 Most viewed - SHIGA 滋賀県 |
Three-Story Pagoda. Reconstructed in 2000. The original pagoda was destroyed by fire caused by lightning during the early Edo Period. It took six years to complete.48 views
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Inside the Interlaken boat. Very comfortable and looks new.48 views
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Imazu Port with Chikubushima and Mt. Ibuki in the background.48 views
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Inside the new Imazu Port building. That's the ticket office.48 views
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Rental bicycles at Shigaraki Station.48 views
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JR Yogo Station on the Hokuriku Line in 2018. You can rent bicycles inside the station.48 views
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Swan maiden willow tree. Unknown how old the tree is.48 views
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Trail up the mountain to Mt. Shizugatake.48 views
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Lake Yogo sakura cherry blossoms.48 views
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Lake Yogo sakura cherry blossoms.48 views
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Lake Yogo cherry blossoms.48 views
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From Mt. Shizugatake, a short downhill trail to Lake Yogo.48 views
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JR Yogo Station as seen from the train platform.48 views
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Mishima Pond (Mishima-Ike) and Mt. Ibuki in spring with cherry blossoms. 48 views
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Ritto History Museum 栗東歴史民俗博物館47 views
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Ritto History Museum's buddha statues 栗東歴史民俗博物館47 views
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1st floor of Takashimaya Dept. Store.47 views
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Ibuki Ham47 views
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Figure in gate47 views
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Kora Shrine's Gonden Hall is believed to date from the early Edo Period.47 views
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View of rice fields on the way back to Amago Station.47 views
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Katsuragi Waterfall 桂城の滝47 views
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Also behind the Hondo is this Ikko-sugi tree, 700 years old. Named after the temple's founding priest Saint Ikko, it was planted where Ikko was cremated. Over 30 meters high and 5 meters wide. 一向杉47 views
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Naotaka Shrine torii47 views
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The procession with the O-nobori reaches the Otabisho at around 1 pm.47 views
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Moving a car in the way of the procession.47 views
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The O-nobori is now horizontal, carried by the people in the procession.47 views
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Then they had yabusame with horse runs down the Otabisho. No arrow shooting though.47 views
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Hachiman Shrine47 views
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Asahi is the name of the village, and Honen means rich harvest.47 views
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The Asahi Honen Taiko Odori is a National Intangible Folk Cultural Property.47 views
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The Hokuriku Line was right next to Ugano Shrine.47 views
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After the ceremony was over, they headed back to the procession route. That's Mt. Ibuki in the background.47 views
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Motoki Kyo, chairman of the Seta Rowing Club, is the MC.47 views
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Taga Taisha-mae Station's waiting room also has a showcase of ema prayer tablets from various shrines.47 views
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Dai-ikku float. 第一区47 views
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Shichikukai float. 紫竹会47 views
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Honmachi float 本町47 views
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Sanshuden Hall is a modern building where they sell amulets. Also has meeting rooms. 参集殿47 views
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Near the first torii in front of the train station.47 views
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Going down the steps from Tarobogu Shrine. Easy descent if you can walk.47 views
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Get off the bus and here we are. A large clearing (shrine's parking lot) surrounded by a large crowd.47 views
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Lighting the pile.47 views
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Fanning the fire.47 views
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Priests throw wooden goma prayer tablets (written with people's wishes) into the fire.47 views
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Glad to take the shuttle bus back to the trasin station.47 views
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Manhole card collecting is becoming popular in Japan. Shiga has 8 different manhole cards. You need to go to each city and know where to get the card. 47 viewshttp://www.gk-p.jp/mhcard/?pref=25#mhcard_result
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Manhole card for Hikone's manhole. Shows Hiko-nyan.47 views
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Another prime spot for autumn foliage at Kongorinji.47 views
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Large picture windows.47 views
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Snowy mountains around Lake Biwa.47 views
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Many monuments on Chikubushima. The large building on the upper left is the quarters (本坊) for temple priests.47 views
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Suggested tour route.47 views
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Small shrine for the White Snake God, a messenger of goddess Benzaiten. 白巳大神47 views
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Corridor facing the Funa-roka.47 views
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Kannon-do Hall roof corner with a tokyo assemblage. So much eye candy in this building. 47 views
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Before photo of the statue of Pindola Bharadvaja and the nearby wall with flower carvings.47 views
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Inside Karamon Gate. Just gorgeous. Too bad most people just walk in without looking back and noticing. 47 views
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Karamon Gate before the restoration. Very drab-looking with most of the paint and lacquer weathered away by the elements after 67 years when it was last repainted.47 views
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The gate and other castle structures were later moved to warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi's mausoleum in Kyoto in 1600. In 1603, Hideyoshi's son ordered Karamon Gate to be moved to Chikubushima to help rebuild Hogonji Temple which was in disrepair at 47 viewsChikubushima had close ties to Toyotomi Hideyoshi since he was once the lord of Nagahama Castle. Chikubushima was part of his domain.
