 Most viewed - Osaka city 大阪市 |
Miss Ebisu-bashi Runner-up591 views
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Shinsaibashi Top Lady575 views
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546 views
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531 views
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Another Shinsaibashi Top Lady529 views
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Geisha on a palanquin, Toka Ebisu, Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, Osaka497 views
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Osaka Castle tower closeup445 views
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A symbol of Osaka and one of Japan's largest reconstructed castles. Originally built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1583. 390 viewsThe castle tower was reconstructed in 1931 and underwent major renovation during 1995-97 and serves as a very modern history museum. Closest station is Osaka-jo Koen Station.
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Castle map358 views
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Inside castle tower350 views
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Imamiya Ebisu Shrine is dedicated to Ebisu, one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, representing business prosperity. On Jan. 9-11 (centering on the 10th), the shrine holds one of Japan's largest Toka Ebisu festivals to pray for good business. 344 viewsThe festival is perhaps Japan's most commercial festival where souvenirs and trinkets for business prosperity are sold. Photo: The road from the subway station to the shrine is decorated.
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Crowd at Osaka Tenmangu Shrine, the organizer of the Tenjin Festival and starting point of the festival's Land Procession called "Riku-togyo." 大阪天満宮334 viewsOne of Japan's Big Three Festivals (besides Kyoto's Gion Matsuri and Tokyo's Kanda Matsuri) is also Osaka's biggest summer festival held on July 24-25. These photos were taken on July 25, 2004. The festival has a procession starting from Tenmangu Shrine in the afternoon and a water procession on the river in the evening.
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Hanagasa umbrella dancers, Tenjin Matsuri, Osaka 花傘331 views
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The Boat Procession (Funa-togyo) is the Tenjin Matsuri festival's main event.328 views
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Portable shrine 船渡御 玉御神輿奉安321 views
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Inside castle tower311 views
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Stone wall pattern310 views
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Even gaijin shrine maidens decorate bamboo branches or rakes. Toka Ebisu, Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, Osaka305 views
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305 views
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Who says money can't buy happiness?302 views
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Miss Ebisu-bashi, Toka Ebisu, Imamiya Ebisu Jinja, Osaka297 views
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Expo '70 Time Capsule295 viewsThe plaque reads that the time capsule is to be opened in 5000 years or the year 6970. It can also be opened at the start of each century. I wonder if it was opened in 2001.
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Gokuraku-bashi Bridge290 views
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Moat290 views
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Toka Ebisu, Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, Osaka288 views
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Shachihoko287 views
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Castle tower280 viewsIt is modeled after the tower built by the Tokugawa shogunate who made it bigger than the castle Toyotomi Hideyoshi had built. One reason why it's such a big castle.
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To ride these boats, you have to be a member of a shrine parish or supporting group.280 views
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Even gaijin shrine maidens decorate bamboo branches or rakes. Toka Ebisu, Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, Osaka278 views
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Horrendous crowd gathers to watch the fireworks, the festival's climax. The festival ends at 10 pm when the procession returns to the shrine.276 views
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View of castle from Nakanoshima273 views
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Stone wall pattern272 views
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264 views
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Chigo child262 views
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Lion dance261 views
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玉御神輿奉安259 views
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Outer moat and Sengan Turret252 views
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Money pit252 views
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The shrine is surrounded by Ebisu street stalls.252 views
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Aoya-mon Gate251 viewsRebuilt in 1970. Although this is not the main or front gate, it is the closest castle gate to Osaka-jo Koen Station.
青屋門
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Slope to castle tower246 views
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Castle tower, reconstructed in 1931, was renovated in 1995-97.245 viewsThe exterior walls are gleaming white and bright gold ornaments shine in the sun.
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245 views
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244 views
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One of the largest stones242 views
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Castle tower balcony241 views
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In 2006, a rare folding screen painting showing Osaka Castle during Hideyoshi's years in early 17th century was found at Schloss Eggenberg Castle in Austria.240 viewshttp://www.museum-joanneum.at/en/schloss_eggenberg/saka-zu-bybu-1
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Castle tower237 viewsThis picture was taken before the 1995-97 renovation.
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The original Osaka Castle built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi was actually buried (smothered) by the Tokugawa and a new castle was built on it. Aoya-mon Gate 青屋門. Rebuilt in 1970.236 views
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Stone wall pattern236 views
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Gokuraku-bashi Bridge235 viewsMeans Paradise Bridge. The original bridge was wooden. Rebuilt in 1965. It connects the Yamazato-maru section with the Ninomaru section.
