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Portrait of Chiyo, wife of Yamauchi Kazutoyo.6 views
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Area along Kodara River is within the Kitamachi (northern) part of Gujo-Hachiman. Part of the castle town at the foot of the castle mountain.6 views
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On the right is Sogi natural spring, named after poet Sogi who bid farewell here to the castle lord after visiting Gujo in the 15th century.6 views
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Gujo Odori monument.6 views
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Red water bucket to put out fires.6 views
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Neighborhood called Shokunin-machi leading to Chokyoji Temple.6 views
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Gate to Chokyoji Temple. 長敬寺6 views
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Chokyoji has a connection with the Ryosotai Battalion formed by former samurai of Gujo domain. They fought against Imperial forces in 1868 at Aizu Wakamatsu. 凌霜隊6 views
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Running through the heart of Gujo-Hachiman, scenic Yoshida River is lined with tourist sights. The castle is on the top of the mountain. The rivers serve as natural moats for the castle.6 views
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About the Former Hachiman Town Hall.6 views
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Traditional-looking homes.6 views
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Manhole in Ena, Gifu.6 views
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There were a few maple (momiji) trees along the way.6 views
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Enakyo Visitors Center has tourist information counter and air-conditioned rest area with tables and chairs.6 views
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Pray to Benzaiten for success in life, passing exams, love, and art and design.6 views
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Upper level of Sazanami Park.6 views
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List of the 33 Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage temples in western Japan (西国三十三所). Tanigumi-san is on the bottom of the list.6 views
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Seats have a gourd design.6 views
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Naminoue Beach Park.6 views
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Anatomy of Ryuchu dragon pillars.6 views
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Tomari Ohashi Bridge also has a pedestrian sidewalk. 泊大橋6 views
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Naminoue Shrine's main hall. 波上宮 6 views
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The Commodore Perry Landing Monument is also in the Tomari International Cemetery, seen here toward the left.6 views
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On Naha's waterfront, Commodore Perry Landing Monument. Perry first landed in Naha in May 1853 and was finally able to visit Shuri Castle on June 6, 1853 after insisting on it. Meanwhile, his crew explored the island and saw interesting things.6 views
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Back of Perry Monument: This monument has been erected in honor of COMMODORE PERRY who on June 6, 1853 landed near this place.6 viewsThe lower plaque is inscribed with Perry's quote when he visited Shuri Castle:
PROSPERITY TO THE LEW CHEWANS, AND
MAY THEY AND THE AMERICANS ALWAYS BE
FRIENDS.
COMMODORE PERRY AT A RECEPTION IN
HIS HONOR (THE ROYAL GUEST
HOUSE) SHURI, OKINAWA, JUNE 6, 1853
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Older photo of the monument when it looked more new. The lower plaque wasn't faded yet.6 views"Lew Chew" (Ru-chu ルーチュー), as spelled by Perry, is what the Ryukyu Kingdom called itself. There's also "Uchina" (ウチナー) which referred to the main island, but today, "uchina" usually refers to the entire prefecture of Okinawa.
