 Most viewed - SHIGA 滋賀県 |
Mt. Shizugatake chair lift costs ¥450 one way, or ¥900 round trip (as of Jun 2021). If you plan to hike down to Lake Yogo (recommended), buy a one-way ticket.103 views
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At the top of the chair lift. Mt. Shizugatake chair lift (500 meters long) started operating in Aug. 1959. It takes 6 minutes to go up to the top.103 views
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Map of Shizugatake and Yogo area.103 views
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Designed by William Merrell Vories, the old Toyosato Elementary School building was built in 1937. MAP103 views
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According to legend, one day, Ii Naotaka, the third lord of Hikone Castle, was doing falconry in Tokyo and was near a temple when he saw this cat raising its paw. He was led inside the temple where he was able to rest inside.103 views
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Head Coach Robert Pierce high five with the crowd.103 views
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Ayame girls at Hyozu Matsuri in Yasu.103 views
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Michigan looking slightly different from years ago. Accommodates 787 passengers.103 views
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Western Otsu.103 views
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The first kabuki ended, and now they are moving out the first hikiyama float. The float behind it will be put in position for the next kabuki performance at Yutani Shrine in Maibara.103 views
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Maibara Hikiyama Matsuri in Oct.103 views
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At the end of the procession are these little kids waving a wand attached to a gourd.103 views
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Three costumed boys wait right beyond the torii.103 views
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Near the Sanposan Shrine is the site of the Iba Goten Palace.103 views
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About the large moat.103 views
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Taiko drummers.103 views
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The giant kite measures about 13 high and 12 meters across, or the size of 100 tatami mats. This kite flew during 2002-2004. A new giant kite is made every three years.103 views
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Turn here from Route 365 to go to Sugatani Onsen Spa in northern Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture. 須賀谷温泉103 views
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Hit target103 views
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At Ishiyama-dera, inside Room of Genji is a lifesize doll of Lady Murasaki Shikibu who in the 11th century wrote Tale of Genji, one of Japan's most famous novels.103 views
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Hiko-nyan cutout in front of Hikone Castle. He appears daily.103 views
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Hyakusaiji's Main temple hall (hondo). Important Cultural Property.103 views
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Maruko-bune were a vital transportation link between northern Japan and Kyoto/Osaka. Goods coming and going via the Sea of Japan also went over the lake.102 views
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Omi-Imazu station, west side102 views
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More Jizo statues102 views
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Temple Hondo102 views
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Stairs to autumn heaven. Up to here, the path was just filled with colors. And more still awaited.102 views
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I thought the fall colors were most abundant at Saimyoji. We could also enter the 3-story pagoda, a National Treasure. (You cannot enter the pagoda at the other temples.)102 views
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Zuiryuji Temple of Nichiren Sect in the Honmaru 村雲御所瑞龍寺102 views
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Benten-do102 views
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Inside the shrine102 views
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Road marker. Go right for the Nakasendo Road. MAP102 views
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Speed limit 30 kph102 views
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Celebrate by jumping in the water102 views
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The three "Kamiko." 神子102 views
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Kamiko102 views神子
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Two of the mikoshi already at the Otabisho.102 views
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Phoenix atop a mikoshi102 views
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The three mikoshi at the Otabisho.102 views
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The second mikoshi leaves.102 views
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A mikoshi on its way to the shrine.102 views
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One of the mikoshi arrives back at Watamuki Shrine at around 4 pm.102 views
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Inside Omi Hino Merchant House102 views
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Waving the signal flag at a checkpoint to staff on shore.102 views
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Rowing off central Otsu. 大津102 views
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After the bon fire, the taiko drum procession leaves the shrine and parades around the village.102 views
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Toriimoto-juku is the sixty-third of the sixty-nine stations or shukuba post towns on the Nakasendo Road. It is the fourth Nakasendo station in Shiga (following Bamba-juku in Maibara), and one of ten Nakasendo stations in Shiga.102 views
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JR Kusatsu Station in spring.102 views
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Soldier's uniform, History and Folklore Museum102 views
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旅に病で夢は枯野をかけ廻る102 views
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Shore road102 views
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Entrance to Jizo-in or Joshinji temple. This is how the temple looks on less crowded days. 木之本地蔵院102 views
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Jizo-in entrance along the Hokkoku Kaido road. This is how it looks on normal days. These photos were taken in Jan.102 views
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Behind the public hall.102 views
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Old photos of Omi merchants carrying their trademark "tenbin" pole.102 views
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Tokonoma alcove in Ando House102 views
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Handpainted postcard from Taro Oguchi mailed from Imazu on June 28, 1917.102 viewsDuring the rowing trip, Oguchi wrote a postcard to a friend back at the school dorm in Kyoto. One side of the card has his watercolor painting of Omatsu with pine trees on the sandy beach and a boat pier. Oguchi was quite good at painting.
Oguchi sent the postcard from Imazu on June 28, 1917, in the evening sometime between 9 pm and midnight after arriving from Omatsu. He sent it to a friend named Hiroshi Kodama back at the school dorm in Kyoto. However, the friend never received the postcard since he was back in his hometown in Niigata Prefecture for the summer.
