 Most viewed - TOCHIGI 栃木県 |
Warriors coming down the Omotesando. 武者行列547 views
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Posing with maybe with their school teacher.493 views
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The warriors are the procession's main attraction.448 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.426 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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Chigo children wearing an elaborate crown with the signs of the eto Oriental Zodiac. Nikko416 viewsNikko Grand Spring Festival in May.
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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..411 views
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Warriors on Omotesando373 views
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Face of a samurai.372 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.364 views
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Warriors leaving the Otabisho.349 views
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Shinkyo Sacred Bridge, Nikko 神橋349 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.347 views
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Dance maidens334 views
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Yomeimon Gate, National Treasure, Nikko 陽明門333 views
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330 views
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Warriors walk back up the slope in front of the Otabisho.327 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu's mausoleum317 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.0315 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.308 views
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Shrine priest307 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.295 views
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Tobu Line train to Nikko. It takes about 2 hours from Asakusa, Tokyo.291 views
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Tunnel of White Wisteria is one of a kind in the world at Ashikaga Flower Park.291 views
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285 views
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Ashikaga Flower Park, Tochigi.273 views
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264 views
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Near departure time at Otabisho262 views
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Shrine priests standing260 views
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Coming down from Yomeimon Gate (National Treasure). 陽明門259 viewsThe gate is a National Treasure and symbol of Nikko.
陽明門
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257 views
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257 views
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Yellow wisteria at Ashikagae Flower Park.256 views
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Priests on a rainy day.252 views
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Chigo children 稚児, Nikko251 views
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Tunnel of White Wisteria goes for 76.5 meters.248 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245 views
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Shrine priest244 views
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243 views
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White Wisteria Waterfall. 白藤の滝238 views
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Passing under the torii at Futarasan Shrine. 二荒山神社237 views二荒山神社
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235 views
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235 views
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234 views
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White Wisteria Waterfall. 白藤の滝233 views
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230 views
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Yoroi Toshikoshi Shuko festival, Ashikaga, Tochigi.230 views
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White Wisteria Waterfall. 白藤の滝230 views
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227 views
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Sleeping cat 眠り猫225 views
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White Wisteria Waterfall. 白藤の滝225 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu's mausoleum224 views
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Yoroi Toshikoshi Shuko festival, Ashikaga, Tochigi.224 views
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Hear, speak, and see no evil222 viewsWood carving on the horse stable
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222 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.220 views
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Warriors and Five-story Pagoda219 views
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Utsunomiya Castle, Tochigi Pref.219 views
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214 views
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Five-story pagoda 五重塔212 views
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Oriental zodiac (hare) carving on five-story pagoda207 views
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Yomeimon Gate, National Treasure 陽明門206 views
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Dragon on ceiling that squeaks when you clap.205 views
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Horse stable201 views
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Yoroi Toshikoshi Shuko festival, Ashikaga, Tochigi.201 views
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Shrine maidens 巫女199 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.196 viewsAfter the festival ends, there's enough time to see the shrine.
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Sleeping cat196 views
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196 views
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Sleeping cat 眠り猫195 views
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Flower Stage195 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195 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.194 views
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Oriental zodiac (tiger) carving on five-story pagoda193 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192 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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Utsunomiya Castle, Tochigi. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to explore this castle more.190 views
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190 views
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Yomeimon Gate189 views
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Ichino-torii188 views
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187 views
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Oriental zodiac (dragon) carving on five-story pagoda187 views
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185 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?184 views
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Niomon183 views
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Karamon close-up183 views
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Karamon183 views
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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.183 views
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182 views
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Horse stable181 views
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Kids on school trip along Omotesando 表参道180 views
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180 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.180 views
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Wisteria noodles179 views
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Rear of Yomeimon Gate178 views
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Inside Tobu Line train176 views
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Group photo175 views
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Rear of Yomeimon Gate175 views
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Wisteria kamaboko fish cake.173 views
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Prayer ceremony by priests172 views
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Yomeimon Gate172 views
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Tobu Nikko Station 東武日光駅171 views
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Portable shrine storehouse171 views
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171 views
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The main and spectacular attraction is this Giant Wisteria (大藤) on a expansive trellis. 171 views
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This wisteria tree is about 140 years old. It was transplanted here in Feb. 1996.171 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.169 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168 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.168 views
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The three portable shrines (mikoshi) are then carried out of the storehouse to be taken to Futarasan Shrine.167 views
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Passing under Yomeimon Gate.166 views
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166 views
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Tunnel of Yellow Wisteria.165 views
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164 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.164 views上新道
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164 views
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164 views
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Cool heads.162 views
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Futaraasan Shrine in Utsunomiya.162 views
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Gift shop at the park entrance. When you enter the park, you enter here first (and last).161 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.158 views
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157 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.157 views
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153 views
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Warriors coming down the Omotesando. 武者行列152 views
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A small shrine under the Giant Wisteria.152 views
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Futarasan Shrine's torii150 views
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Portable shrine in Futarasan Shrine's Haiden Hall.149 views二荒山神社 拝殿
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Both men and boys wear the warrior costumes.148 views
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Azuma-asobi no Mai Dance 東遊の舞148 views
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147 views
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146 views
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At 11:00 am, the procession starts. They leave Futarasan Shrine through this torii. 上新道146 views上新道
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146 views
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Yae-fuji wisteria features more flower petals, making the flower look more like little balls. 八重藤146 views
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Second group of mikoshi bearers fall in line.145 views
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The procession's starting point at Futarasan Shrine is a great photo op.145 views
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144 views
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Over 50 different costumes are featured in the procession.144 views
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144 views
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143 views
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Mikoshi bearers standing by.143 views
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142 views
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A short path leads to Futarasan Shrine.142 views
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The three portable shrines (mikoshi) in Futarasan Shrine's Haiden Hall. 二荒山神社 拝殿142 views
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Rear view142 views
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Beware of horse droppings142 views
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About the Tunnel of White Wisteria. 142 views
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141 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140 views
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140 views
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What happened to the white roof for the musicians? Azuma-asobi no Mai Dance 東遊の舞140 viewsThese pictures were taken in different years and combined.
