 Most viewed - Shinjuku-ku 新宿区 |
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Kagura-ren かぐら連64 views
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People in a long line waiting to enter Canal Cafe to either dine or rent a rowboat.63 views
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Empty rowboats too.63 views
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Sobu Line passes through.62 views
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Sobu Line passes through.62 views
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Hyottoko-ren62 views
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Cherry trees along the Sotobori Moat. Formerly a moat of Edo Castle, this canal stretching from Iidabashi Station to Ichigaya Station along the Chuo Line.61 views
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How it looks from the end of the moat.61 views
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The Kagura-ren dancers proceed up the sloping Kagurazaka-dori.61 views
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The moat is parallel to the Chuo Line. View from Shin-Mitsuke Bridge. 新見附橋59 views
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I always see this guy at Awa Odori in Tokyo.59 views
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Crowd interaction.58 views
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Would you believe a Daikon-ren? Yes, eating it is good for your body. だいこん連58 views
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Rowboats and low-hanging cherries.56 views
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The end of the moat is also a good viewpoint.56 views
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Kagura-ren かぐら連56 views
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56 views
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The street was most crowded in front of Bishamonten temple, the focal point of Kagurazaka.56 views
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The end of the moat is also a good viewpoint.54 views
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54 views
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The street is not so crowded for the most part.53 views
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On New Year's Day 2020, Emperor's Cup JFA All-Japan Soccer Championship final game was the first sports event to be held at the new Olympic Stadium. Vissel Kobe vs. Kashima Antlers.39 views
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Outside the stadium, a large soccer ball was a popular selfie spot.36 views
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Another fresco mosaic wall mural by Hasegawa Roka. The Greek Goddess of Victory, depicting "Honor." 34 viewsThis was preserved and moved here from the old National Stadium. 「勝利の女神」
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Mosaic wall mural of Nomi no Sukune, a legendary sumo wrestler posing as a victor. By pioneering artist Hasegawa Roka (長谷川路可 1897–1967). 33 views
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A main thoroughfare to Kabukicho.30 views
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8th floor.30 views
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Site of the old Koma Theater.29 views
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Street below as seen by Godzilla.28 views
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Robot Restaurant28 views
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Robot Restaurant28 views
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Neon lights of Kabukicho.27 views
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Godzilla amid Kabukicho's neon lights.27 views
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Smoke emitters inside the mouth.26 views
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When it's showtime, the lights turn red.26 views
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Godzilla relief at the base, destroying the National Diet Building.26 views
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Pork restaurant.25 views
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Godzilla head is on the 8th floor.25 views
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8th floor.25 views
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There it is, the life-size Godzilla head.25 views
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Very impressive.25 views
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Godzilla relief25 views
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This is where Hasegawa Roka's pair of fresco wall murals were in the old National Stadium's main stand. 25 viewsSaw it in May 2014 when I toured the old 1964 Olympic Stadium before it was torn down to make way for the new stadium.
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Godzilla's roaring schedule.24 views
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Godzilla roaring and spewing smoke and fire from the mouth.24 views
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The seats have a random mosaic design in shades of green, brown, and white. It makes it look like there are spectators even when the seats are empty.24 views
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At the halfway line from the Back Stand's Tier 2 concourse with a long row of guys on the bottom edge.24 views
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The life-size Godzilla head on Hotel Gracery's rooftop in Kabukicho, Shinjuku.23 views
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Godzilla's claw on the roof edge.23 views
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From the top row of seats in the stadium on the 3rd tier. Tier 3 has a steep 34˚ incline.23 viewsThe Tier 1 is more gradual at 20˚, and Tier 2 is 29˚. Lateral space was minimized, so it's quite cramped to move through the seats when people are sitting in them. And there's no walkway traversing the seating area on the cramped 3rd tier. Go back out to the concourse to move to another block.
The stadium was designed this way to keep the seats closer to the field. I must say, it is effective in that sense. The field looks closer and you get clear views with no heads in the way. In the old National Stadium, the top row was faraway from the field.
