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JR Gotanda Station, west side being completely redeveloped in April 2007.159 views
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Mickey Mouse tulips. Wonder why it's called Mickey Mouse. No big ears...159 views
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The top of one slope provides a grand view of the flower carpet and Mt. Bukosan, one symbol of Chichibu. 武甲山159 views
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Nainoa Thompson and other crew members get off the boat. Nainoa was on board, but was not part of the crew who brought the canoe to Yokohama.159 views
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Tahitian dances were also performed.159 views
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Byakkotai Graves159 views
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After you pass through the Niomon Gate, this is what you see.159 views
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Statue of Oishi Kuranosuke, leader of the 47 loyal retainers. He's looking (glaring) east toward Edo. The temple grounds also have the Ako Samurai Memorial Hall and the well where they washed Kira's head.159 views
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After passing through the Kaminarimon Gate, this is what you see: Nakamise shopping arcade. When it rains, a canopy is put up.159 views
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The finish line. Unlike last year, we could not approach the finish line and see the runners crossing it up close. Also see my video at YouTube.159 views
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He is doing the Unryu-style dohyo-iri.159 views
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Inside Unga Plaza159 views
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Aerial photo of Echigawa.159 views
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Miidera cherry blossoms at night.159 views
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Navy monument in Verny Park159 views
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The back of the Perry Monument in Kurihama.159 views
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This is one of two pottery fair sites during the Shigaraki Pottery Festival.159 views
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Pottery kilns require large amounts of wood.159 views
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A bridge leads to the Desert of the Moon Museum that shows works by songwriter and artist Kato Masao. Admission charged. Open 9 am to 5 pm. Closed Wed. 159 views
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You can see sumo for as cheap as 2100 yen. You can buy tickets at the box office where the tournament is held. The cheap tickets may sell out, so go early.159 views
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Wakayama Castle tower was destroyed again by World War II bombing on July 9, 1945. It was reconstructed in ferro-concrete in Oct. 1958.159 views
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Shirahige-no-Hama Beach in Takashima. I know they did some filming here for the NHK Taiga Drama "Go" where she rides on horseback. 白ひげの浜159 views
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Can't tell in the photo, but these were the biggest carp you've ever seen.159 views
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Slope going down to Konpon Chudo Hall159 views
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The castle is small, but nice. The stairway here.159 views
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During 1957 to 1960, this castle tower was disassembled and repaired.159 views
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The Tahoto was built in 1194 upon the patronage of Minamoto Yoritomo. It is Japan's oldest Tahoto and one of the three most famous ones.159 views
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The festival's main area was lined with food booths and PEOPLE!! This is a lot more people than I had ever seen at this festival, and this was my third time. About 100,000 people came this day. Looked more like 500,000.159 views
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The old school library.159 views
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Inside the Okurumayose entrance.159 views
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Now I'm going down the mountain. You can then see the writings on the back of the toriis. The name of the company and date are written. Of course, donating a torii here is no guarantee for business success. Some of these companies have gone bankrupt.159 views
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The statue of King Kamehameha did not come out that well, but I was happy to see it nonetheless. 159 viewsHe was the king who unified Hawaii while the different islands were still ruled by different chiefs.
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Another ice slide.159 views
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But it was obvious that the gold paint easily rubbed off, when they sat on the ground, etc.159 views
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Kamonyama Park is a small park in a quiet neighborhood overlooking the skyscrapers of Yokohama Minato Mirai area.159 views
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5 April 2010 --- After suiting up, the STS-131 crew members pause alongside the Astrovan to wave farewell to onlookers before heading for launch pad 39A...159 views5 April 2010 --- After suiting up, the STS-131 crew members pause alongside the Astrovan to wave farewell to onlookers before heading for launch pad 39A for the launch of space shuttle Discovery on the STS-131 mission. From the right are NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter, commander; James P. Dutton Jr., pilot; Rick Mastracchio, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Stephanie Wilson, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Naoko Yamazaki and NASA astronaut Clayton Anderson, all mission specialists. Liftoff of the STS-131 mission is set for 6:21 a.m. (EDT) on April 5. On STS-131, the seven-member crew will deliver the multi-purpose logistics module Leonardo, filled with supplies, a new crew sleeping quarters and science racks that will be transferred to the International Space Station's laboratories. The crew also will switch out a gyroscope on the station's truss structure, install a spare ammonia storage tank and retrieve a Japanese experiment from the station's exterior. STS-131 is the 33rd shuttle mission to the station and the 131st shuttle mission overall.
