 Most viewed - Higashi-Omi 東近江市 |
San-mon Gate. Built in 1802. 三門1191 views
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625 views
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453 views
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Living room of former home of Omi merchant Tonomura Shigeru.389 views
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Former home of Omi merchant Nakae Jungoro (中江 準五郎邸).388 views
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Inside Hondo temple hall, Eigenji379 views
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Gokasho is famous for the grand, old homes of wealthy Omi merchants. Three of them are clustered together for us to visit inside. They are the former residences of Tonomura Uhee (外村 宇兵衛), Tonomura Shigeru (外村 繁), and Nakae Jungoro (中江 372 views
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Hillside garden371 views
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Hina festival dolls. 雛祭りの雛人形367 views
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Although not part of the Koto Sanzan Temple Trio (all Tendai Buddhist temples), most visitors also visit Eigenji together with the Koto Sanzan temples. Accessible by bus taking 30-40 min. from Yokaichi Station on the Omi Railway Line or from Hyakusaiji. 366 views
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362 views
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Room with Hina festival dolls and entrance to the Tonomura Shigeru Literature Museum. 雛祭りの雛人形360 views
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Located in Higashi-Omi and established in 1361, Eigenji is a temple of the Zen Rinzai Buddhist Sect (Eigenji School) and well-known for fall colors with 3,000 maple trees. Touristy entrance to Eigenji. Map358 views
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Hina festival dolls349 views
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Former home of Omi merchant Tonomura Shigeru (外村 繁邸). Map342 viewsTonomura Shigeru (外村 繁), Tonomura Uhee (外村 宇兵衛), and Nakae Jungoro (中江 準五郎)
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Hina festival dolls. 雛祭りの雛人形342 views
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Yokaichi giant kite coming up.335 views
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Held on May 4 by Sanposan Shrine in Higashi-Omi, Shiga Prefecture, Iba-no-saka-kudashi Matsuri has three portable shrines hauled down a steep mountain (Kinugasa-yama) for about 500 meters. 332 views
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My YouTube video of the Iba-no-saka-kudashi Matsuri.328 views
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Hyakusaiji temple325 views
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Take off. On cue, the people pulling the kite start running and the kite starts to lift off. Also see the video at YouTube.320 views
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During July-Aug. 2007, I helped to make the Yokaichi giant kite at the annex of the Yokaichi Giant Kite Museum.where the giant kite is made. Every three years, the giant kite, flown every May in Higashi-Omi, is replaced by a new kite bearing a new design.301 viewsThe new kite was made during July-Aug. 2007, taking about 30 days. The kite is made by volunteers from the public under the instruction of the Yokaichi Giant Kite Preservation Society. For the first time, I helped make this giant kite which was first flown successsfully on May 25, 2008 at the annual kite festival.
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295 views
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2nd floor with Hina festival dolls293 views
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Statue of Omi merchant peddler carrying his trademark "tenbin" pole.284 views
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Eigenji Hondo temple hall. Built in 1765.283 views
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No wind. This flight lasted only about 30 sec. We ran about 50 meters, then the kite fell back to Earth. Also see the video at YouTube.281 views
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About the Iba Goten Palace. 伊庭御殿遺跡275 views
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Entrance Gate. This is where you pay admission. 総門269 views
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Yokaichi Odako giant kite Air borne262 views
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Notogawa Station on JR Tokaido/Biwako Line. Beautifully designed station resembling a water wheel, the symbol of the town. East Exit. 能登川駅256 views
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Kite train or "rendako." These kites are pretty to watch. 連凧253 views
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Notogawa giant water wheel in Higashi-Omi, Shiga. Map247 views
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Sutra Repository 経堂247 views
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Omi merchant statue.247 views
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Higher and higher...241 viewsIt went up to about ?? meters.
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240 views
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Located in Higashi-Omi and established by Shotoku Taishi in 609, Hyakusaiji temple is Shiga Prefecture's oldest temple and one of Japan's oldest. It belongs to the Tendai Buddhist Sect. Map236 viewsThe temple's terraced slope had many temple residences for hundreds of monks training here. National Historic Site
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The Higashi-Omi Giant Kite Festival (Higashi-Omi Odako Matsuri) is held on the last Sunday of May at Fureai Undo Park (ふれあい運動公園) in Notogawa, HigashiOmi, Shiga. The main highlight is the giant kite, flying at 11:30 am and 2:30 pm.236 viewsMy video of the Higashi-Omi Giant Kite Festival on May 26, 2013. Due to a tragic kite crash in May 2015, this kite festival has been suspended since May 2016. It will not be held in May 2019 either.
