 Most viewed - YAMAGATA 山形県 |
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Map of Kajo Koen Park. 霞城公園859 views
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Then there was this group of sexy Yamagata hanagasa dancers. Holy smoke, look at that cleavage, something you never see with a yukata.740 views
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Miniskirted yukata690 views
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Yamagata Castle is closest to JR Yamagata Station. This is the east side. The train station and surrounding area changed a lot since my first visit years ago.472 views
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Yamagata maiko399 views
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Also called Tsukioka Castle (月岡城), Kaminoyama Castle is today a 1982 reconstruction of the castle tower near the original site. The castle as seen from the train.375 views
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During early Aug., JR Yamagata Station has a Hanagasa Matsuri billboard above the turnstile as you get out.360 views
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Inside the Ninomaru Higashi Otemon Gate turret at Yamagata Castle. Very impressive construction. Still new-looking even after almost 20 years. 342 views
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Yamagata maiko327 views
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Yamagata Castle's Ninomaru Higashi Otemon Gate. This gate and turret were accurately reconstructed in 1991 based on Edo Period documents and Meiji Period photos. 二の丸東大手門321 views
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Held since 1963, the Yamagata Hanagasa Matsuri festival is held annually during Aug. 5-7. It is an evening parade of dancers using a hanagasa (flower hat) held during the three evenings from 6 pm to 9:30 pm.316 views
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Behind Ninomaru Higashi Otemon Gate304 views
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Actress Eri Watanabe in Yamagata Hanagasa Matsuri on Aug. 7, 2009.290 views
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This is actress Eri Watanabe (b. 1955) who is from Yamagata. She gave a memorable performance in the 1996 movie, "Shall We Dance?"287 views
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Miss Hanagasa 2009.283 views
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Yamagata Hanagasa Matsuri278 views
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Yamadera temple, Yamagata263 views
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Yamadera temple, Yamagata250 views
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Kaminoyama Castle, Yamagata Pref. The building is four stories high reconstructed in Nov. 1982. The design is based on the castle existing in 1535.221 views
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Yamagata Hanagasa Matsuri208 views
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Photogenic Yamagata hanagasa dancer.208 views
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Uesugi Shrine, Yonezawa, Yamagata200 views
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Lovely Yamagata hanagasa dancer.187 views
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Even the police box (koban) near the Kaminoyama Onsen train station is designed after the castle.181 views
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Kaminoyama's manhole design does not have a castle motif. Yamagata Pref.181 views
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Cop cars block the parade road.174 views
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Grapes to sit on. Kajo Central lobby, Yamagata.174 views
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Old Yamagata Station.168 views
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"See you next year." The parade ends at around 9:30 pm at the end of the parade route. But it ends earlier if you are at the midway point instead. There was enough time for me to catch the last train back to Sendai at 9:46 pm.161 views
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PR poster for Tenchi-nin, TV series about Naoe Kanetsugu aired on NHK in 2009.161 views
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Amateur hanagasa dancers.160 views
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Yonezawa manhole, Yamagata Pref.158 views
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Yamagata Station's exit has hanagasa (flower hat) decorations.156 views
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Kaminoyama Onsen Station is the closest train station to Kaminoyama Castle. The station building is obviously designed after the castle.146 views
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Uesugi Shrine in Matsugasaki Park is on the site of Yonezawa Castle, hence the moats and stone walls. Home of the Uesugi clan, the castle was destroyed in 1873 by the order of the Meiji government. Omotesando path to Uesugi Shrine.144 views
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Kaminoyama Onsen Station used to be called Kaminoyama Station. The station's name was changed to Kaminoyama Onsen after the Yamagata Shinkansen was completed in 1992. This building was completed in June 1994.141 views
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Banner for Mogami Yoshiaki.130 views
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Kaminoyama Castle and foot bath. This is the only foot bath in Japan which was too hot. Before entering an empty foot bath, feel the water temperature with your hand.127 views
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JR Yonezawa Station127 views
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The foot bath at Kaminoyama Castle looks very inviting, but the water was scalding hot when I was there. I got mild skin burns on my feet. You don't ever think that the water is too hot. All the foot baths I've tried were all suitable temperatures126 views
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You can buy your own hanagasa and join in the festival.123 views
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Another foot bath nearer to the Kaminoyama Onsen Station. This was also scalding hot. 120 views
