 Most viewed - SHIGA 滋賀県 |
Map of Mt. Mikami. It says the trail is 1.3 km long, taking 40 min. For normal people, allow 80 min. to reach the peak. I took about 90 min. to reach the top, while taking time to take pictures.122 views
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Rice seedlings in hand.122 views
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Jaguji, one of the more bizarre-looking mascots, is based on a water faucet. Promotes the Board of Water Supply in the Osaka city. じゃぐ爺 (大阪 大阪市）122 views
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Snowcapped Mt. Ibuki and Mishima Pond in winter in Maibara.122 views
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Him dancing on the festival float continued for over ten years after which his old age prevented him from continuing. A tanuki karakuri puppet was then used in his place on the float.122 views
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The karakuri has Lady Murasaki writing A Tale of Genji at Ishiyama-dera temple in Otsu.122 views
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The third float is Genji-yama. 源氏山／中京町122 views
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The Museum of Modern Art, Shiga (Shiga-kenritsu Kindai Bijutsu-kan). Closed for major renovations from April 1, 2017. Will reopen in June 2021.122 viewsOpened in Aug. 1984, this large, modern museum is located in a quiet and green area called "Bunka Zone" (Culture Zone). This zone also has a Japanese garden and the Shiga Prefectural Library.
10 min. by bus from Seta Station on the JR Biwako or Tokaido Line. 滋賀県立近代美術館 MAP
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Tsuchiyama is famous for tea. We saw a number of tea fields along the procession route.122 views
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Hiyoshi Taisha's tea field is said to be Japan's oldest. Tea picked from this field is presented to the gods housed in the portable shrines.122 views
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Delivering the tea.122 views
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They shout "Yo-ya-sa-ja!." (ヨーヤサージャー). They take several rest breaks along the way.122 views
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I never got to see the torches with the mikoshi. For more info, call the shrine in Japanese: 0740-28-0051122 views
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Moriyama Driver's License Center, where many people in Shiga got their driver's license. MAP122 views
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Site where Saint Shinran trained at Enryakuji.122 views
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Steps to Shaka-do Hall, the main hall in Saito.122 views
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Shaka-do Hall122 views
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Inside Shaka-do Hall122 views
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Konpon Nyoho-to pagoda122 views
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Yokawa Chudo Hall balcony122 views
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Ganzan Daishi-do Hall122 views
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About Sekizan-gu Shrine 122 views
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Yuya-machi122 views
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Men wearing sumo aprons also arrive at the shrine.122 views
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They use microphones so we can hear them speak. Very authentic style, and they practiced a lot for this festival.122 views
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One-yen coins are stuffed into the cracks of the stone.122 views
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Japanese garden122 views
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In fall.122 views
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If you're a woman and sit on the rock under the Sutra Repository, you"re supposed be able to give birth safely. So don't be surprised to see a woman sitting under the building.122 views
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This has a chrysanthemum design which is the Imperial family crest. To celebrate the newborn prince.122 views
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Shrine officials followed by chigo children carrying red paper streamers.122 views
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Sagicho Matsuri, Shiga122 views
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Peonies122 views
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Ozeki122 views
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Uneven match.122 views
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Kyoto Hannaryz122 views
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Bobby Nash passing in front of 40-year-old Mahmould Abdul-Rauf.122 views
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Josh Bostic going up against many men in white.122 views
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The trail is pretty level most of the way. It's not a strenuous tour.122 views
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Tanuki for sale at Sotoen, Shigaraki.122 views
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Another person got more creative. We were going to see the result in Sept.122 views
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Iroha-matsu pine trees line the road to the castle.122 views
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View from Honmaru compound, looking toward Lake Biwa.122 views
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Mt. Ibuki or Ibukiyama is Shiga Prefecture's tallest mountain at 1,377 meters as well as one of Japan's 100 most famous mountains. It is well-known for the legend of Yamato Takeru and 1,200 species of wild flowers and plant life.122 views
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Second site of the Otsu Palace at Nishikori. MAP122 views
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Fisherman scooping fish from a traditional fish trap called eri. エリ122 views
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Karasaki Shrine has numerous pine trees, including the famous century-old pine tree.121 views
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Maruko-bune Museum (Maruko-bune no Yakata). The maruko-bune was commonly used to transport cargo over the lake from the Hokuriku region to the Kyoto-Osaka region during the 17th and 18th c. MAP121 viewsThe museum is a short bicycle ride from Nagahara Station (JR Kosei Line). 滋賀県西浅井町大浦582 丸子船の館
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Water intake for Lake Biwa Canal No. 1121 views
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The hillside garden gives a good view of Lake Biwa. The main temple hall worships an 11-faced Kannon statue carved by Shotoku Taishi. Admission 500 yen.121 views
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Hondo temple hall, National Treasure121 views
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Entrance121 views
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Sansho Shrine 三聖神社121 viewsThe shrine is right next to the temple.
