 Most viewed - Shizuoka city 静岡市 |
From Shizuoka Station (bus stop 19), it takes 35 min. by bus to Nihondaira. The bus comes to this Nihondaira Park Center. From here, you can easily walk to the points of interest.856 views
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Shizuoka manhole712 views
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Yaji in front of Sumpu Castle in Shizuoka city. 「東海道中膝栗毛」十返捨一九677 views
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Mt. Fuji as seen from Nihondaira.618 views
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Mt. Fuji as seen from Nihondaira's Ginbodai. Even sunny days can be hazy, but at least Mt. Fuji was visible when I went in mid-March. It was too hazy to see the Izu Peninsula.584 views
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He turns his head back.571 views
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Sumpu Castle's Higashi Gomon Gate and bridge 東御門555 views
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Daidogei World Cup in Shizuoka at Sumpu Park548 views
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Statue of Yajirobe'e ("Yaji") on the left and Kitahachi ("Kita") from the story "Tokaido-chu Hizakurige" by Juppensha Ikku (1765-1839) a comic playwright who was born in Shizuoka city.488 views
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Kita in front of Sumpu Castle in Shizuoka city. 「東海道中膝栗毛」十返捨一九480 views
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Sunpu Castle's Tatsumi Yagura Turret and Higashi Gomon Gate.464 views
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Parking area for people going to Nihondaira via the steps up the mountain. Near here is the bus stop for Shizuoka Station.459 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu's tomb at Kunozan Toshogu446 views
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The shrine looks spanking new and the colors are very impressive. It cost 1,300,000,000 yen to restore the lacquer and paint.440 views
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Honden Hall of Kunozan Toshogu Shrine at Nihondaira, Shizuoka. The shrine's focal point and most magnificent building. Important Cultural Property.437 views
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View of Mt. Fuji from Nihondaira413 views
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Also visible from the station is Granship, the Shizuoka Convention & Arts Center.408 views
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Unfortunately, he couldn't walk or fly.402 views
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Map of Kunozan Toshogu Shrine. It's not as big as it looks. The shrine is one of Nihondaira's main attractions. It was the original burial site of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. The shrine was built by his son Hidetada.401 views
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Mt. Fuji as seen from Yui.400 views
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Torii with Kunozan in the background.398 views
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Hiroshige's woodblock print of Miho no Matsubara Beach and Mt. Fuji from his "Famous Views of the 60 Provinces" series.391 views
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Mt. Fuji as seen from the Eastern Lookout Deck. This is one place where you would want to visit on a clear day. Otherwise, you won't see Mt. Fuji.385 views
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Sumpu Castle moat. The buildings are the Shizuoka Prefectural capital.383 views
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Stone torii 山下石鳥居377 views
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Another lookout deck on top of a souvenir shop. Free admission. Go up to the 4th floor.376 views
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Kunozan Toshogu Shrine was built 19 years before the famous Nikko Toshogu Shrine (Tochigi Prefecture) which is where Ieyasu was reburied. According to his will, Ieyasu wanted to be buried on Kunozan. Before the shrine, there was a temple and a castle here369 views
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Nihondaira is a plateau 308 meters high. It affords great views almost all around. There are a few lookout points on Nihondaira and this is one of them on Nihondaira's peak. Called Ginbodai.365 views
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Life-size spaceship.361 views
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Map of Nihondaira. It's not as spread out as it looks. Everything is within easy walking distance. If you visit in Feb., see the ume plum trees in bloom.359 views
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Another lookout deck is this Higashi Tenbodai or Eastern Lookout Deck. 東展望台356 views
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Admission to Kunozan Toshogu Shrine is 500 yen (or 800 yen if you also want to see the museum). It's worth it. After paying admission, you see this Romon Gate which is an Important Cultural Property. 楼門356 views
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Daidogei World Cup in Shizuoka at Sumpu Park355 views
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Higashi Shizuoka Station.353 views
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One main attraction of Nihondaira is views of Mt. Fuji and Miho no Matsubara on sunny days. If it's really sunny, you can also see the Izu Peninsula.351 views
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Gundam models350 views
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Gate keeper station 門衛所349 views
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Nihondaira was designated as a National Scenic Site in 1963 by the Japanese government. This high and flat plateau was recognized for its grand views all around, especially of Mt. Fuji. It also includes Mt. Kunozan, home of Toshogu Shrine.345 views
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Back at the Nihondaira Park Center (next to the bus stop), there are souvenir shops and a ropeway station to go to Kunozan Toshogu Shrine.345 views
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Shimizu Port and Miho no Matsubara beyond it. Miho Peninsula is also home of one of Japan's swan maiden legends. There's even a shrine dedicated to the swan maiden.342 views
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Sacred horse stable. (Mannequin horse)340 views
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Giant Gundam with eyes aglow at Shizuoka Hobby Fair 2010-2011.339 views
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Statue of Yajirobe'e ("Yaji") on the left and Kitahachi ("Kita") from the story "Tokaido-chu Hizakurige" by Juppensha Ikku (1765-1839) a comic playwright who was born in Shizuoka city. In front of Sumpu Castle.337 views
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Monument on the peak of Nihondaira. It says "Ginbodai." 吟望台336 views
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Kaguraden Hall for sacred dances is also an Important Cultural Property. 神楽殿333 views
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Higashi-Shizuoka Station is close to the Shizuoka Hobby Fair held from July 24, 2010 to March 27, 2011.332 views
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Ruins of the Inner Moat 内堀329 views
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By coincidence, a newly married couple disembarked from the ropeway after their wedding held at Kunozan Toshogu Shrine. We clapped for them.329 views
