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Shuttle bus with Olympic livery.16 views
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Spelling error above the security checkpoint.16 views
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Kumagaya Fan Zone to watch rugby games.16 views
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Kumagaya Fan Zone to watch rugby games.16 views
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Interactive rugby activity. Try to throw the ball into the target hole.16 views
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Uchiwa festival float bid visitors goodbye.16 views
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Kumagaya Station still had the Uchiwa festival floats playing until 7:00 pm.16 views
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Kumagaya Station 16 views
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I walked completely around the stadium on the ground level outside.16 views
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Stairs and escalator to the stadium's 2nd tier seats.16 views
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Tanabata streamers from Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. One event highlight was Tohoku festivals.16 views
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Sendai Suzume Odori dance. 16 views
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Sendai Suzume Odori dance. 16 views
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Sendai Suzume Odori dance.16 views
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Corporate sponsor booths.16 views
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Long and winding line for Gate A.16 views
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View outside the concourse, looking toward Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium and Sendagaya Station.16 views
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Awesome-looking roof. It also has loudspeakers.16 views
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My seat, made of hard plastic. 16 views
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We all got a free face towel as a souvenir.16 views
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Corridor to 2nd tier seats.16 views
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2nd tier seats.16 views
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Morioka Sansa Odori Festival 盛岡さんさ踊り16 views
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Morioka Sansa Odori Festival 盛岡さんさ踊り16 views
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From Fukushima Prefecture, the Waraji Matsuri is mainly an evening parade of dancers wearing waraji straw sandals.16 viewsIncludes a giant golden waraji. Held on the first Fri. and Sat. of Aug. near Fukushima Station. 福島わらじまつり https://www.waraji.co.jp/
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Sendai Suzume Odori dance16 views
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The last Tohoku festival was the Aomori Nebuta Matsuri. Held in the evenings during Aug. 2 to 7 near Aomori Station. ねぶた祭16 viewsThe Nebuta float is accompanied by dancers called haneto. They hop all over while shouting "Rasse, Rasse, Rassera!" These people came from Aomori and Tokyo. ねぶた祭
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Tohoku summer festivals are conveniently held during the same period in early Aug. so you can see most of them during a single trip. Well worth it. 16 viewsAomori Nebuta, Sendai Tanabata, and Akita Kanto are the Big Three. There's also the Neputa Matsuri in Hirosaki.
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Finally, the program moved to the music portion.16 viewsHeadlining a string of mini concerts was J-pop group Dreams Come True. ドリームズ・カム・トゥルー
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Arashi on stage. The stadium is so big, so everyone looked tiny. 嵐16 views
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Usain Bolt runs to his position on the track. It was a cold evening so the runners wore overcoats before the race.16 views
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On the Red Team, Cambridge Aska passes the round baton to Takakuwa Saki. ケンブリッジ 飛鳥 髙桑早生16 views
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Takakuwa Saki 髙桑早生16 views
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Anchors Marlou van Rhijn and Usain Bolt.16 views
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Andrés Iniesta, Spanish professional footballer.16 views
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Game attendance of 57,597. (sold out).16 views
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Awards ceremony16 views
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Awards ceremony16 views
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Aokigahara Forest is on the northwestern foot/slope of Mt. Fuji. This forest is also known as "Suicide Forest" since some people have committed suicide in Aokigahara.16 viewsBut apparently not in the part of the forest we hiked in. Our guides assured us that we wouldn't see any bodies...(and we didn't.) This is our English-speaking guide from this company:
https://www.the-highestpeak.com/english
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Lots of wildlife here too. Deer, bears, boars, woodpeckers, and squirrels. But we didn't see any, only their foot prints, digs in the ground, chipped tree trunks, etc.16 views
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After walking about 15 min., we got to the Fuji Wind Cave (Fuji Fuketsu). This is the stone marker for it. 16 viewsThere's no "wind" in the cave. It's just a name. 富士風穴 (ふじふうけつ)
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Fuji Wind Cave first appears to be a big hole in the ground. It's a lava tube. You need a permit to enter. That's why having a licensed guide is good.16 views
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Narusawa is a village near Mt. Fuji and part of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. At the Narusawa Michinoeki Road Station, there are nice views of Mt. Fuji.16 views
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Mt. Fuji in autumn.16 views
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Mt. Fuji in autumn with momiji maple leaves.16 views
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Our guide showed us around Okegawa-juku on foot. All the major spots are within walking distance.16 views
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Nakasendo Road in Okegawa-juku. Most of it looks modern.16 views
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Oke-chan is Okegawa's official mascot. He is a Nakasendo traveler sporting a safflower on this head.16 views
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Sightseeing map of Kawajima town in Saitama Prefecture. Looks like it has a lot to see.16 views
