 Most viewed - TOCHIGI 栃木県 |
Warriors coming down the Omotesando. 武者行列483 views
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Posing with maybe with their school teacher.481 views
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The warriors are the procession's main attraction.406 viewsWaiting near Futarasan Shrine's torii.
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Also called "Sennin Gyoretsu" (1,000-person Procession 千人行列), this is Nikko's largest festival held on May 17-18. The highlight is a long procession of over 1,000 people dressed in various costumes.402 viewsThe three portable shrines are dedicated to the spirits of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Minamoto Yoritomo. Photos start with May 17 at Toshogu Shrine, when priests gathered for a ceremony. 発興祭
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Ashikaga Flower Park is home to one of Japan's largest wisteria trellis and numerous wisteria trees/vines. Besides purple wisteria, it also boasts white and yellow wisteria. Entrance to the park..390 views
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Chigo children wearing an elaborate crown with the signs of the eto Oriental Zodiac. Nikko379 viewsNikko Grand Spring Festival in May.
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Warriors on Omotesando331 views
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Face of a samurai.328 views
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Shinkyo Sacred Bridge, Nikko 神橋328 views
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At Ashikaga-shi Station, long line for the shuttle bus to Ashikaga Flower Park. This problem has been resolved with the new JR Ashikaga Flower Park Station.321 views
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Giant Wisteria at Ashikaga Flower Park in Ashikaga, Tochigi. The trellis is huge and the wisteria strands are long. Super awesome.312 views
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Yomeimon Gate, National Treasure, Nikko 陽明門309 views
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Warriors leaving the Otabisho.297 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu's mausoleum296 views
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Until April 2018, shuttle buses went from Ashikaga-shi Station to Ashikaga Flower Park. Bus fare was ¥300 one way, taking about 15 min. The bus leaves once an hour, but more often if there's a large crowd.0296 views
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Dance maidens295 views
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292 views
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Ashikaga-shi Station on the Tobu Isezaki Line. It takes about 2 hours from central Tokyo. Connected to the Hanzomon Line. From April 2018, the JR Ashikaga Flower Park Station opened in front of the park.287 views
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Shrine priest285 views
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Warriors walk back up the slope in front of the Otabisho.279 views
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Map of Ashikaga Flower Park. It's large, but compact enough to walk around and see everything. They also light up the flowers at night until 9 pm.270 views
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Tobu Line train to Nikko. It takes about 2 hours from Asakusa, Tokyo.269 views
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259 views
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Coming down from Yomeimon Gate (National Treasure). 陽明門240 viewsThe gate is a National Treasure and symbol of Nikko.
陽明門
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Shrine priests standing240 views
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Tunnel of White Wisteria is one of a kind in the world at Ashikaga Flower Park.238 views
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Chigo children 稚児, Nikko237 views
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Ashikaga Flower Park, Tochigi.227 views
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Priests on a rainy day.226 views
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Passing under the torii at Futarasan Shrine. 二荒山神社221 views二荒山神社
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Near departure time at Otabisho221 views
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Shrine priest220 views
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216 views
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213 views
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212 views
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212 views
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Tunnel of White Wisteria goes for 76.5 meters.209 views
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Yellow wisteria at Ashikagae Flower Park.207 views
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Hear, speak, and see no evil206 viewsWood carving on the horse stable
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Tokugawa Ieyasu's mausoleum203 views
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Sleeping cat 眠り猫203 views
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Usubeni Bridge (Light Pink Bridge) with a canopy of light pink wisteria at Ashikaga Flower Park in Ashikaga, Tochigi. うす紅橋203 views
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Yoroi Toshikoshi Shuko festival, Ashikaga, Tochigi.199 views
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199 views
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Warriors and Five-story Pagoda198 views
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196 views
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White Wisteria Waterfall. 白藤の滝194 views