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Raising the kite. Long bamboo poles are used to prop the huge kite upward to meet the wind.235 views
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Festival poster228 views
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Echigawa River empties into Lake Biwa.227 views
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The Big One. The size is equivalent to 100 tatami mats or about 12 meters x 13 meters (156 square meters).225 views
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Notogawa Station, West Exit, also designed as a water wheel. This is one of Shiga's best-designed train stations. Beautifully designed station resembling a water wheel, the symbol of the town.225 views
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Sutra Repository 経堂225 views
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Eigenji Dam221 views
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Garden and former home of Omi merchant Nakae Jungoro (中江 準五郎邸).221 views
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Mini kite contest. Kite contestants show off their kite designs at their tents.220 views
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Tarobo-gu is a shrine complex on a small mountain, featuring grand views of Yokaichi and a pair of Wedded Rocks. It is 1.1 km from Tarobogu-mae Station on the Ohmi Railway Line. The shrine's real name is Aga Jinja 阿賀神社. [url=http://goo.gl/map220 viewsMap of Tarobo-gu. You can drive up halfway up the mountain (called Mitsukuriyama 箕作山) which is 350 meters high. If you don't have a car, climb over 700 steps to reach the shrine's main hall.
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I saw the Yokaichi Giant Kite Festival (Odako Matsuri) for the first time on May 23, 2004. The site is alongside the Echigawa River near the Yachiyo Bridge. A free shuttle bus from Yokaichi Station is provided, taking about 10 min. 214 views
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213 views
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On May 25, 2008 at the Yokaichi Giant Kite Festival, the new giant kite was flown for the first time. The wind conditions was good.213 views
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Inside Hondo temple hall211 views
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Inside hondo, Hyakusaiji211 views
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Former residence of Omi merchant Fujii Hikoshiro (1876-1956) (藤井 彦四郎邸). Now a history museum.211 views
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Entrance to former home of Omi merchant Tonomura Shigeru (外村 繁邸). Gokasho is also a National Important Traditional Townscape Preservation District (重要伝統的建造物群保存地区).209 views
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And lift off...206 views
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After the flight, we could see the kite up close. A sacred sakaki tree branch adorned the back of the kite. Also many paper stickers with people's wishes were pasted on the back.206 views
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206 views
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Gokasho was home to many Omi merchants who plied up and down Japan during the Edo Period to sell and trade their wares. They became quite successful selling medicines, lacquerware, sake, etc.205 viewsWall of former home of Omi merchant Tonomura Shigeru (1902-1961) (外村 繁邸).
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204 views
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Hyakusaiji's Main temple hall (hondo). Important Cultural Property.203 views
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Namako wall203 views
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OK, RUN NOW!! This is the most exciting part when we start running with the rope. It was like a stampede, and I let go after a few seconds to avoid getting runned over by the mob behind me.200 views
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May 27, 2007 was a bad day for giant kite flying in Yokaichi, as the giant kite crashes head-first into a bamboo grove on its first and last flight during the Yokaichi Giant Kite Festival.199 views
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100 kite pullers198 views
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Garden and pond. This house has a nice garden.196 views
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Entrance to former home of Omi merchant Tonomura Shigeru.194 views
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It had rained the night before and in the morning. The ground would've been muddy, but they spread a layer of rocks to make the ground dry. It must have been hard to pull the kite and run on these rocks.194 views
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Cycling path map in Notogawa, Higashi-Omi.192 views
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Symbol of Notogawa192 views
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Echibashi Bridge over Echi River. Nice views of the river can be had from this bridge.191 views
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189 views
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Inside Hondo temple hall189 views
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189 views
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Yokaichi Giant Kite Preservation Society. This is the group responsible for producing, maintaining, and flying the giant kite. 大凧保存会188 views
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188 views
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188 views
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187 views
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Giant Kite sake. The food and souvenir booths sold a variety of merchandise including this locally-brewed sake, complete with a label showing this year's kite design.185 views
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At slightly past noon with medium-force winds, the giant kite is launched. The kite immediately went straight up. The giant kite is 13 meters high and 12 meters wide, and weighs 700 kg.185 views
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Sagamihara kite team invited. Sagamihara city in Kanagawa Prefecture also has a giant kite festival, and they were invited to fly a smaller version of their kite at Yokaichi. (Yokaichi was also invited to Sagamihara's kite festival in April.)184 views
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184 views
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Ready for flight183 views
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Bell tower and offertory box. In front of the temple hall. 鐘楼183 views
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183 views
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From the Ohmi Railways' Gokasho Station, you can walk to the Fujii Hikoshiro House (藤井 彦四郎邸), which is also a history museum, and to the modern Ohmi Merchant Museum (近江商人博物館).183 viewsOhmi Railways Gokasho Station 近江鉄道五箇所駅
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Former home of Omi merchant Tonomura Uhee (1777-1820) (外村 宇兵衛邸).180 views
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Autumn foilage greets you in Nov.177 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.176 views
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Bell tower 鐘楼174 views
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Garden174 views
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172 views
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Hina festival dolls. 雛祭りの雛人形171 views
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Tokonoma alcove and scroll171 views