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Handprint of Tokugawa Ieyasu displayed behind Romon Gate.328 views
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Honden roof326 views
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Carving326 views
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Song monument325 views
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Torii325 views
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Hiroshige's woodblock print of Ejiri (19th post town on the Tokaido) from his "Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido Road" series. Miho no Matsubara in the background.325 views
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View of Nihondaira's parking lot and Mt. Fuji.323 views
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Kunozan Toshogu is designated as an Important Cultural Property, but unlike the Nikko Toshogu, there are no National Treasures (except in the museum).323 views
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Stone steps going down to the coast. It takes about 20 min. to go down these stone steps to the bottom. There are 1,159 stone steps which don't mean much unless you're climbing up.323 views
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Lookout deck322 views
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Tea Hall (Cha Kaikan) 茶会館321 views
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Hieda Shrine is what you see before the Honden main hall.320 views
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Lots of antenna atop Nihondaira.318 views
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Yui is so scenic that Hiroshige made a ukiyoe print of it in his Tokaido series.318 views
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Carving on Romon Gate. If you've been to Nikko Toshogu Shrine, many architectural and artistic elements here at Kunozan will look familiar.317 views
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Karamon Gate entrance to the Haiden Hall. The ornate Karamon Gate is an Important Cultural Property. However, we are not allowed to enter through this gate. 拝殿317 views
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Plum garden marker316 views
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Nihondaira Ropeway operates from 9:10 am to 5:15 pm (till 4:15 pm in winter months).315 views
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Riding the Nihondaira Ropeway to Kunozan. Built in 1957, the ropeway is 1,065 meters long.315 views
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Ieyasu plum tree315 views
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Roof tiles are decorated with the Tokugawa crest.315 views
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But I did find a plum tree with flowers. Smells nice.313 views
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Lion dog painting on the Hionden Hall.312 views
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Not much inside the Tea Hall which sells some tea.310 views
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Near Nihondaira is Yui, a scenic point on the coast accessible by car.310 views
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Statue of a mother and child. Based on the famous children's song called "Akai Kutsu" (Red Shoes). The song was modeled after a little girl who was from Shimizu, Shizuoka. The sculpture was made in 1986.309 views
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Yet another Nihondaira stone marker.309 views
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There's also a lookout deck on the roof of the Nihondaira Park Center.309 views
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Shizuoka city308 views
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Nihondaira Ropeway costs 550 yen one way (1000 yen round trip). If you go to Nihondaira by bus, you can take a bus back from Kunozan instead of going back to the Nihondaira bus stop.308 views
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View from lookout deck308 views
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Plum trees308 views
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Nihondaira Ropeway to Kunozan. The ropeway ride is only only 5 min. It runs quite often.307 views
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Tokugawa crest307 views
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Nihondaira monument and Mt. Fuji.306 views
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Stone steps 石段306 views
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Kunozan is accessible by ropeway (aerial tram) from Nihondaira or by winding steps going up on the other side from the coastal road.304 views
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Plum garden marker304 views
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Nihondaira ume plum grove. Flowers already withered by the time I was there in mid-March. 日本平梅園303 views
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I went on a Sunday and it was noisy with all these motorcycles and sports cars buzzing around. They catch their thrills on the curving roads of Nihondaira.302 views
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Side gate to the Haiden and Honden Halls.301 views
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Lock your heart.300 views
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Purification water fountain is an Important Cultural Property.300 views
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Approach to Ieyasu's tomb299 views
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Ishiyama-dera Tahoto pagoda model.299 views
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Sumpu Castle is a short walk from JR Shizuoka Station. You'll find mainly moats, a large park, and some government buildings.298 views
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Nihondaira marker298 views
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About Kunozan Toshogu Shrine in English.298 views
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Kunozan in the distance. You can see Kunozan's sloping peak on which Kunozan Toshogu Shrine is built. Its elevation is 270 meters.297 views
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Gate to Tokugawa Ieyasu's tomb is also an Important Cultural Property. 廟所297 views
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Honden Hall296 views
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Nice view from the stone steps. Those vinyl houses are growing strawberries which are sold everywhere at the foot of Kunozan during Jan. to May.296 views
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About Kunozan Toshogu Shrine in Japanese.295 views
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Off of Shimizu Port is Miho no Matsubara, a pine-clad, slither of land jutting into the ocean. 294 views
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Tatsumi Yagura Turret at the southeast corner of Sumpu Park. 巽櫓293 views
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The annual Daidogei (street performance) World Cup in Shizuoka is held in Sumpu Park in autumn.293 views
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Side gate to Honden292 views
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Plexiglass protects the lower carvings.292 views