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Outdoor garden121 views
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Mukae Jodan no Ma 向上段の間121 views向上段の間
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Off they go121 views
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Carrying the boat to water.121 views
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Starting gate training ground.121 views
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Wada Tumuli is the group of nine small tumuli in Ritto. 和田古墳群 MAP121 views
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Changing room next to bath.121 views
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Old mail box.121 views
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Way to the third Omi merchant house.121 views
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Imazu Port. Verse 3 Song Monument is at the end of the dock. The same dock used by boats going to Chikubushima. The dock is usually closed.121 viewsChikubushima island and Mt. Ibuki can be seen.
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Title: Lake Biwa Rowing Song - In Pictures and in English Bunka Salon Gallery (also a coffee shop) inside Shiga Kaikan. 「琵琶湖周航の歌」〜写真と英語に〜121 viewsThe title was "Lake Biwa Boating Song - In Pictures and in English." I later changed the song title to "Lake Biwa Rowing Song."
Shiga Kaikan has two spaces for exhibitions, and I used the smaller space called Bunka Salon Gallery.
One entire wall and half of another wall were available for exhibitions free of charge.
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Fishing boat for human transport. It was a very hot day with no wind.121 views
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It is a great honor to be selected as the sacred rice paddy for an emperor's accession to the throne. The Yuki Saiden paddy for the current Emperor Akihito was in Akita Pref.121 views
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Back of Niomon Gate.121 views
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A relaxing day at sumo. Notice the seat numbers written on the vinyl sheet. Four seats per "box" called masu-seki.121 views
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Makushita match121 views
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Kokkai (left)121 views
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Saigyo Sakura Tanuki-yama float is associated with the tanuki (raccoon dog) mask worn by salt vendor (shiouri) Jihei who started the festival.121 views
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The crowd wait for chimaki to be thrown. This is something even Kyoto's Gion Matsuri does not do. (They used to do it.)121 views
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A number of attached lakes in Shiga were reclaimed to make rice paddies amid a shortage of food after the war. This has proven to be detrimental to Lake Biwa's ecology, and now Shiga wants to restore Hayasaki's reclaimed land back to an attached121 views
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Ono Elementary School Gymnasium and a few food stalls outside. A nice festival program was also on sale for 200 yen. 大野小学校121 views
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Festival committee chairman gives a speech.121 views
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Inside the gym for the Departure ceremony. The Saio princess arrives through the back door.121 views
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Kacho archer. (They didn't have guns yet.)121 views
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Posing for a photo.121 views
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The Saio sits and waits for her bowl of green tea.121 views
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Again they danced the Dochu-mai. Same one as at the last stop.121 views
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The Tea Offering Ceremony is held at the Yomiya-jo where the four portable shrines (mikoshi) are placed. 宵宮場 大政所121 views
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Another group arrive and position themselves at another mikoshi.121 views
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About Futatsu-ishi (Two Rocks).121 views
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Shin-Asahi has a nice bicycle path along the lake shore.121 views
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Tsubaki-do Hall.121 views
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Site where Saint Shinsei trained at Enryakuji.121 views
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On the right is Hokke-do Hall.121 views
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Eshin-do temple 121 views
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Thank you for coming to worship. From here, I caught a shuttle bus back to the Enryakuji cable car station.121 views
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Bell player121 views
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In winter. The Omido Hall is on the left, and Bishamon-do on the right.121 views
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Bell tower 鐘楼121 views
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About the Tahoto121 views
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Ishiyama-dera also has a grove of plum blossoms which bloom in Feb.121 views
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Lake Yogo as seen from Yogo Station. The tree where the swan maiden hung her clothing to bathe in the lake is on the right.121 views
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Autumn wildflowers at Lake Yogo.121 views
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Monument marking the site where the dotaku were found. It's frustrating that none of the original dotaku discovered in Yasu are in Yasu. Another case of bungling and ineptness by local officials. Even one original dotaku would make the museum busier.121 views
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Tapestry on the back of Minato float.121 views
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The first thing we saw was this, the Kingo-maru keep, a hill. Named after Asakura Norikage (Soteki) (朝倉 教景) who was stationed here while defending the castle against Rokkaku Takayori (六角高頼) in 1525.121 views