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Sagamihara kite in flight. Due to a lack of wind, this flight didn't last long.170 views
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167 views
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View from 2nd floor167 views
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Hina festival dolls. 雛祭りの雛人形166 views
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Woman's hairdressing room.165 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.163 views
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Furo bath wirth wooden barrel (heated by firewood)163 views
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Mini kite flying contest162 views
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Mt. Kinugasa (Kannonji)162 views
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161 views
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Tonomura Shigeru Literature Museum (Bungakukan). Shigeru had a passion for writing, so he entrusted the family business to his younger brother. 外村 繁文学館161 views
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Attic161 views
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Carved paper160 views
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160 views
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View from 2nd floor balcony160 views
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160 views
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Banzai from Sagamihara. After the kite's flight, the Sagamihara team give a few banzais to themselves and to Yokaichi.159 views
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Hyakusaiji's Niomon Gate with giant straw sandals159 views
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Entrance to former home of Omi merchant Tonomura Uhee.159 views
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External view of house159 views
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Tokonoma alcove with scroll.159 views
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2nd floor room159 views
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Stringing the kite157 views
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San-mon Gate157 views
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Old Yokaichi Station. My first picture of Yokaichi, before this old station was torn down in 1997. I had to change trains at Yokaichi Station on the Omi Railway Line and had time to step out and take this picture. 旧八日市駅157 viewsIt was a small station, but the wooden building looked quite charming. There was nothing in front of the station, just a large paved area. A far cry from what it looks like today. Power/telephone lines are also underground, making the streets look clean and attractive.
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2nd floor balcony (Watch your head).156 views
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Stone lantern in garden156 views
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Cycling and pedestrian path in Notogawa, Higashi-Omi.155 views
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155 views
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154 views
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154 views
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Cycling and pedestrian path in red in Notogawa, Higashi-Omi.154 views
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Hina festival dolls. 雛祭りの雛人形154 views
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Shopfront with shopkeeper's desk.154 views
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Crowds153 views
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2nd floor with more Hina dolls.153 views
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Kite corner152 views
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Mini kite flying contest. The flying portion of the kite contest is held.152 views
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Ready for another flight152 views
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Kite pullers wanted. This booth, next to the giant kite, is where you can apply to pull the kite. Anybody can apply to pull the giant kite. I applied and got a little kite pin and a pair of gloves.152 views
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Cycling path in Notogawa, Higashi-Omi.152 views
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152 views
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Also see kite-flying contests, exotic kites from around Japan, and stage entertainment. Anybody can fly a kite too. From 10 am to 3 pm. 152 views
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Snapped part being repaired.151 views
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151 views
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The two main areas are the hillside garden and the main worship hall. Most people visit the garden before climbing up the stone steps to the main worship hall. This is the long route to the temple. The tour buses go up to a closer gate.151 views
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151 views
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Picture of Tonomura Shigeru in the Literature Museum (Bungakukan). 外村 繁文学館151 views
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People's fortune stickers on the kite. 願い札149 views
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Bonsai plum and pine trees149 views
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Poster for dragon canoe race in June148 views
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148 views
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Autumn leaves. In its heyday, Hyakusaiji was home to 1,300 priests, before the temple was burned by Oda Nobunaga.148 views
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Kitchen area with dirt floor.148 views
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Path to next Omi merchant home.147 views
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Best to see my Shotoku Matsuri Youtube video to hear the songs and see the dance.147 viewsHeld near Yokaichi Station in summer, the Yokaichi Shotoku Matsuri is a bon dance featuring Shiga's native Goshu Ondo folk song. 八日市聖徳まつり・江州音頭総おどり
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Uses a water wheel to grind rice.146 views
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Kitchen area145 views
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Canoe Land144 views
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2nd floor room looking toward the balcony.144 views
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Living room144 views
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Former home of Omi merchant Nakae Jungoro (中江 準五郎邸).144 views
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143 views
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143 views
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Bonsai143 views
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Garden143 views
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Former home of Omi merchant Nakae Jungoro (中江 準五郎邸).143 views
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142 views
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2nd floor room with Hina festival dolls. 雛祭りの雛人形142 views
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Hina festival dolls in alcove.142 views
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142 views
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Turn left there.142 views
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Inside former home of Omi merchant Tonomura Uhee. 玄関142 views
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141 views
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141 views