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Most of Lake Biwa's cruise boats are named after Shiga Prefecture's sister states or cities. Michigan, USA is Shiga's sister state. Michigan is home to the largest lake in the US, while Shiga is home to Japan's largest lake.159 views
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Mishima Taisha Shrine in Shizuoka Pref. This is the main torii. Townsend Harris, US consul to Japan, visited here when he was on his way to Tokyo from Shimoda.159 views
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Higashi Shizuoka Station.159 views
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Old corridor of Maibara Station being dismantled.159 views
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If you're visiting during the wisteria's peak bloom, I highly recommend seeing this park. Breathtaking. Flower beds near the entrance.159 views
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Another building that survived the atom bomb. Now a rest house and tourist information center. Hiroshima.159 views
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View from Oshima Ohashi Bridge.159 views
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Sclupture along the main drag of Ube-Shinkawa, Yamaguchi159 views
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Midget submarine.159 views
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Baruto and Yokozuna Hakuho.159 views
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Manhole at Mizuho, Tokyo.159 views
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Tanuki and azalea, a good match? I prefer women and flowers. Tsutsujigaoka159 views
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Baton twirlers at Shibuya Kagoshima Ohara Festival159 views
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Lake Biwa Littoral Zone 琵琶湖の岸辺の生き物 - Many small organisms live amid aquatic plants near the shore.159 views
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Gotokuji's temple bell on New Year's Eve.159 views
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Chiyoda Line running at 3 am on New Year's morning with these ladies who gave New Year's prayers at a shrine.159 views
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Wisteria and Tokyo Skytree at night.159 views
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Various ceremonies, rituals, and chanting takes place during one hour from 1 pm. Divine ax used to cut away earthly desires.158 views
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Poster exhibition158 views
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Ponte di Rialto bridge and gondola158 views
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Inside bear cave158 views
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Pudding dessert158 views
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Sugaura is a small settlement in Nishi-Azai along the northern shore of Lake Biwa. It is a quiet and scenic area with a nice lakeshore road and trail almost to the tip of the peninsula. Akasaki Maruko-bune park158 views赤崎丸子船
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Tokyo Station158 views
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Fire truck and hydrant right outside the shrine.158 views
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View from castle tower158 views
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Tomb in the Mausoleum of Tokugawa Shoguns before it was open for public viewing.158 views
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The three portable shrines (mikoshi) are then carried out of the storehouse to be taken to Futarasan Shrine.158 views
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Taro helps her compose her poem.158 views
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Finale: "Hana Utage" (Flower Banquet) 花うたげ158 views
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Neputa float. All the floats are on wheels so these people are not actually carrying the floats.158 views
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In front of Tokushima Station158 views
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The dance troupe typically has subgroups of children, women, men, and musicians. Suiko-ren 吹鼓連158 views吹鼓連
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Floats parked along the main drag.158 views
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Entrance and road to the rowing clubhouse158 views
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Where silkworms were raised to make silk cocoons.158 views
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Iris158 views
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Iris158 views
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Hydrangea158 views
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Ishida Mitsunari on Mt. Sasaoyama158 views
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Memorial for the fallen warriors at the Battle of Sekigahara158 views
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Good-looking shrine maidens decorate bamboo branches or rakes.158 views
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Lakeside park158 views
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All kinds of matsu pine trees158 views
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However, in 1923, the Great Kanto Earthquake struck and these panels did not survive. A subsequent search for replacement panels was conducted nationwide.158 views
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Hondo Hall and Shaka-do Hall158 views
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Kondo Main Hall, National Treasure 金堂158 views
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Kondo Main Hall, National Treasure. It has some Chinese design elements. 金堂158 views
