 Most viewed - TOKYO 東京都 |
Looks different from different angles. Architecture was inspired by Oxford and Cambridge Universities, Durham Cathedral, and Alnwick Castle.11 views
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Studio Shop rooms guarded by Fawkes the phoenix.11 views
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Studio Shop rooms guarded by Voldemort’s snake Nagini.11 views
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Tokyo hoodie.11 views
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Mice, food for owls.11 views
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Chocolate frogs are among the many edibles in the Studio Shop.11 views
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In the forefront is Naka River, and beyond the divider is Arakawa River as seen from the Fire Watchtower.10 views
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Going back along the river to the nearest subway station.10 views
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Takao Baigo was established in 1964 by a local tourist group. They happened to have multiple plum groves in this area, so they decided to market them together as a tourist attraction named "Takao Baigo" (Takao Plum Blossom Area).10 views
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Red plum blossoms really stand out.10 views
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Takao Baigo is near JR Takao Station and Keio Line Takaosanguchi Station. JR Takao Station has this giant tengu mask on the platform. Mt. Takao, which has long been a sacred mountain, supposed to be where one of the major tengu dwells. 10 viewsSo the tengu is a local symbol.
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Kogesawa Bairin10 views
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About Takao Tenmangu Shrine. Plum blossoms are associated with Sugawara Michizane because he once wrote a poem for his beloved plum blossoms that "flew through the air" to follow him when he was exiled to Dazaifu, Fukuoka.10 views
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About Monchicchi and Katsushika Ward/City.10 views
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Skydeck Tatsumi pedestrian walkway floor tiles decorated with Monchicchi. 10 views
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Shin-Koiwa Station's Tohoku Open Space Area (Tohoku Hiroba) bus stop map near Shin-Koiwa Station. Go to bus stop 12 to take the bus to Monchicchi Park. This is on the north side of the station. Other bus stops are elsewhere.10 views
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Back of the Monchicchi welcome monument is another selfie spot.10 views
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There's also baby Monchicchi named Bebichhichi-kun (boy on the left) and Bebichhichi-chan (girl).10 views
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A few Monchicchi above and on a bench.10 views
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Water fountain Monchicchi. This Monchicchi tower will spew water in summer.10 views
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Water will spew out in summer.10 views
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Unique Monchicchi angel made of ceramics. Plaque reads, "May your wish come true. Wishing you happiness and smiles!" Maybe this is an object for prayers.10 views
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In this corner, fitness equipment for stretching your body.10 views
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Sekiguchi Doll House monument. Sekiguchi Doll House was a small museum of vintage celluloid dolls produced by Sekiguchi. 10 views
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Sekiguchi Doll House displayed many celluloid dolls. The company got its start in 1918 making celluloid toy dolls.10 views
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Monchicchi-chan rocker10 views
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Mukojima Hyakkaen Garden's Japanese bush clover (hagi) tunnel. Need to see it in early September. Otherwise, it's bare.10 views
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The plum blossoms bursting at the seams at this small shrine called Omurai Katori Shrine in Sumida Ward, Tokyo10 views
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When you enter the shrine grounds, you see impressive plum trees on both sides.10 views
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Pink weeping plum blossoms.10 views
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Entrance to the small plum blossom garden named Kobaien. 香梅園10 views
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Large weeping plum tree in Kobaien garden.10 views
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The most prominent cherry blossoms from Washington, DC are the Somei-Yoshino cherry blossoms named "America." They bloom in late March along Shin-Shibakawa River.10 views
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Hanami picnic under the America cherry blossoms. Feeling the Spirit of America.10 views
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The third cherry tree is the largest, seen here over the train station building.10 views
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The third cherry tree is already entangled with power lines. This one has to go, sadly.10 views
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After entering the park through the Nishi-Tachikawa Entrance, you see this scene of the Waterfowl Pond and pedal boats. 水鳥の池10 views
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The park has multiple ponds, but this Waterfowl Pond is the largest one.10 views
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Oka Cafe built with wood from the Tama Region of Tokyo. オカカフェ10 views
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Center of the park is this large lawn where people can play. Called "Minna no Harappa" or Field for All. みんなの原っぱ10 views
