Most viewed - Hikone 彦根市 |
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Ogoton from Ogoto Onsen, Otsu86 views
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Moat boat departure times and fares as of May 2013. Board the boat near the Genkyuen Garden entrance.86 views
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Postcard of Commodore Perry and Ii Naosuke to mark the 50th anniversary of Yokohama Port's opening in 1909.86 viewsAlso see Gotokuji temple in Setgaya, Tokyo where Naosuke is buried. http://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=646
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Statue of Ii Naomasa in front of Hikone Station's west side.85 views
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Nakasendo Road85 views
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A tall Tsunuga-kun from Tsuruga, Fukui Pref. To celebrate the Tsuruga's 100th anniversary of its port opening. The mascot is based on a Korean prince. Many ships plied between Tsuruga and the Korean Peninsula. ツヌガくん (福井 敦賀市)85 views
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Another dog, Karawan-kun to promote castle town Karatsu, Saga Pref. 唐ワンくん (佐賀 唐津市)85 views
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Trippy from Tottori Pref. トリピー (鳥取県)85 views
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Hikone Castle tower lit up at night.85 views
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Dream Ambassador from Takamatsu, Kagawa Pref.85 views
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Fireman's acrobatics is a crowd pleaser.85 views
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Genkyuen Garden was designed to be enjoyed along a circular walking path.85 views
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Police station84 views
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Sento-kun in front of his PR booth ogled by a large crowd. We couldn't touch him.84 views
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Zoom-in.84 views
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Hiroshige's woodblock print of Takamiya (65th post town on the Nakasendo) from his Kisokaido series. Suzuka mountains in the background.84 views
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Stone statue of Hiko-nyan in Hikone.84 views
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East entrance to Genkyuen Garden. Small admission charged or you can buy a combination ticket with the castle admission.84 views
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Yume-Kyobashi Castle Road was closed off to traffic for this festival. First they were going to hold the festival at a shopping center, but switched to this place after realizing how popular the event would be.83 views
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Namu-kun is modeled after Shotoku Taishi who introduced Buddhism to Japan. Created by a Buddhist association in Nara in opposition to Sento-kun (see below). But Namu-kun and Sento-kun played together at this festival in peace.83 views
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Sento-kun was controversial because people thought the deer antlers were an insult to the Buddha. This controversy has ironically made this mascot the most popular and famous.83 views
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Tiger83 views
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These photos were taken on Nov. 3, 2009.83 views
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Scale model of Genkyuen Garden next to Hikone Castle at the top of the picture. Garden has a large pond.83 views
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Genkyu-en is a Japanese garden next to Hikone Castle. It was built as a castle garden in 1677 by Ii Naooki, the fourth lord of Hikone Castle. Hakkei-tei Summer House Map83 views
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Ohmi Railways Takamiya Station platform. Map82 views
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Toshinaga-kun to promote the 400th anniversary of Takaoka, Toyama Pref. Based on Lord Maeda Toshinaga. 利長くん (富山 高岡市)82 views
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"So what do you think of Sento-kun?" This event made news headlines on TV and in the newspapers.82 views
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The crowd at its thickest.82 views
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Iga city PR booth passing out tourist pamphlets.82 views
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You can walk further to go behind Nishinomaru Sanju-yagura turret and this is what you will see.82 views
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Site of Kannon-dai temple that was here before the castle was built. Near Nishinomaru.82 views
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Island in the pond.82 views
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Hikone City Hall81 views
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A baby sumo wrestler?81 views
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Cat mascots were numerous.81 views
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Then the curtain was lifted to show all the mascot characters as the audience began snapping pictures in a frenzy.81 views
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Miss Plum Blossom from Mito, Ibaraki Pref. Mito's connection with Hikone lies in the radical samurai who assassinated Ii Naosuke near Edo Castle.81 views
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Rakurakuen or Keyali Goten palace has a few other buildings like the Jishin-no-Ma.81 views
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Ohmi Railways Toriimoto Station building80 views
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Takamiya Shrine 高宮神社80 views
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A few foreigners too.80 views
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Rakuraku-en or Rakuraku no Ma. In the 1800s, the 12th lord Ii Naoaki built an annex building called Rakuraku-en which faces the garden. 楽々園80 views
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In spring, white herons nest in the high trees of Genkyuen Garden.80 views
