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Grave of Lord Ii Naotaka (1590-1659), 2nd lord of Hikone, Shiga. Gotokuji temple, Setagaya, Tokyo 井伊直孝166 views
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The wrecked road.166 views
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Giant aerial photo of Lake Toya.166 views
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After a long walk uphill with a bicycle, Showa-Shinzan is in sight. Showa-Shinzan is in the town of Sobetsu.166 views
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Statue of Masao Mimatsu, a post office worker who observed and documented the development of Showa-Shinzan. His records are valuable.166 views
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Statue of Masao Mimatsu.166 views
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The ropeway distance is 1370 meters. It takes only 6 min. to reach Mt. Usu. The roundtrip ropeway fare is 1,450 yen for adults, 730 yen for kids.166 views
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Filling up the gas tank with biodiesel fuel.166 views
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The non-toxic auto exhaust smells like tempura.166 views
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Numerous flower beds in the park.166 views
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First he explains about the fishing master's costume, starting with his cap (kazaori-eboshi) made of hemp cloth. It's actually a flat piece of black or navy blue cloth wrapped around his head to protect his hair from the fire. 風折烏帽子166 views
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Nakamurabashi Awa Odori Dance with Nakamurabashi-ren 中村橋連166 views
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Waterfront of Mikasa Park. The Navy base can be seen.166 views
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Tower of the USS George Washington aircraft carrier. This is all you can see of the carrier while it is in port.166 views
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Keikyu Kurihama Station is Kurihama's main train station with shopping arcades. The beach is also within walking distance. 京急久里浜駅166 views
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Views of Lake Biwa from Hiei-zan Driveway. The city of Otsu.166 views
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The float is associated with Empress Jingu of the 4th century. When she gestures to write some characters on a rock with her bow, and the characters magically appear.166 views
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When I visited in mid-Oct., the Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park was holding the Ceramic Art Market. Notice the tents for the ceramic artists selling their works.166 views
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The bean-throwers for 2009 pose for a group shot with the shrine priests.166 views
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Referees are also ranked. The higher ranking referees appear for the matches of the higher-ranking rikishi. They have different dress as the rank goes higher. The lowest-ranked referee may be barefoot.166 views
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Path to Omotezaka entrance.166 views
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From 1997 to 2019, Imazu held the annual Biwako Shuko no Uta (Lake Biwa Rowing Song) choir contest in June at Imazu Shimin Kaikan concert hall. (Discontinued after 2019.)「琵琶湖周航の歌」音楽祭合唱コンクール166 views
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Makino Sunny Beach166 views
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The guided tour is well worth it. I highly recommend it. The Harie-Okawa River would be crystal clear if it weren't for the rice paddies being flooded. MAP166 views
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Inside the cable car station building. Enryakuji is also accessible from the other side of the mountain, on the Kyoto side via the Eizan Cable Car.166 views
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Cable Enryakuji Station. This is the original Cable Enryakuji Station building that was used when the cable railway between Sakamoto and Mt. Hiei opened in 1927.166 viewsIt was Japan's longest cable car route (2025 meters) at the time. The first floor is the station, while the 2nd floor used to be a VIP room. The 2nd floor is now an exhibition hall and open to the public.