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Sotoen's main attraction is this noborigama or sloping kiln. Japan's oldest noborigama. The bottom chamber is the furnace where they burn wood. 登り窯121 views
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Pottery everywhere at Sotoen.121 views
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Entrance to Kaikoku Kinenkan museum.121 views
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People line up to enter Hikone Castle's main tower.121 views
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Slightly south of Hayasaki Naiko Biotope along the shore is Oku Biwa Sports no Mori. This is a nice outdoor sports complex. Outdoor pool is great for kids in summer.120 views
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Water intake for Lake Biwa Canal No. 2120 views
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About the Kusatsu-juku Honjin120 views
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Kusatsu-juku Kaido Koryu-kan120 views草津街道交流館
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Singing "Lake Biwa Rowing Song" (Biwako Shuko no Uta)120 views
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Steering the float with a stick stuck under the wheel to nudge it in the desired direction.120 views
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The orange boat. On the left at the ear is the cox, the middle are four rowers, and at the front of the boat is one extra person who can rest and enjoy the ride.120 views
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Entrance to former Ban family residence. Completed in 1840. 旧伴家住宅120 views伴庄右衛門は江戸時代初期から活躍した八幡商人の一人で、屋号を扇屋といい、主に畳表・蚊帳を商い豪商となった。
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The left profile is brown.120 views
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Close-up of main stone monument where Verse 5 is written. 2005年10月に除幕されて一番新しい歌碑。800万円の寄付金で建てた。120 viewsSharp arrows buried deeply, way into the ground.
Abundant summer grasses, a moat still remains.
Standing in an old castle, all alone oneself.
Hira and Ibuki too, only but a dream.
Ya no ne wa, fukaku uzumorete
Natsukusa shigeki, hori no ato
Kojo ni hitori, tatazumeba
Hira mo Ibuki mo, yume no goto
矢の根は 深く埋もれて
夏草しげき 堀のあと
古城にひとり 佇めば
比良も伊吹も 夢のごと
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最後に皆で周航歌を歌う。120 views
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Jamie sang by herself (without twin sister Megan), however, we provided piano music which included only Megan's voice. So it sounded like both sisters were singing. First time we did that.120 views
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I wanted to experience rowing this fixed-seat boat on Lake Biwa, and rowed with these jr. high girls from Nagahama Port. 千秋・太郎号のフィックス艇120 views
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Boys posing for a picture at Sugaura120 views
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Taga Taisha's lanterns come in five sizes. Each one represents a donation. The donar's name is on the lantern. The biggest lantern requires a donation of 20,000 yen.120 views
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Original copy of the magazine "Ongaku-kai" (The Musical Japan) where Yoshida Chiaki's song "Hitsuji-gusa" was first published and made popular. Issued in Aug. 1915. 音楽界120 views
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After the indigo dip, water washed the handkerchief.120 views
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View of Mt. Mikami from Karasaki, across Lake Biwa.120 views
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On the ridges were women dancers.120 views
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Pocket park in Echigawa-juku.120 views
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The accident occurred on April 6, 1941. The boys from Kanazawa were students at the No. 4 High School 第四高等学校 which today is Kanazawa University. The sad incident spurred Okuno to create this song.120 views
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Aerobics team from Hiroshima.120 views
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Ibukiyama Driveway toll road going to Mt. Ibuki summit. 伊吹山ドライブウェイ120 views
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West side120 views
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Now the top-division Makunouchi wrestlers start to fight. The judges enter. This is former Ozeki Kirishima.120 views
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Notice the gold carvings on the ceiling.120 views
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On with the procession.120 views
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Wheel stopper120 views
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Otsu Castle site. There's a lot of open land here, so it would be great if they decided to reconstruct the castle. A perfect location for a castle.120 views
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Saio princess and child attendants.120 views
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The tea bowl is brought to the tea master.120 views
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Hi kids!120 views
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Statue of Fujimoto Tarobe'e. He pushed for the flood control of Lake Biwa by building a weir on Seta River in Otsu. 藤本太郎兵衛像 120 views
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People chanting in front of Shaka-do Hall. They are ordinary folk undergoing a training program.120 views
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Shuttle buses run between all three temple complexes. I took the shuttle bus from Saito to Yokawa which was too far away to walk.120 views
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Minakuchi Jonan Station on the Omi Railway Line. The library, museum, Minakuchi Castle, and Minakuchi Shrine are near this station.120 views
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Torii at night in autumn. Hiyoshi literally means "Good Day" or "Fortunate Day." People pray here to have a good day. Having a good day every day leads to a good life. Taisha means "grand shrine."120 views
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Sacred Monkey. The monkey is the shrine god's messenger.120 views