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Near the Verse 1 Song Monument is another stone monument engraved with the words of the entire song.158 views
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Sanno-machi Suji is in Takayama's National Important Traditional Townscape Preservation District (重要伝統的建造物群保存地区).158 views
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Tatsumi Turret, also called Sakurada-Niju Turret 翼櫓（桜田二重櫓）158 views
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Sakuradamon Gate 桜田門158 views
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The name, Rikugi-en, came from "six elements of Waka poems" that had been derived from "six styles of poems" written in the old Chinese poetry book "Mao-shi".158 views
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Shrine priest158 views
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Daiichi Keihin highway in front of the shrine and Shin-Bamba Station on the Keihin Kyuko Line.158 views
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Sanno torii gate 山王鳥居158 views
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Hula dancers take part in arrival ceremonies.158 views
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Hula dancers158 views
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Kimo158 views
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Makeshift planetarium where they showed the stars used by Hokule'a for navigating.158 views
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Bridge to the float.158 views
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Otemon Gate stonework. The castle was occupied by a number of clans. But it was Gamo Ujisato, originally from Hino, Shiga Prefecture, who made the castle great and established the castle town of Aizu-Wakamatsu.158 views
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Names of Byakkotai members, all 14 to 17 years old.158 views
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Site where they committed seppuku (hara-kiri). 自刃の地158 views
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Another entrance158 views
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Painting on ceiling of Hondo worship hall.158 views
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Graves of Robert Walker Irwin (rear, on the right) and his family. (Old photos of the graves.)158 views
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Apparently there weren't any cars on the road when this happened since everyone had been evacuated before the eruption occurred.158 views
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Sign explaining the deformed road.158 views
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Mt. Showa-Shinzan as seen from Mt. Usu.158 views
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JR Tower158 views
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Sapporo Station is nicknamed "Satsu-eki."158 views
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North side of Ukimido. Haiku poet also visited Ukimido and wrote a haiku poem about it, displayed on a stone monument on shore.158 views
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Ukai cormorant fishing master Sugiyama Ichisaburo comes to give the ukai talk. The basket has two cormorant birds. Nagara River in Gifu has six ukai cormorant fishing masters. All of them appear nightly. 杉山市三郎158 views
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Flags158 views
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A sea of people in front of Sensoji temple in the area I call "The Pit."158 views
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Flag painting.158 views
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Lots of ships pass by here.158 views
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Container ships, oil tankers, passenger ships, navy ships, etc., all pass through here. Anybody have a picture of an aircraft carrier passing by here?158 views
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View of Uraga Channel from Kannonzaki Lighthouse158 views
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First the lower ranking Makushita wrestlers practiced on the ring.158 views
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Miyabiyama sits in a spectator seat as he waits his turn.158 views
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Magnee, Shiga LakeStars official mascot modeled after the Lake Biwa catfish. Kind of strange seeing a fish with two legs...158 views
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Behind the Ninomaru-Sawaguchi Tamon Yagura Turret.158 views
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Persimmon drink.158 views
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Harie Okawa River has baikamo underwater flowers. It was muddy when I visited in late April because of the rice paddy flooding. 針江大川158 views
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Kabata shed.158 views
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Map of Yokawa158 views
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First they give a few prayers led by the shrine priest.158 views
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The zoo consists of several areas such as the African Zone, Asian Zone, and the popular Australian Zone where the Koala House is.158 views
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Horse exhibit.158 views
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Omotemon Bridge158 views
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Miidera's cherry blossoms are also lit up at night. (See photos at bottom.)158 views
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A long line to take pictures with a dog.158 views