The postcard was returned to Oguchi who kept it. If his friend had received the postcard, he would have certainly thrown it away (as he later mentioned in an interview). This postcard has survived miraculously and it is key evidence for the exact date when they were in Imazu where the song was created.
On the postcard, Oguchi writes about how easy it was to row to Omatsu the day before, thanks to a strong tailwind. He notes that Omatsu was a lonely place with only one lodge. They tied up the boat in the pond and rolled around on the sand till late night while gazing at the moon and dreaming of a beautiful girl. That morning, they played tug of war (it was fun). He also mentions that they were to lodge in Imazu that night.
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One float (from Shimizu-cho) provided an explanation about the float in English.102 views
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The giant kite was swallowed whole by the bamboo trees. No one was hurt. Also see my YouTube video here. 大凧が竹やぶに落下102 views
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"We're children of the lake, off to wander 'round..." (Mt. Ibuki in the distance)「われは湖の子...」102 views
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Catch, row, catch, row...102 views
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The Lieutenant Governor of Shiga (substituting for Governor Kada who was hosting the Emperor and Empress visiting Shiga) bestows awards to people who have long contributed to promoting Shiga.102 views
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Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine torii on New Year's Day. Nagahama's most popular shrine for New Year's worship (hatsumode). MAP102 views
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Sacred tree. The bark from this tree is used for the roofing of the shrine. Do not scratch or damage it.102 views
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Sacred rock where the god lives.102 views
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Nakae Toju's gravestone (left) in Adogawa, Takashima. 藤樹先生墓所102 views
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Aoi-kun from Aoi-ku, Shizuoka. あおいくん (静岡 静岡市葵区）102 views
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On the wall, I had ten frames containing two A4-size photos each.102 views
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The left showcase introduced the traditional-style, wooden fixed-seat boat used to row across the lake.102 views
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Okinawan singer102 views
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Risa リサ102 views
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If you walk further, you will see Nishinomaru Sanju-yagura turret.102 views
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Kondo Hall and cherry blossoms.102 views
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Passing under another torii facing Sando road.102 views
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Stone temple wall in Sakamoto, Otsu.102 views
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Matsuo Basho haiku monument.102 views
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Omi-Takashima Station 102 views
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Sign about Omizo Castle.102 views
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How spectacular can a pair of boys be, cutting up a fish? This festival always receives a lot of publicity on TV and newspapers, but I didn't see that many people attending. Not so many photographers either, although NHK TV was standing next to me.102 views
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The hikiyama floats are about 5 to 6 meters high and 3 to 4 meters wide.102 views
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Cherry blossoms in full bloom and no people. How wonderful. Like it was all for me only, at 7 am.102 views
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The old and new sites of the castle tower.102 views
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They slowly walked step by step in unison.102 views
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Shiga Lakestars Gary Hamilton #2102 views
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Daughter Sagawa from Moriyama.102 views
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Hiko-nyan102 views
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Kenketo Odori is a dance performed by eight boys aged 7 to 12. The dance was originally started to ward off calamities. The boys wear tall peacock feathers on their heads. 102 views
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The festival started at 5 pm when the mikoshi (portable shrine) procession departed Takebe Taisha Shrine about 500 meters from the east end of Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge.102 views
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Also, the next day on the 15th, they didn't bring out the usual taiko drums out of respect for the Tohoku quake/tsunami victims. Maybe I'll see it next year.102 views
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Boat houses at Imazu. The boat house on the right includes two fixed-seat wooden boats based on a design dating back to 1917. Photos of fixed-seat boats here.102 views
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Some Jizo statues along the way to Sanposan Shrine from Notogawa Station.102 views
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The torii is right on the bottom of the steep and rocky mountain slope.102 views
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After hitting the paved road, they carry the mikoshi to a place nearby.102 views
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Shrine musicians play as the mikoshi arrive.102 views
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Terrace of Nakanomaru.102 views
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Rikutoku float from Shimizu-cho arrives at the shrine.102 views
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Yabusame horseback archery is held on the first Sunday in June from 12:30 pm. (Used to be held on Nov. 3.) I believe this is Shiga's only authentic yabusame.102 views
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The yabusame horse track. They first hold a Shinto ceremony at the shrine.102 views
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It didn't that long to see the hidden Buddha.102 views
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心経堂102 views
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Plum blossom ume tree given by the city of Mito in Ibaraki Prefecture.102 views
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Lake Nishinoko.101 views
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Very pleasant outing.101 views
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Omi-Imazu Station, west side101 views
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Sannomiya Shrine, at foot of Mt. Ibuki101 views
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Mini concert at night. They had a few solo musicians playing romantic night songs like Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Very nice.101 views
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Entering the path of little stone Jizo statues101 views
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On Aug. 9, the Jizo statues are lit with candles. Kongorinji temple in Aisho, Shiga.101 views
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11-faced Kannon statue101 views
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View from Kitanomaru101 views
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Entrance to Shukuba no Sato, outdoor museum of stage town buildings 宿場の里 MAP101 views
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Old farming implements (for irrigation)101 views
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Looking toward Yogo Station101 views
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Back of a float101 views
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Horse101 views
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The second mikoshi makes its way through.101 views
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Ceremony at Otabisho101 views
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Ceremony at Otabisho お旅所祭典101 views
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Procession ready to leave the Otabisho at 3 pm.101 views
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Mikoshi at the shrine101 views
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Omi Ohashi Bridge101 views
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Removing weeds caught on the oars.101 views
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Outdated photo: Waiting lounge at Imazu Port in winter.101 views
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Rear stone: 古池や蛙飛こむ水の音101 views
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Okinoshima Port and boat schedule101 views
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Sumiyoshi Shrine is on the west side of JR Moriyama Station. This side has an area called "Fuke" written with the same kanji for "uwaki" (cheating on your partner).101 viewsI wonder what married couples think of living in this area...