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Tomarin Park next to Tomari Port. 泊緑地 6 views
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Captain Basil Hall monument in Tomarin Park, Naha, Okinawa.6 views
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About Captain Basil Hall.6 views
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At Tomari Port, ticket office for Tokashiki island.6 views
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Jetways at Naha Airport are decorated with orchids. A very nice touch.6 views
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Naha Airport terminal map.6 views
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Naha Airport gates also have gift shops for last-minute gifts. 6 views
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On a later trip to Okinawa, I noticed that the window is now frosted and no longer transparent...6 views
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Even the pilots of our plane wore masks. Partially visible is the plane's slogan, "Uchina no Tsubasa" (Wings of Okinawa). ANA also serves the Okinawan islands.6 views
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The Yaeyama Islands (Ishigaki) are a one-hour flight from Naha. Japan's most remote islands, but easy to get to on flights from Naha or Tokyo. We simply call them "Yaeyama."6 views
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Back at Naha Airport for another flight. Leaving for Haneda.6 views
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Japan Transocean Air (JTA) Boeing 737-800 plane painted like a whale shark (blue). There's a pink one too. It's advertising the Churaumi Aquarium which has a whale shark. ジンベエ ジェット6 views
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Ryukyu Air Commuter DHC8-Q400CC (DH4) turboprop plane taking off from Naha Airport.6 views
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Gate 23 at Naha Airport again. (Same gate as the flight to Ishigaki.)6 views
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Entering Japan Airlines Boeing 777-200 at Naha Airport. Plane to Haneda.6 views
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Japan Airlines Boeing 777-200 to Haneda.6 views
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For Okinawa World, take the No. 83 bus. The bus leaves only once or twice an hour and takes about 45 min.6 views
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Okinawa World's front gate is decorated by five seesaa/shisa to ward off evil and bring in good fortune.6 views
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The part of the cavern open to the public is 890 meters long. Takes about 30 min. to walk through it. Diverse features and stalactites everywhere with colored lighting.6 views
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"Ceiling of Spears" 槍天井6 views
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Deer bone fossils.6 views
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Blue Spring limestone dam.6 views
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Platform for a higher shot/view.6 views
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Japanese mitten crab, one of the creatures that live in the cavern. モクズガニ6 views
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Habu zoo.6 views
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The stage also had two partially filled water tubes for the show's climax (?). This is the Snake and Mongoose Show. Instead of fighting each other, they race in the water.6 views
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The snake didn't understand it was a race and wandered back and forth in the tube until it finally reached the other end after correctly thinking that it was the way out. So that was the main highlight of the show...6 views
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Great show! Saw it twice.6 views
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Stone walls in front of Uezu residence.6 views
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About the stone walls.6 views
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Inside Uezu Residence.6 views
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Uezu Residence6 views
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Pricing for renting Okinawan bingata kimono.6 views
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Indigo dyeing workshop.6 views
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Okinawa Culture Center is a small history museum in Okinawa World. 王国歴史博物館6 views
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Another room of exhibits.6 views
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Scale model of one shisa in front of Okinawa World's main gate.6 views
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Okinawan children at work.6 views
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Sugar Cane Hall is mainly an exhibition space. No sugar cane. It's also the entrance/exit for the Kingdom Village. サトウキビ館6 views
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Different shapes of the sanshin.6 views
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How bingata kimono is made.6 views
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Weaving Okinawan fabrics.6 views
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Little fish clean off your skin on your feet.6 views
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Pottery workshop in Okinawa World.6 views
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Ryukyu Glass Kingdom Studio is where you can make your own glassware. 琉球ガラス王国工房6 views
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Tropical Orchard is what you see after exiting the Gyokusendo Cavern. 熱帯フルーツ園6 views
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Shisa (シーサー) guardian lion dog statue on the roof.6 views
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In the gift shop, bought this kariyushi shirt. Kariyushi is an Okinawan-style Aloha shirt. Most designs are muted in color, similar to showing the reverse side of the material. 6 viewsThis design shows the deigo, Okinawa's official flower or tiger's claw (デイゴ). I made sure that it was made in Okinawa. Cheaper shirts are made elsewhere. かりゆしウェア
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Sloping path up to Urasoe Castle site. This south side of the hill is a gradual slope, unlike the sudden and steep cliff on the north face.6 views
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Historic cobblestone path part of the way up. Excavated in 2006.6 views
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Lots of craggy rocks on Hacksaw Ridge.6 views
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US-1A 90786 views
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Rear of P-2J.6 views
