ota-juku Waki-Honjin was a backup VIP lodge in addition to the Honjin. It has this udatsu roof firewall in Ota-juku, Gifu Prefecture. The Ota Waki-Honjin retains much of its original Edo Period exterior. 28 viewsPart of the house is open to the public.
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Ota Waki-Honjin secondary residence has Udatsu roof firewall. Ota-juku, Gifu.28 views
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This brown building was the Saio's modest living quarters. Not as large as you would expect.28 views
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Ferry to Wakkanai. Souya Maru No. 5 第五宗谷丸28 views
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The reconstruction of Shureimon was the start of a decades-long process to reconstruct the major buildings of the castle, especially the ornate Seiden main hall in 1992. 28 viewsOther castle buildings were also reconstructed and the castle's reconstruction was finally completed in spring 2019. It was a great celebration.
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Ideal roof tiles have minimal water absorption and shrinkage. Researchers in Okinawa are testing various clay samples and firing temperatures. 28 viewsThey found that the best clay is from the city of Nago, and that's where the clay came from for the Seiden's 1992 reconstruction. However today, there's not enough clay in Nago to make the necessary 55,000 red roof tiles for the new Seiden and other buildings.
So they scoured other locations on the island and found a good source. Now they are trying to figure out how much recycled red roof tile powder should be mixed into the new clay to make the new roof tiles. They want to somehow reuse the old roof tiles.
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Cherry blossoms in Kinshi Park (near JR Kinshicho Station in Sumida-ku) and Tokyo Skytree.28 views
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Manhole in Ibigawa, Gifu.28 views
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Ticket window with prices. Round trip tickets cost around ¥3,000. Biwako Kisen operates boats from Nagahama Port.28 views
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Boat schedule for winter.28 views
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Most people spend 80 min. or 90 min. on the island before taking the return boat. Be sure to remember the departure time of your return boat especially if it's the last one for the day. (No lodging on the island.)28 views
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Chikubushima Port. There's another dock nearby for the boat to Imazu. 竹生島港28 views
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Many monuments on Chikubushima. The large building on the upper left is the quarters (本坊) for temple priests.28 views
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Biwako Shuko no Uta (Lake Biwa Rowing Song) monument for Verse 4. 琵琶湖就航の歌 歌碑28 views
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Karamon Gate (National Treasure)28 views
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黒龍堂28 views
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Exterior of Funa-roka boat corridor connecting Tsukubusuma Shrine and the Kannon-do Hall. Important Cultural Property. From the Momoyama Period. 船廊下28 views
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Exterior of Funa-roka boat corridor.28 views
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Statue of goddess Benzaiten (弁才天) or Benten in one of the smaller shrines on Chikubushima. 28 viewsIn Japan, she is usually depicted playing the biwa lute as the goddess of music and everything else that flows such as water, ocean, lakes, and rivers. She's also revered as one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune (七福神).
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Kappa creature for water safety.28 views
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Kannondo Temple has been beautifully renovated with its many intricate wood carvings and paintings on walls, doors, and ceilings restored in March 2020. 観音堂28 views
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Corridor facing the Funa-roka.28 views
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Kannon-do ceiling and transom carvings.28 views
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Benzaiten-do Hall, Hogonji's Hondo main worship hall. Hogonji Temple belongs to the Shingon Buddhist Sect (Buzan School). Benzaiten is the goddess of everything that flows: Water, rivers, music, etc. 弁才天堂28 views
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In front of Benzaiten-do is Fudō Myōō 不動明王28 views
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Three-Story Pagoda. Reconstructed in 2000. The original pagoda was destroyed by fire caused by lightning during the early Edo Period. It took six years to complete.28 views
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Hall of 33 Kannon Statues. 三十三所奉安所28 views
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Tanuki greet you at Shigaraki Station.28 views
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Gift shop inside Shigaraki Station. In case you forgot buy someting for someone before you leave Shigaraki.28 views
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Inside JR Yogo Station.28 views
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Lake Yogo is a small but scenic and serene lake north of Lake Biwa. Famous for the legend of the swan maiden. You can walk or bicycle around the lake. Near Yogo Station on the JR Hokuriku Line. Lake Yogo as seen from Mt. Shizugatake.28 views
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Rice paddies at Lake Yogo in late May.28 views
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Near the Visitors Center is the swan maiden monument.28 views
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By May 2021, happy to see the swan maiden tree growing anew. Let's hope another swan maiden will now come. Although she should probably bathe with her clothes on instead. Too many perverts these days...28 views
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Autumn wildflowers at Lake Yogo.28 views
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Lake Yogo playground.28 views
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Lake Yogo is nice and blue in April.28 views
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Lake Yogo has this populated area with rice paddies.28 views
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Rice paddies in late Sept.28 views
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Winter.28 views
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Road along Lake Yogo.28 views
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Lake Yogo rules. No fishing without permission, no motorboats, no jet skis, and no swimming. That's why it's so nice and serene.28 views
