 Most viewed - Fuchu 府中市 |
Map of Kyodo-no-Mori Museum. It is quite spacious and park-like with a modern museum, planetarium, and a few vintage buildings moved here. Also noted for flowers such as plum blossoms in Feb. and hydrangea in June when I visited.313 views
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Bubaigawara Station on the Keio Line from Shinjuku. Closest station to Kyodo-no-Mori Museum. Take a bus or walk 25 min.303 views
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The Tokyo Racecourse is near two train stations. This is one of them, Fuchu Keiba Seimon-mae Station on the Keio Keibajo Line that shoots off from Higashi Fuchu Station (a Jun-tokkyu stop on race days) on the Keio Line from Shinjuku. 府中競馬正門前296 views
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Way to Tama Cemetery. One of Tokyo's major cemeteries with the graves of celebrated figures including politicians, scholars, and novelists. Also a noted cherry blossom spot in spring.197 views
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Kurayami Matsuri in Fuchu, Tokyo196 views
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The festival music is called Fuchu Hayashi (府中囃子) native to Fuchu. There are two schools: Meguro-ryu (lively music west of the shrine) and Funabashi-ryu (elegant music east of the shrine).171 views
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Bus stop for JR Musashi-Koganei Station.170 views
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Kurayami Matsuri: The mikoshi would spend the night at the Otabisho. At 4 am the next morning, they were carried back to the shrine by 7:30 am.167 views
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Sculpture in a park in Fuchu, Tokyo.163 views
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Sculpture in front of Fuchu Pool in Tokyo.163 views
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Sculpture in front of Fuchu Pool in Tokyo.161 views
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Deep Impact159 views
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Narita Brian, a famous racehorse.156 views
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Horse exhibit.152 views
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Kofun tumuli types119 views
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Statue in front of Bubaigawara Station.99 views
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Also see my Kurayami Matsuri video taken on May 5, 2014.99 views
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The Kurayami Matsuri is Okunitama Shrine's most important festival held annually on April 30-May 6 in Fuchu, Tokyo. The main festival days are May 4 and 5. Kurayami means "pitch dark" in reference to it originally being a night festival.97 views
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Watch the video to see how they beat the taiko.97 views
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Best to watch my video of Kurayami Matsuri on May 4, 2014.96 views
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Okunitama Shrine's Honden in Fuchu, Tokyo. The shrine was established in 111 by Emperor Keiko (景行天皇). It worships six deities from Musashino Province. 96 views
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Keyaki-dori road of trees leading to Okunitama Shrine.95 views
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The giant taiko drums appeared again to purify the path for the mikoshi portable shrines.95 views
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Okunitama Shrine's torii94 views
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Local TV reporter.94 views
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The road is not that long so it was easy to see all the floats.94 views
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Former town hall building.93 views
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It was pitch dark because humans were not allowed to see the god's divine spirit being transferred from the shrine to the mikoshi and transported to the Otabisho rest place.93 viewsThe festival is near Fuchu Station on the Keio Line.
