Most viewed - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

Most viewed

Setagawa River boat cruise modeled after the Ichiban-Maru paddlewheel steamboat which cruised on Lake Biwa in the 19th century. In operation during warmer months from Ishiyama-dera port and stopping at Nango Aqua Biwa and Seta-no-karahashi ports.159 views

Hydrangea159 views

Garden159 views

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Taishakuten is the god Indra from Brahmanism, a Hindu religion. Being the god of rain and thunder, Indra was a powerful warrior god that was adopted by Buddhism as a protector. Photo: Glass wall protecting the exterior of Taishaku-do Hall.159 views

The Nitenmon Gate was completed in 1896 and features wooden statues of Zocho and Komoku, two of the four Devas which guard the four cardinal directions from demons.159 views

Veranda159 views

Oh my God, more steps...159 views

Musashi-Mitake Shrine159 views

Chūmon Gate, National Treasure 中門159 views

Corner of castle tower foundation.159 views

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Tatsumi Turret was used for defense with holes to drop stones and windows to shoot arrows. 翼櫓（桜田二重櫓）159 views

Sakuradamon Gate159 views

Tokujindo Hall which stores wooden statues from old Chinese stories. 得仁堂159 views

Shrine priest159 views

Higashikurume Station159 views

Shrine priest159 views

The boats are large barges.159 views

Tugboats pull these huge barges.159 views

Pine tree at Shinagawa-juku's Honjin. The pine tree came from Tsuchiyama-juku in Koka, Shiga Prefecture.159 views

JR Gotanda Station, west side being completely redeveloped in April 2007.159 views

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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Under overcast skies, Hokule'a docks.159 views

The crowd was thrilled to be so close to this man full of aloha.159 views

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Yamabushi-yama159 views

Byakkotai Graves159 views

Opened in 1956, the Byakkotai Memorial Museum has numerous artifacts related to the Byakkotai as well as the Shinsengumi. Photography inside is not allowed. Admission 400 yen.159 views

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After you pass through the Niomon Gate, this is what you see.159 views

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

After passing through the Kaminarimon Gate, this is what you see: Nakamise shopping arcade. When it rains, a canopy is put up.159 views

Painting on ceiling of Hondo worship hall.159 views

Graves of Robert Walker Irwin (rear, on the right) and his family. (Old photos of the graves.)159 views

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

Sculpture: SHOWEN, by Noriyoshi Matsumoto. 松本　憲宣「SHOWEN」159 views

Mt. Usu Crater lookout deck on the top of the hill. 有珠山火口原展望台159 views

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My favorite train station name: Zenibako Station. Zenibako means money box.159 views

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Flags159 views

Lots of ships pass by here.159 views

Container ships, oil tankers, passenger ships, navy ships, etc., all pass through here. Anybody have a picture of an aircraft carrier passing by here?159 views

View of Uraga Channel from Kannonzaki Lighthouse159 views

Otsu Matsuri Hikiyama Tenjikan Museum (free admission) is in the Maruya-cho shopping arcade. 大津祭曳山展示館159 views

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Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park also has pottery kilns. Here's one "Anagama" cave kiln. 159 views

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

The cushions are quickly cleared away.159 views

Giant statue of Gulliver outside JR Takashima Station.159 views

The castle is small, but nice. The stairway here.159 views

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Many of the Tanabata streamers are quite commercial, with sponsors prominently displayed on the streamers.159 views

Also see my YouTube video here.159 views

Kaminoyama Onsen Station used to be called Kaminoyama Station. The station's name was changed to Kaminoyama Onsen after the Yamagata Shinkansen was completed in 1992. This building was completed in June 1994.159 views

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

Cutouts for you face.159 views

David Benoit congratulates the Lakestars for their win. However, he got his revenge the next day when the Hannaryz beat the Lakestars 85-81.159 views

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Former Hachiman Post Office in Omi-Hachiman, designed by William Merrell Vories. Built in 1921 and served as a post office until 1960. MAP159 views

Inside former Minakuchi Public Library. Now it is sometimes used as an art gallery.159 views

Shirakawa-me woman. 白川女献花列159 views

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.159 views

Ryukoku University159 views

Another ice slide.159 views

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.