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Deep Impact166 views
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Small sculptures on the castle foundation.166 views
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From the Iroha pine tree road, you will see this Ninomaru-Sawaguchi Tamon Yagura Turret.166 views
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About the No. 4 High School (Yonko) cherry blossoms planted in 1977. 四高桜166 views
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Yoshida-guchi trail entrance sign.166 views
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The festival is said to have originated from a Star Festival in China. According to Chinese legend, east of the Milky Way there was a Heavenly King whose daughter worked as a weaver. However, when she married a herdsman, she quit weaving. 166 views
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Asagaya Tanabata Matsuri166 views
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From the train station, just follow the crowd. I don't know why they didn't close the road to traffic and let us (a much larger number of people than those in cars on the road) walk to the base. The sidewalks are very narrow.166 views
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Budo-ren, Mitaka Awa Odori 富道連166 views
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Soon after we entered the gym, they started introducing the players.166 views
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The old school library.166 views
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Tomoe Gozen is the only woman in the procession wearing samurai armor and weapons. 巴御前166 views
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Tilted buildings near Sannomiya Station. It took only 15 sec. to wreak all this damage.166 views
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Kinkakuji Gold Pavilion 金閣寺166 views
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Statue of the Azai family in front of the Azai pavilion. As soon as they arrive here, most visitors take a picture of this sculpture.166 views
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Hiroshige's woodblock print of Miho no Matsubara Beach and Mt. Fuji from his "Famous Views of the 60 Provinces" series.166 views
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The museum is a spacious Japanese-style house.166 views
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The museum staff person there could immediately tell that I was from Hawai'i even though I had said little more than "Hello" in fluent Japanese.166 views
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Pour sweet tea over the statue of a baby Buddha at Tennoji temple in Yanaka Cemetery, Tokyo.166 views
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Entrance to Hiroshima-Nagasaki photo exhibition 広島・長崎原爆写真展の入口165 views
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Mariko Mori 中にも入れる165 viewsThree people at a time could go inside and watch some kind of video.
三人が入れる。
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Duomo Cathedral165 viewsThe front facade of this symbol of Milan is undergoing restoration.
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In front of Azuchi Station. That's a statue of Oda Nobunaga who built Azuchi Castle. MAP165 views
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Near Sugaura in northern Lake Biwa165 views
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A stone's throw from Chojuji Temple, Jorakuji Temple (est. 708) of the Tendai Buddhist Sect boasts two National Treasures with its main hall and three-story pagoda. It is one of the Konan Sanzan Temple Trio accessible by bus from JR Ishibe Station.165 viewsIn the deep-green forest, you can see part of the pagoda's roof.
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Built in 1940, Omi Jingu Shrine is dedicated to Emperor Tenji who moved the capital to Otsu in 667 at the location of this shrine. Otsu was therefore once the capital of Japan. MAP165 views
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Shopping arcade165 views
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Akashi Station165 viewsOn the JR Sanyo Line.
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Jonai Bridge to castle165 views城内橋
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Castle map165 viewsThe castle is within a park called Maizuru Park. Another name for the castle is "Maizuru Castle."
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Castle gate165 views
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Awa Odori Dance, Yamato, Kanagawa165 viewsThe city of Yamato in Kanagawa Prefecture holds its annual Awa Odori dance during the last weekend in July. Numerous Awa Odori dance troupes (including those from Tokushima) participate in the evening dance parade in the city's main streets.
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The crowd admire the night blossoms called yo-zakura.165 views
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Yomeimon Gate165 views
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Emperor's Cup. This is what all sumo wrestlers dream about.165 views
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Finally found a seat closer to the road.165 views
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They are pulling floats weighing 10 tons.165 views
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Ohara beach165 views
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Yama Jigoku (Mountain Hell) 山地獄165 views
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Nihonbashi Bridge and the ugly expressway above.165 views
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The shop sells kusa dango (mugwort dumplings with real grass inside), the local specialty. Photo: Nitenmon Gate in view165 views
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Gate to Takayama Jinya165 views
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Trash bins on train platform. See-through for better security.165 views
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Closeup of flowers.165 views
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Under the shower of weeping flowers.165 views
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The Osensui Pond was modeled after Lake Biwa in Shiga Pref.165 views
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View from the top.165 views
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Crowded walking path along Okawa River. Most people view the festival from the riverside.165 views
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Yae-zakura cherry blossoms combine well with moss pink.165 views
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Finally at the end, a little girl's artwork on a sheet of cloth catches his eye.165 views