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Front of Salmson 2A2. 乙式一型偵察機（サルムソン2A2）6 views
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Chronology of Japan's aviation history until 1945. Models of the Zero fighter and Hien fighter displayed.6 views
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The museum's highlight piece is this restored Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien fighter prototype, the only one in the world.6 views
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Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien fighter6 views
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Rear of Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien fighter.6 views
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About the Mitsubishi A6M1 Zero fighter prototype. The Zero fighter first flew at Kakamigahara. About 10,000 were made.6 views
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X1G1B High-Lift Research Aircraft6 views
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Mitsubishi-Lockheed F-104J Starfighter6 views
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F-104J Starfighter cockpit.6 views
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Mitsubishi T-2 Blue Impulse aerobatic jet.6 views
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NAL Asuka STOL Research Aircraft6 views
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NAL Asuka STOL Research Aircraft 低騒音STOL実験機「飛鳥」6 views
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NAL Asuka STOL Research Aircraft6 views
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Cygnus powered sailplane.6 views
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Kawasaki XOH-1 wooden mockup helicopter from the 1990s.6 views
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After nine launches and cargo spacecrafts, Kounotori was finally retired in Aug. 2020. Kounotori will be replaced with a new cargo spacecraft to launch in 2022. Nickname unknown as of this writing. 6 views
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Small exhibition about commercial aviation.6 views
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Bus stop in front of Kakamigahara Shiyakusho-mae Station. Take the No. 5 or No. 7 bus. Takes about 15–20 min. to the museum.6 views
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Fureai Bus Schedule from Kakamigahara Shiyakusho-mae Station. Only once an hour. The museum has the latest bus schedule in Japanese: http://www.sorahaku.net/access/ ふれあいバス6 views
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Kakamigahara Shiyakusho-mae Station platform.6 views
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Mieji Station platform on the Tarumi Line.6 views
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Sign indicating the heart of Mieji-juku.6 views
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Akiba Shrine6 views
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Map of Mieji-juku sights.6 views
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Stone lantern in Kunigawa Onsen. "Onsen" means hot spring.6 views
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These photos were taken in January, so it's not so colorful.6 views
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Great views of the river below. Nicknamed "Matchmaking Bridge."6 views
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From Tateiwa Scenic Point, fine views of Kinugawa Onsen spa. 楯岩展望台6 views
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On Tateiwa Scenic Point, Matchmaking Bell for people looking for a mate. Ring the bell to find marital happiness.6 views
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Directions back.6 views
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Kinutateiwa Bridge over Kinugawa River.6 views
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Walking back across Kinutateiwa Bridge over Kinugawa River.6 views
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Kinugawa River as seen from Kinutateiwa Bridge.6 views
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Sunset clouds in Kinugawa Onsen.6 views
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My nice room at Kinugawa Park Hotels (Kirakukan 9th floor). Ten tatami mats plus twin beds. This room can normally sleep six people or so. 鬼怒川パークホテルズ6 views
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Hotel gift shop.6 views
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Fruits for dessert.6 views
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Soaping area.6 views
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The priest explaining about Zen meditation.6 views
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Kinugawa Onsen Station.6 views
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Tourists at a foot bath at Kinugawa Onsen Station.6 views
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Kinugawa Onsen Station.6 views
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Echigoya gift shop.6 views
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Wakamatsu-ya Theater is the park's most eye-catching building. 若松屋6 views
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Samurai District, local magistrate's residence. 南町奉行所6 views
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Yaba Archery Dojo6 views
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Ninja Karakuri Mansion is where you can try ninja tricks in the house to escape from attackers.6 views
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View from Koyama Castle.6 views
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View from Koyama Castle.6 views
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Niseko Hirafu ski lift. ニセコ ヒラフ6 views
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Niseko Annupuri.6 views
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Niseko Moiwa ski run. We skiied here at night. ニセコモイワ6 views
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On the southern shore is Akanko Onsen hot spring with hotels and inns. Boat cruises also operate. These photos were taken years ago, so a few buildings might look different today. 阿寒湖温泉6 views
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Akanko Ainu Kotan Ainu village. 阿寒湖アイヌコタン6 views
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Lake Mashu and Kamuishu island.6 views
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Sulphur mining ended altogether in Hokkaido in 1963.6 views
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Red plum blossoms really stand out.6 views
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Wakoto Peninsula has this free outdoor hot spring bath on the lake shore. Open to both men and women, most bathers wear a swimsuit.6 views
