 Most viewed - SHIGA 滋賀県 |
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One benefit of exhibition tournaments is that the rikishi are able to practice with different wrestlers from different stables.119 views
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Makunouchi dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony.119 views
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Chiyotaikai and Kotooshu119 views
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On the left were musicians from the Yutate-yama float. 119 views
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Chimaki were also sold for 500 yen. Chimaki is a small bundle of straw wrapped with paper. They throw these from the floats during the procession on the second day of the festival.119 views
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A chimaki supposed to ward off bad luck, so we all want to catch one. You hang it above an entrance or under the eaves.119 views
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From noon to 1:45 pm, the floats gathered here on Chuo Odori, a wide road leading to Otsu Station. It was a lunch break and a chance for us to look at the floats up close.119 views
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Sign says, "Throw us chimaki!"119 views
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Sake is poured from a keg for the Shojo to drink.119 views
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Trojan War tapestry119 views
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Ornate, carved ceiling.119 views
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Biwako motorboat race in Otsu.119 views
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Inside Kohoku Wild Bird Center. It has large picture windows facing Lake Biwa and high-powered binoculars enabling you to clearly see the waterfowl. 湖北野鳥センター119 views
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Entrance to the gym. (If it rains, the ceremony/festival will be held in this gymnasium.)119 views
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The gagaku musicians were from the Shiga Gagaku-kai troupe. 119 views
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These four are the Beiju (陪従) gagaku (ancient court music) musicians who played for Imperial visits and the Saio procession. (During the festival, they never played anything and there was a separate gagaku troupe.)119 views
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The last person in the procession is the Kacho guard.119 views
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No. 1 Tunnel entrance. The first and longest tunnel under a mountain. The entrance is very artistic.119 views
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The tea is offered to each of the four mikoshi which had been brought down from Mt. Hachioji the night before. The tea is said to bring safe childbirths.119 views
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Grounds of Sakamoto Castle site (Honmaru) on the lake shore.119 views
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Buddha's giant footprints.119 views
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Site where St. Honen trained at Enryakuji. Right next to Shaka-do.119 views
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Yokawa Chudo Hall119 views
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A ceremony is conducted before the kabuki plays started.119 views
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Naginata sword bearers standby near the hikiyama floats.119 views
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They run around with the mikoshi, making a big ruckus.119 views
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Hall to Moon-viewing Pavilion. 119 views
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Sutra Repository 経蔵119 views
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View of fall leaves below Hondo Hall 本堂119 views
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In April, numerous cherry trees around the castle in Hokoen Park bloom spectacularly. The best time to visit Nagahama Castle.119 views
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Peony dish design.119 views
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On Sat., the first day of the two-day festival, there is a procession from 2 pm. It is led by these shrine officials and the shrine priest on horseback.119 views
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The remaining floats are set alight one after another until 10:40 pm.119 views
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They performed for about an hour and ended at around 4:15 pm. They were scheduled to end at 3:30 pm. Suijo is lucky to have such a great spectacle of a festival.119 views
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Samurai statue on Mt. Shizugatake119 views
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Replica of Japan's largest dotaku found in Yasu.119 views
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View of Lake Biwa and Chikubushima island from Mt. Odani.119 views
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View of Mt. Toragozen (near Torahime Station on the JR Hokuriku Line) where Oda Nobunaga's troops were perched prior to their attack on Odani Castle in 1573.119 views
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Stone marker indicating the place where Azai Nagamasa committed seppuku on Sept. 1, 1573 at age 29. Under siege by Nobunaga's forces, Nagamasa was unable to get back to the Honmaru and instead entered the Akao residence to cut his belly.119 views
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Large tanuki.119 views
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The taiko men parade around the neighborhood from about 6:15 pm to 7:50 pm. (たいこ わたり 太鼓渡り)119 views
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The older men wear red loincloths and the younger ones wear white.119 views
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About the Iroha pine trees.119 views
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Masu trout sushi at Mimasu in Samegai Trout Farm, Shiga Prefecture.119 views
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Monument's English side has a bilingual Lake Biwa map and Lake Biwa Rowing Song English lyrics.119 viewsDirections: From JR Kyoto Station's Karasuma side (north side with Kyoto Tower), go to bus stop D2 and catch the No. 206 bus bound for "Gion Via Kiyomizu-dera Temple/Kitaoji Station" (三十三間堂・清水寺・祇園・百万遍). The bus leaves every 15 min. or so (bus schedule here), but it can be very crowded. The ride takes abut 30 min. Get off at "Kyodai Seimon-mae" (京大正門前). Cross the big road (Higashi-Oji-dori) and walk along Higashi-Ichijo street. The main Yoshida Campus will be on the left while the Yoshida-Minami Campus will be on the right. Enter the Yoshida-Minami Campus and walk to the central courtyard area.