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The first Japanese person to sing the English song in public. This was at the Okaya International Exchange Association's 15th anniversary festival.101 views
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Then it suddenly dove straight down and crashed head-first into the bamboo grove. Ironically, the blue banner on the left says, "Ganbatte" (Do your best).101 views
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The top kanji is "yorokobu" (joyfulness) which can also be read as "ki." The pair of hawks 鷹 can be read as "yo." And the bottom kanji is "sei" (living). It's "Kyosei."101 views
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Rowers changed boats. Those without a rowing boat were transported on the fishing boats.101 views
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Boys watch their classmates row.101 views
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Sugaura101 views
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Imazu boathouse101 views
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Fixed seat101 views
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How they do it: First they cut along the outline of the picture leaving ample space. Then they cut it perpendicular to the edge to make paper flaps.101 views
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Near the shrine entrance are the usual food stalls.101 views
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Shiga Kenjinkai from Canada and Mexico.101 views
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The house has a depressing name. "Umoregi" means petrified wood. Since he was far down the family line to succeed the lordship of his clan, Naosuke did not expect he his life would flower and thereby named this house. 埋木舎101 views
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Hiking up the Back Mountain Path. The trail actually goes mainly toward the side of the mountain rather than the back. The back of the mountain has a trail going down toward Kibogaoka Bunka Koen Park.101 views
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Shrine and torii at the summit.101 views
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Sato no Ie thatched-roof house now a display space. 里の家101 views
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Takeheiro on the left, along the Nakasendo Road in Echigawa-juku, Shiga.101 views
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Path to the To-in complex.101 views
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Toju Shoin Study (drawing room). 藤樹書院101 views
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Mimi-chan minus the body.101 views
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Iga-gurio to promote Iga, Mie Pref. Surprised that's it's not a ninja character. いが☆グリオ（三重 伊賀市）101 views
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The hall lobby had posters showing Maibara's major sights.101 views
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Biwako Hama-Otsu Station (renamed from Hama-Otsu Station) on the Keihan Line. Most of the land north of the Keihan Line along the lake has been reclaimed.101 views
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Entrance to Biwako Bunkakan museum. A lookout deck is on the top of this tower.101 views
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Hikone Castle as seen from Genkyuen Garden during autumn at night.101 views
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The floats don't look too heavy to pull at all.101 views
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Stone wall in Sakamoto, Otsu.101 views
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Shirahige Shrine is Shiga's oldest shrine with regard to the founding date. 白鬚神社101 views
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Haiden on right and Honden on left.101 views
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Entrance to Haginohama Beach. 萩の浜101 views
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Another torii on the Sando road leading to Hiyoshi Taisha. This neighborhood is called Sakamoto which is noted for traditional architecture.101 views
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The Gongen-zukuri architectural style is employed. This shrine was the inspiration for the more famous Toshogu Shrine in Nikko (Tochigi) and Kunozan Shrine in Nihondaira, Shizuoka.101 views
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Kep walking straight and you will come to this Romon Gate at Nishi Hongu Shrine. 楼門101 views
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The shrine also has a torii gate on the lake shore, next to Sakamoto Castle.101 views
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Portable shrine storehouse101 views
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Footpath along the lake at Kaizu-Osaki.101 views
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Large, cracked rocks along the footpath.101 views
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The last group in the procession were the taiko drummers led by four bell ringers. 鉦101 views
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The shrine also has a sumo ring. In the 13th century, Emperor Go-Toba visited the shrine and watched sumo performed by the local people. He offered a yellow cow to the shrine. This was the start of the shrine's annual sumo festival.101 views
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Winner. The sumo matches are held as religious ceremony dedicated to the shrine's gods.101 views
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No stepping back for Gary Hamilton #2.101 views
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Shiga Lakestars boosters booing a Hannaryz free throw.101 views
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From the parking lot, there is a short path to the chair lift.101 views
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Lookout deck for the south.101 views
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During Oct. 3 to Nov. 3, 2009 in Omi-Hachiman, they held an exhibition of Vories buildings. For 1,000 yen, we were able to enter a few of the buildings normally closed to the public. MAP101 viewsThe starting point was this Hakuunkan Hall (not Vories-designed).
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