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White Wisteria Waterfall. 白藤の滝193 views
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Five-story pagoda 五重塔191 views
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191 views
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The bean-throwing was disappointing at Yoroi Toshikoshi Shuko festival in Ashikaga, Tochigi. Few beans and they hardly reached anybody.190 views
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Utsunomiya Castle, Tochigi Pref.190 views
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188 views
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White Wisteria Waterfall. 白藤の滝187 views
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White Wisteria Waterfall. 白藤の滝186 views
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Oriental zodiac (hare) carving on five-story pagoda185 views
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185 views
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Shrine maidens 巫女184 views
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Yomeimon Gate, National Treasure 陽明門184 views
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Yoroi Toshikoshi Shuko festival, Ashikaga, Tochigi.183 views
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182 views
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Dragon on ceiling that squeaks when you clap.181 views
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Gyoza restaurants in Utsunomiya Station. The city's gyoza connection started in 1940 when soldiers in the Imperial Japanese Army's 14th Division assigned to a garrison in Manchuria returned to Utsunomiya and brought back gyoza recipes.181 views
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180 views
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Horse stable179 views
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1:30 pm: The end (path to Futarasan Shrine). A similar festival is held in Oct., but on a smaller scale and with only one mikoshi.177 viewsAfter the festival ends, there's enough time to see the shrine.
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At Ashikaga-shi Station on the Tobu Isezaki Line, there is the Ashikaga Tourist Information Office inside the train station, but it was closed. On the very day when tourists would arrive to see the warrior procession.175 views
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Flower Stage175 views
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In front of the portable shrine storehouse for the three mikoshi. A ceremony is held to transfer the spirits from the main shrine to the portable shrines. 神輿舎にて宵成渡御174 viewsThis building is right next to the famous Yomei-mon Gate at the Toshogu Shrine.
神輿舎にて宵成渡御
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Sleeping cat174 views
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A semi-ring of chairs in front of the Flower Stage. The ceiling has light pink wisteria. うす紅の棚173 views
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Ichino-torii172 views
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Sleeping cat 眠り猫172 views
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171 views
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Yoroi Toshikoshi Shuko festival, Ashikaga, Tochigi.170 views
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Soldiers in the 14th Division came from Utsunomiya. Sadly in 1944, the division was assigned to Palau and Anguar in the South Pacific where most of them died in bloody battles. What would a trip to Utsunomiya be without eating gyoza?170 views
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169 views
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Yomeimon Gate168 views
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Oriental zodiac (dragon) carving on five-story pagoda167 views
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Oriental zodiac (tiger) carving on five-story pagoda166 views
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Utsunomiya Castle, Tochigi. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to explore this castle more.166 views
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Niomon163 views
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Karamon close-up163 views
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163 views
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Horse stable162 views
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162 views
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161 views
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Entrance to Ashikaga Flower Park is guarded by these yellow wisteria. Admission is a pricey ¥2,000 during the wisteria season from late April to early May. It's worth it during peak bloom.161 views
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Karamon160 views
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Wisteria noodles159 views
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157 views
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Rear of Yomeimon Gate157 views
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Passing under Yomeimon Gate.155 views
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Kids on school trip along Omotesando 表参道154 views
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Rear of Yomeimon Gate154 views
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Futaraasan Shrine in Utsunomiya.154 views
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The main and spectacular attraction is this Giant Wisteria (大藤) on a expansive trellis. 154 views
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This wisteria tree is about 140 years old. It was transplanted here in Feb. 1996.154 views
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Prayer ceremony by priests153 views