Held on May 3 by Tagi Jinja Shrine (龍樹神社) in Tsuchiyama, the Kenketo Matsuri Festival is highlighted by the Kenketo Odori Dance. The road to the shrine is marked with festival banners.159 views

My YouTube video of the Japanese belly dancers at Noge Daidogei 2010.159 views

Sony booth had cyclists and models.159 views

The park's parking lot had many tour buses. Crowded even on weekdays during wisteria season. But fewer people in the late afternoon.159 views

Area where Battleship Mutsu sank.159 views

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Midget submarine.159 views

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My video of the Katsube Shrine Fire Festival on Jan. 12, 2013. Three Japanese kids report in English.159 views

Next is Yokozuna Harumafuji.159 views

Lake Kawaguchi, Yamanashi.159 views

Lake Biwa's South Basin.159 views

Sugo-Moroko gudgeon (スゴモロコ) - Endangered endemic species159 views

Midstream River Fish 川の中流の生き物 - Pale chub and dark chub with streamlined bodies suited for river currents. At bottom are pike gudgeon.159 views

My favorite shot. I'm not sure if he's exhibiting a derogatory gesture to us humans. 159 viewsThe calluses on the buttocks serve as a cushion for sitting. It seems that they don't have the cushy/fatty buttocks that we do, so they need to grow calluses instead.

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Garden in Nishinomaru158 views

New book by Hannu Hautala, "Onnen maa" (Land of Fortune)　ハンヌ・ハウタラの新写真集158 viewsCover of his new book published in Oct. 2005. The text is in Finnish, English, and German.

Sample photos and order at Articmedia.

Inside Finnish sauna　サウナの中158 viewsThis is what it looked like (before we all entered stark naked).

Inside a fortress building　中の石垣158 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。

Former Kunitomo gunsmith home158 views

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Cycling on lakeshore road. There is a scenic cycling path all around Lake Biwa. Takes 2-3 days to cycle around the lake.158 views

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

They turned off all the lights and lit the torches all at once! Torch lighting! (たいまつ　ほうか　松明奉火)158 views

Fukuyama Station (shinkansen)158 views

Tomb in the Mausoleum of Tokugawa Shoguns before it was open for public viewing.158 views

View of park grounds158 views

About 30 weeping cherry trees ring the pond's perimeter.158 views

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Memorial for military horses and dogs which died.158 views

The three portable shrines (mikoshi) are then carried out of the storehouse to be taken to Futarasan Shrine.158 views

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May 15, the day of the procession, is the festival's climax. However, there are other festival-related ceremonies and events before this day.158 views

Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.158 views

Spectator seats. Admission is 1,000 to 2,000 yen.158 views

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Bizan Ropeway158 views眉山ロープウェイ

Tsuki Hoko (Moon Float) 月鉾158 views

Silver-ren 志留波阿連158 views

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Floats parked along the main drag.158 views

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Where silkworms were raised to make silk cocoons.158 views

建設中の瀬戸大橋158 views

Basho Matsuo's grave at Gichuji temple, Otsu. 芭蕉の墓158 views

Good-looking shrine maidens decorate bamboo branches or rakes.158 views

Free gift given at the end of the tour: Pen, stapler, and ruler set. Very interesting tour even though you don't see any horses running on the track. (That's Wednesday's early morning tour.)158 views

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James Muwangi of Kenya quit the race right where I was. He earlier tried to keep up with the front runners.158 views

All kinds of matsu pine trees158 views

Suikeien Garden 庭園158 views

Behind this small shrine is a large graveyard full of Oguchi family gravestones.158 views

Weeping white plum blossoms 白梅158 views

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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Otemon Gate 大手門158 views

Suwa-no-Chaya Teahouse 諏訪の茶屋158 views

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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Sanno torii gate 山王鳥居158 views

They only referred to the sun, moon, the stars, and ocean waves to navigate through the vast Pacific Ocean or Polynesia. This is called celestial navigation. Extremely few people can do this, and the Hawaiians are learning this skill of long-ago.158 views

He actually wanted her to keep her magnificant work of art, but she wanted him to have it.158 views

Nainoa Thompson gives a thank you speech with Hokule'a's captains.158 views

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June 24, 2007 Hikone VOICE World Gathering was an annual event of this international exchange group in Hikone. Held at Viva City Hall in Minami-Hikone.158 views

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

Site where they committed seppuku (hara-kiri). 自刃の地158 views

Gingko tree in autumn158 views

Shiodome skyscrapers overwhelm the little tea house158 views

Buyers check the color of the flesh to determine how fatty the fish is.158 views

Entrance gate to Genji Millennium exhibitions. Admission 1000 yen to see both the exhibitions and temple.158 views

Ezo deer on Benten island.158 views

Nishiyama Crater Trail158 views

Going further along the crater trail.158 views

View from the No. 2 Nishiyama Crater Lookout deck158 views

Sculpture: Anthem of the Sun, by Machiko Kodera 小寺　真知子「太陽の賛歌」158 views

New Chitose Airport's Central Plaza158 views

Parco158 views

See the same sculpture in front of the old Sapporo Station, which really was a train station with almost none of the shops and restaurants found in the new station building.158 views

Unga Plaza inner courtyard.158 views

They wear a sedge hat (suge-kasa すげ笠), red trousers (緋ばかま), wrist covers (手甲), and leggings (脚絆).158 views