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This hikiyama is coming through the shopping arcade.120 views
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Shedding real tears...120 views
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The hikiyama floats await at the shrine as everyone arrive. The hikiyama are about 7 meters high.120 views
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Nagahama Hikiyama poster for an earlier year. The official festival poster changes every year and is always well designed.120 views
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The current castle tower was reconstructed in 1983. It serves as a local history museum.120 views
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会のだし120 views
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The front of the torii is a good viewing spot.120 views
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That's Chikubushima island on the left.120 views
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Shiga's mascot characters120 views
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Gulliver statue on the Omi-Takashima Station train platform.120 views
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Podium in the Study Room.120 views
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View of Lake Biwa and Chikubushima island.120 views
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Now here is Sakura-no-Baba or Sakura Horse Grounds. This is one of the main highlights of Odani Castle due to its scenic views.120 views
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Illustration of the Sannomaru. The center section was the highest where there was the Sanno Shrine dedicated to the mountain god. You can see also how the Large Stone Wall looked, part of it remains on the upper right. 120 views
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Also not included in the expo is Ishida Mitsunari's birthplace in Nagahama. Accessible by bus from Nagahama Station. A short ride. More birthplace photos here.120 views
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Photo op at Sotoen. They got almost everything you can imagine. The giant tanuki is priced as much as 700,000 yen.120 views
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Smaller tanuki cost a few thousand yen.120 views
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"Noborigama" kiln explanation in Japanese120 views
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A talk about Shigaraki ware at Sotoen.120 views
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Karasaki Shrine torii. It is a branch shrine of Hiyoshi Taisha. 唐崎神社 MAP119 views
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Karasaki Pine Tree was still healthy and deep green in 2004.119 views
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View of Omi-Hachiman city center from Mt. Hachiman-yama.119 views
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In front of JR Ishibe Station. There are many bicycle garages for out-of-town students who commute from the station to their high school in Ishibe.119 views
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Road marker plaque119 views
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Bath for feudal lords119 viewsLooks kind of small to me.
湯殿
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Notice the rudder. Controlled by a pair of strings held by the cox.119 views
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Held for two evenings on Aug. 14-15 during the obon season, people light their torches at Gosha Shrine and proceed to Hibarino park where the torches are thrown up to a large pine tree. The more torches get stuck on the tree, the better the next harvest.119 viewsThis is Hibarino park. The pine tree on the right of the small hill is the target for the torches. This park also serves as the Otabisho during the Hino Festival.
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Wall of Nishikawa residence.119 views
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Swimming pool for horses. There is a circular pool and straight and narrow pools.119 views
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Bonsai plum trees119 views
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Stairs to 2nd floor.119 views
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Stairway119 views
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Song Monument, Imazu. Looks like red fire, but it's also the shape of Imazu town. (The background shows the old Imazu Port building.)119 viewsDirections: From Omi-Imazu Station on the JR Kosei Line, get out the east exit and walk on the main road toward the lake. You will soon see the Biwako Shuko no Uta Shiryokan song museum on the left. Be sure to visit this museum too. Walk further toward the lake and you will see Imazu Port. Near the water, you can see the "red fire" song monument. On the very end of the pier, and you can see the lamp monument. (The pier might be closed off if there is no boat, so you may have to ask permission to walk on the pier.) Omi-Imazu Station also has a tourist information office where you can obtain directions and a map.
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Song Monument plaque, Imazu. It explains about how the song was created in Imazu.119 views
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Yoshida Chiaki's room on the 2nd floor. This is where he spent his final days while stricken with tuberculosis.119 views
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Inside 豊浄院 is more Genji-related exhibits.119 views
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When the taiko drumming and folk singing started, they started planting the rice seedlings. On the ridge, there were dancers.119 views
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Young children also joined in the singing.119 views
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From the city of West Bend, Wisconsin.119 views
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Mt. Mikami in the distance.119 views
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Biwako Ohashi Kome Plaza facing the lake. It also has a lookout deck on the 2nd floor.119 views
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