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JR Saitama-Shintoshin Station exterior view.16 views
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Countdown to Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics as of Aug. 25, 2019.16 views
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International Basketball Games was held first, with Japan vs. Tunisia on Aug. 25, 2019.16 views
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"Akatsuki Five" is the nickname for Japan's national basketball team (for both men and women). "Akatsuki" means "red dawn."16 views
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Makoto Hiejima. Japan trailed Tunisia most of the time, but it finally caught up and tied the score during last few minutes. But a basket by Tunisia during the final seconds beat Japan. Good game.16 views
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Speech by Rui Hachimura.16 views
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Large block of empty seats. It seems the TV cameras needed a clear view and the red seats were for sponsors left unused. Hope we don't see this at the Olympics.16 views
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My second visit to Saitama Super Arena was on Jan. 11, 2020. It was for the Empress's Cup national baskteball tournament.16 views
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View from Kaede Bridge.16 views
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Crossing Kaede Bridge over Katsura River.16 views
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Bamboo bed to lie down and look up at the bamboo tree tops.16 views
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Katsura Bridge and Katsura River in Shuzenji Onsen.16 views
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Wash basin 水屋 修禅寺16 views
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Shuzenji Temple is a Soto-shu Zen Buddhist temple. 曹洞宗 修禅寺16 views
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Hie Jinja Shrine is next to Shuzenji Temple in Izu, Shizuoka. 日枝神社16 views
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Shuzenji Temple's wedded trees.16 views
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Tokko-no-Yu Park has this foot bath named "Suginoyu" overlooking the river. 杉の湯16 views
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Tokko-no-Yu Park has this child Daishi statue on which you can pour hot spring water andmake a wish. 湯掛け稚児大師像16 views
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Pop singer Noguchi Goro is from Mino, Gifu.16 views
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There are signboards in English. This is at the entrance to Ota-juku Nakasendo Museum.16 views
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Entrance to Ota-juku Nakasendo Museum. Parking also available here.16 views
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Ota-juku Honjin Gate side view. This is not the original location of this gate. It was moved here during the 1920s or 30s. The Honjin was originally near the still existing Waki-Honjin. 太田宿本陣門16 views
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Ota-juku Honjin Gate. In Oct. 2002, the gate was diassembled and repaired before being reassembled. 太田宿本陣門16 views
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Ota-juku is parallel to Kiso River 木曽川16 views
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Ota-juku Nakasendo Museum and reconstruction of manga artist Okamoto Ippei's house. 太田宿中山道会館 + 糸遊庵16 views
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Ota-juku Nakasendo Museum 太田宿中山道会館16 views
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About Chinese hackberry and mistletoe.16 views
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Way to museum exhibits explaining local cultural history.16 viewsOpen 9 am to 5 pm, closed Mon. and Dec. 29–Jan. 3. https://kaikan.ootajuku.net/
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Reconstruction of a shop.16 views
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Ota-ya traveler's store16 views
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Ota-ya16 views
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Scale model of the Ota Magistrate's office. 尾張藩太田代官所16 views
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About the Ota Magistrate's office. 尾張藩太田代官所16 views
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The 17 shukuba lodging towns or post towns in Gifu Prefecture.16 views
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Famous people from Ota-juku. 16 views
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River raft used to transport logs on the river.16 views
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From Ota-juku Nakasendo Museum, we walked east along the Naasendo Road.16 views
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Ota Waki-Honjin secondary residence. 太田宿 脇本陣16 views
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Inside Ota Waki-Honjin residence's kitchen not open to the public. 太田宿 脇本陣 隠居16 views
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Ota Waki-Honjin secondary residence's garden.16 views
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Walking further east in Nakasendo Ota-juku.16 views
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This building used to be the Juroku Bank, Ota Branch from 1907 to 1965. 旧十六銀行 太田支店16 views
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Former Juroku Bank, Ota Branch. 旧十六銀行 太田支店16 views
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Former Juroku Bank, Ota Branch. 旧十六銀行 太田支店16 views
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Small desk was for the merchant taking care of tobacco business at Komatsu-ya or Yoshida Family Residence (吉田家住宅).16 views
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Gate to Yusenji Temple in Ota-juku, Gifu. 祐泉寺16 views
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About Yusenji Temple founded in 1474. The temple has a poem monument for Basho.16 views
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Old roof at Yusenji Temple in Ota-juku, Gifu. 祐泉寺16 views
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Roof ornament.16 views
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Old map of Ota-juku showing the names of all the homes.16 views
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JR Mino-Ota Station platform.16 views
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Ota-juku was the 51st shukuba lodging town on the old Nakasendo Road linking Tokyo (Edo) and Kyoto. The old Nakasendo Road and some remnants of the shukuba still remain. 16 viewsOta-juku is adjacent to Kiso River and one of the 17 Nakasendo lodging towns in Gifu Prefecture. This Hiroshige woodblock print of Ota-juku shows the Kiso River crossing to Ota-juku, one of the most difficult segments of the Nakasendo.