極楽橋
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Castle tower balcony235 views
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Gokuraku-bashi Bridge233 views
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Castle tower balcony233 views
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Castle tower233 views
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Path near the shrine is filled with street stalls selling Ebisu decorations and charms.233 views
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230 views
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About the castle228 views
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The Land Procession is one of the festival's two main events. It starts with a group of taiko drummers.228 views
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Sakura-mon Gate with kadomatsu New Year's decoration227 views
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About 3,000 people are in the procession which follows a 4 km route from the shrine to a boat landing near Tenjin-bashi Bridge on the Okawa River. 陸渡御227 views
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Inner moat225 views
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Kadomatsu at castle tower entrance225 viewsNew Year's decoration
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Ebisu decorations225 views
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224 views
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Otemon Gate221 views大手門
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The castle's fourth and fifth largest stones.221 viewsBrought by the Tokugawa during construction. Next to Tamon Yagura Turret and Daimon Gate.
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219 views
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View from castle tower218 views
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Otemon Gate in the distance218 views
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218 views
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Spectators wait near Tenmangu Shrine's torii for the Land Procession (Riku-togyo) to start at 4 pm on July 25, the festival's 2nd day. The shrine is near Minami-morimachi Station on the Tanimachi subway line. 陸渡御218 views
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View of Nishinomaru Garden from castle tower216 views
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Tamon Yagura Turret and Daimon Gate215 viewsJapan's largest turret of this type where the turret above is integrated with the gate below. First built in 1628, reconstructed in 1848 and renovated in 1969.
多聞櫓と大門
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215 views
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Kadomatsu New Year's decoration213 viewsRight side of Sakura-mon Gate.
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Mother and twins in yukata211 views
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Castle tower208 views
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Castle tower207 views
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Osaka Castle was built on the foundations of Ishiyama Honganji, a fortress-like temple.206 views
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Tamon Yagura Turret and Daimon Gate205 views
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Kadomatsu New Year's decoration205 viewsLeft side of Sakura-mon Gate.
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Castle tower entrance203 views
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Never-ending sales pitch on Toka Ebisu Day. All these good-looking girls make you wanna buy something.202 views
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By 6 pm, shrine parishioners started boarding boats near Tenjin-bashi Bridge, the starting point of the Boat Procession. These are supporter's boats.202 views
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Taiko drummers at the shrine's Otorii gate. 催太鼓201 views
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Ningyo-bune 人形船201 views
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This is the most important boat in the procession. It holds a ceremony called the Senjo-sai (船上祭) in the middle of the river to celebrate Sugawara Michizane's birthday. 御鳳輦奉安船201 views
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200 views
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Kimono-clad beauties, winners of some Miss contest.196 views
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Castle tower195 views
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191 views
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191 views
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The boat carrying the portable shrine housing the spirit of Sugawara Michizane. 御鳳輦奉安船191 views
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Path to castle tower190 views
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Castle tower190 views
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Sengan Turret near Otemon Gate190 viewsOne of the castle's oldest remaining buildings built in 1620. Underwent major restoration in 1961. Overlooking the outer moat.
千貴櫓
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Hanagasa umbrella dancers 花傘190 views
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Near Otemon Gate189 views
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Torii and entrance to Imamiya Ebisu Shrine189 views
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Sarutahiko on horseback 猿田彦188 views
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National Bunraku Puppet Theater Museum186 views
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Near Otemon Gate183 views
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183 views
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The boats are numerous. About 100 of them go up and down the river.182 views
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Danjiri float 地車180 views
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Most of the boats carry parishioners who eat bento on the boats while sometimes looking at photographers shooting them from a bridge overhead.179 views
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Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, Osaka177 views
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花傘176 views
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176 views
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Imamiya Ebisu Shrine175 views
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Shrine maidens happily sell and attach lucky decorations on the branches.174 views
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Shrine maidens decorate bamboo branches or rakes.174 views
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Fuku-musume or Lucky Maidens174 views
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173 views
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The Fuku-musume or Lucky Maidens are all nice-looking.173 views
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The Boat Procession started at 7 pm on Okawa River. These boats are called Dondoko. どんどこ船 大川 船渡御173 views
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Danjiri float 地車172 views
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171 views
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Fuku-musume or Lucky Maiden171 views
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The shrine rakes in the money on its most important day of the year, Jan. 10.170 views
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Portable shrine housing the spirit of Sugawara Michizane. This is the most important thing in the procession. 御鳳輦170 views
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A giant umbrella serves as the roof.167 views
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Here you go...167 views
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Hanagasa dancers 花傘166 views
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People patting a lucky mirror?165 views
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船渡御165 views
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164 views
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163 views
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These boats will carry portable shrines.163 views
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163 views
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162 views
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The fire, fueled by LP gas, is on a corporate-sponsored boat, used for illumination. 大篝162 views
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New Year's decorations trashed at the shrine to be burned.161 views
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Crowded walking path along Okawa River. Most people view the festival from the riverside.161 views
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Miss Ebisu-bashi Runner-up160 views
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160 views
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Good-looking shrine maidens decorate bamboo branches or rakes.158 views
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158 views
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157 views
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157 views
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Boat corner157 views
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Shishimai lion dance156 views
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牛曳童児156 views