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Before the renovation, Kannon-do and Karamon Gate had this old, moldy roof.47 views
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Bell tower47 views
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Walking to Imazu Port on the boat dock. New Imazu Port building.47 views
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Yogo Station has rental bicycles. Great for cycling around the lake. On foot, it takes at least an hour to walk all around.47 views
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Lake Yogo in late Sept. after the rice was harvested.47 views
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Autumn wildflowers at Lake Yogo.47 views
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View from the western shore of Lake Yogo.47 views
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JR Yogo Station train platform.47 views
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It's called "Suigo Meguri" (waterway cruise). Following the boat driver/captain.47 views
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National Diet members in Tokyo representing Shiga Prefecture. 滋賀の議員46 views
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Prizes. 抽選会の景品46 views
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Kora Shrine Honden Hall46 views
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The procession headed for the Otabisho which is halfway between Tsuno Shrine and Hioki Shrine.46 views
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The Kawakami Matsuri is also called the Sanyare Matsuri. The festival starts with a Shinto ceremony at both Hioki and Tsuno Shrines. This is Tsuno Shrine.46 views
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They finally brought the O-nobori all the way across the Otabisho.46 views
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About Kora Bungo-no-Kami Munehiro.46 views
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San San Moriyama46 views
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Materials for float-making at Suwai-cho. 仲屋町46 views
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Jukku-kai float takes a fall. 十区会46 views
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Tobidashi boya46 views
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Quite pleasant with all the trees.46 views
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On the day of the bonfire festival, they have shuttle buses going between the train station and Tarobogu Shrine. Highly recommend taking the bus.46 views
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After the smoke is gone...46 views
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Prayer before the fire walk.46 views
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Manhole card for Hikone's manhole.46 views
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Ticket window with prices. Round trip tickets cost around ¥3,000. Biwako Kisen operates boats from Nagahama Port.46 views
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Chikubushima (竹生島) is a small, sacred island dominated by a temple/shrine complex called Hogonji (宝厳寺) perched on this fairly steep slope. 46 viewsThe temple/shrine's construction was ordered by the emperor in 724 when he proclaimed that Chikubushima was a sacred place for the goddess Benzaiten (弁才天). The temple was to bring national peace, bountiful harvests, and prosperity to all. A priest named Gyoki (僧行基) then proceeded to build the temple with Benzaiten as the principal object of worship.
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Chikubushima is also home to Tsukubusuma (Chikubushima) Shrine which is also a National Treasure. Until 1868 when Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines were required to be separate, the shrine was part of Hogonji temple.46 views
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Corridor facing the Funa-roka.46 views
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Heading toward the statue of Pindola Bharadvaja. The carved walls are now protected with plexiglass.46 views
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It looks new because it was magnificently restored (including the roof) after six years of meticulous work completed in March 2020. Finally came to see it. I was not disappointed. It's jaw-dropping beautiful.46 views
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It's the entrance of the temple's Kannon-do Hall that worships Kannon. The gate features the karahafu roof gable shaped like a hump, commonly found on important traditional buildings such as temples and castles.46 views
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It's really pleasing to see this and other major National Treasures being restored during the past 10 years. There's also Nikko Toshogu Shrine in Tochigi and Menuma Shodenzan Temple in Saitama which have been refreshed with vibrant colors and la46 viewsWith modern technologies, computers, laser measurements, and scientific techniques, restoration specialists can more accurately assess and reproduce the original colors and pigments. But much of the work is done by hand.
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Center metal fitting on the Karamon.46 views
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According to legend, Mt. Ibuki and Mt. Azai-dake (Kanakuso-dake) in northern Shiga argued over who was the highest in Shiga. Mt. Ibuki got so upset by the argument that he drew a sword and sliced off Azai-dake's head.46 viewsThe sliced-off peak fell into Lake Biwa and became Chikubushima. Read the full folktale here: https://shiga-ken.com/blog/2014/07/the-birth-of-chikubushima/
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Lake Yogo sakura cherry blossoms.46 views
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Lake Yogo Tourist Center restaurant.46 views
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PR exhibit for the Grand Omi Fair on the 8th floor.45 views
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Each Diet member gave a short speech.45 views
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Buffet45 views
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Gift bags.45 views
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Shimonogo 桂城神社45 views
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Shinkansen in the distance.45 views
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Here's the mother flying in to feed her young.45 views
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Inside tourist info office which is also a souvenir shop.45 views
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Tsuno Shrine also had a mikoshi portable shrine.45 views
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After the Shinto ceremony, they got ready in a procession. Also see my YouTube video here.45 views
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They start to prop up the O-nobori at the Otabisho.45 views
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The mikoshi procession also arrived at the Otabisho.45 views
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Zaiji Hachiman Shrine's Honden main hall.45 views
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Zaiji Hachiman Shrine's Haiden Hall.45 views
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Kora Town Hall. MAP45 views
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Setagawa River boat cruise modeled after the Ichiban-Maru paddlewheel steamboat which cruised on Lake Biwa in the 19th century.45 views