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Map of Japanese garden at Showa Kinen Park. The Japanese garden is a 20-min. walk from the Nishi Tachikawa park entrance. That's how big the park is.10 views
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The field of red poppies at Showa Kinen Park.10 views
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Bouquet Garden's poppies and other flowers at Showa Kinen Park.10 views
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Closeup of nemophila (baby blue eyes) 10 views
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Other flowers in the mix include dianthus and delphinium.10 views
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Path through the Bouquet Garden's poppies and other flowers.10 views
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The Harry Potter Tokyo studio is conveniently located in central Tokyo, near Toshimaen Station (豊島園駅), about 15 minutes from Ikebukuro Station by train on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line.10 views
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Entrance to Harry Potter Studio in Tokyo.10 views
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Entrance hall with pictures of movie scenes.10 views
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About Gryffindor.10 views
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Quidditch player uniforms. Draco Malfoy wears green, Cedric Diggory in yellow, and Harry in red.10 views
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Death Eater masks.10 views
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Backlot Cafe for lunch. Located halfway through the studio tour. 10 views
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Butterbeer Bar 10 views
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Butterbeer Bar for non-alcoholic butterbeer (¥1,100), coffee/tea (¥500), and salted popcorn (¥700).10 views
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The stairs overhead where Harry’s cousin Dudley Dursley would stomp on to annoy Harry below.10 views
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Aunt Marge as a balloon.10 views
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Hogwarts Bridge10 views
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Giant chess pieces protecting the Philosopher’s Stone. Stationary and non-explosive.10 views
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Three-decker Knight Bus.10 views
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Next to the Knight Bus, red telephone box.10 views
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Hogwarts Express train on Platform 9¾ modeled after King’s Cross Station in London.10 views
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The train is stationary, but you can enter the passenger carriage and see passenger compartments.10 views
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Gringotts Bank (with goblin workers) has a facade, but we cannot enter it like at the Harry Potter London studio which has a full-size replica of the bank’s interior.10 views
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Some items are Tokyo exclusive, available only here. You still need to buy studio tour tickets to enter the gift shop. You have a choice of 7,000+ products.10 views
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Wands and more wands. Buy the wand of your favorite wizard or witch for ¥4,600.10 views
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Toshimaen Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line.10 views
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Takao Baigo is in the area of the famous Mt. Takao. Plum blossoms here bloom in March, so if you were too busy to see plum blossoms in Feb., you can still see the ume blossoms in mountainous western Tokyo.9 views
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When I took the bus from Takao Station in mid-morning, it was packed even on a weekday during peak bloom.9 views
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Kogesawa Bairin is on a hillside.9 views
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Top of Kogesawa Bairin with benches and picnic area near the plum trees. 9 views
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Some plum trees with pruned branches. May they flower again someday.9 views
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Takao Baigo stone monument at Takao Ume-no-Sato Machi-no-Hiroba.9 views
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Next plum grove was Tenjin Bairin. It's somewhat hidden behind trees, but there's a sign and bridge to get there.9 views
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Next to Tenjin Bairin is this reforestation area.9 views
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Also at JR Shin-Koiwa Station's north entrance, a large signboard and map including directions to Monchicchi Park.9 views
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Map to Monchicchi Park, about a 15-min. walk or short bus ride.9 views
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Skydeck Tatsumi pedestrian walkway floor tiles decorated with Monchicchi.9 views
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Bulletin board notice about Monchicchi Park unveiling its new expanded areas (Monchicchi Zone and Chibikko Hiroba) on April 2, 2022.9 views
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Entrance to the new Monchicchi Zone at Monchicchi Park.9 views
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In the rear is the new Monchicchi Mini Museum.9 views
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Monchicchi Mini Museum is a small open-air pavilion with a video monitor and display panels.9 views
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Poppo-chan from 1969.9 views
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Opened on April 9, 2016 with a ceremony attended by many local dignitaries, Moncchichi Park is in a quiet residential neighborhood in Nishi Shin-Koiwa near Naka River.9 viewsMedium-size park (4,580 sq. meters) with a graveled ground, cobblestones, and playground equipment.