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It is a folk dance characterized by the hanagasa, or flower hat, which is held with both hands and swung left and right, above the head, etc. The festival originated as a rice-planting prayer for a good harvest.119 views
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When I arrived during lunch time on Aug. 7, 2009, a group of hanagasa dancers held a PR demonstration right inside Yamagata Station as you see here.119 views
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Cherry blossoms along Mogami River in Yonezawa, Yamagata.117 views
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They dance to the beat of taiko drums and the prerecorded folk tune of Hanagasa Ondo singing, "Yassho, makasho!" 115 views
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Eboshiyama Park is one of Japan's 100 Famous Cherry Blossom Spots. The hillside park is full of spectacular cherry trees and pine trees. 115 views
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Miss Hanagasa 2009.114 views
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It's possible to stopover in Sendai and take a day trip to Yamagata to see this festival. However, if you want to stopover in Yamagata during the Hanagasa Festival, make reservations early especially for budget hotels. 114 views
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Yamagata Station also has a Hanagasa info counter set up during the festival. You can pick up a map of the parade route.113 views
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The artificial red flowers on the hats symbolize the safflower, the city flower.111 views
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Paper lanterns written with "Yama-gata-hana-gasa-ma-tsu-ri."111 views
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JR Yonezawa Station in spring.111 views
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The final group was led by the four Miss Hanagasa. Anybody could dance in this final group.109 views
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Next to Kaminoyama Castle is this foot bath with hot spring water.109 views
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Kaminoyama Onsen Station108 views
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The small building near the center is a foot bath shed.108 views
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JR Yonezawa Station in spring.108 views
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A total of about 120 groups (10,000 people) dance over the three evenings. If you want to see a certain group, you'll have to check the parade schedule. Also, a different celebrity guest also dances each evening.107 views
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By 5:30 pm, a good crowd of people lined the parade street stretching for 1.2 km. The parade route is a 10-15-min. walk from Yamagata Station. It was lot more crowded than the first time I saw this festival years ago.106 views
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Admission 400 yen.Open 9 am to 4:45 pm. Closed in late Dec. and early Jan. and during the third week of July from Mon. to Fri.106 views
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Miss Hanagasa105 views
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The parade starts at 6 pm, and it took about 10 min. to reach where I was.105 views
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Map of central Yamagata city. The top-most road in bold leading to the former prefectural office is where the Hanagasa Matsuri parade is held in early Aug. Yamagata Castle (Kajo Park) is on the west side of the train station.104 views
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Kaminoyama Onsen Station. The tall building is in neighboring city Yamagata.103 views
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Tsukioka Park103 views
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JR Akayu Station on the Yamagata or Ou Line. The Yamagata shinkansen also stops here.103 views
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Sometimes we see floats.102 views
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Welcome to Kaminoyama Onsen (spa).102 views
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Kaminoyama Castle's first lord was Buei Yoshitada. The castle functioned as the Mogami clan's southernmost defense against the Date and Uesugi clans. The castle was dismantled in 1692.102 views
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Veranda of Kaminoyama Castle.102 views
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Kaminoyama Castle in sight.101 views
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Yamagata shinkansen stops at Kaminoyama Onsen Station.101 views
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Many dance groups were sponsored by large companies, and the company name or logo was prominently displayed on the clothing. It really is a long advertising parade.100 views
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Map of Eboshiyama Park. The right side of the map shows the park full of cherry trees, while the left side is mainly Eboshiyama Hachimangu Shrine.100 views
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Miss Hanagasa 2009. There are four of them. 99 views
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About Kaminoyama Castle in Japanese.99 views
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It was drizzling off and on, so the road was wet. The shiny road made the shot look more dramatic together with the backlight.98 views
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View from Kaminoyama Castle's top floor. It was a cloudy day when I visited.98 views
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The path from the parking lot leading to the park is also full of cherry blossoms greeting visitors right off the bat.98 views
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Eboshiyama Park parking lot.97 views
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Marker showing the former site of Kaminoyama City Hall. This is already within the former castle grounds.96 views
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Cheerleaders too95 views
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Way to Kaminoyama Castle. About a 10-min. walk from the train station.95 views
