Most viewed - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

Most viewed

Walk until you reach Caban Street. "Caban" or "kaban" means "bag." Not shopping bag, but ladies' bags, briefcases, etc.カバンストリート27 views

Another bag shop on Caban Street.27 views

On the left is a cloth bag vending machine.27 views

Caban Street also had this place to repair or clean your bag.27 views

Block 7's tourist corridor with glass windows to see the tuna floor.27 views

At the end of the corridor, there's this big observation deck where you can see the wholesale section of the fruit and vegetable market.27 views

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One bottleneck was here, the tram line crossing. The crowd had to stop here whenever a tram passed through. The shrine is straight ahead.27 views

Sumiyoshi Taisha's main shrine consists of four shrines named Hongu No. 1, 2, 3, and 4 (本宮). Each Hongu is dedicated to a different deity and all four Hongu shrines are National Treasures. First you see Hongu No. 3 and 4 here. 27 views

People going to Hongu No. 1 shrine. Security staff direct and watch the crowd.27 views

Hongu No. 2 shrine. (第二本宮)27 views

Side view of Hongu No. 3.27 views

Banners for the Nankun-sha cat shrine (楠珺社). It's behind Hongu No. 1.27 views

They have tiny, medium, and large cat statues that you can collect.27 views

Decorative paddles with a cat.27 views

Food stalls on the way out.27 views

Hankai Line tram at Sumiyoshi Torii-mae stop in front of Sumiyoshi Taisha. 阪堺線住吉鳥居前停留場27 views

Offertor pit at Haiden worship hall on New Year's Day 2019.27 views

Ojiyama Stadium bleachers. No reserved seating.27 views

After 55 sec., runners at the 73rd Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon at Ojiyama Stadium on March 4, 2018 in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture.27 views

Runners at the 73rd Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon leaving Ojiyama Stadium.27 views

I stayed and watched the remaining runners.27 views

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Kikuchi's pottery.27 views

Our table for lunch in the main room of Arigatee.27 views

Strawberry daifuku is a specialty of Kita-Ibaraki. Made with locally-grown strawberries. Ibaraki is also a major producer of melons in Japan.27 views

An-chan on a cup of sake.27 views

Karinto manju.27 views

However, the 12 whalers were instead held captive by the local samurai. They were tied to plum trees or confined to caves. More British ships arrived seeking the release of the prisoners.27 viewsAlso, the Mito Clan also brought in neighboring clans like the Taira Clan as reinforcement for a potential battle. Cannons were pointed at each other, but a conflict was averted by giving the whalers the water and food that sent them along their way away from Japan. In return, the whalers gave guns, spears, felt, gold, and silver as payment and had to promise not to approach Japan again.

Hanazono Shrine (花園神社) is in the scenic Hanazono Gorge in the mountainous interior of the city. It's not related to Hanazono Shrine in Shinjuku, Tokyo, but it's related to Hie Shrine in Akasaka.27 viewsIt belongs to the same family of Shinto shrines worshipping the mountain deity Sanno (山王) headquartered at Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine at the foot of Mt. Hiei in Shiga Prefecture.

About the pregnant tree. This tree's male partner and due date are unknown.27 views

Torii27 views

Hanazono Shrine priest.27 views

Walking to the famous cedar tree.27 views

About the cedar tree.27 views

In the hotel lobby, Hina Matsuri dolls displayed for Girl's Day in early March.27 views

Another part of the Taikan house. Very aesthetic.27 views

This is a typical room in the hotel's modern tower. Twin beds.27 views

Typical room in the hotel's modern tower. 27 views

Sushi. Tuna, shrimp, ika squid, hotate scallop.27 views

Next morning, breakfast in a large banquet hall.27 views

View of Rokkakudo from the hotel's modern tower.27 views

Relax here with a view.27 views

Corner room.27 views

A smaller guest room.27 views

Large and private corner guest room inside Kimura Buzan home. It costs about ¥18,000 per person per night to stay here.27 views

White ropes to pull the boat on the road.27 views

Boat is 15 meters long, 4 meters wide, and weighs 5 tons. It becomes 2 tons heavier when the portable shrine (1 ton) and crew and musicians board.27 views

The festival started to be held every 5 years from 1975. The boat has to be repaired after each festival and the money could not be secured more often than every 5 years.27 viewsThe boat is normally displayed at a fishing museum named Yo-soro (よう・そろー) in Kita-Ibaraki.