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Wash basin to purify yourself.93 views
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On May 4 from 5 pm to 6 pm, large taiko drums (太鼓の響宴) were beaten on the street near the shrine.93 views
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Men standing precariously on one of the smaller taiko drums. They hold on to a rope tied to the drum. The smallest taiko is 1.29 meter wide. Up to 11 people stand on it.93 views
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The taiko drums are beaten to purify the path for the mikoshi portable shrine.93 views
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Shishimai lion dancers.93 views
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Main drag at Kyodo-no-Mori Museum.92 views
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Inside museum, local history.92 views
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Crowded path to Okunitama Shrine.92 views
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First a giant taiko drum passed by me as I was going to the shrine.92 views
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About Okunitama Shrine92 views
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The main god is Okunitama-no-Okami, god of nation-building. Same god as Izumo Taisha.92 views
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Mikoshi at the shrine await.92 views
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This unusual float named Kotobuki-cho is a danjiri float whose front end has to be lifted to turn.92 views
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They play the flute (笛), shime-daiko drum (締太鼓), large taiko (大太鼓), hand bell (鉦), and wooden clappers (拍子木). The flutist is like the music conductor who directs the music.92 views
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On May 4 during the day, they had children carrying small mikoshi. They also had twirling flower umbrellas called mando 万灯.92 views
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Sacred music gagaku musicians.92 views
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Each mikoshi was led by paper lantern bearers.92 views
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Giant taiko drum beating like the sound of dinosaur footsteps.91 views
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The floats started to gather.91 views
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Another taiko arrives.91 views
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Floats on Keyaki road.91 views
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I went back to Fuchu the next day on May 5, 2014, the festival climax. Very crowded in front of the shrine.91 views
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The mikoshi bearers arrived dancing in circles.91 views
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Third mikoshi was Sannomiya 三之宮 Hikawa no Okami 氷川大神 氷川大社 埼玉県大宮市鎮座 （延喜式内 名神大社・旧官弊大社）.91 views
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The giant taiko later paraded along the Keyaki road.91 views
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Ajisai Matsuri poster for Kyodo-no-Mori Museum.90 views
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Today, the festival is well lit in the evening with paper lanterns. On May 4 from 5 pm to 6 pm, large taiko drums (太鼓の響宴) are beaten on the street. 90 views
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Giant taiko ahead next to the torii.90 views
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The largest taiko is made of bubinga wood. They even made another taiko from the wood carved out of this trunk. 90 views
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That's how the taiko got bigger and bigger.90 views
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From 6 pm to 9 pm on May 4, 22 ornate wooden floats carrying musicians and dancers paraded on the street in front of the shrine (山車の巡行).90 views
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Comical dancers wearing masks performed on the floats.90 views
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Each float was led by paper lantern bearers followed by people pulling the float.90 views
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On May 5 at 6 pm, the festival climaxes with six large taiko drums followed by eight mikoshi portable shrines carried to the Otabisho, a short distance away pictured here.. 90 views
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The first mikoshi was Ichinomiya. 一之宮 Ono no Okami 小野大神 小野神社 東京都多摩市鎮座 （延喜式内論社・旧郷社）90 views
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Second mikoshi was Ninomiya 二之宮 Ogawa no Okami 小河大神 二宮神社（小河神社） 東京都あきる野市鎮座 （旧郷社）.90 views
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Eight mikoshi proceeded from Okunitama Shrine to the Otabisho.90 views
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The action and crowds shift to the Otabisho seen in the background.90 views
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All the mikoshi were brought here amid much fanfare.90 views
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Thatched-roof farmer's house called the former Kouchi home. 河内家89 views
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In the old days, they used to ram the taiko drums at each other. Since a bigger taiko was more advantageous, four neighborhoods sought to make the largest drum.89 views
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At around 6 pm, the ornate floats started to appear.89 views
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The floats carry festival musicians and dancers wearing a mask.89 views
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Mando flower umbrella displayed in a dept store.89 views
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People couldn't cross the road.89 views
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The formal procession started with some musicians.89 views
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Fuchu has Sakura-dori road lined with cherry blossoms in early April. Where they hold the cherry blossom festival. Near Fuchu Station on the Keio Line from Shinjuku.88 views
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On May 4, the float parade ended at about 9 pm.88 views
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Inside former Kouchi home. 河内家87 views
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Floats would meet up and perform together for a few minutes.87 views
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Police constantly warned people about stepping back.87 views
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Hydrangea in full bloom.86 views
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The floats later paraded on the tree-lined Keyaki road.86 views
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People cheer whenever they tilt this danjiri float.86 views
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Horse racing by foreign residents.84 views
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Inside former Ochi House84 views
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Mitama-do Hall83 views
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Inside former town hall. 82 views
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Garden of hydrangea in June at Kyodo-no-Mori Museum.81 views