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Near the University of Shiga Prefecture is Kiwada Shrine dedicated to Susanou-no-mikoto and Emperor Chuai for protection against stormy winds and for a good harvest.80 views
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Inside Japanese-style yakata-bune boat. Seats 11 people on tatami mats. The roof is very low. 彦根城お堀めぐり79 views
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Hikone Castle Moat Boat Ride Poster79 views
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Ohmi Railways Takamiya Station79 views
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Introducing Sento-kun.79 views
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Other animals included a racoon dog79 views
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Moat of Nishinomaru Sanju-yagura turret.79 views
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Inflatable mascot79 views
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Samurai laborers carrying luggage for a traveling daimyo.79 views
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Sarugaku is a centuries-old form of entertainment and a precursor to Noh and Kyogen.79 views
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Scale model of original Nishinomaru Sanju-yagura turret.79 views
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Hakkei-tei79 views
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Lake shore78 views
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Toriimoto-juku is the sixty-third of the sixty-nine stations or shukuba post towns on the Nakasendo Road. It is the fourth Nakasendo station in Shiga (following Bamba-juku in Maibara), and one of ten Nakasendo stations in Shiga.78 views
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Site of Honjin Lodge78 views
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PR booth for Sento-kun and Nara.78 views
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Nishinomaru Sanju-yagura turret.78 views
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Across the moat from Hikone Castle is Umoregi-no-ya, a house where Lord Ii Naosuke lived and trained in various arts from age 17 to 32. 埋木舎78 views
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About Rakurakuen Palace.78 views
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One of many cats.77 views
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Across the moat from Hikone Castle is Umoregi-no-ya, a reclusive house where Lord Ii Naosuke lived and trained in various arts from age 17 to 32. 埋木舎77 views
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Hikone View Hotel, formerly known as Hikone Prince Hotel.76 views
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The Takamiya Station building is also a Community Center with an information counter and exhibition space.76 views
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Takamiya Shrine. On the Sunday closest to April 10, the shrine's spring festival is held with a procession featuring a giant taiko drum.76 views
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Gate of the Honjin, the town's most exclusive lodge. The Honjin is gone, and only the gate remains.76 views
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76 views
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Everyone snap away with their camera phones when Sento-kun got on stage.76 views
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After the stage appearance, Sento-kun appeared in front of his PR booth on the street. A huge crowd again formed to see him.76 views
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Nishinomaru Sanju-yagura turret.76 views
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Kyobashi Bridge goes to Yume-Castle Road which is a street of local shops and restaurants. In the moat, you might see a few black swans which were gifts from Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture.76 views
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Behind Nishinomaru Sanju-yagura turret.76 views
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Yuru-kyara mascot characters on stage in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture.76 views
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Foreigners carry the shishimai lion heads, but they did not perform with it.76 views
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Genkyuen has miniature versions of Omi Hakkei (Eight Views of Omi). This is one of them, modeled after the Seta Karahashi Bridge in Otsu.76 views
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Tea house on Hosho-dai hill. This was used by the daimyo to entertain guests with good views of the garden. 鳳翔台76 views
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Hikone Castle76 views
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Ohmi Railways Toriimoto Station building75 views
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Ohmi Railways Museum at Hikone Station east exit.75 views
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On the right is a pine tree. A similar pine tree before this one was here when Emperor Meiji stayed over. An Imperial official told the temple to cut down the pine tree because it was a hindrance to the Emperor entering the temple.75 views
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The quiet-motor Yakatabune boat is a replica of the daimyo's boat.75 views
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Inside Hosho-dai tea house. They actually serve tea for a fee. 鳳翔台75 views
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Entrance to Keyaki Goten Palace or Rakuraku-en. Completed in 1679 by the fourth castle lord Ii Naooki as a familiy residence. It took two years to build. It was highly admired for its beauty. 槻御殿75 views
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Biwako Shuko no Uta song monument for Verse 574 viewsAnother boat mate matched Oguchi's lyrics to the melody based on the old song called Water Lilies as modified by a young Chiaki Yoshida. It soon became a popular dormitory song.
The song became a national hit in 1971 when singer Tokiko Kato recorded it. Numerous famous Japanese singers and groups have since released cover versions of the song. The town of Imazu even holds an annual song contest in June when choir groups from around Japan sing the song in a competition. The town even has a museum dedicated to the song.