This top row is also right below the open-air part of the stadium and if it's windy and rainy, I would think people may get wet here. Must be cold in winter to sit here. But in summer, it might be cooler when there's a breeze.
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Spectator seating is pretty much covered by the roof, but windy rain can still reach people. The stadium was looking quite full.23 views
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2nd tier seats, less steep than the 3rd tier.23 views
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Stadium layout. Top part is the Back Stand, bottom part is the Main Stand. The Side Stands on both ends were the fan stands. The stadium has three seating tiers on five floors. Tier 3 is the cheapest seats.23 views
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Vissel Kobe fans on the North Stand. "Vissel" combines the words "victory" and "vessel." "Vessel" because Kobe is a port city.23 views
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Vissel Kobe fans on the North Stand. 23 views
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Looks like fire escape stairs, but they are normally used to exit the stadium. 22 viewsIt was closed while people were entering the stadium (using escalators). The stairs were opened after the event ended.
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The stadium as seen from Gaien Gate. This area is where they had food stalls and corporate sponsor booths.22 views
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Gate A6 led to escalators going to the 4th floor. The admission ticket tells you which gate to go to.22 views
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View of the Olympic Stadium in July 2018 from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.22 views
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This huge banner was unfurled on the pitch. Looks upside down on my side of the stadium, but it reads "Battle for the Pinnacle." 頂上決戦22 views
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The stadium grounds has four gates (Sendagaya Gate, Gaien Gate, etc.) from the direction of train/subway stations. This map shows how far each train/subway station is.21 viewsThe closest is JR Sendagaya Station (440 meters) and Kokuritsu Kyogijo subway station (130 meters).
The stadium itself has eight main entrances from A to H. These main entrances further branch off into smaller entrances such as A1, A2, etc., leading to different floors and seating blocks.
The stadium seating sections are labeled Main Stand, Back Stand, North Stand, and South Stand. Each stand comprise three inclined tiers of seating. The Main Stand is the prime section. Gate F is nearest to the Japan Olympic Museum where the Olympic rings are.
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Semi-accessible toilet. (Too small for a wheelchair.) The wheelchair spaces had accessible toilets nearby.21 views
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Layout of a block of seats. The block numbers indicate the tier. 100s for the 1st tier (expensive seats), 200s, for the 2nd tie, and 300s here for the 3rd tier (cheap seats, ¥5000 for this event). 21 viewsHere, you should check your seat No.
If your seat No. is 111 to 124, enter on the left side of the block. If it's 125 to 138, go to the other corridor entrance on the right side of the block. The field is toward the top of this diagram (Row 1).
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At the end of the corridor is steps going down and up. Cramped spot where people tend to stop and try to figure out which way to go. 21 viewsIf your seat is on the other side of the block, you should go back to the concourse and enter the corridor on the other side of the block.
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2nd tier concourse (3rd floor) does not have any crosswinds.21 views
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2nd tier seats, less steep than the 3rd tier.21 views
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Wheelchair space on 2nd tier concourse. 21 views
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Vissel Kobe fans on the North Stand. Loud cheers. The roof overhead carried their cheers very well.21 views
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Vissel Kobe fans on the North Stand. 21 views
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Lots of afternoon sun on this part of the Back Stand.21 views
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The new Olympic Stadium or "National Stadium" (Kokuritsu Kyogijo) was completed in Nov. 2019 and an opening event for the public called "Hello, Our Stadium" was held on Dec. 21, 2019.20 viewsFrom Sendagaya Station, we could take a short cut past this Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium to the stadium.
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Line to enter Gate H.20 views
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Escalator to the upper floors.20 views
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A number of concession stands along the concourse, but long lines. 20 viewsI brought my own food and drinks, so I didn't bother to stand in line. No vending machines in the stadium. The cheapest drinks were ¥300.