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The ceremony included hula chanting and dancing.165 views
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Entrance to the gravesite of Lord Maeda Toshinaga, about 870 meters away from Zuiryuji. (Maeda Toshinaga Bosho 前田利長墓所)165 views
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Slope where they committed seppuku (hara-kiri). 自刃の地165 views
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Lord Ii Naosuke's grave is at the very end on the left.165 views
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Grave of Lord Ii Naonori (1848-1904), Gotokuji temple, Setagaya, Tokyo 井伊直憲の墓165 views
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Six Jizo165 views
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Prawns165 views
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Biodiesel fuel tank connected to a gas pump.165 views
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Nicknamed "Akarenga Chosha" (Red Brick Government Building), a fire in 1909 gutted the interior, but the exterior was little damaged. The building was restored in 1911. 赤れんが庁舎165 views
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Susukino Station165 views
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View of Sapporo Station's north side from JR Tower. Admission to JR Tower lookout deck on the 38th floor is 700 yen.165 views
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At the end of Chuo-dori is Unga Plaza which used to be Otaru Warehouse. Now find tourist info counter and gift shop.165 views
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Cherry blossoms and the Niomon Gate at night in April.165 views
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Nakamurabashi Awa Odori in Sept.165 views
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Central Command Area of Responsibility (Feb. 17, 2003) - An F/A-18C Hornet sits ready on catapult three, one of four steam-powered catapults aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk.165 viewsCentral Command Area of Responsibility (Feb. 17, 2003) - An F/A-18C Hornet sits ready on catapult three, one of four steam-powered catapults aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). Kitty Hawk and embarked Carrier Air Wing 5 remain mission-ready to respond to emergent national tasking where needed, and were recently ordered to the Central Command area of responsibility to join coalition forces preparing for possible operations in that area. Kitty Hawk is the U.S. Navy’s only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier and operates out of Yokosuka, Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Todd Frantom. (RELEASED)
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Display of model boats by elementary school children on the lower deck.165 views
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Perry Park faces the beach. It has the Perry Monument marking Perry's landing in Kurihama. ぺりー公園165 views
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The bridge obviously has ceramic materials.165 views
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Shigaraki-no-miya Palace ruins. National Historic Site MAP165 views
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Omotezaka Path to castle tower. Not good for wheel chairs or those who don't like to climb stairs.165 views
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Time-Keeping Bell or Jiho-sho. It is rung five times daily at 6:00, 9:00, 12:00 noon, 15:00, and 18:00. Also see my YouTube video here.165 views
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Onjuku Beach165 views
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Narita Brian, a famous racehorse.165 views
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Hikone was important as the crossroads of the Nakasendo Road (中山道) to Kyoto and Hokurikudo Road (北陸道) to the northwest. It also linked the roads to boat transportation on Lake Biwa for Kyoto.165 views
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Asagaya Tanabata Matsuri, Tokyo165 views
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The next nine men are the Patriotic Court Noblemen. Maki Izumi and Kusaka Genzui here. 七卿落：真木和泉、久坂玄瑞165 views
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I visited the Kyoto Imperial Palace in Nov. 2009 when it was open to the public to mark the 20th anniversary of Emperor Akihito's enthronement. This is Kenreimon Gate, used only by the emperor and heads of state. 建礼門165 views
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Kunozan Toshogu Shrine was built 19 years before the famous Nikko Toshogu Shrine (Tochigi Prefecture) which is where Ieyasu was reburied. According to his will, Ieyasu wanted to be buried on Kunozan. Before the shrine, there was a temple and a castle here165 views
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2007 April 20 -- Naoko at the NASA booth at the 2007 Grand Prix of Houston auto race. (JAXA photo)165 views
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My video of the Aburahi Matsuri. The yakko-furi procession reenacts the samurai coming to worship at the shrine. You have to watch this video to understand the soundless photos.165 views
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I bagged this bag of beans. It actually hit me when I wasn't looking.165 views
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Tokyo Skytree souvenir ball-point pens.165 views
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Suhama Beach is a peninsular beach at Motsuji temple, Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. World Heritage Site.165 views
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Manhole at Higashimurayama, Tokyo.165 views
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Sotoen's noborigama kiln is 15 meters wide, 30 meters long, and 3.5 meters high. It has eleven chambers going up a slope. 登り窯165 views
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One rascal kid is trying to undo the wrestler's mawashi.165 views
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Sumo service entrance for groups.165 views
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Olympic gold medalist marathon runner Naoko Takahashi at Tokyo Marathon Expo on Feb. 2012.165 views
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Closeup of hanging decorations made of bread. These were outside, and I guess there were enough people to keep the birds away.165 views
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"Hiko" refers to Hikone, and "nyan" is a baby word for cat. Hiko-nyan's appearance schedule is here.165 viewsIf it rains, Hiko-nyan appears at the Castle Museum. Hiko-nyan is a white cat wearing a red samurai helmet with horns, modeled after the one worn by Lord Ii Naomasa, the first lord of Hikone Castle.