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Sacred dance performed at cost.155 views
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Okawa River 大川155 views
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155 views
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154 views
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154 views
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154 views
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154 views
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154 views
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Giving out free bamboo branches under the giant umbrella.153 views
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Geisha on palanquin.153 views
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153 views
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船渡御153 views
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Replenishing the supply of bamboo branches.152 views
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152 views
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152 views
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People line up to decorate their free bamboo branches with various lucky decorations.151 views
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Shrine maidens decorate bamboo branches or rakes.151 views
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151 views
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151 views
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Tugboats pull these huge barges.151 views
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The small bamboo branches festoon the huge crowd on Jan. 10.150 views
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150 views
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2007 is the Year of the Boar, decoration created by over 500 students at a local elementary and junior high school.150 views
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Fully-loaded "lucky rake."150 views
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150 views
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Shrine priest150 views
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150 views
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A large crane is used to carry the portable shrines onto the boats.150 views
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The boats are large barges.150 views
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船渡御150 views
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150 views
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150 views
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150 views
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Inside National Bunraku Puppet Theater. Photography is not allowed during the plays. Bunraku puppets can perform feats which human actors cannot. This can make it interesting. Bring binoculars though.149 views
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Fuku-musume or Lucky Maidens149 views
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御羽車149 views
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Empty branches waiting for all the trimmings (at a price).148 views
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Hauling away the old New Year's decorations.148 views
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Miss Ebisu-bashi148 views
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Portable shrine 御羽車148 views
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148 views
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Start of the procession's return trip from the shrine.147 viewsとんぼりリバーウォーク→大和屋→道頓堀東映→B1角座（10：00）→松竹座→戎橋橋詰→千日前国際劇場→吉本会館→今宮戎神社（12：10頃）→なんばCITY→高島屋→大丸→大和屋
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The procession includes geisha and other celebrities.146 views
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Crowd near Tenjin-bashi Bridge.146 views
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Geisha145 views
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145 views
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Higashi-mon east gate144 views
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Higashi-mon east gate144 views
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Omikuji fortune paper strips for sale at 200 yen.144 views
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Geisha on a palanquin144 views
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144 views
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JR Osaka Station's new terminal building opened on May 4, 2011. Great improvement. It has a simple lean-to roof that creates some space to build bridges and plazas above the train tracks.141 viewsVery easy to get your bearings and remember which way to go wherever you wanna go.
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140 views
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JR Osaka Station140 views
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National Bunraku Puppet Theater at night.139 views
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Omikuji fortune paper strips138 views
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Shinsaibashi Top Lady138 views
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Fuku-musume Lucky Maiden137 views
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Ebisu on a palanquin.136 views
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Good Luck Palanquin procession on Jan. 10. They are entering the shrine's East Gate. 宝恵駕籠135 views
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Even a bunraku puppet walks in the parade.135 views
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Cart for Miss Ebisu-bashi135 views
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More stalls behind the shrine.134 views
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134 views
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Geisha134 views
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Miss Ebisu-bashi134 views
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133 views
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132 views
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130 views
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130 views
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Slim-looking Ebisu129 views
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Shinsaibashi Top Lady cart128 views
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128 views
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127 views
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125 views
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Cart for the Lucky Maiden123 views
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National Bunraku Puppet Theater. Bunraku is over 370 years old, even older than kabuki. 122 views
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The inside of the taiko drums is covered with gold leaf for better sound.103 views
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Sumiyoshi Taisha's Hongu No. 1 shrine, a National Treasure. Osaka city. Worships Sokotsutsu no Onomikoto (底筒男命).101 views
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Manhole in Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka.97 views
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94 views
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Sumiyoshi Taisha's ema prayer tablet for 2019, Year of the Boar. ¥1000 絵馬94 views
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93 views
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93 views
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Going up the shrine's taikobashi arch bridge called Sorihashi (反橋).93 views
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Inside Osaka Station.91 views
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90 views
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89 views
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88 views
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88 views
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The pedestrian bridge above the train tracks gives a bird's-eye view of all or most of the tracks. I could never figure out Osaka Station until now.87 views
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87 views
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86 views
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86 views
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86 views
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85 views
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85 views
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There are great spots to just sit or meet up with a friend. 85 views
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85 views
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Inside Grand Front Osaka, this coffee shop from Hawaii (serving Kona coffee) with a long line of people waiting to get in. We couldn't wait and reluctantly went to Starbucks instead.85 views
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People going to Hongu No. 1 shrine (left). In the distance is the back of Hongu No. 2 shrine.85 views
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84 views
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84 views
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The new station buildings also have pleasant rooftop parks with a view.84 views
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