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Nyokan Kyoshitsu's right corner scorched from the burning Seiden. 女官居室（にょかんきょしつ）19 views
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Nyokan Kyoshitsu's right corner scorched from the burning Seiden.19 views
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They were also last year's king and queen. They are reprising their roles this year because this year's contest in September 2020 to select a king and queen was canceled.19 viewsAbout the king and queen: http://english.ryukyushimpo.jp/2020/11/06/32933/
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Prefab building displaying some ornamental remains salvaged from the fire.19 views
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Hakuginmon Gate (restored) to the sacred Shinbyoden. 白銀門（はくぎんもん）19 views
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About Hakuginmon Gate. 白銀門（はくぎんもん）19 views
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Way to Agari-no Azana lookout point.19 views
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The other side is the way up to Agari-no Azana lookout.19 views
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Back to the Shicha-nu Una plaza, I noticed people resting inside the Keizuza and Yomotsuza. 系図座・用物座19 views
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From Shuri Castle's Iri-no Azana western lookout deck, view of central Naha looking toward the ocean. 西のアザナ（いりのあざな）19 views
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Gift shops near Suimuikan.19 views
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Exhibition of the "Tempest" TV series set in Okinawa.19 views
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Tennyobashi Bridge to Benzaiten-do Hall. The railings have lotus engravings. 弁財天堂と円鑑池19 views
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Tennyobashi Bridge19 views
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About Enkakuji Temple.19 views
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Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts.19 views
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Hibiscus19 views
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On the 1st anniversary of the Shurijo Castle fire in late Oct. 2020, Okinawa held a few events to give hope. We attended an evening reception at Shuri Castle for tourism professionals.19 viewsThis was outdoors in front of the reconstructed Keizuza/Yomotsuza. It had a makeshift stage for Okinawan entertainment.
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We didn't see any signs to turn into side roads to see local sights like the heart-shaped rocks on the beach. We missed it.19 views
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Here's a cart going up to Kouri Ocean Tower. The cart is also narrated with scenic points. This was after our cart.19 views
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Pink coral.19 views
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Kouri Island's best lookout point is here, Kouri Ocean Tower's top deck which is outdoors on the 4th floor.19 views
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Kouri Ohashi Bridge as seen from Kouri Ocean Tower's top deck.19 views
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View of Yagaji Island.19 views
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Shisa guardian lion-dog at the entrance of Kokusai-dori.19 views
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Lots of T-shirt shops on Kokusai-dori, but most are not made in Okinawa.19 views
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Haisai T-shirt. "Haisai" is a "hello" greeting for men.19 views
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Haisai Okinawa Building on Kokusai-dori is where the Nenes/Nenez perform at Live House Shima-uta on the 3rd floor.19 views
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She plays the sanshin (三線), another icon of Okinawa. The three-stringed sanshin came to Okinawa (Ryukyu Kingdom) from China in the 16th century. It later evolved into the shamisen on mainland Japan.19 views
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Yonaha Ruon (与那覇琉音) is the youngest member and plays this Okinawan instrument called the "sanba" (三板). It's three small pieces of wood strung together to make clacking sounds. Love the sanba. 19 views
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Live House Shima-uta menu. Reasonable prices. Official website usually has a coupon for a free side dish.19 views
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The club had their CDs on sale, but they weren't autographed.19 views
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Pedestrain paradise on Kokusai-dori on Sunday.19 views
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Rubber slippers19 views
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Ichiba-Hondori shopping arcade. 19 views
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Goya chips.19 views
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Rawhide on Kokusai-dori.19 views
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A&W restaurant's Kokusai-dori branch is at the entrance to Kokusai-dori on the 2nd floor.19 views
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Kencho-mae Station on the Yui Rail, the closest station to Kokusai-dori. 県庁前駅19 views
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Long line for the bus to Gogendo Park. Unfortunately, the bus got too full to fit me.19 views
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I couldn't wait for the next bus.19 views
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Large parking lot at the park.19 views
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Looking toward the rapeseed blossoms.19 views
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Walking around the rapeseed blossoms is the main highlight since you also see the cherry blossoms.19 views
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Cherry blossoms and rapeseed blossoms at Gogendo Park in Satte, Saitama Prefecture. Even this is still 80% bloom.19 views