This was the first Ofune Matsuri to be held in the new era of Reiwa.27 views

Boat musicians and crew board the boat via ladder.27 views

Boat is pulled by a 200-meter white rope, 7 cm thick. About 200 to 300 people pull the boat.27 views

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Three shrine priests are among the 40 people onboard. It's pretty rough to be rocked often. Motion sickness is possible.27 views

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They turn the boat by dragging the stern of the boat. They had a rope tied to the rear part of the boat.27 views

JR Otsuko Station has its entrance modeled after the Rokkakudo Pavilion on the Izura Coast.27 views

JR Otsuko Station platform.27 views

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Mt. Fuji in autumn with momiji maple leaves. Narusawa, Yamanashi Prefecture.27 views

Saitama Super Arena's press room.27 views

Ota Waki-Honjin's udatsu roof firewall in Ota-juku, Gifu Prefecture. Udatsu was also a status symbol.27 views

Inside Ota Waki-Honjin secondary residence. 太田宿脇本陣隠居27 views

Ota-juku, Minokamo, Gifu.27 views

Looks like a modernized version. Ota-juku, Gifu.27 views

Yoshida Family Residence (吉田家住宅), another Ota-juku building open to the public. It operated as a famous hatago inn named Komatsuya (小松屋), and later as a tobacco shop from the 1920s.27 views

Entrance to Negishi Ryokan, one of many pilgrims' inns called "shukubo" where pilgrims would stay. During the Edo Period, Oyama had hundreds of pilgrims' inns, but now only about 40+ remain. 根岸旅館27 viewsShukubo lodging rates start from ¥10,000 per person per night including dinner and breakfast. To search for a shukubo on Oyama, see http://ooyama-ryokan.com/english/index.html

Posing with top-ranking court ladies called the Naishi (内侍) working at the Saiku Palace. They have fancy umbrella bearers called furyu-gasa. 風流傘27 views

Posing with the Nyo-betto (女別当) who was the supervisor of the court ladies at special occasions such as the Saio procession. 27 views

The sand grains are about half the size of normal sand, resulting in a very packed and solid sandy surface. Solid enough for vehicles.27 viewsChirihama Nagisa Driveway in Hakui, Ishikawa.

Naruto whirlpool.27 viewsJNTO photo.

Rebun's population is about 2,250. "Rebun" comes from the Ainu word "repun-sir" meaning "island offshore."27 views

Leaving Rebun.27 views

At the old Ishigaki Airport, JTA boarding gate. One of the check-in staff wears a yukata. Also notice the old digital signage.27 views

Inside JTA plane, flight attendants figuring out what to tell us.27 views

Kouri Island is a small, round island easily accessible by car on this scenic highway bridge over the ocean from Yagaji Island off the coast of Motobu Peninsula.27 views

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Path back to the main gate. Lots of eye candy.27 views

Inside Nagahama Port building. Ticket window on right. Also see my Lake Biwa Snow Cruise blog post.27 views

Inside the boat. Very comfortable and well heated in winter.27 views

Large picture windows.27 views

Snowy mountains around Lake Biwa.27 views

At Chikubushima Port, boat on the left is “Benten” that goes to Nagahama Port. On the right is Omi Marine’s red boat named “Naomasa” (after famous local samurai Ii Naomasa) goes to Hikone Port.27 views

Souvenir shops on the way to the temple. There's a ticket vendor when you buy a temple admission ticket (¥300) to enter the temple grounds.27 views

Chikubushima Port. Smaller boats are from island workers and priests. No one lives on Chikubushima. People commute by boat.27 views

Small shrine for the White Snake God, a messenger of goddess Benzaiten. 白巳大神27 views

Tsukubusuma Shrine's Haiden Hall right across from the shrine. It faces the lake.27 views

Funa-roka boat corridor goes to Kannon-do Hall. 船廊下27 views

Before-and-after photos of the corridor in front of the altar. The wooden pillars that used to be covered with pilgrim name stickers are now all gone. Pillars totally re-lacquered. 観音堂27 views

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Heading toward the statue of Pindola Bharadvaja. The carved walls are now protected with plexiglass.27 views

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The only damper on this stupendous work is that, the contractor who did the job and the local government employee in charge of the project were found to have colluded to rig the bidding process. 27 viewsThe project's budget was leaked to the contractor before the bidding started. Both parties were arrested a few months after the job was completed. At least the police waited until the job was done before arresting them.