Hiko-nyan also makes guest appearances at various events to promote Hikone. He has even traveled to Hawaii to appear in a Japan parade in Waikiki.
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The dance parade restarted for the second half of the festival, Shibuya Kagoshima Ohara Festival.165 views
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Korakuen Garden, Okayama165 views
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Monument for usokae.165 views
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The cable length is 250 meters and 13mmm thick. There are about 1,200 carp streamers. They are reused every year and donated by local families. (I also noticed a few advertising carps.)164 views
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Hannu Hautala ハンヌ・ハウタラ氏164 viewsHannu Hautala speaks.
ハウタラ氏の出番。
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Fallen tree164 viewsYou see fallen trees everywhere in the forest. Instead of being cleared away, they are left on the ground where they rot and host new life such as moss and lichens.
Finland has a lot of dead or half-dead trees too with wilted branches and no leaves. This is something we don't see so much in Japan. Most trees are cut down and hauled away for lumber before they die.
倒れた木が多い。そのまま放置されて後ほど新しい生き物が。
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Baltic herring バルト海のニシン164 viewsA specialty of Helsinki. This was served at Sea Horse, a well-known restaurant. This one serving must have had about 20 of these herrings stacked up. I ate maybe 10 of these fish. They were excellent, but I could eat no more. Took the rest home in a doggy bag. It took another 3 days to eat the rest.
一人分になんと２０匹も積み重なっていた。多すぎて残った分を持ち帰った。
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Bell tower 鐘楼164 views
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Castle tower and southwest corner turret.164 views未申櫓, 西南隅櫓
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Inside Castle tower164 views
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Train station platform164 views
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View from castle tower164 views
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Sign for boat going to the islands (no longer in service)164 views
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Bridge with a view164 views
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Prayer ceremony by priests164 views
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Entrance to Daruma Museum (one room only)164 views
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Tensho-ren 天翔連164 views
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Nobunaga speaks.164 views
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Kanazawa Samurai houses164 views
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Nishikawa residence.164 views
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Heads of the enemy164 views
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Memorial for the fallen warriors at the Battle of Sekigahara, built in 2000, the 400th anniversary.164 views
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Little stone marker and shrine next to the bus stop.164 views
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The original Nihonbashi Bridge was built in 1603, out of wood.164 views
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Manhole with plum blossoms in Ome, Tokyo.164 views
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Rear of boat house, now used by a private boat club.164 views
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More photos of Hikone Castle here.164 viewsThe castle tower is a National Treasure. Hikone Castle is one of only five castle towers in Japan designated as National Treasures. (The others being Himeji, Inuyama, Matsumoto, and Matsue Castles. Nijo Castle in Kyoto is also a National Treasure, but it does not have a castle tower.)
See more photos of Hikone Castle here.
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Weeping cherry flowers.164 views
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Kasai Kaihin Park beach. In the distance are Tokyo Disneyland hotels.164 views
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Shakkyoutai Karakuri which transforms into a lion dance. 石橋台からくり164 views
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JR Gotanda Station, west side being completely redeveloped.164 views
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The tekomai geisha enter the shrine.164 views
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Entrance to Kiyosumi Teien Gardens. Admission 150 yen.164 views
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The Royal Order of Kamehameha I take part in arrival ceremonies. 入港式164 views
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Hokule'a arrival ceremonies164 views
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Hokule'a at Yokohama164 views
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BankART Studio NYK gallery showing Hokule'a photos.164 views
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Modern hula dances such as this one is mainly for tourist entertainment.164 views
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Sangai Yagura Turret, Shibata Castle. Reconstructed in June 2004 with traditional building methods taking 2 years. 三階櫓164 views
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Byakko Kannon statue164 views
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Shiori-no-Ike Pond with ducks. This is a tidal pond.164 views
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Bus stop near JR Akihabara Station's new Central entrance164 views
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Toyako Onsen has a nice lakefront promenade for pedestrians. Cars no longer travel here so it's pleasant for a stroll.164 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign at Usuzan Ropeway terminal.164 views
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This symbolic sculpture has been retained from the old Sapporo Station.164 views