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Top floor of Kaminoyama Castle leads to the veranda. Photography is not allowed inside the castle building.95 views
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The first few groups of dancers were the best.94 views
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School kids were also in the parade.94 views
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Female taiko drummers on trucks.94 views
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The castle and the area surrounding it is a park called Tsukioka Park.94 views
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This is one of the main and best dance groups. They all dance to a song called "Hanagasa Ondo." A recording of the song is repeated continuously through the loudpseakers. 花笠音頭93 views
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Looking toward Yamagata city.93 views
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Yamagata shinkansen speeds past Eboshiyama.93 views
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This is what Eboshiyama Park looks like from the train. This is the north side of the park. The south side is similar to this.93 views
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I don't mind advertising, but I was upset to see a 100-meter long dance group advertising a phone company. They thus took a long time to pass by. (No photos of them here.)92 views
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The park is a short taxi ride from JR Akayu Station on the Yamagata/Ou Line.92 views
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An average of 300,000 tourists watch the parade per evening. 91 views
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It was a good size crowd despite the drizzling rain, but it wasn't not horrendously crowded. It was pretty easy to get around and find a new spot to watch the parade.91 views
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Kajo Park as seen from Kajo Central. During the Battle of Hasedo in 1600 between Mogami Yoshiaki and Naoe Kanetsugu, Yamagata Castle was hidden by mist. Hence, the nickname.90 views
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This is at the end of the parade route which had a nice illuminated gate overhead.87 views
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Military-style male dancers.87 views
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Yamagata shinkansen speeds past Eboshiyama.85 views
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This is what Eboshiyama Park looks like from the train.85 views
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The park has an elliptical path going around the hill.82 views
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Bus stop in front Yamagata Station.81 views
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Kajo Park as seen from Kajo Central. Kajo Park is the site of Yamagata Castle, also called Kajo or Kasumigajo Castle which means Misty Castle.80 views
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Yamagata Castle moat next to South Gate.80 views
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A photo op signboard.80 views
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One of the cherry trees in Eboshiyama Park has this mannequin obviously depicting Hanasaka Jiisan (花咲か爺さん) from the famous fairy tale. 80 views
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In front Yamagata Station on the west side. I wonder what that prime space will be used for. The tall buildings are hotels.79 views
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South Gate. Similar stone work and moats can be seen at the Nishi (West) and Kita (North) Gates.79 views
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On the west side of Yamagata Station is a skyscraper called Kajo Central which has also greatly contributed to the urban development of Yamagata city. A high school is in this building as well.78 views
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Yamadera is mountain temple perched on a steep cliff near JR Yamadera Station.78 views
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Ninomaru Higashi Otemon Gate leads to the Ninomaru keep which is a National Historic Site.77 views
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In front Yamagata Station on the east side.76 views
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A short walk from Kajo Central is Kajo Park. You can enter the park through the South Gate or the slightly further Ninomaru Higashi Otemon Gate here. This is the main entrance. Free admission.76 views
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Room exhibiting Albrecht Von Roretz, an Austrian doctor who served as the director of the Saiseikan Hospital. If you're a doctor or interested in medical treatment history, you will like this museum.76 views
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Southern turret on left side of Ninomaru Higashi Otemon Gate. This turret is open to the public. 75 views
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Statue of Mogami Yoshiaki depicting him taking the lead to the battlefield against Naoe Kanetsugu. 最上義光75 views
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Adjacent to the park is Eboshiyama Hachimangu Shrine with Japan's largest stone torii gate.75 views
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When I was there in Aug. 2009, the lobby of Kajo Central had the interesting Art Chair Project. Elementary and intermediate school students in Yamagata Pref. competed in a design competition for art chairs, and the winners' works are displayed here.74 views
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On the ground floor is a nice Yamagata Prefecture tourist office. Pick up pamphlets and other info here. The building is connected to Yamagata Station by a corridor.73 views
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The lobby featured chairs and benches with novel motifs. This seemed to be the most popular, sitting in a bowl of potato soup.73 views
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Behind the Ninomaru Higashi Otemon Gate is a large statue of Lord Mogami Yoshiaki.73 views
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