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If you don't take the bus, it's 700 steps up from here.45 views
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On the Sports Day national holiday in Oct., top-notch street performers perform from 10 am to 4 pm in Torahime, at the Torahime Ikigai Center parking lot (虎姫いきがいセンター). 45 views15-min. walk from JR Torahime Station. Website: http://torass.com/
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They first ran a lap around the stadium track.45 views
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Equipment truck and The End. Official marathon site: http://www.lakebiwa-marathon.com/45 views2018 race results: http://www.lakebiwa-marathon.com/history_e.cgi?biwako_73rd
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Video of Shigaraki Festival.45 views
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Zensuiji Hondo main worship hall45 views
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Leaving Nagahama in winter. After a major snowfall in late Jan. 2021, went on a scenic snow cruise on Lake Biwa.45 views
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Most people spend 80 min. or 90 min. on the island before taking the return boat. Be sure to remember the departure time of your return boat especially if it's the last one for the day. (No lodging on the island.)45 views
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After you get off the boat at Chikubushima, you face this slope of buildings. Many monuments. On the upper right is the famous Karamon Gate.45 views
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Funa-roka boat corridor connects Tsukubusuma Shrine and the Kannon-do Hall. Important Cultural Property. From the Momoyama Period. 船廊下45 views
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Funa-roka boat corridor goes to Kannon-do Hall. 船廊下45 views
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Candle holder.45 views
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After photo of Pindola Bharadvaja statue. These days, best not to touch unless you use hand sanitizer afterward.45 viewsAll those old pilgrim name stickers (mostly from the Edo Period when it was fad) were removed for a new layer of lacquer.
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Karamon Gate door.45 views
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Behind the Karamon Gate.45 views
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Benzaiten-do Hall, Hogonji's Hondo main worship hall. Hogonji Temple belongs to the Shingon Buddhist Sect (Buzan School). Benzaiten is the goddess of everything that flows: Water, rivers, music, etc. 弁才天堂45 views
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About Benzaiten-do Hall.45 views
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"Birthplace of Biwako Shuko no Uta" (Lake Bwa Rowing Song) on a bulletin board in the train station.45 views
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"Interlaken" cruise boat at Imazu Port with Chikubushima and Mt. Ibuki in the background.45 views
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Waiting room inside Imazu Port building.45 views
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Shigaraki Kogen Railways Shigaraki Station. You can take a bus to reach Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park in 5 min., or walk for 20 min. 信楽駅45 views
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In winter, most everything is covered with deep snow.45 views
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Stone monuments at Lake Yogo swan maiden monument.45 views
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Rice already harvested by late Sept.45 views
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Lake Yogo from Mt. Shizugatake on a day when the lake was green with algae.45 views
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Scenery from JR Yogo Station.45 views
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1st floor of Takashimaya Dept. Store.44 views
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Mochi for all, dressing was grated daikon and dried bonito shavings.44 views
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They took down the O-nobori.44 views
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The procession start to leave Tsuno Shrine.44 views
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Then they slowly dragged the two O-nobori poles across the Otabisho.44 views
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They paraded the mikoshi around the Otabisho.44 views
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Three community groups participate in Kawakami Matsuri. They rotate every year for taking care of the O-nobori, mikoshi, and sanyare dance and music.44 views
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Local sightseeing map in stone.44 views
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Local museum dedicated to Kora Bungo-no-Kami Munehiro. Unfortunately, the museum was closed when I was there. It's open only once or twice a week or so.44 views
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You can drive up halfway up the mountain (called Mitsukuriyama 箕作山) which is 350 meters high. If you don't have a car, climb over 700 steps to reach the shrine's main hall.44 views
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Toward the end, there is fire-walking on the hot embers.44 views
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Manhole card for Ritto's manhole.44 views
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Steps to the Hondo main worship hall.44 views
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Aisho Town Museum.44 views
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Corridor and incense burner in front of the altar. The wooden pillars totally re-lacquered.44 views
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Ceiling inside Karamon Gate, looking directly upward. 44 views
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Some of the wood carvings had pieces that broke off or worn out. So they were reconstructed too. The metal fittings were also re-plated or remade.44 views
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Left door of Karamon Gate.44 views
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"Interlaken" cruise boat at Imazu Port.44 views
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Uniform of the Dai-sanko college where Oguchi Taro studied.44 views
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Old records of the song.44 views
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First the shrine priest had to shoot an arrow into the crowd, then the bean throwing began.44 views
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Lake Yogo green with algae in late Sept.44 views
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Grand Omi Fair on 8th floor43 views
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Adoberry sweets, from Adogawa, Takashima.43 views
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Entrance to crafts booths. 工芸展43 views
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Making candles.43 views
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People come to claim their prizes. 景品を受ける43 views
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Singing "Biwako Shuko no Uta" 琵琶湖周航の歌43 views
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Even before the spring flowers bloom, they find ways to color the streams.43 views
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Tsuno Shrine torii. 津野神社 MAP43 views
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