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Nakasendo Road in Takamiya-juku, the sixty-fourth post town on the Nakasendo Road. It was famous for Takamiya Jofu hemp cloth. Near the Ohmi Railways Takamiya Station.74 views
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Road to Taga Taisha Shrine from Takamiya-juku74 views
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Site of Takamiya Castle, now the Takamiya Primary School.74 views
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Hiko-nyan did not walk around the road. He only appeared on stage as an "escort" for the mascots being introduced every 15 min. all day.74 views
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Singer Hashi Yukio then appeared on stage.74 views
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Flags from sister cities.74 views
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Always scenic to see Hikone Castle overlooking Genkyuen Garden.74 views
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Hosho-dai 鳳翔台74 views
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Nakasendo Road in Takamiya-juku, Hikone, Shiga Prefecture.73 views
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Gate to Enshoji temple, established in 1498. It belongs to the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji Sect. 円照寺73 views
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Takamiya temple73 views
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Lake Biwa fishes73 views
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The art theme was "Lake Biwa: Life-giving Water." The show was from June 1 to July 20, 2008.73 views
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Castle parade route to Hikone Castle.73 views
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Kawase Junior and Senior High School band.73 views
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Heian Period (794-1185) women wearing veiled straw hats called ichime-gasa. 市女笠73 views
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They fire their matchlock guns.73 views
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Dragon dance73 views
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Boat landing.73 views
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Inside the entrance of Rakurakuen.73 views
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Taga Taisha torii gate on Taga-michi road which goes to Taga Taisha Shrine in neighboring Taga town.72 views
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Site of the Waki Honjin on the right. 旧脇本陣72 views
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Saba-tora Nana-chan is a cat with stripes from mackerel (saba). See the fish in her pouch. Promote Obama in Fukui Pref. さばトラななちゃん (福井 小浜市)72 views
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Chief retainer who started the construction of Hikone Castle upon the wishes of Ii Naomasa. 家老の木俣守勝72 views
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Shrine maidens from Izumo72 views
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Firemen72 views
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Low-cost tourist shuttle bus71 views
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Takamiya Post Office and a giant torii for Taga Taisha Shrine.71 views
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Kamiko Memorial71 views
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Path to Enshoji temple's main hall.71 views
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Marker for Takamiya Castle71 views
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Kyobashi Bridge 京橋71 views
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Lake Biwa as seen from Nishinomaru.71 views
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Hikone Castle moat in autumn from Kyobashi Bridge.71 views
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Main building of Rakurakuen.71 views
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Taga Taisha's first torii. Takamiya-juku was also the entry town to Taga Taisha Shrine in neighboring Taga town.70 views
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Waki Honjin on the right.70 views
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Lantern with Nakasendo Takamiya-juku written.70 views
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A private house sits on the Honjin site.70 views
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The priest refused to cut down the pine tree. Turns out that Emperor Meiji did not mind walking around the tree to enter the temple.70 views
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Ride the moat boat on the Inner Moat (内堀) around the Honmaru. Operates once an hour from 10 am to 3 pm. The 45-min. tour has a Japanese guide narrating the sights.70 views
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Tourist Site Clean Campaign70 views
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Banners with the crest of the Ii clan.70 views
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They hoist up the ladder for someone to climb up.70 views
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This center square is actually the roof of the cafeteria.70 views
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View from top floor of Hikone Castle's Nishinomaru turret.70 views
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Verse 569 viewsOne of the verses mentions an "old castle" which most likely refers to Hikone Castle. This monument commemorates the song and that verse 5.
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Biwako Shuko no Uta song monument map69 views
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On the Nakasendo in Takamiya69 views
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Signs next to the torii69 views
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Enshoji temple in Takamiya-juku, Hikone.69 views
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An outdoor tent art show.69 views
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After visiting the Hikone Castle Tower. There are a few ways to exit. One way is going through this Otemon Gate to Kyobashi Bridge.69 views
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And there they are on stage in Hikone. Notably absent was Sento-kun from Nara. (Boy priest with antlers.)69 views
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Fireman's ladder69 views
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Shiga University is alongside the moat of Hikone Castle.69 views
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Hikone Castle moat on the way to Shiga University.69 views
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View from top floor of Hikone Castle's Nishinomaru turret.69 views
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Nakasendo Road in Takamiya-juku, near the Taga-michi road.68 views
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Kamiko Memorial has a piece of Haiku poet Basho's paper garment (his raincoat) buried here. 紙子塚68 views
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Nakasendo sign68 views
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Takamiya temple68 views
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"Lake Biwa: Life-giving Water"68 views
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Some talking between Hashi and Miura. (The woman is the MC.)68 views
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Start of the Hikone Castle Parade on Nov. 3. Boy Scouts help out by carrying signs.68 views
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Samurai wives68 views
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Ii Clan's "Red Devil" samurai vassals wearing their trademark red armor.68 views
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Hikone Traditional Fireman Preservation Group68 views
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