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This substantial-looking monument is for another legend related to Lake Yogo. The legend of Princess Kikuishi and the Dragon Eyeball Stone. 菊石姫と蛇の目玉石28 views
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More narrow road along the western shore of Yogo.28 views
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Poetry monuments.28 views
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Lake Yogo cherry blossom petals.28 views
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Inside the restaurant of the Yogoko-so Kokuminshuku lodge.28 views
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Lake Yogo cherry blossoms.28 views
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Lake Yogo cherry blossoms.28 views
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Lake Yogo cherry blossoms.28 views
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Lake Yogo green with algae in late Sept.28 views
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Lake Yogo Tourist Center exhibition space. 28 views
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Lake Yogo Tourist Center exhibition space. 28 views
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Bus stop at JR Yogo Station. Infrequent buses go to Kinomoto Station.28 views
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Color manhole in Abiko, Chiba Prefecture.28 views
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Lunch on the boat.27 views
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Tokyo Skytree27 views
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Police on white motorcycle.e.27 views
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Shinagawa Mothers Association27 views
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This is a komuso, a Zen monk who went around playing the shakuhachi bamboo flute while wearing a basket on the head. This is how they meditated and begged. Ninja famously disguised themselves as komuso.27 views
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Small park had food booths.27 views
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Flea market27 views
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Tokyo Sky Tree27 views
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The festival's main event is an evening lantern parade (called Mando) of thousands of Nichiren believers from all over Japan. They come in groups according to their respective temple or district.27 views
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At the end of each group is a flowery (cherry blossoms) lantern float (called mando). It's a lantern pagoda with flowery streamers.27 views
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Following the firemen's standards are musicians. The drummers are the most prominent. They beat handheld, fan-shaped taiko drums (called uchiwa daiko). Amazing how loud these little flat drums can be.27 views
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Marching priests.27 views
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Each group is led by firemen's standards (matoi) which are poles with streamers. These were originally used by firemen's units in the Edo Period as their banner. Now used at festivals and for ceremonial purposes only.27 views
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Interacting with the crowd. They love foreigners and babies in the crowd. They let them beat their drum.27 views
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Nakano Broadway is a shopping complex with a lotta otaku (pop and underground culture) shops. Anime, manga, figurines, etc.27 viewsShort walk from JR Nakano Station.
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Inside Class DeHa1 electric railcar – No. DeHa5.27 views
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"Kegon" Deluxe Romance Car, 1720 series "DRC" electric multiple unit car (built 1960). It's displayed outside the museum, but you can enter it only from inside the museum.27 views
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Cab of Inside "Kegon" Deluxe Romance Car, 1720 series "DRC" electric multiple unit car.27 views
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Train simulator.27 views
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Cab-over bus has the driver's cab over the engine.27 views
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Train signal light27 views
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Railway bicycle to transport rail workers and cargo. Motor- and pedal-powered.27 views
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Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.27 views
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Neon lights of Kabukicho.27 views
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Godzilla amid Kabukicho's neon lights.27 views
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The original Shimbashi Station building was reconstructed here, near the current Shimbashi Station. This is the left side of the building.27 views
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The first floor has a beer hall, and the second floor has the Railway History Exhibition Hall (鉄道歴史展示室). Photography is not allowed inside the Exhibition Hall.27 views
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Left side of platform.27 views
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Shimbashi Station's SL Square with a C11 steam locomotive displayed.27 views
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Sculpture in front of JR Tottori Station.27 views
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Sculpture in front of JR Tottori Station.27 views
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JR Tottori Station27 views
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During the year end, Shan shan matsuri dancers greet people returning home.27 views
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Tottori Station roofs with Shan Shan Matsuri umbrella design.27 views
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Nude sculpture at Tottori Station.27 views
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Dragon27 views
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Tottori Post Office27 views
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Steps to go on Hagi Castle's main tenshu tower foundation.27 views
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Grave of Mori Terumoto.27 views
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Shoin enters Sakuma Shozan school.27 views
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Three matchlock gun battalions to shoot their guns (blanks of course). The battalions are from Tanegashima (Kagoshima), Sakai (Osaka), and Hikone (Shiga). 27 viewsJapan has a number of matchlock gun battalions who are licensed to possess and fire these guns to preserve their history and perform at events and festivals.
