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Sunrise kayaking on Iriomote, Yaeyama, Okinawa.8 views
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Iriomote sunrise at Maira River.8 views
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Maira River, Iriomote.8 views
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Iriomote with the main town of Ohara on the lower right.8 views
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Skeleton of Iriomote wildcat.8 views
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Bats on Iriomote.8 views
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On Cape Ogansaki, memorial for the 35 people who died in the Yaeyama Maru that was shipwrecked on Dec. 8, 1952 off this coast. 御神埼8 viewsMonument was built in Dec. 1976.
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Inside the Ishigaki Port terminal building. This building opened on Jan. 31, 2007 after the terminal and boat docks were moved here from the old port only 200 meters east. On the right is a planetarium.8 views
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Floor plan of Ishigaki Port terminal building which opened in Jan. 2007 after moving from the old port 200 meters from here.8 views
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Tour agency office near the port terminal.8 views
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At the docks.8 views
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There are four floating boat docks where boats can dock on both sides. They have red roof tiles.8 views
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Statue of Gushiken Yoko at Ishigaki Port, former pro boxer and local hero from Ishigaki. This statue was unveiled in Dec. 2013.8 views
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Departing Ishigaki Port.8 views
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Japan Coast Guard boat. They have the hard job of patrolling and protecting the nearby Senkaku Islands, part of Ishigaki.8 views
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Anei Kanko high-speed boat named "Paijima" for 181 passengers. We rode this boat from Ohara, Iriomote back to Ishigaki Port. ぱいじま8 views
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Car ferry named "Kariyushi" which is an Okinawan tropical shirt.8 views
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Our tour guide took a picture of us on Yarabudake.8 views
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My Japanese-style room at Takemori Inn on Iriomote.8 views
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Outside my room at Takemori Inn on Iriomote. View of the bridge to Ohara across Nakama River.8 views
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Orion constellation above Iriomote.8 views
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Almost full moon above Iriomote.8 views
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Old Ishigaki Port for tourist boats. It didn't have a passenger terminal building like today, only tour agent offices.8 views
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In front of Ishigaki City Hall, a tree planted to reaffirm sister-city relations in 1999 between Ishigaki and Kauai, Hawaii. Planted by then Kauai Mayor Maryanne Kusaka. Ishigaki and Kauai have been sister cities since May 1963.8 views
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Yaeyama Post Office Ishigaki Port in central Ishigaki.8 views
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Inside Ishigaki Yaeyama Museum. Exhibits Yaeyama's archaeology, history, art, and folk customs. 石垣市立八重山博物館8 views
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Euglena Mall years ago. A small shopping arcade very near Ishigaki Port.8 views
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Hirugi Restaurant in Hotel Miyahira, Ishigaki. Notice the chopstick rest made of a shell.8 views
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Main tower.8 views
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At the foot of the castle mountain, there's this statue of samurai Yamauchi Kazutoyo and his loyal and loving wife Chiyo and the fine horse she bought for him (in Kinomoto or Azuchi, Shiga Prefecture) with her own money in the 16th century. 8 views
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Chiyo was supposedly the daughter of the Gujo-Hachiman Castle's first lord, Endo Morikazu. Kazutoyo later became lord of Kochi Castle in Shikoku. 8 viewsThis statue was erected in 1991 by local donors. (Gujo-Hachiman Castle can be seen in the background.)
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Gujo-Hachiman Castle and autumn leaves are lit up in the evening.8 views
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Kikoku Guardhouse site now has a Gujo Odori monument.8 views
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Urasoe Castle (浦添城) was originally built in the 12th century and served as the headquarters of the Chuzan Kingdom, one of the three kingdoms on the main island until they were unified to form the Ryukyu Kingdom in 1429. 8 viewsOnly a few stone walls and craggy rocks remain, no buildings. It is also famous as Hacksaw Ridge featured in the acclaimed 2016 movie, "Hacksaw Ridge" directed by Mel Gibson.