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Stairs to the 5th floor where there is an open-air concourse with potted plants (Sora no Mori). But it was closed.20 views
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Wash basin.20 views
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Layout of the North Stand which was the Vissel Kobe fan section.20 views
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LCD screen showing the layout of each concourse. The wheelchair symbol is for the accessible toilets which are always near the wheelchair spaces.20 views
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Extra space on 2nd tier concourse (3rd floor).20 views
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The seats have a random mosaic design in shades of green, brown, and white look like fallen autumn leaves. Ingenious. Sort of like having fake followers/spectators.20 views
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Seat numbers (without row number) are on the seat edge, not on the seat back. If there are people sitting, you cannot see the seat number.20 views
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When people are sitting, there's very little room to pass through a row of seats.20 views
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Vissel Kobe fans on the North Stand. 20 views
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Vissel Kobe fans on the North Stand. 20 views
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Kashima Antlers fans on the opposite end. Kashima, a city in Ibaraki Prefecture, literally means "deer island." That's where the "Antlers" come from.20 views
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Kashima Antlers fans20 views
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Kashima Antlers fans unfurl large banners.20 views
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Kashima Antlers fans20 views
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This football/soccer match was also an Olympic test event for the new Olymoic Stadium and officials observed the crowd flow.20 views
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Line to enter Gate H.19 views
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The stadium's design theme was "Forest Stadium." (杜のスタジアム). 19 viewsLots of cedar lumber on the exterior. The wood came from all 47 prefectures and they point toward the place where they came from.
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Stadium's ticket box office. It was closed since tickets to this event was sold in advance. 19 viewsFirst you had to apply for the ticket lottery online. If you won a ticket in the lottery (held at least 3 times), you could pay for it by credit card or at a convenience store. The ticket lottery and website were in Japanese only and geared for Japan residents with a cell phone. Very puzzling since it effectively shut out overseas visitors from buying a ticket. I didn't see any foreigners in the crowd. And yet, the event MC kept mentioning how it was for all nationalities, abled-bodied and disabled, all genders, all ages, etc., etc. No event info in English at all.
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Gate B2.19 views
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We all had reserved seating so there was no rush to get to our seats. 19 viewsBut there was this long line for Gate A that led to seats on all three tiers (1st to 4th floors) in this section on the Main Stand. The line wound back and forth four times before we headed for Gate A.
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The line moved quickly though. It took about 15 min. to get to the gate to go inside.19 views
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Outside the concourse. 19 views
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Layout of seating blocks on the Main Stand on the 4th floor (Tier 3). Notice the many concession stands and restrooms. 19 viewsIt may be confusing to see three seating tiers, but they are on different floors. The 1st tier is on the 1st floor, the 2nd tier is on the 2nd and 3rd floors, and the 3rd tier is on the 4th and 5th floors.
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Narrow corridor to Blocks 307 and 308 on tier 3. No wheelchair seating here. 19 views
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Third tier steps going up to the top row of the stadium. Above the top row is open-air. Steps are narrow and steep. Hold the hand rails.19 views
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The 1st tier on the bottom has a gradual incline, the 2nd tier is steeper, and the 3rd tier is the steepest. 19 views
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End of corridor to seats.19 views
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Seat numbers (without row number) are on the seat edge, not on the seat back. If there are people sitting, you cannot see the seat number.19 views
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The stadium was looking quite full. The stadium capacity is 60,000, but they announced that attendance for this event was 52,000.19 views
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Next was the Morioka Sansa Odori dance festival from Morioka, Iwate Prefecture. 19 viewsIt's a large-sacle evening street dance held near JR Morioka Station on Aug. 1 to 4. 盛岡さんさ踊り http://www.sansaodori.jp/foreign/english.php
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Gate A1 on the 2nd floor leading to the 2nd tier.19 views
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Turnstile at Gate A1. Barcode scanner lets you in.19 views
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2nd tier concourse (3rd floor) does not have any crosswinds.19 views
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Comcession stand on 2nd tier concourse (3rd floor).19 views