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From 7 pm, the mikoshi started returning to Tamasaki Shrine. At 8 pm, the god's spirit in the mikoshi was returned to the shrine.158 views
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No, my camera lens is not distorting this picture. That building is actually tilting a lot, but they still allowed traffic on the road below.158 views
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Ryukoku University158 views
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Incredible dinosaur snow sculptures. I can tell you, this was really awesome.158 views
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When you arrive at Katsuura Station, you'll see a big display of hina matsuri dolls. Don't be impressed yet though. The Katsuura Big Hinamatsuri festival is held during late Feb. until March 3 which is Girls Day.158 views
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The facility was still new, very nice. Cheap food.158 views
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Komaba-Todaimae Station is right in front of the main gate of the Komaba Campus.158 views
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My YouTube video of the Japanese belly dancers at Noge Daidogei 2010.158 views
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This is the original species of chrysanthemum. The Imperial family crest is also based on this species of chrysanthemum which was introduced to Japan from China.158 views
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Lumix girl158 views
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Photos of Verse 2 (Omi-Maiko). Although this song is about rowing around Lake Biwa, it is also widely interpreted as a song about life itself. 158 views
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Inside Hawaiian gift shop.158 views
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This wisteria tree is about 140 years old. It was transplanted here in Feb. 1996.158 views
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The park's parking lot had many tour buses. Crowded even on weekdays during wisteria season. But fewer people in the late afternoon.158 views
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Uesugi Shrine in Matsugasaki Park is on the site of Yonezawa Castle, hence the moats and stone walls. Home of the Uesugi clan, the castle was destroyed in 1873 by the order of the Meiji government. Omotesando path to Uesugi Shrine.158 views
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On the third floor is the music room where live bands play on weekends.158 views
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Mannequins depicting bomb victims who suffered peeling/melting skin among other things. This depiction has been toned down considerably from the original exhibit that I remember before the museum was renovated in 1994.158 views
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The Kaiten Memorial Museum has a full-scale replica kaiten torpedo on display right outside.158 views
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Lake Kawaguchi, Yamanashi.158 views
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Hiko-nyan does not talk or even "meow." He speaks through a handler or translator. Basically, he (or it) just struts around and makes cute poses with or without a prop.158 viewsAnother legend says that as soon as the cat beckoned Naotaka into the temple, lightning struck the tree where he was standing. Thus, the cat saved his life.
This legendary cat connection gave birth to the idea behind Hiko-nyan. This same legend is also one theory for the origin of the ubiquitous beckoning cat you see at shops and restaurants in Japan. The beckoning cat can be called Hiko-nyan's cousin.
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My comprehensive video about Lake Biwa's endemic species and invasive species displayed at the Lake Biwa Museum's freshwater aquarium.158 views
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Ome Taisai158 views
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Wataka (ワタカ) Ischikauia steenackeri - Endangered endemic species, herbivorous fish.158 views
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The tank simulates night time since the Lake Biwa Giant Catfish is nocturnal.158 views
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Ko-Ayu (コアユ) Native species, popular food fish. Ko-ayu is the small variety of ayu (not baby ayu) commonly eaten as tsukudani (佃煮) or tempura. Adult ko-ayu retain their small size.158 views
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Bluegill was brought to Japan in 1960 as a food fish by then Crown Prince Akihito who received it as a gift from Chicago, IL. 158 viewsIn 1963, the Fisheries Agency sent bluegill to Lake Biwa. Ten years later, bluegill had spread all over the lake. In 2007 in Shiga, Emperor Akihito expressed regret over bringing the bluegill.
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One of Japan's Scenic Trio (Nihon Sankei), the famous torii with Miyajima island in the background. 158 views
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Otsu Matsuri floats 158 views
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Daimyo's palanquin, however, I don't think anyone was in it. They never opened it.158 views
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Cherry blossoms on Inui-dori, Imperial Palace158 views
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The Omote Shoin (表書院) Main Hall's Jodan-no-Ma Room which is reserved for daimyo of Nagoya Castle. 上段之間.158 views
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Izumo, Shimane manhole. Shows Hinomisaki lighthouse.158 views
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Ride'em cowboy157 viewsAs the kite quickly flew up, the forward kite pullers had to release the rope.