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Nearest train station is JR Kawayu Onsen Station. Take the Akan Bus to Kawayu Onsen to reach Lake Kussharo.6 views
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For the most part, the trail has signage in both Japanese and English. We soon got to some greenery called Horinouchi Ryokuchi green belt. There's this fork in the trail. Go left to see the shell mound in Horinouchi Kaizuka Park.6 views
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Horinouchi Ryokuchi green belt. 堀之内緑地6 views
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The other museum in the park is the Ichikawa Archaeology Museum displaying shell mound remains as old as 3,000 years (Jomon Period). Pottery & human remains found here are also exhibited. Good to have this museum next to the shell mound. 市川考古6 views
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Walking through Horinouchi Kaizuka Shell Mound, larger than what meets the eye. The shell mound's immediate area was the ocean shallows where it was easy to harvest shellfish.6 views
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Rules for using Junsai-ike Ryokuchi Park. No bicycle riding, dogs must be leashed, etc.6 views
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Junsai-ike Ryokuchi green belt park じゅん菜池緑地6 views
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Some cherry blossoms along Junsai-ike Pond. じゅん菜池6 views
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Small bridge in the middle of Junsai-ike Pond.6 views
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The trail passes by a few temples like Ekoin Betsuin Temple. This is the temple gate. 回向別院6 views
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Satomi Park playground.6 views
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This is where most people enjoyed Satomi Park, under the cherry blossoms.6 views
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Edogawa River has a nice riverside walking/cycling path on both sides of the river.6 views
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This is part of the riverside walking path. On the left is a forest on a hill. The forest is also being protected.6 views
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Edogawa River6 views
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Old drawing of Ichikawa Sekisho. It was operated in together with staff on the opposite side (Koiwa) of the river until it was abolished in 1869. The opposite side of the river (Koiwa) also has a signboard marking the sekisho location. 市川関所跡6 views
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JR Ichikawa Station is the first station in Chiba on the JR Sobu Line.6 views
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Ichikawa Tourist Information office next to Ichikawa Station. It was closed.6 views
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The weeping cherry tree looks different from different angles.6 views
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Monchicchi Clock Tower was installed in Oct. 2020 in front of JR Shin-Koiwa Station's north entrance. Tower has stained glass Monchicchi artwork. モンチッチ時計塔6 views
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Also at JR Shin-Koiwa Station's north entrance, a large signboard and map including directions to Monchicchi Park.6 views
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Skydeck Tatsumi pedestrian walkway floor tiles decorated with Monchicchi.6 views
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Shin-Koiwa Station's northeast Tohoku Open Space Area (Tohoku Hiroba) bus stops. Go to bus stop 12 to board the bus for Monchicchi Park. Every October, the Shin-Koiwa Station Tohoku Hiroba Festival is held here and Monchicchi also appears.6 views
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Bulletin board notice about Monchicchi Park unveiling its new expanded areas (Monchicchi Zone and Chibikko Hiroba) on April 2, 2022.6 views
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Entrance to the new Monchicchi Zone at Monchicchi Park.6 views
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In the rear is the new Monchicchi Mini Museum.6 views
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Two panels show the wide variety of Monchicchi costumes. Like Barbie dolls, Moncchichi come in an incredible variety of versions and costumes.6 views
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A few Monchicchi above and on a bench.6 views
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The new Monchicchi Zone is adorned with Sekiguchi doll statues.6 views
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Bronze statues of old Sekiguchi dolls complete with background info.6 views
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Unique Monchicchi angel made of ceramics. Plaque reads, "May your wish come true. Wishing you happiness and smiles!" Maybe this is an object for prayers.6 views
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In this corner, fitness equipment for stretching your body.6 views
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Monchicchi rocker6 views
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Standard red tulips.6 views
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In Yugawara, Fudo Falls is a serene and quiet waterfall 15 meters high. Flanked by small Shinto shrines. From JR Yugawara Station, take a bus for "Oku-Yugawara" or "Fudo-daki" and get off at "Fudo-daki." 20-min. ride.6 views
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JR Shin-Koiwa Station south side as seen from the platform.6 views
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On the south side of JR Shin-Koiwa Station is a shopping arcade named Lumière with 140 stores. It extends across both Katsushika and Edogawa Wards. 新小岩ルミエール商店街 6 views
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The top floor has good views of the area. This is Matsumae Castle's selfie spot. The main tower was a National Treasure until it was destroyed by fire.6 views
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Approaching Yokozuna Chiyonoyama and Chiyonofuji Memorial Hall.6 viewsFrom JR Kikkonai Station, take a bus to Matsumae and get off at Fukushima bus stop. Takes alomst an hour. Open 9 am–5 pm. Admission ¥500. Cloeed Dec. 1 to March 15. https://be-happy-fukushima.com/attractions/yokozuna-kinenkan/
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In front of the museum is a statue of Chiyonofuji (left) and his stablemaster/recruiter Chiyonoyama.6 views
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Chiyonofuji was one of the greatest grand champion (yokozuna) sumo wrestlers of all time. And one of the most popular of all time. 6 viewsFor a sumo wrestler, his physique was relatively small and lightweight, but he compensated for it with his muscular strength, agility, and expert technique.