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Yomeimon Gate153 views
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Inside Tobu Line train152 views
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Group photo152 views
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Tobu Nikko Station 東武日光駅151 views
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If you're visiting during the wisteria's peak bloom, I highly recommend seeing this park. Breathtaking. Flower beds near the entrance.151 views
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Wisteria kamaboko fish cake.151 views
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The park's parking lot had many tour buses. Crowded even on weekdays during wisteria season. But fewer people in the late afternoon.150 views
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The three portable shrines (mikoshi) are then carried out of the storehouse to be taken to Futarasan Shrine.148 views
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Portable shrine storehouse148 views
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148 views
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148 views
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This warrior procession is said to be a reenactment of Shogun Tokugawa Hidetada's visit to Toshogu Shrine, dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu. Successive shoguns visited the shrine as well.147 views上新道
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146 views
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A National Treasure and World Heritage Site, Nikko's magnificent shrines and temples overshadow any other attractions Tochigi has. The Toshogu Shrine is especially famous and also serves as Tokugawa Ieyasu's mausoleum. Omotesando 表参道146 views
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Gift shop at the park entrance. When you enter the park, you enter here first (and last).146 views
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Tunnel of Yellow Wisteria.145 views
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Utsunomiya is famous for gyoza, and inside JR Utsunomiya Station are many gyoza shops and restaurants. The station's east exit even has a gyoza sculpture.144 views
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Cool heads.143 views
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143 views
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142 views
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140 views
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The spirits of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Minamoto Yoritomo in the three portable shrines are then transferred to Futarasan Shrine. The mikoshi spend the night here.139 views
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Futarasan Shrine's torii135 views
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Warriors coming down the Omotesando. 武者行列134 views
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Both men and boys wear the warrior costumes.133 views
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132 views
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131 views
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Portable shrine in Futarasan Shrine's Haiden Hall.131 views二荒山神社 拝殿
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130 views
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A short path leads to Futarasan Shrine.130 views
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Second group of mikoshi bearers fall in line.130 views
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130 views
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Azuma-asobi no Mai Dance 東遊の舞130 views
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Over 50 different costumes are featured in the procession.129 views
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A small shrine under the Giant Wisteria.129 views
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The three portable shrines (mikoshi) in Futarasan Shrine's Haiden Hall. 二荒山神社 拝殿128 views
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What happened to the white roof for the musicians? Azuma-asobi no Mai Dance 東遊の舞128 viewsThese pictures were taken in different years and combined.
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Yae-fuji wisteria features more flower petals, making the flower look more like little balls. 八重藤128 views
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127 views
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Rear view127 views
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127 views
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126 views
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Entering Futarasan Shrine's Haiden Hall. All three portable shrines are taken to this hall. 二荒山神社 拝殿126 views
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The procession's starting point at Futarasan Shrine is a great photo op.126 views
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At 11:00 am, the procession starts. They leave Futarasan Shrine through this torii. 上新道126 views上新道
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About the Tunnel of White Wisteria. 125 views
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Warriors make their way through.124 views
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Beware of horse droppings124 views
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124 views
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123 views
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May 18: At 10:35 am, the spirits are transferred from Futarasan Shrine back to the portable shrines.123 viewsFutarasan Shrine's Haiden Hall.