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They also showed us a sample of the ayu sweetfish that were caught. These are larger than normal ayu. Those caught by the cormorants are expensive. The fish die quickly in the bird's beak, preserving freshness. You can see the beak marks on the fish.164 views
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Pine wood stored at one cormorant fishing master's home.164 views
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Dolls representing three of Asakusa's most famous festivals appear. This is Sanja Matsuri. On the right, notice the foreign woman doll with blond hair.164 views
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Even this apartment building has a battleship motif.164 views
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Kurofune Ichiba shopping arcade. "Kurofune" means black ship, in reference to Commodore Perry's ships.164 views
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Asakusa hangyoku (apprentice geisha in Tokyo). 半玉 こず江164 views
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Team captain Fujiwara Takamichi speaks.164 views
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Vending machine trash bin with tanuki design at Shigarakigushi Station.164 views
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Kadomatsu decoration for New Year's. Hikone Castle Museum is in the background. During New Year's, they served free hot ama-zake (sweet sake) to all visitors.164 views
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Ducks seek the protection of the reeds.164 views
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The new Saio princess traveled from Kyoto to the Saiku palace near Ise Grand Shrines. It took 5 nights and 6 days. From 886 to 1264 (378 years), one stop along the way was Tarumi Tongu in Tsuchiyama.164 views
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Kaminoyama Onsen Station is the closest train station to Kaminoyama Castle. The station building is obviously designed after the castle.164 views
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Poster for the Yokota Air Base Japanese-American Friendship Festival 2009. Free admission. You had to be either a Japanese or American citizen. (I happen to be a US citizen.)164 views
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Layout of the place. Lots of food booths and souvenir stalls.164 views
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This is a local Hokkaido group dressed as school girls calling themselves Moegi-iro Jogakuin. もえぎ色女学院164 views
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Higashi-Shizuoka Station is close to the Shizuoka Hobby Fair held from July 24, 2010 to March 27, 2011.164 views
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Verse 3. This verse is about a crossroads in life. It ponders over the question, "What do I want to do with my life?" Do we make life happen, or do we let life happen to us (rolling with the waves)?164 views
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The site is spectacular with views of the town below, the ocean, and Mt. Fuji.164 views
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Hiroshima Atom Bomb Dome164 views
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Area where Battleship Mutsu sank.164 views
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Ozushima island is a short boat ride from Tokuyama Port (photo) near JR Tokuyama Station. The island is known for the training ground for kaiten manned torpedoes during World War II.164 views
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Scale model of wartime Ozushima island.164 views
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Kaiten hatch.164 views
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In the entrance hall are life-size cutouts of the top wrestlers.164 views
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Harumafuji doing his very low stance.164 views
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Kisenosato loses this one.164 views
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Olympic gold medalist marathon runner Naoko Takahashi at Tokyo Marathon Expo on Feb. 2012.164 views
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Finally went up Tokyo Skytree for the first time in Sept. 2013. I waited for a clear weekday and went early in the morning. 164 views
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Kameido Tenjin Shrine also has many turtles in the pond. All these years, I thought they were cute. But I recently found out that these turtles are actually invasive species called red-eared slider or red-eared terrapin.164 viewsPopular as pets when they are small.
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Shibuya Kagoshima Ohara Festival 164 views
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Rooftop carvings are also nice.164 views
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Lake Biwa Giant Catfish is shy and often hides in its shelter.164 views
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On New Year's Eve, Gotokuji temple allows people to ring the temple bell to ring out the old year in a ceremony called Joya-no-kane.164 views
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Painting of Kintaikyo Bridge inside Shin-Iwakuni Station.164 views
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Nagoya Castle manhole, Aichi.164 views
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Corridor163 views
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Border caution sign163 views
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Notogawa in Higashi-Omi is famous for its giant water wheel. Bike path to Notogawa, another area in Shiga with a good and scenic bike path.163 views
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It says that the stone monument oozed blood when Ii Naosuke, Lord of Hikone, was assassinated in Tokyo by samurai radicals from Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture.163 views
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At 6 pm, half-naked young men wearing loincloths march to the shrine. They are 15-34 years old. 迎え163 views
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