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Every spring, they show this on the TV news in Tokyo, but it's way more beautiful to see it in person. The place is also a lot bigger than what you see on TV. 19 views
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Such a genius to plant rapeseed blossoms next to the cherry blossoms.19 views
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Still the same weeping cherry tree.19 views
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Shower me with your weeping cherries.19 views
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Cherry blossoms at Ukita Park, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo. 宇喜田公園19 views
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Cherry blossoms at Ukita Park, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo. 宇喜田公園19 views
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Water fountain fringed with sakura.19 views
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Shinkawa River Cherry Blossoms, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo19 views
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The west end of Shinkawa River has a Edo-style fire watchtower. To give an Edo-Period riverscape.19 views
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Traditional-looking restrooms.19 views
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Arakawa River sign.19 views
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Heisei Bridge on the Edogawa-ku side. The other half of the bridge is in Koto-ku. 平成橋19 views
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Funabori Station 船堀駅19 views
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Weeping plum tree.19 views
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Mitsubishi T-2 Blue Impulse aerobatic jet. T-2高等練習機19 views
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NAL Asuka STOL Research Aircraft19 views
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Taga Taisha-mae Station's waiting room also has a showcase19 views
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Exhibition space inside Taga Taisha-mae Station. Also good as a waiting room.19 views
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Bicycles are allowed on Ohmi Railways trains.19 views
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Suehiro Pond is in an auspicious fan shape.. 末広池19 views
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Tateiwa Tunnel is 72 meters long.19 views
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Breakfast at Kinugawa Park Hotels.19 views
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To get to Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura, take a bus from Kinugawa Onsen Station (bus stop 3). Buses run three times an hour from 9 am to 3:50 pm.19 views
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Goods for travelers.19 views
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O-Edo Tenmangu Shrine for Michizane. 大江戸天満宮19 views
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Photo studio for kimono people.19 views
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Woodblock print workshop.19 views
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Yaba Archery Dojo 矢場19 views
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Ninja Maze19 views
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Ninja Training Hall is a very slanted building.19 views
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About Hanzomon Gate.19 views
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About Hatago inns.19 views
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Ryogoku Bridge19 views
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Leaving the park.19 views
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Sekisho Guardhouse19 views
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Replica of the Sekisho guardhouse. The park gives people staying at nearby Kinugawa Onsen hot spring something to do during the day. 19 views
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Fishing pier19 views
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Inside the bridge of the Kaiwo Maru.19 views
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Helmets and other gear used by cadets.19 views
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Officer's saloon where ship officers dined and held meetings. Very luxurious. This is the head table where the captain would sit in the middle.19 views
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Purser's Office19 views
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Inside Matsumae Castle's main tower (1st floor). The castle was rebuilt with donations and money from the town government. Ferroconcrete structure.19 views
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Yokozuna-no-Sato Fukushima Roadside station for local gifts and produce next to the sumo museum..19 views
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Northern coast of Amami-Oshima island, Kagoshima.19 views
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Japan Coast Guard ships are also moored at Naze Port, Amami Oshima.19 views
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Roadside scenery on Amami-Oshima island, Kagoshima, Japan.19 views
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Loom to weave Oshima tsumugi.19 views
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Oshima tsumugi handkerchief I bought for myself. Tie-dyed.19 views
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Yakusugi Land is a lush, thick, mountain forest area featuring ancient Yakusugi cedars (Cryptomeria japonica) native to Yakushima and the island's major attraction. You can see a variety of Yakusugi cedars by walking on a forest trail of varying leng19 viewsThe forest trail starts and ends at the same place, but there are several trail options. The shortest trail route is 0.8 km long (yellow line on this map named Fureai-no-Michi, numbered from 1 to 6), taking about 30 min. This is the trail we went on. Even this short trail for tourists was very impressive. Another easy tourist trail is 1.2 km taking 50 min. (red line).