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Main part of Monchicchi Park. Good place to run around, play with radio-controlled cars, or use playground equipment. This is also the emergency evacuation zone.9 views
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Monchicchi rocker9 views
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Back entrance.9 views
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JR Shin-Koiwa Station south side as seen from the platform. This view will soon be gone when the new station building under construction is completed. The Lumière shopping arcade is visible.9 views
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Red plum blossoms.9 views
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Omurai Katori Shrine's main worship hall.9 views
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Omurai Station on the Tobu Kameido Line. 9 views
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"America" cherry trees in Adachi, Tokyo.9 views
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"America" Somei-Yoshino cherry blossoms decorated the Shin-Shibakawa riverbank from here. They were in parallel with a riverside walking/cycling path on the left.9 views
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JR Musashi-Masuko Station platform. From central Tokyo, the train ride took about 1 hr. 20 min. JR武蔵増戸駅9 views
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Musashi-Masuko Station has three Yasube'e cherry trees. This is the main one. They were planted in 1925 by local resident and landscape gardener Sakamoto Yasube'e who planted cherry blossoms at all the train stations along the Itsukaichi Line to9 views
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Types of bicycles available for rent. But all gone. Long wait.9 views
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Long line to rent a bicycle at Nishi-Tachikawa Cycle Center. Only ¥600 for 3 hours. 西立川口サイクルセンター9 views
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More large trees.9 views
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The park is fringed with a tree-lined walking path.9 views
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Rental bicycles are popular to get around the large park.9 views
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Japanese garden at Showa Kinen Park.9 views
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The field of red Shirley poppies at Showa Kinen Park. シャーレーポピー9 views
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More red poppies.9 views
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Nemophila (baby blue eyes). There's more on a large slope elsewhere in the park.9 views
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Showa Kinen Park also has a large slope with nemophila (baby blue eyes). Crowd favorite.9 views
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Harry Potter’s stag Patronus and doe near Toshimaen Station.9 views
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Lobby and tour entrance straight ahead.9 views
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The tour starts in a room of animated movie posters where they explain a few rules. They also tell you how to register your QR code on your smartphone with your email address.9 views
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The Great Hall of Hogwarts (大広間)9 views
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Great Hall9 views
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Great Hall roof model.9 views
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Hogwarts Marble Staircase.9 views
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Hogwarts Marble Staircase which actually moves (swivels).9 views
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Gryffindor boys’ dormitory. 9 views
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Gryffindor boys’ dormitory bed.9 views
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Goblet of Fire, hand carved from English Elm.9 views
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Flying horse carriage.9 views
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Vanishing Cabinet which Draco used.9 views
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Griffin Stairwell to go to Dumbledore’s Office.9 views
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Thirty-three wands of all the wizards and witches.9 views
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Defence Against the Dark Arts Classroom.9 views
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Defence Against the Dark Arts Classroom. There was a wand-waving lesson to defeat a Death Eater (right) on the balcony.9 views
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Mirror of Erised which reflects the deepest, most desperate desire of your heart. Harry saw his parents in this mirror.9 views
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About the face of evil.9 views
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Forbidden Forest (禁じられた森)9 views
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Hagrid (half giant) and Buckbeak the Hippogriff (animatronic) in the Forbidden Forest.9 views
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In the middle of the tour, just when you’re ready to sit and have butterbeer or lunch, there’s the outdoor Backlot. Nice sunshine and fresh-air break from the indoor studio tour. 9 views
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Photo op: In the Backlot, pose inside the Flying Car9 views
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Inside Hogwarts Express train carriage.9 views
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London Ministry of Magic, Atrium (ロンドン魔法省)9 views
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“Magic is Might” monument was installed by the Death Eaters (evil allies of Dark Lord Voldemort) when they took over the Ministry.9 views
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Animal actors included multiple owls for Hedwig, Harry’s owl.9 views
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Werewolf animatronic.9 views
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Broomstick flying experience. It looks like a ride, but the broomstick is just a stationary prop you sit on and be filmed in a green screen booth. They charge ¥3,500 to download the broomstick video (without watermarks)..9 viewsThe staff tells you when to sway left or right, when to wave, when to reach out your hand to catch the Golden Snitch, etc. The resulting 70-sec. video shows you flying fast on a broomstick amid different background scenery like city streets, Quidditch field, and Hogwarts Castle.