(From Kyoto Station, there is also an express bus (京大快速) to Kyoto University Hospital from bus stop D3, but it runs only at certain times on weekdays, mainly in the morning and mid-afternoon (bus schedule here).
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Cycling and pedestrian path in Notogawa, Higashi-Omi.118 views
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Water intake for Lake Biwa Canal No. 1. Kyoto was thereby revitalized with electric power and a stable water supply. A second, almost parallel canal for drinking water was also constructed in 1912. 118 views
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Entrance for tour bus passengers and car owners. This is the short-cut way to the temple.118 views
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Niomon Gate118 views
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Cherry blossoms which bloom in Nov. Designated as a Natural Monument and Cultural Property of Shiga. 不断桜118 views
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Chomeiji bus stop118 views
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Hondo temple hall118 views
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Road marker. Established in 1642, Moriyama-juku was the sixty-seventh of the sixty-nine stations or shukuba post towns on the Nakasendo Road. It is the eighth Nakasendo station in Shiga (following Musa-juku in Omi-Hachiman).118 views
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Most people were oblivious to the boats.118 views
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Rinsing the shell with fresh water.118 views
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Main building of the Arikawa home, Toriimoto's most distinguished-looking building. This main building was built in 1759. The Arikawa family were a drug manufacturer. The home was designated as an Important Cultural Property in 2012.118 views
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Business diary118 views
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Entrance to Otemon-dori shopping arcade. It is right near Kurokabe Glass Shop. See shops and restaurants. 大手門通り118 views
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Road to Gichuji (gate on left)118 views
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What the horse sees inside the narrow starting gate.118 views
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Horse stables.118 views
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Inside the observation building's press room.118 views
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This one is named Meisho Ittetsu. メイショウ イッテツ118 views
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Garden118 views
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Corridor118 views
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Dolls118 views
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Ohmi Railways Yokaichi Station. A modern ferro-concrete building was completed in June 1998 to replace the old wooden building.118 views
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Entrance hall118 views
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JR Minami Hikone Station118 views
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Jamie and Megan Thompson sing in English while cruising on Lake Biwa. 船の真ん中で歌って自動販売機がバックになって最悪。客に背中を向くばかりで申し訳ない。船の一番前に歌いたいと頼んだけど...118 views
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They used five boats to row, including these two ocean scull boats.118 views
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Palanquin. Did not say that Naosuke rode it.118 views
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They also had a short break.118 views
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Toward the south end of Echigawa-juku. Bridge has a temari decoration.118 views
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Biwako Ohashi as seen from the lookout deck on the 2nd floor. The bridge makes it almost 50 min. faster to go to the other side of the lake.118 views
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Ogoton for promoting Ogoto Onsen Spa in Otsu, Shiga. His hairs represent the hot spring's steam. おごとん (滋賀 大津市雄琴温泉）118 views
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Day's bouts.118 views
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Sanyaku (top three ranking wrestlers) wrestlers: Ama, Hakuho, and Kaio.118 views
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Karakuri puppet from the Genji-yama float. 源氏山118 views
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Karakuri puppet from the Genji-yama float. This is Lady Murasaki writing The Tale of Genji. 2008 is a special year for this float because of the novel's 1000th anniversary. 源氏山118 views
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Shrine priest on horseback.118 views
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This is another spot where the karakuri dolls perform.118 views
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This red-haired Chinese lion comes out of a rock on Mt. Tiantaishan in China and jumps and spins all around amid peony flowers. Quite comical.118 views
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Kakkyo (Guo Ju in Chinese) was one of the 24 Chinese filial exemplars.118 views
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The Tsuchiyama Saio Princess Procession left the gymnasium at around 1:30 pm.118 views
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Afterward, the Saio goes back into her palanquin.118 views
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They actually carried her to the wheeled cart.118 views
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They carry her to the wheeled cart. Modern men are too weak to carry such a heavy palanquin.118 views
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Saio goes back to her palanquin.118 views
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The tea is given to the Uneme (釆女) attendant in charge of food.118 views
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The Saio then went on the stage. This was the festival's final ceremony called Otsukishiki (Arrival Ceremony) at the Tarumi Tongu site. お着き式118 views
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Tendai Zasu Abbot 天台座主118 views
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Evidence of how close Shinto and Buddhism were in past centuries in Japan.118 views
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Amid rain, the procession going back to Ozu Shrine.118 views
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Grave118 views
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Nishi Hongu Honden Hall worships the god (Onamuchi-no-kami) protecting the nation. This current structure was built in 1586. 西本宮 本殿118 views
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After the kabuki play ends, they pull and turn the hikiyama float and it goes toward central Nagahama through the shopping arcade where they will perform the same play again.118 views