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Hoofs77 views
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Inside Former Shimada Home used as a warehouse for a drugstore.77 views
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Former Ochi House, another thatched-roof farmer's house.77 views
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Across the Shimada Home is a complex of buildings called the former Tanaka Home.75 views
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School auditorium75 views
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Former Shimada Home75 views
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Former Shimada Home74 views
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Sakura-dori road with cherry blossoms.74 views
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Former Tanaka Home was a rich merchant's home in Fuchu-juku post town on the Koshu Kaido Road.73 views
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About the former Kouchi House.72 views
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Museum and planetarium72 views
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The former classrooms are now exhibition spaces.72 views
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Room where Emperor Meiji stayed.72 views
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History of horse racing.71 views
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Map of Tokyo Race Course. There are also amusement facilities within the race course oval itself, accessible through an underground tunnel.71 views
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Hydrangea71 views
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Video simulation and horse ride during a race. Neat ride for kids.70 views
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The Japan Racing Association's flagship horse-racing course in Fuchu, Tokyo got a makeover in April 2007 with a spanking new grandstand called Fuji View Stand. Very impressive, and entertaining even for non-gamblers.70 views
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Photo of the original Fuchu school.70 views
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Also some irises.70 views
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Door to Principal's office69 views
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Inside the former primary school.69 views
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Former Fuchu primary school, originally built in 1935.69 views
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Front entrance to Tama Cemetery.69 views
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Cemetery map and sign.69 views
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Inside Fuji View Stand.68 views
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Food court68 views
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About the former primary school. This is only part of the school buildings that existed.68 views
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Even Emperor Meiji once stopped in the Tanaka Home.68 views
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Inside the school auditorium issome art work by former students during the 1930s.68 views
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About former Ochi House68 views
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There were 12 races this day, and before each race the horses were paraded around the paddock for all to see.67 views
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Inside a classroom67 views
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Horse statue66 views
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There are a several floors in the Fuji View Stand. 66 views
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On the right is the paddock. (More paddock photos later.)66 views
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Classroom corridor66 views
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Going upstairs.66 views
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Inside Principal's office66 views
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About Former Shimada Home.66 views
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Memorial plaque in Japanese and English.66 views
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Inside Fuji View Stand. Very spacious and modern, the Tokyo Race Course is a huge facility not only for horse racing and betting, but also for family recreation and amusement.65 views
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A pedestrian overpass connects the Fuchu Keiba Seimon-mae Station directly to the Tokyo Race Course's Fuji View Stand.64 views
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Fuji View Stand, so named because Mt. Fuji can be seen on clear days.64 views
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Room where Emperor Meiji stayed.64 views
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A pedestrian overpass connects the Fuchu Keiba Seimon-mae Station directly to the Tokyo Race Course's Fuji View Stand.63 views
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View from Fuji View Stand. The place is huge, enough to host a small airport. These photos were taken on June 14, 2009 when the Grade III Epsom Cup races were held.63 views
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If it rains, you can sit here. On this day on June 14, 2009, the Grade III Epsom Cup horse races were held. 63 views
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Entrance to Tokyo Racecourse. Admission is only ¥200.63 views
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Different student desks.63 views
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Second floor has classrooms.63 views
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The main roads have cherry trees.63 views
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Tama Cemetery Fountain tower.63 views
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Betting windows61 views
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Fuji View Stand from behind. The overpass from the train station can be seen. This building was built in April 2007.61 views
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Room where Emperor Meiji stayed.61 views
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Sakura-dori road in Fuchu.61 views
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The cemetery is basically in a grid pattern.61 views
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Fuji View Stand. The upper levels are reserved seating which cost extra. Most people sat on the free, lower level.60 views
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You can also watch the race inside on a large monitor.59 views
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View from Fuji View Stand.59 views
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Sign at overpass entrance.58 views
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Horse named "Hurry Up" to be ridden by famous jockey Take Yutaka.57 views
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From the overpass, there's this on the left side.57 views
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Tokyo Racecourse paddock.57 views
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