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141 views
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2nd floor balcony141 views
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Cycling and pedestrian path in Notogawa, Higashi-Omi.140 views
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Inside former home of Omi merchant Tonomura Uhee.140 views
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Window140 views
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Hinamatsuri dolls139 views
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139 views
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Shopkeeper's desk.139 views
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139 views
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138 views
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Obata doll museum138 views
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External view137 views
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Entrance to home of Omi merchant Nakae Jungoro (中江 準五郎邸).137 views
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Road to Mt. Kinugasa.137 views
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Cycling path in Notogawa, Higashi-Omi.136 views
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Changing room next to bath.136 views
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Way to the third Omi merchant house.136 views
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135 views
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135 views
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Iki-ikikan-mae bus stop for JR Notogawa Station.135 views
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134 views
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134 views
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Bonsai plum trees134 views
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134 views
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133 views
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Stairs to 2nd floor.133 views
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Corridor133 views
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Stairway133 views
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Dolls133 views
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Almost finished. This paper cutting step took 3 days to complete.133 views
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Inside Notogawa Station. The waterwheel structure houses a stairway and escalator.133 views
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Garden132 views
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Old mail box.132 views
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Entrance to home of Omi merchant Nakae Jungoro (中江 準五郎邸).132 views
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131 views
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External view131 views
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Attic, mainly for storage.131 views
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Inside the bus for Notogawa Station, about 15 min. ride.131 views
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Ohmi Railways Yokaichi Station. A modern ferro-concrete building was completed in June 1998 to replace the old wooden building.130 views
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The hillside garden gives a good view of Lake Biwa. The main temple hall worships an 11-faced Kannon statue carved by Shotoku Taishi. Admission 500 yen.129 views
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Cycling and pedestrian path in Notogawa, Higashi-Omi.128 views
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128 views
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128 views
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Shopkeeper's record book.128 views
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Showcase128 views
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Rickshaws128 views
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Inside the home of Omi merchant Nakae Jungoro (中江 準五郎邸).128 views
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Omi Obata Deko dolls128 views
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127 views
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127 views
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Bonsai127 views
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Boy monk with eyeglasses at Eigenji Temple, Shiga.127 views
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126 views
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Shopkeeper's record book.126 views
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This kite's hanjimon has twin dragons that can be pronounced "shin-shin" (辰辰), a homonym for mind and body (心身). And the vermillion kanji reads "sukoyaka" (健やか), meaning good health. So the kite wishes for your "126 views
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The four Wind Goddesses pose for us. The four Wind Goddesses (風の女神) are like festival princesses and they beckon the wind to blow during the kite festival.126 views
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Entrance for tour bus passengers and car owners. This is the short-cut way to the temple.125 views
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Attic and ceiling125 views
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Niomon Gate124 views
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The bonfire is used to burn about 100,000 goma prayer tablets collected from all over Japan. Tarobogu Shrine, Higashi-Omi, Shiga.124 views
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122 views
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The fire's spiritual force supposed to ward off evil, accidents, and sickness and cleanse you. Tarobogu Shrine, Higashi-Omi, Shiga.122 views
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You can hike up the hillside garden.121 views
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Benzaiten, goddess of music and anything that flows. Tarobogu Shrine, Higashi-Omi, Shiga.121 views
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120 views
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View from top. Hazy weather made it difficult to see the scenery.120 views
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More steps120 views
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120 views
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View of the bottom torii of Sanposan Shrine (繖峰三神社) on Kinugasa-yama (繖山) 432 meters high. (As seen from the train on the JR Tokaido Line. This torii is 15-min. walk from JR Notogawa Station. 繖峰三神社)120 views
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120 views
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Hyakusaiji temple Garden119 views
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See the paper flaps pasted over the edge.119 views
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It flew very high, up to about 150 meters, then veered to the right, over our heads.118 views
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The first mikoshi called Sannomiya finally arrives near the bottom.118 views
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116 views
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Steps to main temple116 views
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116 views
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115 views
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Landmarks seen from hilltop (on clear days)115 views
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115 views
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