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The kabuki performances then started at around 10 am on one of the hikiyama floats. The kabuki performances are held as offerings to Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine.118 views
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By 2 pm, the shrine grounds (actually a parking lot) is filled with floats and people.118 views
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It is said that even Nobunaga joined the festival and danced around in disguise. Hence, you can see people in costume or in disguise.118 views
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Dai-Juikku float. 第十一区118 views
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The winners received various household and kitchen goods like towels, pillows, toaster, etc.118 views
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Rice paddy118 views
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Two catfishes: Magnee (Shiga Lakestars mascot) and Caffy (sports mascot).118 views
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The main highlight of the festival is the Hikone Castle Festival Parade held in the afternoon of Nov. 3 (national holiday called Culture Day).118 views
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Miss Hikone Castle118 views
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Opened on July 8, 2010, the Mitsui Outlet Park is near the Ryuo Interchange on the Meishin Expressway, making it readily accessible by car for shoppers coming from Kyoto, Nara, Mie, and Gifu. MAP118 views
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Bansho guard house site118 views
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Bansho guard house site at Odani Castle. It was a security gate for castle visitors.118 views
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Illustration of Nakanomaru. You can see the three terraces of Nakanomaru. The Honmaru is on the right, separated from Nakanomaru by the large moat.118 views
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Shuttle bus going back to Hino Station.118 views
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Azai Nagamasa, wife Oichi, son Manpukumaru (left), Chacha in the middle, Hatsu on the right, and Go in Oichi's arms.118 views
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Depiction of Oichi and her daughters being allowed to escape Odani Castle while it was under attack by Oda Nobunaga in 1573.118 views
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A noborigama chamber. The chambers get larger toward the top of the noborigama kiln. 登り窯118 views
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Another highlight of Sotoen was a pottery lesson for beginners. They have a huge pottery classroom.118 views
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First, an instructor demonstrated the basics of pottery making with a block of clay. Easy enough for anyone to make a simple bowl or cup.118 views
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Sotoen gift shop.118 views
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Six more torches were right outside Katsube Shrine. They will be carried into the shrine one by one to be burned.118 views
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Rear view of burning torches.118 views
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Castle model117 viewsIn the Azuchi Castle Museum (Azuchi Jokaku Shiryokan)
安土城郭資料館
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Mt. Mikami + Pine Tree at Karasaki.117 views
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Lake Biwa Canal Museum117 viewsModel of Keage Incline.
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Bottom of Keage Incline117 viewsThe Keage Incline was a dry slope which connected the upper part of the canal with the lower part of the canal. Since the canal was disconnected by this dry slope, boat trolleys on rails ferried boats between the upper and lower sections of the canal. It was in operation until 1948.
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Hondo117 views
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Dengaku Chaya tea house reconstructed in 2003 based on Hiroshige's ukiyoe print of Ishibe. A rest place for tourists. Walkable from Ishibe Station. 田楽茶屋117 viewsThe original tea house as seen in Hiroshige's print was located some distance away (nearer to Ritto) from the location of this reconstructed tea house.
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Kitchen (Daidokoro doma). Dirt-floored room with wood-heated stoves. High ceiling with no chimney, but the ceiling has a covered opening. 台所土間117 views
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Marker for Emperor Meiji's visit and outdoor garden117 views
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Kusatsu-juku Kaido Koryu-kan. Sample food from the old days, dinner on left and breakfast on right. 草津街道交流館117 views
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Sotokairo corridor (外廻廊), Jinpu-Juyosho shop selling souvenirs (神符授与所), and Rōmon Gate (楼門)117 views
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She is the cox sitting at the rear and controlling the rudder with a pair of strings. コックス117 views
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The boat is pencil-thin.117 views
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Monument and bus stop117 views
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Horses in stable.117 views
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External view117 views
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Entrance to home of Omi merchant Nakae Jungoro (中江 準五郎邸).117 views
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Position of Oda Nobunaga's forces, the river is on the left.117 views
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Old Imazu Port. Notice the "red flame" song monument on the right.117 views
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Kanpai!117 views
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Meeting Iida Tadayoshi, song researcher and former NHK announcer.117 views
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In the end, we all sang the song, including the mayor of Takashima.117 views
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The event featured various international entertainment by a Russian troupe and local foreign students attending universities in Shiga. The last performance was by Jamie Thompson who sang Lake Biwa Rowing Song.117 views
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The junior category team receive their medals and CDs.117 views
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A sign in front of the storehouse introduces the float in Japanese, English, and Korean.117 views
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View from Yoshida Chiaki's room on the 2nd floor. Sometimes they receive local school children for tours of the house.117 views