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Exhibition space inside Taga Taisha-mae Station. Also good as a waiting room.8 views
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Bicycles are allowed on Ohmi Railways trains.8 views
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So Tateiwa Tunnel is like being inside a mother's womb. It goes to the Tateiwa Scenic Point.8 views
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Tateiwa Tunnel is 72 meters long.8 views
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Koike-ya, gift shop for traditional paper prints. 絵草紙・小池屋8 views
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Throwing shuriken knives at a target.8 views
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Ryogoku Bridge8 views
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Yakata-bune boat rides also available.8 views
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Snow trail only on this side of the lake. It took me a total of 3 hours to walk around the lake, including picture-taking time.8 views
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After the small green belt, walk on the street to the Shell Mound. 8 views
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Niomon Gate at the top of the steps, Guhoji's front gate. The two columns house a pair of Nio kings considered to be the protectors of the temple. 仁王門8 views
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Park rules.8 views
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The Kaiwo Maru was launched on Feb. 14, 1930, Valentine's Day, so people have associated the ship with love. Yumi Katsura Lover's Sanctuary Monument and Kaiwo Maru in the background. 8 views
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Helmets and other gear used by cadets.8 views
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Chief Radio Officer's quarters. No Internet in those days.8 views
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Purser's Office8 views
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Inside Japan Sea Culture Center (日本海交流センター) showing models of sailing ships from around the world.8 views
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Types of ships.8 views
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Battleship Yamato too.8 views
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To strengthen Japan's maritime defense against foreign ships, the Tokugawa government in 1849 ordered the Matsumae Clan to build Matsumae Castle in this coastal town. Matsumae Castle's main tower peers above the ticket office.8 views
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Matsumae Castle was the last Japanese castle to be built (1854) during the samurai's Edo Period. It was the base of the Matsumae Clan who ruled Hakodate and this Matsumae area (formerly named "Fukuyama"). The castle was an expansion of thei8 views
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Front lawn with cherry blossom trees which bloom in late April to mid-May.8 views
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Naze Port is about halfway between Kagoshima Port (383 km away) in Kyushu and Naha Port (331 km away) in Okinawa. Designated as an Important Harbor in Japan. Fine natural harbor. 8 views
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Naze Port's Nagahama dock where cruise ships dock. It's 280 meters long and 10 meters deep. 名瀬港 長浜地区8 views
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Naze Port's Nagahama area on Amami-Oshima island was prepared for 80,000-ton cruise ships in 2004.8 views
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Japan Coast Guard ships are also moored at Naze Port, Amami Oshima.8 views
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Cruise ship at Naze Port, Amami-Oshima.8 views
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Cruise ship at Naze Port, Amami-Oshima.8 views
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Rinsen-bashi Bridge goes over a small stream.林泉橋8 views
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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.8 views
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Seiryo-bashi suspension bridge. 清涼橋8 views
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Kigensugi as it looks from the road. "Kigen" refers to the beginning of recorded history which in Japan is the year 660 when the first emperor came to being. The tree seems to be older though, at age 3,000 years.8 views
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Momi fir tree stump also nearby. It was cut down. 455 years old.8 views
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Scenic coast back to Miyanoura Port, Yakushima.8 views
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Cruise ship dock at Miyanoura Port, Yakushima, Kagoshima, Japan.8 views
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Operated by the Tokyo government, Mukojima Hyakkaen Garden is a medium-size Japanese garden in a quiet residential area in eastern Tokyo (Sumida Ward) not far from Tokyo Skytree.8 views
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About Mukojima Hyakkaen Garden.8 views
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Onari-zashiki 御成座敷8 views
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Pine needles and pine cones up close.8 views
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Yatate Bridge on the southern end of Soka-Matsubara. It's 96.3 meters long and 4.14 meters wide. Bigger than Hyakutai Bridge. 矢立橋8 views
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About Kamagaya Hachiman Shrine.8 views
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Hokuso Line Shin-Kamagaya Station platform.8 views
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Inside Bic Camera.8 views
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JR Kashiwa Station East exit area arcade.8 views
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The park basically is marshland with fences keeping the cranes inside. Visitors could walk along the tall fence and see the cranes, usually in pairs. 8 views
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History of the Kushiro Japanese Crane Reserve in Japanese.8 views
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Yasukuni Shrine.8 views
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Sumo jinku singing. 相撲甚句8 views
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Endo has a kabuki kesho mawashi ceremonial apron.8 views