Karamon Gate was originally built in 1596 as the gate for a covered wooden bridge named Gokuraku-bashi (極楽橋) at Osaka Castle as depicted here.27 views

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Steps between the Karamon Gate and Benzaiten-do.27 views

Inside Benzaiten-do Hall which houses one of Japan's three major statues of the Goddess Benzaiten.27 views

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Right corner of Benzaiten-do.27 views

Sanryudo Shrine right next to Benzaiten-do. Worships the dragon god or the god of water. 三龍堂27 views

Wash basin27 views

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Interlaken at Imazu Port.27 views

Inside the new Imazu Port building made of wood. Waiting room.27 views

Habu viper from Kumejima.27 views

Yogo Station has rental bicycles. Great for cycling around the lake. On foot, it takes at least an hour to walk all around.27 views

Lake Yogo in late Sept. after the rice was harvested.27 views

Fishing pier when fishing is in season (usually in winter). Like Lake Biwa, Lake Yogo is full of invasive species, especially bluegill. You can make some money by catching invasive fish and selling them to the local cooperative.27 views

Lake Yogo swan maiden monument is flanked with a number of poetry stone monuments.27 views

Stone monument at Lake Yogo swan maiden monument.27 views

Autumn wildflowers at Lake Yogo.27 views

Autumn flowers at Lake Yogo.27 views

More rice paddies along Lake Yogo.27 views

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Mt. Shizugatake toward the right. One hiking train to Lake Yogo goes along this mountain.27 views

Snowscape in winter.27 views

Same view in winter.27 views

Same spot as previous photo, but in winter.27 views

Hydrangea plants here. They bloom in late June.27 views

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Lake Yogo also has some cherry blossoms. They bloom later or maybe last in Shiga. If you missed the cherry blossoms, come to Lake Yogo.27 views

Lake Yogo cherry blossoms.27 views

Lake Yogo cherry blossom petals.27 views

Lake Yogo's mirror surface in winter.27 views

Lake Yogo in winter has the southern part of the lake freeze over.27 views

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Large empty lot was the site of Yogoko-so Kokuminshuku lodge. It was torn down due to old age. 国民宿舎余呉湖荘跡27 views

Lake Yogo sakura cherry blossoms.27 views

Lake Yogo cherry blossoms.27 views

Lake Yogo cherry blossom trees in winter.27 views

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Lake Yogo from Mt. Shizugatake on a day when the lake was green with algae.27 views

Lake Yogo Tourist Center exhibition space. 27 views

Views while skiing on Niseko Annupuri, Hokkaido. ニセコアンヌプリ27 views

Tonami Tulip Fair is held annually from late April to May 5 at Tonami Tulip Park open 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. Admission charged. This view is from the Tulip Tower. 砺波チューリップ公園27 views

Nagahama Castle and autumn foliage, Shiga Prefecture.27 views

Wild monkeys on the mountain road in Yakushima. Waiting to get food tossed by tourists. (None from us.)27 views

The fourth Odawara Castle lord, Hojo Ujimasa played by well-known actor Takashima Masanobu. 四代氏政 (高嶋政伸)27 views

The first Odawara Hojo lord, Hōjō Sōun played by actor Goda Masashi. 初代北条早雲 (合田雅)27 views

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Farewell party at Seta Rowing Club. They first showed the video I took on June 9 when they rowed from Nagahama to Hikone.26 views

Seta Rowing Club members and host stand in front to accept thanks and messages.26 views

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The parade is led by these Buddhist monks chanting in front of a local temple.26 views

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The parade is also part of a traffic safety campaign. 26 views

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Local school band.26 views

"Beware of investment fraud"26 views

"Beware of dangerous drugs"26 views

Shinagawa Joshi Gakuin26 views

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PR for the latest Godzilla movie. There were Godzilla movie posters and flyers all over the place. I had to ask why. Found out that in the first Godzilla movie in the 1950s, Shinagawa was where Godzilla first set foot on Japan (near Shinagawa Station).26 views

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Shinagawa Station on the Keihin Kyuko (Keikyu) Line.26 views

Tokyo Sky Tree and cherry blossoms.26 views

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Path to the temple.26 views

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Go through the Nakano Sunmall shopping arcade first to reach Nakano Broadway.26 views

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It had this cafe decorated by the famous Takashi Murakami. That's what I love about Japan, always something unexpected.26 views

Tobu Museum is primarily a railway/train museum. Indoor and outdoor exhibits include a ED101 class electric locomotive, a beautifully restored Tobu bus from 1951, train simulators, and a German model train diorama.26 views