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We fold up the handkerchief in whichever way, then tie strings/rubber bands around it. It is tie-dyeing.117 views
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Large intersection has an Echigawa-juku monument.117 views
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Sunset on snowy Mt. Ibuki in winter at the 2nd station.117 views
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Referee117 views
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Saigyo Sakura Tanuki-yama float with musicians playing on the bridge. 西行桜狸山117 views
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Karakuri dolls from Gekkyuden-zan float.117 views
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It was in 1638 when the tri-wheel hikiyama floats started to be constructed for the festival. As Otsu prospered, more floats were built until 1776 when the last Otsu Matsuri float (Gekkyuden-zan) was built.117 views
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The crowd desperate to catch a chimaki. People tend to push and shove, and fight for one.117 views
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Musicians chime in.117 views
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The sixth float is Nishinomiya Ebisu-yama. 西宮蛭子山／白玉町117 views
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The tapestry on the back is said to been made in Flanders, Begium in the 17th century.117 views
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Saio passing by tea field.117 views
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The Uneme takes the bowl of tea to the Saio.117 views
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The tea master makes the tea.117 views
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The Flower Procession ends at the Yomiya-jo where they bless the child in front of the mikoshi. This Flower Procession ceremony costs the proud, doting parents big bucks.117 views
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The first group start to violently rock the mikoshi back and forth.117 views
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Sanno-sai Festival, Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine, Otsu, Shiga Prefecture117 views
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This was the climax of the Kaizu Rikishi festival.117 views
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JR Mikumo Station platform117 views
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The Enryakuji shuttle bus runs every day between the cable car station, Toto, Saito, and Yokawa during March 21 to Nov. 30 from 10 am to 4:30 pm. They don't run that often so check the bus times.117 views
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Nigiwai-ichi local goods shop set up in spring.117 views
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Directly behind the Haiden is the Nishi Hongu Honden Hall117 views
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Sacred Rock for the monkey spirit. 猿の霊石117 views
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Kaizu-Osaki and Chikubushima.117 views
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Large crowd watching kabuki by boys at Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine.117 views
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This and the following pictures were taken in another year (not in 2009).117 views
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The next kabuki play started on another hikiyama. Amazing how a boy can look so feminine.117 views
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The last kabuki performance was a dance rather than a play.117 views
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About the altar inside the Tahoto.117 views
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Sign explaining the Natural Monument.117 views
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Ishiyama-dera's Japanese garden in spring.117 views
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About the memorials.117 views
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Plaque proclaiming Hokoen Park as one of Japan's 100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots.117 views
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They shout "Cho-yare!" or "Masse-masse!" It's related to food.「チョウヤレ」「マッセマッセ」117 views
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Another Shichikukai float, but for children.117 views
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Both sides push and push...117 views
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Near 5 pm, the floats start to leave the shrine and head back home.117 views
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The children's sumo were based on age. And they got older.117 views
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Uminoko is 65 meters long, 12 meters wide, and 20 meters high. It weighs 928 tons and can carry 240 people. It can cruise up to 8 or 9 knots. Hitachi Zosen built the boat in pieces in Kanagawa Prefecture which were then trucked to Lake Biwa and assembled.117 views
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The two Biwako Otsu Tourist Ambassadors for 2010. びわ湖大津観光大使：井上まどか、永田めぐみ117 views
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Escorted by taiko drummers, the main mikoshi arrives at the east end of Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge.117 views
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Rental bicycles at Aburahi Station's waiting room. The round windows have a ninja shuriken throwing knife design.117 views
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We soon came to the path leading to the Akao Yashiki residence where Azai Nagamasa committed suicide in the face of defeat by Oda Nobunaga in 1573.117 views
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"Noborigama" kiln explanation in Japanese. It takes 40-50 days to fill the kiln, and 7-10 days to fire. 登り窯117 views
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Katsube Shrine and giant torches. Six torches were laid within the shrine grounds. I saw the festival twice, in 2006 and 2013.117 views
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Omi Jingu Shrine's Rōmon Gate (楼門)117 views
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Nagahama Kimono Garden Party in mid-Oct. in Shiga Prefecture.117 views
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Maruko-bune wooden boat which was a common sight on Lake Biwa in the old days before trains came to fore. Near this area was a major maruko-bune port called Oura.116 views
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Keage Incline116 viewsThe Keage Incline was a dry slope which connected the upper part of the canal with the lower part of the canal. Since the canal was disconnected by this dry slope, boat trolleys on rails ferried boats between the upper and lower sections of the canal. It was in operation until 1948.
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