 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.337 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.317 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309 views
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Kurayami Matsuri in Fuchu, Tokyo237 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.213 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).207 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.203 views
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Sculpture in a park in Fuchu, Tokyo.193 views
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Sculpture in front of Fuchu Pool in Tokyo.193 views
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Sculpture in front of Fuchu Pool in Tokyo.193 views
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Bus stop for JR Musashi-Koganei Station.178 views
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Deep Impact166 views
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Narita Brian, a famous racehorse.165 views
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164 views
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Horse exhibit.158 views
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142 views
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Kofun tumuli types128 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.114 views
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113 views
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Also see my Kurayami Matsuri video taken on May 5, 2014.112 views
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Statue in front of Bubaigawara Station.109 views
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First a giant taiko drum passed by me as I was going to the shrine.109 views
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109 views
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Local TV reporter.108 views
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The road is not that long so it was easy to see all the floats.108 views
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108 views
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Keyaki-dori road of trees leading to Okunitama Shrine.107 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. 107 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.107 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. 107 views
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Watch the video to see how they beat the taiko.107 views
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Former town hall building.106 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.106 viewsThe festival is near Fuchu Station on the Keio Line.
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Okunitama Shrine's torii106 views
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Best to watch my video of Kurayami Matsuri on May 4, 2014.106 views
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The floats started to gather.106 views
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The taiko drums are beaten to purify the path for the mikoshi portable shrine.106 views
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The giant taiko drums appeared again to purify the path for the mikoshi portable shrines.106 views
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About Okunitama Shrine105 views
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Giant taiko drum beating like the sound of dinosaur footsteps.105 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.105 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.105 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.105 views
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105 views
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105 views
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Each mikoshi was led by paper lantern bearers.105 views
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The giant taiko later paraded along the Keyaki road.105 views
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Wash basin to purify yourself.104 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.104 views
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Comical dancers wearing masks performed on the floats.104 views
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This unusual float named Kotobuki-cho is a danjiri float whose front end has to be lifted to turn.104 views
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Shishimai lion dancers.104 views
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The mikoshi bearers arrived dancing in circles.104 views
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The formal procession started with some musicians.104 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. 103 views
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The main god is Okunitama-no-Okami, god of nation-building. Same god as Izumo Taisha.103 views
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Another taiko arrives.103 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).103 views
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Floats on Keyaki road.103 views
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On May 4, the float parade ended at about 9 pm.103 views
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Sacred music gagaku musicians.103 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）103 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）.103 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）.103 views
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Eight mikoshi proceeded from Okunitama Shrine to the Otabisho.103 views
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All the mikoshi were brought here amid much fanfare.103 views
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Crowded path to Okunitama Shrine.102 views
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Mikoshi at the shrine await.102 views
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Giant taiko ahead next to the torii.102 views
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That's how the taiko got bigger and bigger.102 views
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At around 6 pm, the ornate floats started to appear.102 views
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Each float was led by paper lantern bearers followed by people pulling the float.102 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.. 102 views
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The action and crowds shift to the Otabisho seen in the background.102 views
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Main drag at Kyodo-no-Mori Museum.101 views
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Inside museum, local history.101 views
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The floats carry festival musicians and dancers wearing a mask.101 views
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Mando flower umbrella displayed in a dept store.101 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.100 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.100 views
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Floats would meet up and perform together for a few minutes.100 views
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Police constantly warned people about stepping back.100 views
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Inside former Kouchi home. 河内家99 views
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Thatched-roof farmer's house called the former Kouchi home. 河内家99 views
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The floats later paraded on the tree-lined Keyaki road.99 views
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People couldn't cross the road.99 views
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Ajisai Matsuri poster for Kyodo-no-Mori Museum.98 views
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People cheer whenever they tilt this danjiri float.97 views
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Inside former Ochi House93 views
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Inside former town hall. 91 views
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Hydrangea in full bloom.91 views
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Mitama-do Hall90 views
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Horse racing by foreign residents.88 views
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Garden of hydrangea in June at Kyodo-no-Mori Museum.88 views
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Inside Former Shimada Home used as a warehouse for a drugstore.86 views
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History of horse racing.83 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.83 views
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School auditorium83 views
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Hydrangea83 views
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83 views
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Former Shimada Home83 views
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Former Ochi House, another thatched-roof farmer's house.83 views
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Room where Emperor Meiji stayed.83 views
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Across the Shimada Home is a complex of buildings called the former Tanaka Home.82 views
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Photo of the original Fuchu school.82 views
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Museum and planetarium82 views
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The former classrooms are now exhibition spaces.81 views
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Former Shimada Home81 views
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Former Tanaka Home was a rich merchant's home in Fuchu-juku post town on the Koshu Kaido Road.81 views
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Hoofs80 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.80 views
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Also some irises.80 views
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Front entrance to Tama Cemetery.80 views
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Video simulation and horse ride during a race. Neat ride for kids.78 views
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There are a several floors in the Fuji View Stand. 78 views
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About the former Kouchi House.78 views
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Door to Principal's office78 views
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About the former primary school. This is only part of the school buildings that existed.78 views
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About former Ochi House78 views
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About Former Shimada Home.78 views
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Sakura-dori road with cherry blossoms.78 views
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Horse statue77 views
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Inside Fuji View Stand.77 views
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Food court77 views
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Even Emperor Meiji once stopped in the Tanaka Home.77 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.76 views
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Inside the school auditorium issome art work by former students during the 1930s.76 views
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On the right is the paddock. (More paddock photos later.)75 views
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Inside Principal's office75 views
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Memorial plaque in Japanese and English.75 views
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Inside the former primary school.74 views
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Former Fuchu primary school, originally built in 1935.74 views
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Cemetery map and sign.74 views
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The main roads have cherry trees.73 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.72 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.72 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. 72 views
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Classroom corridor72 views
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Room where Emperor Meiji stayed.72 views
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Inside a classroom72 views
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Fuji View Stand, so named because Mt. Fuji can be seen on clear days.71 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.70 views
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You can also watch the race inside on a large monitor.70 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 2007.70 views
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Entrance to Tokyo Racecourse. Admission is only ¥200.70 views
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Room where Emperor Meiji stayed.70 views
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Going upstairs.70 views
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Tama Cemetery Fountain tower.70 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.69 views
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The cemetery is basically in a grid pattern.69 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.68 views
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Different student desks.68 views
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Second floor has classrooms.68 views
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Sign at overpass entrance.67 views
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Horse named "Hurry Up" to be ridden by famous jockey Take Yutaka.67 views
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Betting windows67 views
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Free train rides even.67 views
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Cherry blossoms and graves at Tama Cemetery.67 views
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From the overpass, there's this on the left side.66 views
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Sakura-dori road in Fuchu.66 views
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Tokyo Racecourse paddock.65 views
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View from Fuji View Stand.65 views
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Weather.64 views
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For the dirt track, trucks smooth the track.64 views
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