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Scissors used to cut Chiyonofuji's hair on his retirement day.6 views
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Chiyonoyama's trophy room.6 views
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The video screen showed noted sumo matches such as between Chiyonofuji and Kitanoumi.6 viewsKitanoumi also has an impressive sumo museum near Lake Toya in Hokkaido: https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=664
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Photo portrait of Chiyonofuji for his tournament victory. Sadly, Chiyonofuji died of cancer in 2016 at age 61. Major loss of a beloved, sumo legend.6 views
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Chiyonofuji's Kanreki (age 60) yokozuna rope belt in red.6 views
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Local bus on Amami Oshima.6 views
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Sugar cane on Amami Oshima.6 views
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Bust of Nagano Yoshitatsu (1898–1984 永野芳辰) at Cape Ayamaru. Nagano was a Japanese government bureaucrat who helped to revert Amami islands back to Japan in 1953. He was born and raised on Amami Oshima. Later became governor of Kochi Prefecture.6 views
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Cape Ayamaru scenery.6 views
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Photo spot at Cape Ayamaru.6 views
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Cape Ayamaru sign and photo spot, Amami Oshima, Kagoshima.6 views
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Cape Ayamaru sign and photo spot.6 views
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Lookout deck at Cape Ayamaru shows a beautiful aqua-blue ocean.6 views
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Gift shop.6 views
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Entrance to Amami Resort Basyayamamura, a resort hotel and restaurant on the southern shore of the northern part of the island. Short drive from the airport.6 views
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Amami Resort Basyayama-mura restaurant terrace right on the beach..6 views
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Pumice rocks are small, lightweight, porous pebbles. Floats on water. Saw it for the first time here. 6 views
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Opened in Sept. 2001, Amami Park was built by Kagoshima Prefecture on the site of the old Amami Airport. It has become one of the island's major tourist attractions. 6 viewsOn this map of Amami Park, it's easy to see where the runway was.
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The new Amami Airport's runway can be seen. Amami Park is a short drive from the airport.6 views
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Amami no Sato's indoor stage and event space inside the dome. There's also the small Amami Theater showing a short film about Amami. イベント広場6 views
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Summer day in Amami.6 views
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When you enter the premises, the factory is on the right, and gift shop on the left. Address: 鹿児島県大島郡龍郷町浦1864-26 views
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About the old Sharinbai tree. 6 views
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We had a guided tour of the shochu factory.6 views
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Oshima (Ooshima) Tsumugimura fabric factory.6 views
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Oshima tsumugi fabric production steps.6 views
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Takakura storehouse with a steep thatched roof. Amami's traditional structure for storing grains. Oshima tsumugimura, Amami Oshima, Kagoshima. 奄美の高倉6 views
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Shirahige Bridge looks the same since 1931.6 views
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Where the Soka-Matsubara pine tree path intersects with a major road at two locations, there's a large arch bridge to enable pedestrians to keep walking non-stop along the pine trees.6 views
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A local group was formed in 1976 to replant pine trees. Their efforts was successful with 500+ trees planted. Vehicular traffic through the pine trees stopped in 1982. Thankfully, it's now pedestrians only.6 views
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Northern end of Soka-Matsubara. From here, walk 1.5 km to reach the southern end of Soka-Matsubara pine trees.6 views
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