The longer trails going for 2.0 km, 3.0 km, and 4.4 km (green line) involve mountain climbing taking about 80 min., 150 min., and 3.5 hours respectively. These longer trails require proper climbing equipment and physical endurance.
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How sacred Yakusugi cedars started to be harvested from the 17th century. Much of the wood was used for roof shingles on mainland Japan. Luxury homes might still have Yakusugi as interior ceiling panels to show off the fine wood grain.19 views
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How sacred Yakusugi cedars started to be harvested from the 17th century. (English version) They can be centuries old or even a few thousand years old.19 views
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Such a picturesque forest trail. Highly recommended. Best to hike the longer trail (50 min.) though. The 30-min. trail is too short.19 views
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About the Kigensugi cedar tree. Wow, many other plant species also grow on this tree (epiphytes). They include Japanese cypress, Japanese mugwort, Yakushima rhododendron, and Japanese rhododendron.19 views
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The dock connects to the main road, so tour buses can come right up to the cruise ship.19 views
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Welcome banners at Miyanoura Port's cruise ship dock, Yakushima.19 views
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About Mukojima Hyakkaen Garden.19 views
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These flowers were in bloom in late March.19 views
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Tofukuji's bell tower.19 views
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What the old Nikko Kaido Road looks like today.19 views
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Original road marker in Soka-shuku, Saitama on the Nikko Kaido. 道標元標19 views
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Soka folk history museum is near the old Nikko Kaido. 歴史民俗資料館19 views
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On the 2nd floor, Hinamatsuri Girl's Day dolls.19 views
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Pink pay phone in Japan. Now obsolete. Took only ¥10 coins.19 views
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The "Balloon Glow" event at Koga Kubo Park in Jan. 2023 was colorful and impressive even when the balloons did not fly. Free event, mainly local crowds.19 viewsThis was actually a 2022 Christmas Eve event, but it was postponed twice due to bad weather or strong winds. Finally held on Jan. 22, 2023.
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Crowd-pleasing event.19 views
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About Kamagaya Daibutsu. In 1972, it was designated as a Cultural Property of Kamagaya.19 views
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Dismantled torii.19 views
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Kamagaya-Daibutsu Station cafe. Nice place for a coffee break or lunch with views of Kamagaya Hachiman Shrine.19 views
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Kamagaya Daibutsu Station platform.19 views
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Kashiwa Shrine 柏神社19 views
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Nibangai Shopping Arcade 二番街商店街19 views
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Businesses in the station building's 2nd floor on the east side, but three have closed as of Jan. 2023. The remaining restaurant is a nice place to hang out.19 views
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Mound A tumulus (A号墳) at Saginuma Castle Park. Local nobility was buried here during the 6th century. There's now a small shrine.19 views
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The fence also has a covered hole for taking pictures.19 views
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"Why do they have a red crown?"19 views
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At Yasukuni Shrine, sign indicating that sumo will be held on April 17, 2023. Sumo has been held at Yasukuni Shrine annually since 1869 to console the spirits at the shrine. It's part of the shrine's religious ceremonies and festival in spring. 19 views
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Yasukuni Shrine is dedicated to Japan's war dead. Another vertical sign promoting the sumo exhibition.19 views
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Yasukuni Shrine.19 views
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It's rare to see an outdoor sumo arena in Japan. In Nov. 1918 when the Kokugikan sumo arena was destroyed by fire, the sumo tournaments were held here for two years.19 views
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Enho is popular. 炎鵬19 views
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The ring-entering ceremony is when you can see the designs on the wrestlers' colorful ceremonial aprons.19 views
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Takayasu, former Ozeki. 高安19 views
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Terunofuji has the shiranui-style yokozuna rope with double loops on the back. 不知火型19 views
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Daieisho 大栄翔19 views
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Smiling Kotonowaka.19 views
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Yokozuna Terunofuji getting ready for his match. 照ノ富士19 views
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Ritual ending the day's sumo at around 3 pm.19 views