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Lover's Monument near the Nihondaira ropeway.290 views
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Mt. Kunozan probably got its name from Kunoji temple built by Kuno Tadahito in 600. The temple suffered a fire in 1225. In 1568, Takeda Shingen moved the temple to Shimizu and built a castle on Kunozan. 290 views
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In 1582, the Takeda clan was defeated and Kunozan fell to the Tokugawa. Kunozan Toshogu Shrine was built in 1617 by Tokugawa Hidetada to bury and deify his father Tokugawa Ieyasu.290 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu's tomb at Kunozan Toshogu290 views
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View from the Eastern Lookout Deck on Nihondaira. 289 views
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Nihondaira monument in the parking lot.289 views
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Site of a five-story pagoda which had to be torn down in 1873 when Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples had to be separated. (A pagoda is a Buddhist structure.)289 views
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Side gate288 views
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Giant Gundam statue is clearly visible from Higashi Shizuoka Station.288 views
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When Tokugawa Ieyasu retired as shogun, he lived here at Sumpu Castle. He also died here at age 72 in 1616. On the day of his death, his body was taken to Mt. Kunozan at Nihondaira for burial.285 views
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They repaint and lacquer the shrine only once every 50 years. It takes several years to complete the job and they just finished it in 2006.285 views
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View from Karamon Gate285 views
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Yui with a view of Mt. Fuji.285 views
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Sunpu Castle has only two castle buildings, both reconstructed. This is one of them, the Tatsumi Yagura Turret. 巽櫓284 views
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View of central Shizuoka city from Nihondaira Park Center.284 views
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Side gate roof284 views
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About Tatsumi Yagura282 views
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Tokugawa crest on this rain catcher.280 views
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Karamon Gate's ornate roof.278 views
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Roof corner277 views
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It might take at least 30 min. to go up these steps, 1,159 steps spanning 760 meters with 17 switchbacks.276 views
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Tatsumi Yagura Turret (Reconstructed in 1992)275 views
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The Nihondaira Ropeway goes over Byobu-dani Valley, noted for rock formations resembling folding screens (byobu).274 views
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Higashi Gomon Grassy Lawn272 views
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It takes about 30 processes to restore the lacquer.272 views
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Kunozan is right next to the coast. That's the Pacific Ocean.271 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu's tomb at Kunozan Toshogu. The tomb actually faces west, toward Okazaki in Aichi Prefecture where Ieyasu was born. 神廟270 views
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Higashi Gomon Gate and bridge 東御門267 views
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Honden Hall267 views
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Side gate roof.266 views
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Ruins of the Inner Moat264 views
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Honden Hall roof263 views
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Bridge over the first moat.260 views
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Kunozan Toshogu Shrine Museum has about 2,000 pieces in its collection of mostly everyday things used by Ieyasu and other Tokugawa shoguns. Besides swords, there are Western articles. 博物館260 views
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Tatsumi Yagura as seen from behind.258 views
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Higashi Gomon Gate Bridge256 views
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Map of Sumpu Park255 views
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The giant Gundam is the main attraction by far.252 views
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Karamon Gate door carving251 views
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Inside Kunozan Toshogu Shrine Museum, articles belonging to Ieyasu are displayed. If you're Spanish, you'd be interested in seeing the Spanish clock owned by Ieyasu. Admission charged.251 views
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Shizuoka Hobby Fair site as seen from Higashi Shizuoka Station. The giant Gundam statue is clearly visible.251 views
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Entrance to Shizuoka Hobby Fair.251 views
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Higashi Gomon Gate 東御門250 views
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About Sumpu Castle250 views
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Inside Tatsumi Yagura Turret249 views
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Plastic models on display.248 views
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Higashi Gomon Gate 東御門244 views
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Higashi Gomon Gate and bridge242 views
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A lookout deck for Gundam.239 views
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Gate door238 views
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About Higashi Gomon Gate238 views
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There was a long line to get a closer look and pass under the statue.237 views
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Higashi Gomon Gate and bridge235 views
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Higashi Gomon Gate232 views
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Castle models.232 views
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Gundam looms over Shizuoka Hobby Fair sign.230 views
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Rear view of Gundam.227 views
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Park area226 views
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Inside the hobby pavilion were exhibits of numerous plastic models.225 views
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Higashi Gomon Gate 東御門224 views
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Straight ahead is Gundam and on the left is a pavilion.221 views
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Sign pointing the way to the Shizuoka Hobby Fair.220 views
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Stone wall of Higashi Gomon Gate219 views
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He can even turn his head. This show occurs every 30 min.213 views
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