Almost finished planting the rice in this paddy. The festival was over after 11 am.158 views

Diamond Shiga, a luxury hotel with a golf course.158 views

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

A sea of people in front of Sensoji temple in the area I call "The Pit."158 views

Lower deck158 views

A winning entry. Model of the Mikasa.158 views

Old guard posts of the Imperial Navy in Verny Park.158 views

Black ship on the sidewalk.158 views

Kurihama is easy to spot on the Miura Peninsula with these smoke stacks.158 views

Otsu Hikaru-kun from Otsu, Shiga to promote the 1000th anniversary in 2008 of the novel Genji Monogatari written in Ishiyama-dera temple in Otsu. おおつ光ルくん (滋賀大津市）158 views

Arch to the sumo arena. 大相撲米原場所158 views

About 1,800 people attended the sumo tournament.158 views

Persimmon drink.158 views

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Cable car158 views

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

Horse exhibit.158 views

These pictures were taken on April 15. In the morning, all the kabuki actors proceed to Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine, arriving by 8:30 am.158 views

Arriving at Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine. People are not allowed to cross in front of this procession.158 views

Dai-niku float in front of Hakuunkan, a classic Western-style building, now a tourist info office and exhibition gallery. Also see the video at YouTube. Sagicho Festival, Omi-Hachiman. 第二区158 views

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A long line to take pictures with a dog.158 views

Shinobu-ren on stage during the Nakamurabashi Awa Odori.158 views

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

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

Shrine maidens also danced.158 views

The facility was still new, very nice. Cheap food.158 views

Inside Hawaiian gift shop.158 views

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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The model even has little human figures.158 views

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Two small shrines outside.158 views

Definitions of endemic, native, endangered, and invasive species.158 viewsNative species (在来種)
Naturally inhabits Lake Biwa or Shiga and not introduced by man. May also inhabit places outside Shiga.

Endemic species (固有種・亜種)
Native species found only in Lake Biwa or Shiga.

Endangered species (絶滅危惧種)
Those facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Invasive species (侵略的外来種)
Introduced by man and harms the native species, environment, and local ecosystem.

Numa-ebi shrimp (ヌマエビ), Native species158 views

First they go along the main street toward Shigaraki Station. In the background is a Shigaraki pottery shop.158 views

After the aikido, falconry demonstrations were held at Hama-Rikyu Gardens on Jan. 3 as a New Year's event. (放鷹術実演) 158 viewsHama-Rikyu Garden used to be where the Tokugawa shoguns and the Imperial family practiced falconry.

They allowed a few people from the audience to try falconry. This is an Italian who was lucky enough to be chosen to hold and release this hawk.158 views

Falconry demonstrations held at Hama-Rikyu Gardens on Jan. 3 in Tokyo.158 views

On her legs is a summer pelt of deer fur (muka-baki 行縢). It supposed to cushion any fall from the horse. Fortunately, no one fell off the horse this day.158 views

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Launch pad. The kite is carried to the take off point and pointed toward the wind, which unfortunately very weak this day.157 views

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Ride'em cowboy157 viewsAs the kite quickly flew up, the forward kite pullers had to release the rope.

Torch bearers from the tumulus157 views

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Genova waterfront　臨海部157 viewsGenova has a picturesque waterfront, but it is cut right across by an elevated highway. This picture was taken from under the highway.

臨海部を散歩すると奇麗です。

Venetian food　ヴェネツィアの料理157 views

Inside the subway157 views

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Sept. 11, 2005: The second photographer I introduced was Ikuo Nakamura, one of Japan's most well-known underwater photographers. I explained about how soil erosion and runoff killed a lot of coral in Okinawa together with the starfish...　僕のス�157 viewsThe second photographer I introduced was Ikuo Nakamura, one of Japan's most well-known underwater photographers. I explained about how soil erosion and runoff killed a lot of coral in Okinawa together with the starfish, a natural enemy of coral. Then I showed 20 of his pictures of coral and marine life in Okinawa.

It was an automatic slide show with Hawaiian music in the background. (A lot of people liked the Hawaiian music which was by Kealii Reichel, a very famous singer in Hawaii.) This was the only slide show of underwater photos at the Kuusamo Nature Photo festival.
Web site: squall.co.jp

次に中村郁夫先生の沖縄の美しい水中写真を２０点上映して、珊瑚礁の絶滅とか天敵などの説明をして作品をBGMと一緒に自動スライドショーを。（BGMには、沖縄の音楽にしたかったけど、それが忘れまして手元にあったハワイの曲にしました。そのハワイの曲もとても好評でした。）北欧に見れない熱帯の生き物を見せたくて写真祭りの唯一の水中写真のスライドショーでした。