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Main shrine straight ahead. The outdoor sumo arena is on the right of the main shrine.19 views
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Hachioji Castle lord, Hojo Ujiteru. 八王子城主 北条氏照隊19 views
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Not allowed to pick any plants.19 views
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Short home movie of the Yurakucho area in June 1961. Filmed by a deceased relative.19 views
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Enhance to Studio Shop, the world’s largest Harry Potter gift shop. 19 views
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Bottled “Tokyo Special” butterbeer (¥1,000).19 views
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Entrance to Mashu Maru museum ship ahead. Go up the stairs.19 views
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Japanese-style Third-class cabin, the cheapest accommodations on Mashu Maru. Just lie down on the carpet. Third Class also had seats.19 views
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Reference corner to view Seikan ferry timetables, etc.19 views
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Approaching Hakodate Port with Mt. Hakodate in view.19 views
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Approaching Hakodate Port at the heart of Hakodate. The port used to bring train ferries to connect trains to Hakodate Station.19 views
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Gift shop inside JR Hakodate Station.19 views
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Heading to Hotel Laforet in Moriyama.18 views
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The Biwako Ohashi Bridge is the largest bridge in Shiga, linking Moriyama and Katata at the neck of Lake Biwa's panhandle.18 views
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Further south is the Omi Ohashi Bridge, smaller than the Biwako Ohashi Bridge.18 views
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Rowers make a U-turn here on Seta River.18 views
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Rowing past the rowing club of Ritsumeikan University.18 views
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Turning right.18 views
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Tokyo Tower celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2018.18 views
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The finish line was at Sakura Bridge near Asakusa. Elderly alumni spectators on Sakura Bridge sang the school song spontaneously. 18 views
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The runners celebrate on the podium.18 views
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Aokigahara Forest is on a large lava flow of Mt. Fuji, so the ground is solid lava rock. 18 views
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Imagine living in a town with a view like this. This is Fuji-Kawaguchiko town near Lake Kawaguchi.18 views
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Large plaza outside Benibana Furusato-kan Hall is used for events.18 views
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Shukuba lodging towns in Saitama Prefecture as shown at the Nakasendo Shukuba-kan (中山道宿場館).18 views
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Inari Shrine's stone lanterns were donated by safflower producers. Their names are engraved on the lanterns.18 views
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About Inari Shrine's stone lanterns.18 views
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About Inari Shrine's Power Stone (chikara-ishi). 力石18 views
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Small shrine still remaining from the old days.18 views
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Stairs to the 2nd floor.18 views
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About Okegawa-juku's Honjin luxury lodge (本陣) where VIP travelers like the emperor, daimyo, shogun, or Imperial princess stayed.18 views
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Emperor Meiji also once rested here while passing through in 1878 and there's this stone marker for it at the Honjin gate.18 views
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From a side street, we could see the roof of the Honjin stil remaining.18 views
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The imported glass was also expensive.18 views
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Scroll depicting a woman dancer with a lion head.18 views
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Corridor18 views
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Spectators were given red-colored file folders to create this red blanket. It seems red is Saitama's sports cheering color.18 views
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Daiki Tanaka18 views
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Daiki Tanaka18 views
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The national basketball team also has cheerleaders named "Akatsuki Venus." Like the players, most cheerleaders come from cheerleading squads from various pro basketball teams in Japan.18 views
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Final score.18 views
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Speech by Rui Hachimura.18 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.18 views
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Kadysha Juna Umezawa, from Canada.18 views
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稲井 桃子 / Momoko Inai18 views
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Another concourse.18 views
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