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Yokozuna Terunofuji performing the shiranui-style dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony. 照ノ富士8 views
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Asanoyama. They went through the motions of receiving the water. but there was no water. Not a real tournament.8 views
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Endo, one of the most popular wrestlers. 遠藤8 views
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Mitakeumi, a former Ozeki. 御嶽海8 views
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Mitakeumi, a former Ozeki. 御嶽海8 views
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Spectators exiting the sumo arena. Before, spectators had to bring their own picnic mats to sit on. Now they provided a mat over the entire ground 8 views
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Ladies in waiting for Tokuhime, wife of Hojo Ujinao. 8 views
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Tokuhime, wife of Hojo Ujinao. Second daughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu.北条氏直正室 督姫(徳川家康の娘) 小田原短期大学8 views
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Hachioji Castle lord, Hojo Ujiteru. 八王子城主 北条氏照隊8 views
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Hachigata Castle Matchlock Gun Battalion. 8 views
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The festival also had food booths.8 views
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Two Hakone geisha. They both sing. In green is Kadomatsu Miyuki, an aspiring singer. 箱根芸者夢路8 views
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Sengan Pine tree on a craggy rock on Morito Coast. Part of Morito Daimyojin Shrine in Hayama, Kanagawa. 千貫松8 views
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Short home movie of the Yurakucho area in June 1961. Filmed by a deceased relative.8 views
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Video of Maihara Hikiyama matsuri in 2010.8 views
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My YouTube video of the 2023 Kita-Urawa Awa Odori dance festival held on Sept. 30, 2023.8 views
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Off we go. The water was shallow, but we still wore lifejackets.7 views
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We were on time for the sunrise.7 views
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Maira River lined with mangroves.7 views
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Mouth of Maira River at high tide. The brackish water is quite shallow, no more than 1 or 2 feet deep.7 views
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Mouth of Maira River at low tide when we passed by the day before.7 views
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Mouth of Maira River at low tide when we passed by the day before.7 views
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Cape Ogansaki 御神埼7 views
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Cape Ogansaki 御神埼7 views
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Cape Ogansaki 御神埼7 views
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Cape Ogansaki 御神埼7 views
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Cape Ogansaki 御神埼7 views
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Entrance to the road going up to the castle. Both cars and pedestrians use this narrow, single-lane road, so we all need to be careful.7 views
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Takes about 15 min. of uphill walking. Cars can go up to the parking lot near the castle. People in wheelchairs should take a taxi. However, the castle grounds still has a lot of stone steps. Castle tower has no elevator.7 views
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The pedestrian approach to the castle entrance is also pretty with autumn leaves.7 views
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Major spot to view and photograph the castle. The stone monument is connected with Nichiren.7 views
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Gujo-Hachiman Castle and autumn foliage.7 views
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Gujo-Hachiman Castle corner turret.7 views
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Autumn view of Gujo-Hachiman Castle from a path along the castle wall.7 views
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Kazutoyo and Chiyo were made nationally famous by the year-long NHK Taiga Drama series Kōmyō ga Tsuji (功名が辻) in 2006. 7 views
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Gujo-Hachiman Castle's corner turret and autumn leaves lit up in the evening7 views
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Gujo-Hachiman Castle's corner turret and autumn leaves lit up in the evening7 views
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Bus fare is only ¥1,550 from Meitetsu Gifu Station. It takes 80 min. Gujo-Hachiman is not as far north as Shirakawa-go or Takayama, so it's an easy day trip.7 views
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Bus stop on the highway to Gujo-Hachman.7 views
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Cooked cuttlefish (ika) as a food replica.7 views
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Chokyoji Temple in Gujo-Hachiman. Family temple for the Endo Clan, castle lords. 長敬寺7 views
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Yellow hibiscus7 views
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YS-11A, Japan's first passenger plane built after World War II. In service from the 1960s to 1995. Displayed at Gifu-Kakamigahara Air and Space Museum.7 views
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Mitsubishi T-2 Blue Impulse aerobatic jet. T-2高等練習機7 views
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NAL Asuka STOL Research Aircraft7 views
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Loading a bicycle on the train.7 views
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Way to Taga Taisha.7 views
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Local shop in Taga.7 views
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Edo Wonderland, called "Nikko Edomura" in Japanese, is a theme park featuring Japan's Edo Period (1603–1867) architecture and culture.7 viewsFor admission prices, see the official website: edowonderland.net/en/
Besides the general admission fee, some attractions charge an extra fee.