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2nd tier concourse.19 views
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Map of a block of seats on 2nd tier. Each block has two corridors/entrances. Enter the corridor closest to your seat.19 views
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Drink holder is slightly above the floor unlike on the 3rd tier where the drink holder is on the floor.19 views
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Wheelchair space on 2nd tier concourse. Seats are for abled-bodied wheelchair companions. This space also has power outlets for recharging power/electric wheelchairs. Mounted on the ceiling is a cooling fan.19 views
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Wheelchair space on 2nd tier concourse (right below the "We came to win" banner).19 views
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It's an oval stadium with a track and field and a partial, fixed roof. Everyone was relieved that the stadium was completed in time for the Olympics after a flubbed initial design.19 views
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Seats with tables on the Main Stand.19 views
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Seats with lounges.19 views
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Vissel Kobe fans on the North Stand. 19 views
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Vissel Kobe fans. "1995 to 2020, Kobe"19 views
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Kashima Antlers fans19 views
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Kashima Antlers fans19 views
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Players entered the pitch.19 views
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Vissel Kobe before the kickoff at 2:35 pm.19 views
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Vissel Kobe scores their first goal.19 views
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Watering the field (natural grass) during halftime.19 views
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Andrés Iniesta, Spanish professional footballer.19 views
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Vissel Kobe fans go wild.19 views
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Awards ceremony had Princess Takamado (in white) giving the trophy. She is an Honorary Patron of the Japan Football Association.19 views
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The man waving is Hiroshi Mikitani, the founder of Rakuten that owns Kobe Vissel.19 views
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One thing they need to fix is trash collection. On the 2nd floor concourse.19 views
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Trash collection at the exit.19 views
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Approaching the Olympic Stadium. The white tent is where we had to show our tickets.18 views
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This shows how far each train/subway station is.18 views
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Long line for the women's restroom on the ground floor. 18 viewsThere are men's and women's restrooms on each floor. If the line is too long, just look for another one.
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Gate G, Aoyama Gate18 views
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Near Gate G, a large, fresco mosaic wall mural of Nomi no Sukune, a legendary sumo wrestler posing as a victor. 18 viewsBy pioneering artist Hasegawa Roka (長谷川路可 1897–1967). This was preserved and moved here from the old National Stadium. So this work dates from 1964. 「野見宿禰」
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Stairs and escalator to the stadium's 2nd tier seats.18 views
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Stairs and escalator to the stadium's 2nd tier seats.18 views
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Outside Gate E, there was a short pre-event performance of the Sendai Suzume Odori dance from Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. 18 viewsThe Suzume Odori (Sparrow Dance) is held in late July near Sendai Station. They performed in front of Tanabata streamers for which Sendai is famous in early Aug. 仙台すずめ踊り http://www.suzume-odori.com/
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Popular photo spot with the "National Stadium" sign. Near Gaien Gate.18 views
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The stadium as seen from Gaien Gate.18 views
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The turnstile scanner machine (spare ones here).18 views
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2nd tier concourse (3rd floor) does not have any crosswinds.18 views
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Comcession stand on 2nd tier concourse (3rd floor).18 views
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Extra space on 2nd tier concourse (3rd floor).18 views
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Wheelchair space on 2nd tier concourse. Seats are for abled-bodied wheelchair companions. This space also has power outlets for recharging power/electric wheelchairs. Mounted on the ceiling is a cooling fan.18 views
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The name of the stadium's opening event was "Hello, Our Stadium." Two giant monitors were used to show live closeups of the performers.18 views
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The culture part of the program featured a festival from each of the six prefectures in the Tohoku Region: Aomori, Akita, Yamagata, Miyagi, Iwate, and Fukushima Prefectures. 18 viewsThey are all annual summer festivals. There's an emphasis on this region because it was where the March 2011 tsunami and earthquake hit Japan the hardest. The Japanese government also wants to call this the "Recovery Olympics."
