 Most viewed - TOCHIGI 栃木県 |
Posing with maybe with their school teacher.477 views
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Warriors coming down the Omotesando. 武者行列457 views
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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.389 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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The warriors are the procession's main attraction.387 viewsWaiting near Futarasan Shrine's torii.
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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..386 views
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Chigo children wearing an elaborate crown with the signs of the eto Oriental Zodiac. Nikko364 viewsNikko Grand Spring Festival in May.
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Shinkyo Sacred Bridge, Nikko 神橋319 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.317 views
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Warriors on Omotesando312 views
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Face of a samurai.307 views
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Yomeimon Gate, National Treasure, Nikko 陽明門304 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.295 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.0291 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu's mausoleum290 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.282 views
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Warriors leaving the Otabisho.277 views
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Dance maidens275 views
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Shrine priest275 views
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273 views
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Tobu Line train to Nikko. It takes about 2 hours from Asakusa, Tokyo.265 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.265 views
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Warriors walk back up the slope in front of the Otabisho.260 views
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249 views
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Coming down from Yomeimon Gate (National Treasure). 陽明門235 viewsThe gate is a National Treasure and symbol of Nikko.
陽明門
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Chigo children 稚児, Nikko234 views
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Shrine priests standing230 views
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Tunnel of White Wisteria is one of a kind in the world at Ashikaga Flower Park.220 views
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Passing under the torii at Futarasan Shrine. 二荒山神社217 views二荒山神社
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Priests on a rainy day.216 views
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Ashikaga Flower Park, Tochigi.210 views
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Near departure time at Otabisho208 views
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Shrine priest208 views
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204 views
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Hear, speak, and see no evil202 viewsWood carving on the horse stable
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199 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu's mausoleum198 views
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Sleeping cat 眠り猫197 views
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Warriors and Five-story Pagoda194 views
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193 views
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Tunnel of White Wisteria goes for 76.5 meters.192 views
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191 views
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Yellow wisteria at Ashikagae Flower Park.189 views
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Yoroi Toshikoshi Shuko festival, Ashikaga, Tochigi.188 views
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Five-story pagoda 五重塔187 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185 views
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Utsunomiya Castle, Tochigi Pref.184 views
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Shrine maidens 巫女181 views
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181 views
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Oriental zodiac (hare) carving on five-story pagoda180 views
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Yomeimon Gate, National Treasure 陽明門179 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.178 views
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White Wisteria Waterfall. 白藤の滝177 views
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177 views
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Horse stable176 views
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White Wisteria Waterfall. 白藤の滝175 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.174 viewsAfter the festival ends, there's enough time to see the shrine.
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Dragon on ceiling that squeaks when you clap.174 views
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174 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.173 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.173 views
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171 views
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170 views
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White Wisteria Waterfall. 白藤の滝170 views
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Sleeping cat169 views
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Flower Stage169 views
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White Wisteria Waterfall. 白藤の滝169 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168 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167 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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Ichino-torii167 views
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Sleeping cat 眠り猫167 views
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166 views
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Yoroi Toshikoshi Shuko festival, Ashikaga, Tochigi.165 views
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165 views
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Yomeimon Gate164 views
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164 views
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Oriental zodiac (tiger) carving on five-story pagoda162 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?162 views
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162 views
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Oriental zodiac (dragon) carving on five-story pagoda160 views
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Utsunomiya Castle, Tochigi. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to explore this castle more.160 views
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Niomon159 views
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Karamon close-up159 views
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159 views
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158 views
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Horse stable156 views
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156 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.156 views
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Karamon155 views
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Wisteria noodles155 views
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154 views
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Rear of Yomeimon Gate153 views
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Passing under Yomeimon Gate.152 views
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Yoroi Toshikoshi Shuko festival, Ashikaga, Tochigi.152 views
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Futaraasan Shrine in Utsunomiya.151 views
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Kids on school trip along Omotesando 表参道150 views
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Rear of Yomeimon Gate150 views
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Prayer ceremony by priests149 views
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The main and spectacular attraction is this Giant Wisteria (大藤) on a expansive trellis. 149 views
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Yomeimon Gate148 views
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This wisteria tree is about 140 years old. It was transplanted here in Feb. 1996.148 views
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Inside Tobu Line train147 views
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Group photo147 views
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Wisteria kamaboko fish cake.147 views
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Tobu Nikko Station 東武日光駅146 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.146 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.146 views
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The three portable shrines (mikoshi) are then carried out of the storehouse to be taken to Futarasan Shrine.144 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.144 views上新道
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Portable shrine storehouse144 views
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143 views
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142 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.142 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141 views
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Tunnel of Yellow Wisteria.141 views
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Gift shop at the park entrance. When you enter the park, you enter here first (and last).141 views
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139 views
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Cool heads.139 views
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138 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.136 views
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136 views
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Futarasan Shrine's torii130 views
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Both men and boys wear the warrior costumes.130 views
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Warriors coming down the Omotesando. 武者行列130 views
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128 views
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127 views
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A short path leads to Futarasan Shrine.127 views
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Portable shrine in Futarasan Shrine's Haiden Hall.127 views二荒山神社 拝殿
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Azuma-asobi no Mai Dance 東遊の舞127 views
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127 views
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Second group of mikoshi bearers fall in line.126 views
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126 views
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Over 50 different costumes are featured in the procession.126 views
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The three portable shrines (mikoshi) in Futarasan Shrine's Haiden Hall. 二荒山神社 拝殿125 views
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What happened to the white roof for the musicians? Azuma-asobi no Mai Dance 東遊の舞125 viewsThese pictures were taken in different years and combined.