二荒山神社 拝殿
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Mikoshi bearers standing by.123 views
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Azuma-asobi no Mai Dance musicians123 views
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123 views
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Mikoshi bearers standing by.122 views
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First group of mikoshi bearers fall in line.122 views
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Grounds of Futarasan Shrine, the starting point of the "1,000-Person Procession." 千人行列122 views
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Start of the Omotesando with Ichino-torii in the background. 一ノ鳥居122 views
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121 views
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This short path goes to the Omotesando main promenade.121 views上新道
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Warriors with shiny gold helmets.121 views
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Another mikoshi going up to Omote-mon Gate121 views
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121 views
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120 views
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The Boy Scouts collect offerings (excluding horse droppings) thrown on the ground by spectators.120 views
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12 noon: Otabisho resting place. They arrive and have lunch. The three mikoshi are stored in the building on the upper left. 御旅所120 views御旅所
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Azuma-asobi no Mai Dance 東遊の舞120 views
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Omotesando main promenade 表参道119 views
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119 views
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People get ready to leave and go back to Toshogu Shrine.118 views
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Azuma-asobi no Mai Dance 東遊の舞118 views
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118 views
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Passing under the torii at Futarasan Shrine. 二荒山神社117 views二荒山神社
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117 views
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Shrine priests sitting117 views
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117 views
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The wisteria strands can be as long as 1.8 meters.117 views
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These two performed the Yaotome-no-Mai. They are leaving the building.116 views
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Mikoshi passing through Ichino-torii115 views
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Those crowns are heavy.115 views
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115 views
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115 views
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115 views
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Carrying out the mikoshi from Futarasan Shrine.114 views
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Sacred music musicians114 views
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Omotesando is the main part of the route to watch the procession. It is the shrine's largest avenue.114 views
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Dancers leaving the building114 views
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114 views
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114 views
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114 views
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Carrying out another mikoshi from Futarasan Shrine.113 views
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The procession includes about 18 horses.113 views
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113 views
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This is near the end of the Omortesando and they turn left to go to the Otabisho resting place.113 views
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Chigo children, notice the Oriental zodiac animals on their crowns.113 views
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Yae-fuji wisteria trellis. Yae-fuji features more flower petals, making the flower look more like little balls. 八重藤113 views
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112 views
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112 views
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Mikoshi112 views
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Wooden birds112 views
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Warriors going through the Omote-mon Gate.112 views
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Yae-fuji wisteria trellis. Yae-fuji features more flower petals, making the flower look more like little balls. 八重藤112 views
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Yellow wisteria112 views
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Another large wisteria trellis. 大長藤112 views
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The Giant Wisteria extends over 36 meters by 33 meters. About the same as a large hotel ballroom or a whopping 600 tatami mats. The trellis was only 50 tatami mats when it was transplanted here.112 views
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111 views
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111 views
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Carrying out another mikoshi from Futarasan Shrine.111 views
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Carrying out another mikoshi from Futarasan Shrine.111 views
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111 views
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111 views
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Another lion (shi-shi)111 views
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Chigo children and assistants make sure the crown doesn't fall off.111 views
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111 views
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111 views
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Purple Wisteria Trellis. むらさき藤棚111 views
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110 views
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110 views
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Otabisho 御旅所110 views
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Mikoshi coming through Ichino-torii110 views
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110 views
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Tunnel of White Wisteria. 110 views
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Tunnel of White Wisteria. 110 views
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110 views
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Ceremony to give offerings to the shrine deity. 三本立七五膳109 viewsSanbon-date Shichi-jugo zen
三本立七五膳
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Offerings of sea bream (tai)109 viewsSanbon-date Shichi-jugo zen
三本立七五膳
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Yae-fuji wisteria trellis.109 views
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109 views
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Wisteria and azalea109 views
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Another large wisteria trellis. 109 views
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109 views
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Yet another large wisteria trellis, called Purple Wisteria Trellis. むらさき藤棚109 views
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108 views
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Banners leading the procession.108 views
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108 views
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Mikoshi coming through.108 views
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Ceremony to give offerings to the shrine deity. 三本立七五膳108 viewsSanbon-date Shichi-jugo zen
三本立七五膳
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108 views
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Yellow wisteria selling for 4,000 yen.108 views
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107 views
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107 views
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Many wisteria trees decorate the park paths.107 views
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Usubeni Bridge (Light Pink Bridge) with a canopy of light pink wisteria. うす紅橋107 views
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Yae-fuji wisteria features more flower petals, making the flower look more like little balls. 八重藤107 views
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107 views
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107 views
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107 views
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I like to shoot red and white flowers in Japan.107 views
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Mikoshi stored in the Otabisho's Shinden Hall, a resting place for spirits in transit. 御旅所 御神殿106 views
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106 views
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Usubeni Bridge (Light Pink Bridge) with a canopy of light pink wisteria. うす紅橋106 views
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106 views
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