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Opened in Oct. 1989, the Saiku History Museum (officially and incorrectly named "Saiku Historical Museum") is located on the former site of the Saiku Palace. 16 viewsOpen 9:30 am to 5 pm. Closed Mon. and Dec. 29–Jan. 3.
Admission ¥340 (Free for kids)
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Exhibition Room 1 shows Saiku Palace- and Saio princess-related artifacts. Costumes, reconstructed Saio living quarters, and a few mannequins. 常設展示室I16 views
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Saio princess palanquin called "Sokaren." 斎王の神輿「葱華輦」16 views
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Saio princess palanquin called "Sokaren." 斎王の神輿「葱華輦」16 views
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Aristocratic boy wearing a Heian-Period suikan costume. 童男人形「水干」, Government official wearing a sokutai costume. 武官人形「束帯」, and aristocratic girl wearing akome costume. 童女人形「衵」16 views
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Aristocratic boy wearing a Heian-Period suikan costume. 童男人形「水干」16 views
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Green-glazed pottery used in Saiku. 16 views
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You see a lot of wooden lattice on the exterior. Supposed to ward off wind and rain.16 views
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Ganmon Gate Rock as seen from a boat cruise. 巌門16 views
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Hatago Iwa wedded rocks "Hatago" is a tool for weaving. 機具岩 (Noto Futami)16 views
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Wajima Asa-ichi Morning Market sells lots of stuff including seafood. 輪島朝市16 viewsAddress: 石川県輪島市河井町朝市通り
Website: https://asaichi.info/
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Wajima-nuri lacquerware has been around for centuries. It is known to be high-end and expensive lacquerware. 輪島塗16 views
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It is said that Wajima lacquerware dates back some 1,000 years. It takes 75 to 124 meticulous steps to produce Wajima lacquerware. 輪島塗16 viewsThere are four basic stages: Procuring and preparing the wood, shaping the wood into the desired form, lacquering, and decoration.
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Sodegaura 鴨ヶ浦16 views
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Inside Kami Tokikuni-ke home.16 views
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Tsukumo Bay. Tsukumo means "99," after the many inlets in the cove which is one of Japan's "100 Famous Views." 九十九湾16 views
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Kita-ke16 views
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Shimabara Castle is often mistaken as the site of the Shimabara Rebellion (1637-8). The rebellion actually took place at Hara Castle (now in ruins near Hara-jo Station on the Shimabara Railway) in the southern part of Shimabara Peninsula.16 viewsHowever, the Shimabara Rebellion was sparked by the construction of Shimabara Castle when the local people were charged high taxes to finance the construction.