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BANG!!! The guns were extremely loud. Makes you jump.27 views
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Hikiyama float was also displayed near the museum.27 views
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Event schedule.27 views
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Local duo ~Lefa~ performing at Daitsuji Temple.27 views
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Miss Biwako Kimono.27 views
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This is the super lucky girl who won the free trip to Hawaii. She was from the neighboring city of Maibara and plans to take her younger sister to Hawaii.27 viewsCongratulations!!! Doesn't she look like a deserving person? Hope you enjoy my home state, Aloha and bon voyage!!
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On the Sports Day national holiday in Oct., top-notch street performers perform from 10 am to 4 pm in Torahime, at the Torahime Ikigai Center parking lot (虎姫いきがいセンター). 27 views15-min. walk from JR Torahime Station. Website: http://torass.com/
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Street performance schedule from 10 am to 4 pm.27 views
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This used to be a cruise boat dock. Used in a Tora-san movie with Ishida Ayumi.27 views
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The Ine waterfront has looked like this since the 1930s when they reclaimed some of the coastline and fishermen rebuilt their homes right over the water.27 views
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Aoshima is the small island at the Ine Bay's entrance acting as a breakwater. There's an Ebisu Shrine on the island. Only fishermen are allowed on the island. 27 views
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Ine from afar.27 views
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These funaya are the oldest in Ine, dating back to the Edo Period.27 views
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I asked about the recent typhoons that hit this area. Mrs. Yamada said that the secured boat shook a lot, but no damage.27 views
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Mrs. Yamada also keeps fish in a net under their small dock. I asked what kind of fish, and she caught two to show us.27 views
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Across from Ineura Park is the new Ine Tourist Information Center on the 1st floor and a restaurant (Funaya Shokudo 舟屋食堂) on the second floor where we had lunch.27 views
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Funaya Shokudo restaurant menu.27 views
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Koma-inu lion dog also protects the shrine.27 views
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Sadly, most all of the 30 ornate festival floats were lost in the 1927 earthquake. Only this painting of the floats remains. 27 viewsSmall little town like this to have this many ornate floats was very unusual. Thanks to the chirimen merchants. Such glory days are long gone though, as chirimen sales peaked long ago.
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Kotohra Shrine's Haiden prayer hall.27 views
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Sorehouse for the shrine's festival float and mikoshi portable shrine.27 views
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About Tateiwa Rock.27 views
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San'in Kaigan Geopark (山陰海岸ジオパーク) from Kyoto to Tottori.27 views
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Lobby entrance.27 views
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View from my room.27 views
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This is the dressing room for the bath named "Shoren-no-Yu" (昭恋の湯). (“Shoren” means “Love of the Showa Period.” And “Yu” means hot spring water.)27 viewsThe ryokan had two hot spring baths, and both were designed by an American.
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Dressing room.27 views
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Entrance to the bath area.27 views
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Breakfast.27 views
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Tasted more local food here at Heshiko Kobo Hisami (へしこ工房 Hisami), a restaurant/shop in Kyotango.27 viewsMap: https://goo.gl/maps/Jq7NoojH59s
http://www.hisami-kasade.com/page/shop.php#heshiko
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