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From Miyagi Prefecture, Sendai Suzume Odori dance which I saw earlier outside the stadium. 18 viewsNormally held in late July near Sendai Station. 仙台すずめ踊り http://www.suzume-odori.com/
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They paraded completely around the track. 18 views
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With lead singer Yoshida Miwa, Dreams Come True performed a few numbers for about 20 min. 18 viewsThey once performed at the old National Stadium. So I guess that's why they were selected to perform here. ドリームズ・カム・トゥルー https://dreamscometrue.com/
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Muraoka Momoka starts for the Green Team. 村岡桃佳18 views
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Leaving the stadium. Glad it was over. It was cold.18 views
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Stadium gate directions.18 views
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The seats have a random mosaic design in shades of green, brown, and white. It makes it look like there are spectators even when the seats are empty.18 views
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Short corridor to 2nd tier seats.18 views
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Corridor to seats in Blocks 240 and 241.18 views
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Row and seat numbers on steps on 2nd tier steps.18 views
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Seats with tables on the Main Stand.18 views
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Vissel Kobe celebrate their first goal.18 views
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"Goal"18 views
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The sun finally went down.18 views
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On Tier 2, view from the Back Stand, Block 241, nearer to the North Stand.18 views
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Vissel Kobe won 2-0.18 views
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They are in front of the Back Stand.18 views
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Stadium gates opened at 2 pm, stadium seating opened at 4:30 pm, and the program started at 6:30 pm. Cold, overcast day, but fortunately, it didn't rain.17 views
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It was the first time the stadium saw this many people.17 views
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Each gate had a bag checkpoint.17 views
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Food stalls.17 views
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Entering Gate A for security check of our bags. Notice that Gate A branches off into smaller gates from A1 to A6. 17 viewsA1 goes to the 1st floor, A6 goes to the 4th floor.
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The turnstile used a QR code scanner. Show the QR code on your ticket and the turnstile unlocks for you to pass through.17 views
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Concourse on the 4th floor. This is open-air. Quite cold this day.17 viewsConcourse on the 4th floor. This is open-air. Quite cold this day. I felt sorry for the staff who were working here, standing outside the corridor entrance to the seats.
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On the concourse, trash bins for burnables, plastics, and PET bottles.17 views
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Men's room, very clean.17 views
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Navigational map of the men's room. Mainly for visually impaired people, but I believe the braille is in Japanese.17 views
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Diaper-changing table.17 views
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Spotlight fixture occupies three rows of 5 seats.17 views
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My row on the 3rd tier. Hardly any room for a person to pass in front of people sitting. 17 viewsNot good when someone wants to get out and I'm shooting video of a precious moment on the field.
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In front of me, this person's head was slightly above my knees when I was sitting. 17 viewsA little kid sitting can easily kick the person's head in front. The drink holder is also on the floor.
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Row and seat numbers on steps on 2nd tier.17 views
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On 2nd tier, the incline is less than the 3rd tier. The drink holder is above the floor.17 views
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It's an oval-shaped stadium with a track and field and partial, fixed roof. The track and field had taiko drums and kanto paper lantern poles on both ends.17 viewsThe seats have a random mosaic design in shades of green,
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At 6:30 pm, the Opening Act was the famous taiko drum troupe Kodo from Sado, Niigata. 鼓童17 viewshttps://www.kodo.or.jp/en/
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It started with the Kanto Festival from Akita Prefecture (same place where the Akita dog comes from). 17 viewsOn both ends of the field, men in happi coats balanced tall paper lantern-bedecked bamboo poles, called kanto, on their shoulders, hand palms, or hips. These kanto symbolize rice plants. Akita Kanto Festival is held annually during Aug. 3 to 6 near JR Akita Station in Akita Prefecture. http://www.kantou.gr.jp/english/index.htm 竿灯まつり
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They danced along only part of the track. Yamagata Hanagasa Matsuri 山形花笠まつり 17 views
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From Fukushima Prefecture, the Waraji Matsuri.17 views
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Vissel Kobe in maroon, Kashima Antlers in white.17 views
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Vissel Kobe celebrate their first goal.17 views
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Current score and player roster.17 views
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Ball boy.17 views
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Vissel Kobe scores again.17 views
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