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Shimabara Castle and koinobori carp streamers.16 views
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After the Mt. Fugen-dake's eruption in 1991, Shimabara Castle grounds served as the command headquarters for a small contingent of Self-Defense Forces monitoring the mountain 24 hours a day.16 views
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View from the lookout deck on the top floor of Shimabara Castle's main tower.16 views
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View from the lookout deck on the top floor of Shimabara Castle's main tower. Looking toward Shimabara Station (end of straight road).16 views
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Way to Shimabara Castle. The sign says "Beware of slippery surface of volcanic ash." 火山灰のためスリップ注意16 views
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Shimabara Station looks like a castle building. Shimabara Castle is a short walk near Shimabara Station.16 views
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View from the lookout deck on the top floor of Shimabara Castle's main tower.16 views
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Site of Nanao Castle.16 views写真提供：©石川県観光連盟
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Notojima Aquarium is on Notojima island in Nanao. Opened in July 1982 as Ishikawa Prefecture's sole aquarium. のとじま水族館・のとじま臨海公園水族館16 viewsFrom Nanao Station, local buses run to the aquarium taking 45 min. Address: 石川県七尾市能登島曲町15部40
Phone: 0767-84-1271
Closed: Dec. 29–Jan. 31
写真提供：©石川県観光連盟
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Tsukumo Bay 九十九湾16 views写真提供：©石川県観光連盟
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Tsukumo Bay 九十九湾16 views写真提供：©石川県観光連盟
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Hatago Iwa wedded rocks. The larger, female rock (with the hole) stands 16 meters high and has a small shrine. Smaller male rock is 12 meters high. The Kongo Coast sure has lots of rocks with a hole in them. 機具岩 (Noto Futami)16 views写真提供：©石川県観光連盟
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Wajima Asa-ichi Morning Market 16 views写真提供：©石川県観光連盟
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Wajima Museum of Urushi Art is the only museum in Japan specializing in lacquerware. Besides Wajima-nuri, it also shows lacquerware from other parts of Japan. 石川県輪島漆芸美術館16 viewshttps://www.city.wajima.ishikawa.jp/art/
写真提供：©石川県観光連盟
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Wajima Taisai Festival with kiriko floats. Wajima has four kiriko festivals. Most kiriko lantern festivals in the Noto Peninsula are held at night. 輪島大祭16 viewshttps://www.hot-ishikawa.jp/kiriko/en/kiriko/wajimataisai.php
写真提供：©石川県観光連盟
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Wajima onsen foot bath.16 views写真提供：©石川県観光連盟
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Sojiji Soin Temple in Wajima used to be one of the headquarters temple for the Soto Zen Buddhist sect until a fire razed most of the temple in 1898. 總持寺祖院16 viewsThis is the Sanmon Gate.
写真提供：©石川県観光連盟
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Sojiji Soin Temple.16 views写真提供：©石川県観光連盟
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Noto Airport16 views写真提供：©石川県観光連盟
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16 views写真提供：©石川県観光連盟
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Mado-iwa (Window Rock) has a through hole in the rock. Rough waves have eroded the Sosogi Coast into fantastic rock formations largely made of rhyolite.16 views写真提供：©石川県観光連盟
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View of central Mihara (area around Mihara Station) from Mt. Fudekage in Mihara, Hiroshima.16 views
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Flame of Peace at the center of the Peace Plaza on the oceanfront. 平和の火16 views
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The two monuments were also placed here in 1946 inscribed with the names of the deceased student nurses.16 viewsHimeyuri student nurses were Okinawan high school conscripts trained by the Japanese Army to serve at the Army Field Hospital which was a muddy and filthy underground bunker in a place called Haebaru from late March 1945. The hospital was slightly north of this area. As US forces advanced south, the hospital and nurses evacuated south to this area. Patients who couldn't walk overnight to evacuate were left behind.