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140 views
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Mikoshi bearers standing by.139 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139 views御旅所
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Azuma-asobi no Mai Dance musicians139 views
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139 views
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Warriors make their way through.138 views
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Start of the Omotesando with Ichino-torii in the background. 一ノ鳥居138 views
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The Boy Scouts collect offerings (excluding horse droppings) thrown on the ground by spectators.138 views
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Grounds of Futarasan Shrine, the starting point of the "1,000-Person Procession." 千人行列137 views
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Warriors with shiny gold helmets.137 views
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137 views
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137 views
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136 views
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May 18: At 10:35 am, the spirits are transferred from Futarasan Shrine back to the portable shrines.135 viewsFutarasan Shrine's Haiden Hall.
二荒山神社 拝殿
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Shrine priests sitting135 views
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Another mikoshi going up to Omote-mon Gate135 views
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Omotesando main promenade 表参道134 views
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134 views
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These two performed the Yaotome-no-Mai. They are leaving the building.134 views
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People get ready to leave and go back to Toshogu Shrine.134 views
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First group of mikoshi bearers fall in line.133 views
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133 views
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This short path goes to the Omotesando main promenade.133 views上新道
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Azuma-asobi no Mai Dance 東遊の舞133 views
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Azuma-asobi no Mai Dance 東遊の舞133 views
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The wisteria strands can be as long as 1.8 meters.133 views
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133 views
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Tunnel of White Wisteria. 133 views
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Tunnel of White Wisteria. 133 views
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133 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133 views
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Mikoshi passing through Ichino-torii132 views
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Sacred music musicians132 views
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132 views
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132 views
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Carrying out another mikoshi from Futarasan Shrine.131 views
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Dancers leaving the building131 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131 views
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131 views
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131 views
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Wooden birds130 views
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Those crowns are heavy.130 views
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130 views
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130 views
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Passing under the torii at Futarasan Shrine. 二荒山神社129 views二荒山神社
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This is near the end of the Omortesando and they turn left to go to the Otabisho resting place.129 views
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Another lion (shi-shi)129 views
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Warriors going through the Omote-mon Gate.129 views
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129 views
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Another large wisteria trellis. 129 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.129 views
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128 views
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The procession includes about 18 horses.128 views
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128 views
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Omotesando is the main part of the route to watch the procession. It is the shrine's largest avenue.128 views
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Otabisho 御旅所128 views
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Ceremony to give offerings to the shrine deity. 三本立七五膳128 viewsSanbon-date Shichi-jugo zen
三本立七五膳
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128 views
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128 views
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Yellow wisteria128 views
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Carrying out the mikoshi from Futarasan Shrine.127 views
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127 views
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Mikoshi127 views
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Yae-fuji wisteria features more flower petals, making the flower look more like little balls. 八重藤127 views
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127 views
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Purple Wisteria Trellis. むらさき藤棚127 views
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126 views
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Carrying out another mikoshi from Futarasan Shrine.126 views
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Carrying out another mikoshi from Futarasan Shrine.126 views
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Chigo children, notice the Oriental zodiac animals on their crowns.126 views
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Many wisteria trees decorate the park paths.126 views
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Yae-fuji wisteria trellis.126 views
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Another large wisteria trellis. 大長藤126 views
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Yellow wisteria selling for 4,000 yen.126 views
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125 views
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125 views
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125 views
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125 views
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125 views
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125 views
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125 views
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I like to shoot red and white flowers in Japan.125 views
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125 views
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Floating Flower Pyramids 水上花壇125 views
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124 views
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Banners leading the procession.124 views
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124 views
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Chigo children and assistants make sure the crown doesn't fall off.124 views
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124 views
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124 views
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Mikoshi coming through.123 views
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123 views
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Mikoshi coming through Ichino-torii123 views
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Wisteria and azalea123 views
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Yet another large wisteria trellis, called Purple Wisteria Trellis. むらさき藤棚123 views
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Offerings of sea bream (tai)122 viewsSanbon-date Shichi-jugo zen
三本立七五膳
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122 views
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122 views
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Usubeni Bridge (Light Pink Bridge) with a canopy of light pink wisteria. うす紅橋122 views
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122 views
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Ceremony to give offerings to the shrine deity. 三本立七五膳121 viewsSanbon-date Shichi-jugo zen
三本立七五膳
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