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Torch bearers from the tumulus157 views
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Dud bomb in San Lorenzo Cathedral157 views
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Malpensa Express window view (graffiti)157 viewsMilan was where I landed, and I took the Malpensa Express from which I saw so much graffiti. My first impression of Italy: There's a lot of graffiti.
I thought it was only along the train tracks, but graffiti is all over the city as well.
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Garden in Nishinomaru157 views
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Landing in Kuusamo in northeast Finland slightly below the Arctic Circle. I was invited to their 10th Kuusamo Nature Photo festival in September 9-17, 2005 to give slide shows of Japanese photographers. クーサモの上空157 viewsLakes everywhere. In fact, about 14% of Kuusamo's land area is covered by lakes (about 166 of them), and 60% is covered by forests. Lakes and forests breed a lot of nature and wildlife. Hence, Kuusamo is one of Finland's prime areas for bird-watching and wildlife safaris. The population is over 18,000, but they receive about 1 million visitors a year for the nature and skiing.
With so much water and trees all around, I think Finland is a very pacifying country. Most people feel at peace whenever they see water or trees. Finland will probably become a popular tourist destination when more people discover it. A great place to kick back and relax.
See Kuusamo on map: Virtual Finland map
Web site: kuusamo.fi
クーサモの14%が湖で６割が森林。こんな水と木の多いところは、やはり癒してくれる環境である。言うまでもなく自然いっぱいの地域。野鳥や野生動物を観察できる最高の地域。
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Northland Japanese Cranes, by Masahiro Wada （クーサモ図書館への寄贈図書）157 viewsBeautiful pictures of this favorite bird of Japan in very scenic locations, mainly Hokkaido. In Japanese, this bird is called "tancho." See book review here.
This book has been donated to the Kuusamo public library by Philbert Ono.
この写真集もPhotoGuide Japanがクーサモ町の図書館へ寄贈しました。
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Inside a fortress building 中の石垣157 viewsThe fortress has a lot of nice stonework still intact.
スオメンリンナは、まだ石垣がたくさん残っている。
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The Shamusho Shrine office I (社務所I) serves as the Karuta Matsuri tournament venue.157 views
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Inside Hikiyama Float Exhibition Hall157 viewsKunchi festival floats are displayed.
曳山展示場
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Corridor to anime fair157 views
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The red fence is so low that anyone can fall over.157 views
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View of park grounds157 views
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Noh stage and the cherry tree used as the barometer for Tokyo's cherry blossom blooming condition.157 views
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Memorial for military horses and dogs which died.157 views
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Garden (photos taken in early May)157 views
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Near park entrance157 views
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It turns out that Taro was a grandson of the Emperor.157 views
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Spectator seats. Admission is 1,000 to 2,000 yen.157 views
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The festival/parade starts before dark.157 views
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Tengu-ren 天狗連157 views
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A float climbs up the Dangozaka slope before entering the Otabisho.157 views
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団子坂157 views
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Shirakawa Village Office157 views
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Colorful koi fish see me, and they come...157 views
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建設中の瀬戸大橋157 views
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All-day pass available for 400 yen.157 views
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Thatched roof157 views
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More monuments157 views
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Taro Oguchi Statue and Song Monument in winter.157 views
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Lake waters of Imazu, with Chikubushima and Mt. Ibuki in the distance.157 views
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Chomeiji worships the Kannon goddess of long life and good health. "Chomeiji" literally means "Long Life Temple." See more photos of Chomeiji Temple here.157 views
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In the rear of Ooagata Jinja Shrine, a Plum Garden on a slope.157 views
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Fujimi Turret 富士見櫓157 views
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Honmaru, Edo Castle's main keep. See the castle tower's foundation on the lower right. 本丸157 views
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Top floor of Daimaru Dept. Store157 views
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