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The procession's starting point at Futarasan Shrine is a great photo op.124 views
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A small shrine under the Giant Wisteria.124 views
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123 views
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123 views
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At 11:00 am, the procession starts. They leave Futarasan Shrine through this torii. 上新道123 views上新道
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Rear view123 views
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Yae-fuji wisteria features more flower petals, making the flower look more like little balls. 八重藤123 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122 views
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Beware of horse droppings122 views
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122 views
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Warriors make their way through.121 views
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May 18: At 10:35 am, the spirits are transferred from Futarasan Shrine back to the portable shrines.120 viewsFutarasan Shrine's Haiden Hall.
二荒山神社 拝殿
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About the Tunnel of White Wisteria. 120 views
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119 views
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Mikoshi bearers standing by.119 views
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First group of mikoshi bearers fall in line.119 views
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Start of the Omotesando with Ichino-torii in the background. 一ノ鳥居119 views
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Azuma-asobi no Mai Dance musicians119 views
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119 views
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Mikoshi bearers standing by.118 views
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Grounds of Futarasan Shrine, the starting point of the "1,000-Person Procession." 千人行列118 views
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This short path goes to the Omotesando main promenade.118 views上新道
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Warriors with shiny gold helmets.118 views
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Another mikoshi going up to Omote-mon Gate118 views
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118 views
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117 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117 views御旅所
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Azuma-asobi no Mai Dance 東遊の舞117 views
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116 views
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Omotesando main promenade 表参道116 views
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Azuma-asobi no Mai Dance 東遊の舞116 views
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116 views
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The Boy Scouts collect offerings (excluding horse droppings) thrown on the ground by spectators.115 views
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Passing under the torii at Futarasan Shrine. 二荒山神社114 views二荒山神社
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114 views
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114 views
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People get ready to leave and go back to Toshogu Shrine.114 views
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Shrine priests sitting113 views
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These two performed the Yaotome-no-Mai. They are leaving the building.113 views
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113 views
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113 views
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Those crowns are heavy.112 views
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The wisteria strands can be as long as 1.8 meters.112 views
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Carrying out the mikoshi from Futarasan Shrine.111 views
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Sacred music musicians111 views
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Omotesando is the main part of the route to watch the procession. It is the shrine's largest avenue.111 views
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111 views
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111 views
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111 views
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The procession includes about 18 horses.110 views
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110 views
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Mikoshi passing through Ichino-torii110 views
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This is near the end of the Omortesando and they turn left to go to the Otabisho resting place.110 views
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Dancers leaving the building110 views
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Chigo children, notice the Oriental zodiac animals on their crowns.110 views
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110 views
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109 views
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Carrying out another mikoshi from Futarasan Shrine.109 views
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Mikoshi109 views
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Wooden birds109 views
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109 views
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108 views
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108 views
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Carrying out another mikoshi from Futarasan Shrine.108 views
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108 views
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108 views
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Another lion (shi-shi)108 views
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Chigo children and assistants make sure the crown doesn't fall off.108 views
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Warriors going through the Omote-mon Gate.108 views
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108 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108 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108 views
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Yellow wisteria108 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.108 views
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Carrying out another mikoshi from Futarasan Shrine.107 views
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107 views
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107 views
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Otabisho 御旅所107 views
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Mikoshi coming through Ichino-torii107 views
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Purple Wisteria Trellis. むらさき藤棚107 views
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106 views
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Ceremony to give offerings to the shrine deity. 三本立七五膳106 viewsSanbon-date Shichi-jugo zen
三本立七五膳
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Offerings of sea bream (tai)106 viewsSanbon-date Shichi-jugo zen
三本立七五膳
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106 views
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106 views
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Another large wisteria trellis. 大長藤106 views
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105 views
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Mikoshi coming through.105 views
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Ceremony to give offerings to the shrine deity. 三本立七五膳105 viewsSanbon-date Shichi-jugo zen
三本立七五膳
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105 views
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105 views
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Another large wisteria trellis. 105 views
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104 views
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Banners leading the procession.104 views
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104 views
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104 views
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Tunnel of White Wisteria. 104 views
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Tunnel of White Wisteria. 104 views
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Yae-fuji wisteria trellis.104 views
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104 views
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Wisteria and azalea104 views
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I like to shoot red and white flowers in Japan.104 views
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Yet another large wisteria trellis, called Purple Wisteria Trellis. むらさき藤棚104 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103 views
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Yellow wisteria selling for 4,000 yen.102 views
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Wisteria ice cream does taste like wisteria. It was good and not too sweet. 藤ソフト102 views
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101 views
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Ceremony at the Otabisho. 御旅所祭101 views
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