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Diagon Alley facades.9 views
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Dobby the beloved elf.9 views
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The plum grove has walking paths across the slope.8 views
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Top of Kogesawa plum grove hill has this small area for picnickers. A few benches and tree stumps to sit on. Good idea to bring takeout food. Pleasant to have lunch here.8 views
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Top of Kogesawa Bairin. Plum tree branches seem to grow in random directions, but the tree always maintains its balance.8 views
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Steps going down hill of plum trees at Kogesawa Bairin.8 views
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Kogesawa Bairin plum grove at Takao Baigo, Hachioji, Tokyo.8 views
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Surusashi Bairin8 views
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Go up the hill to see the shrine.8 views
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Walking path along the river.8 views
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Yuhodo Bairin (遊歩道梅林)8 views
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Back of the Monchicchi statue. Shin-Koiwa is where Sekiguchi Corporation, the toy company which invented Moncchichi, is based. モンチッチ像8 views
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QR code for the Monchicchi web page.8 views
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Floral decoration at Shin-Koiwa Station and bus stops.8 views
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This new Monchicchi Zone has 27 Monchicchi/Sekiguchi statues all donated by the Sekiguchi Koichi, company chairman.8 views
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The exterior of the panels has stained glass-like artwork.8 views
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History of Sekiguchi Corporation, inventor of Monchicchi.8 views
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Monchicchi Park layout. Upper left is the new Monchicchi Zone and lower right is the new Chibikko Hiroba for infants.8 views
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Monchicchi bench.8 views
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This is Gutchi from the Kuta-kuta monkey series in 1973 which evolved into Moncchichi. It was when Sekiguchi was transitioning from a plastic doll maker to stuffed animals, a totally different product requiring a different set of skills.8 views
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Monchicchi angel has its own corner of the park. 天使のモンチッチ8 views
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Monchicchi on the cobblestones.8 views
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Sekiguchi Doll House was located here before it was torn down to make way for this park. This monument is made of the stone bricks from the Doll House. The original Doll House sign is here.8 views
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Playground equipment for older kids.8 views
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Monchicchi playground for infants and preschoolers.8 views
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Plum Blossom Festival (Ume Matsuri) sign.8 views
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View of Tokyo Sky Tree through the plum blossoms.8 views
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Pink weeping plum blossoms.8 views
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Omurai Katori Shrine's Sacred Dance stage.8 views
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Entrance to the plum garden on the right side of the shrine. 8 views
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Under a tall, weeping plum blossom tree.8 views
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Tobu Kameido Line starts at Kameido Station.8 views
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These were still one or two days before peak bloom.8 views
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"America" Somei-Yoshino cherry trees from America at the park when in bloom. They are planted for a few hundred meters along Shin-Shibakawa River behind the Visitors Center. This was in late March.8 views
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ID tag for "America" Somei-Yoshino cherry tree from America at the park. It now has a QR code linking to a Japanese webpage explaining the species.8 views
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JR Musashi-Masuko Station8 views
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This is how it looks when you get out of the station.8 views
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Closeup of cherry blossoms in front of JR Musashi-Masuko Station.8 views
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The third cherry tree at JR Musashi-Masuko Station.8 views
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Pedal boats are very popular. This is the boat dock.8 views
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Another long line to get on the boat.8 views
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Lots of large trees for shade.8 views
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Directional signs in English.8 views
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Peony8 views
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The field of red poppies at Showa Kinen Park.8 views
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Moss pink8 views
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Nemophila (baby blue eyes) at Showa Kinen Park, Tachikawa, Tokyo.8 views
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Long lines at most refreshment stands. This one was for snow cones.8 views
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Since it was a sunny day, many people brought their own tents and stayed under the tree shade.8 views
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Small locomotive which was originally used at Toshimaen amusement park. For more details, see my blog post.8 views
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Entrance to Nerima Joshi Park and way to the Harry Potter studio.8 views
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Floor map.8 views
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Door to the Great Hall to start the tour.8 views
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Other professors.8 views
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Hogwarts Marble Staircase which actually moves (swivels).8 views
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Moving portrait experience: Next to the Marble Staircase, you can be a moving portrait too. The studio’s first interactive experience has booths with different backgrounds to film yourself for 15 seconds.8 views
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Quidditch filming experience: We visitors could act as spectators at a Quidditch match between Griffindore and Slytherin.8 views
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We visitors could act as spectators at a Quidditch match between Griffindore and Slytherin.8 views
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Triwizard Cup and golden egg from Goblet of Fire.8 views
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In Dumbledore’s Office, on the left on the cabinet is Gryffindor’s Sword in a glass case.8 views
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Costumes and more props.8 views
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Library books.8 views
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