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We'll catch you now!7 views
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Akan-Kohan Youth Hostel was once here too. Not here anymore. 阿寒湖畔ユースホステル（既に閉館）7 views
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You will pass by the Ichikawa Municipal Museum of History. Free admission, but it was closed when we were there. Horinouchi Kaizuka Shell Mound Park has two museums. 市川歴史博物館7 views
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Next is Satomi Park, another large park with different areas. This part is undeveloped and quiet. 里見公園7 views
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Speed control7 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.7 views
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Skylight over the dining/lecture hall.7 views
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Design of Shin-Minato Ohashi Bridge.7 views
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Japan Sea Culture Center (日本海交流センター) exhibition space. It's also a community center with meeting rooms, etc.7 views
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Fancy selfie sign says "Matsumae Castle." Since the current castle tower is aging and not earthquake-resistant, there are plans to replace it with another reconstruction with wood. Due to be completed in 2035.7 views
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Top floor of Matsumae Castle's main tower. Windows on all four sides give good views of the park.7 views
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Near the Gate is a Fugenzo (普賢象) cherry tree that was planted by Prince Nobuhito Takamatsu (younger brother of the late Emperor Hirohito) in 1974. It has fluffy light pink or white flowers. ('Albo-rosea' Makino)7 views
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View from the top floor of Matsumae Castle's main tower. The castle grounds have 10,000 sakura trees, making it one of Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots. 日本さくら名所100選7 views
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Matsumae Castle's Honmaru Gomon Gate, the castle's only surviving, original structure.7 views
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From the 1990s, further excavations were conducted and pieces of castle roof tiles and stone wall remnants were discovered.7 views
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Bust of Chiyonofuji.7 views
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Main road on Yakushima as we go to Yakusugi Land by tour bus.7 views
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Yakusugi Land is in the mountains, so our bus drove up the mountain road.7 views
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Yakusugi cedar trees can only grow in cold climates. Therefore on Yakushima, they grow at high altitudes.7 views
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Domaiboku is a tree already harvested or felled by a typhoon. The tree's high resin content prevents the wood from rotting. Discarded scrap tree parts have been recovered to make souvenirs. 土埋木7 views
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Kuguri Cedar or Cedar Underpass. くぐり杉7 views
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Seiryo-bashi suspension bridge. After this bridge, it's a short walk back to the parking lot, bus stop, or starting point. 清涼橋7 views
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Phone booth inside a hollow Yakusugi tree trunk.7 views
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Back of Kigensugi cedar tree.7 views
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Kigensugi cedar tree.7 views
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Scenic coast back to Miyanoura Port. 7 views
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Event schedule for Mukojima Hyakkaen's Ume Matsuri (Plum Blossom Festival) from Feb. 11 to March 5, 2023. A few events and entertainment are held on the weekends during this period.7 views
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After paying admission, go through this Garden Gate to enter the garden. 庭門7 views
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Mukojima Hyakkaen Garden's major feature is this Japanese bush clover (hagi) tunnel.7 views
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Japanese bush clover (hagi) tunnel.7 views
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Pine tree at Mukojima with yukitsuri ropes for protection against snow.7 views
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These flowers were in bloom in late March.7 views
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Shirahige Bridge over Sumida River is on the border of three wards: Sumida, Taito, and Arakawa. The original bridge was wooden built in 1914. It was a toll bridge, but didn't do well business wise due to watashi-bune commuter boats in the same area.7 views
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Soka Matsubara goes along the Ayase River.7 views
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Following Senju-juku (Adachi Ward, Tokyo), Soka-juku was the second post town on the old Nikko Kaido Road from Tokyo (Nihonbashi) to Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture. However, no original buildings from Soka-juku remain. 7 viewsPart of the Nikko Kaido road remains, and a few monuments mark the location of the Honjin VIP lodges and road marker. This is a scale model of Soka-juku displayed in the local history museum.
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The balloons inflated quite quickly.7 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.7 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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Kamagaya Daibutsu is Japan's smallest Great Buddha bronze statue. Height is 1.8 meter. It has amazingly survived since Nov. 1776 when it was commissioned by local merchant Okuniya Fukuda Bun'emon (大国屋福田文右衛門) to memorialize his 7 views
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Gods worshiped by Kamagaya Hachiman Shrine. They include deities for transportation safety, safe childbirth, and family security.7 views
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Kamagaya Daibutsu Station platform.7 views
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Lake Tega was where some Japanese literary figures and celebs had lakeside villas. They included judo founder Kano Jingoro, writer Mushanokoji Saneatsu, novelist Shiga Naoya, and British potter Bernard Leach.7 views
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Lake Tega lakeside path is lined with cherry trees. Should be nice in spring, but I visited in winter.7 views
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Walking along Lake Teganuma. 7 views
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JR Kashiwa Station East exit area.7 views
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JR Kashiwa Station East exit area.7 views
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The fence also has quiz questions like "What's the difference between the male and female crane?" The answer is behind the sign.7 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. 7 views
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When I arrived, they were performing the sumo jinku folk singing. 相撲甚句7 views
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Juryo Division ring-entering ceremony or dohyo-iri.7 views
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The ring-entering ceremony is when you can see the designs on the wrestlers' colorful ceremonial aprons.7 views
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Asanoyama7 views
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Juryo wrestler Kitanowaka facing frontward. 北の若7 views
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Terunofuji has the shiranui-style yokozuna rope with double loops on the back. 不知火型7 views
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Asanoyama who has been climbing back up the ranks. 朝乃山7 views
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Ura 宇良7 views
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Aoiyama 碧山7 views
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Mitakeumi, a former Ozeki. 御嶽海7 views
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Kotonowaka. His father and stable master was also a sumo wrestler named Kotonowaka. 琴ノ若 傑太7 views
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Hoshoryu 豊昇龍7 views
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Yokozuna Terunofuji getting ready for his match. 照ノ富士7 views
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