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The white Himeyuri Cenotaph was renovated in 2009.16 views
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Below the Himeyuri monument, this cave is one of numerous natural caves in this area where the student nurses and local people took shelter. 16 views
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Iwa-makura Monument has a tanka poem by Nakasone Seizen who was one of the teachers of the Himeyuri students. いわまくら碑16 views
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Near the Himeyuri Cenotaph is the Himeyuri Peace Museum. The building was modeled after one of the Himeyuri schools. ひめゆり平和祈念資料館16 viewshttp://www.himeyuri.or.jp/EN/info.html
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Himeyuri Peace Museum layout. Photography not allowed inside the museum.16 views
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Himeyuri Peace Museum courtyard.16 views
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Origami at Himeyuri Cenotaph site.16 views
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Statue of a Himeyuri high school student nurse.16 views
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Urauchi River hiking trail to waterfalls. It can be quite muddy.16 views
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View of central Ishigaki from Banna Park.16 views
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The center of this photo shows the site where the new airport was going to be built.16 views
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On the southern coast of Ishigaki, we stayed at Ishigakijima Beach Hotel Sunshine for one night. It's a nice hotel. About 30 min. by car from the airport. 本館 https://www.ishigakijima-sunshine.net/16 views
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Chopstick rest made of a shell at Hirugi Restaurant in Hotel Miyahira, Ishigaki.16 views
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Kyukeimon Gate, service gate mainly for women. 久慶門（きゅうけいもん）16 views
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About Shureimon Gate.16 views
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Kankaimon Gate is the first gate you enter when you enter the castle's inner grounds. "Kankai" means to "greet with joy." Rebuilt in 1974. 歓会門16 views
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Keizuza and Yomotsuza soon after it was rebuilt some years ago. 系図座・用物座16 views
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About the Seiden main hall.16 views
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A bit of good news is that some of the key members of the team involved in the 1992 reconstruction 30+ years ago are still alive and again taking on the job to rebuild the castle.16 views
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Ouchibara (御内原) as seen from Yohokoriden. Straight ahead is the Seiden Hall site.16 views
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Reconstructed Queen's Quarters (世誇殿) called Yohokoriden.16 views
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They first appeared in front of the Yohokoriden and posed for photos. Led by the King and Queen's attendants.16 views
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The main event is the Ryukyu Royal Procession (琉球王朝絵巻行列) with the Ryukyu King and Queen and their attendants parading on Kokusai-dori (Naha's main drag). However, the procession was canceled in 2020.16 views
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It was a happy kingdom until the Satsuma Clan in Kagoshima invaded and conquered the Ryukyus and made it a vassal state in 1609. 16 viewsThe Sho kings were allowed to keep their position, but had to rule as directed by the Satsuma. Heavy taxes were imposed on Ryukyuans.
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The Ryukyu King and Queen posed for the crowd in three successive places. I quietly scrambled to follow them. In the background is the reconstructed Queen's Quarters.16 views
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The Ryukyu King and Queen are selected every year from applicants. This year's King and Queen were played by Takara Tomoaki (高良朝壮) and Kamiyama Seika (神山聖加) respectively. (琉球国王・王妃出御)16 views
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Prefab building displaying some ornamental remains salvaged from the fire.16 views
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Red roof tiles16 views
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Red tile roofs of the Yohokoriden and Nyokan Kyoshitsu.16 views
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Castle wall and buildings as seen from Benzaiten-do Hall.16 views
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On Sundays, Kokusai-dori is closed to traffic.16 views
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The sanshin is Okinawa's main musical instrument. What the sanshin is to Okinawa is what the ʻukulele is to Hawaii. Famous for the snakeskin (python) covered body, but cheaper sanshin might have fake snakeskin which is easier to care for.16 views
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From Satte Station, there are infrequent buses to Gogendo Park. Bus schedule hre.16 views
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At the foot of the embankment with cherry trees and food stalls. Flowers usually bloom from late March to early April. This is probably around 80% bloom.16 views
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At the foot of the embankment with cherry trees and food stalls. 16 views
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The cherry blossoms go along the riverbank for 1 km. That's quite long, but it was originally a whopping 6 km long. 16 views
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Cherry blossoms and rapeseed blossoms at Gogendo Park in Satte, Saitama Prefecture. 16 views
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They line the pedestrian and cycling path on the riverbank. Very nice. Near Higashi-Ojima Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line.16 views
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Heisei Bridge on the Edogawa-ku side. 平成橋16 views
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Visited Heisei Bridge in the last year of the Heisei Period (2019). Heisei Bridge was built in Dec. 1994 (Heisei 6). 平成橋16 views
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Heisei Bridge on the Edogawa-ku side. 平成橋16 views
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Heisei Bridge on the Edogawa-ku side. 平成橋16 views
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The northern end of Sendaibori Park.16 views
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Kawasaki Daishi Temple is near Kawasaki Daishi Station on the Keikyu Daishi Line that starts from Keikyu Kawasaki Station.16 views
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The short walk from Kawasaki Daishi Station to Kawasaki Daishi Temple is lined with souvenir shops.16 views
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Daruma with eyes to be painted in.16 views
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Beckoning cats or maneki-neko.16 views
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Behind the giant paper lantern.16 views
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Incense burner16 views
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