 Most viewed - Fukushima city 福島市 |
Belly dancer at Fukushima Waraji Matsuri.1716 views
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Belly dancer at Fukushima Waraji Matsuri.1220 views
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Belly dancer at Fukushima Waraji Matsuri.1191 views
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My YouTube video featuring Diverse dance troupes on the streets of Fukushima in the evening at the annual Fukushima Waraji Matsuri. This is the evening parade (Dancing Soda Night) on Aug. 8, 2009.575 views
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My YouTube video featuring hula dancers in waraji straw sandals, hip-hop, belly dancers, and more during the 1st Waraji Day Dance Contest on Ekimae-dori near Fukushima Station on Aug. 8, 2009 at 12:30 pm. Also, giant waraji races.470 views
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Fukushima Waraji Matsuri243 views
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Fukushima Waraji Matsuri221 views
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216 views
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During April when the spring flowers are in bloom, a convenient shuttle bus runs from JR Fukushima Station to Hanamiyama Park. A short bus ride.213 views
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Fukushima Hanamiyama Park 212 views
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211 views
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JR Fukushima Station on the west side (Nishi-guchi).209 views
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Fukushima Hanamiyama Park spring flowers 209 views
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Nanohana rape blossoms. In the distance are gift shops.208 views
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Many of the dancers wore waraji-related things.206 views
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204 views
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203 views
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Fukushima manhole. I think it's waraji straw sandals.201 views
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Hanamiyama Park, Fukushima city.201 views
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Fukushima Hanamiyama Park spring flowers 198 views
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196 views
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Fukushima Hanamiyama Park spring flowers 194 views
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Held on the first Fri. and Sat. of Aug., the Fukushima Waraji Matsuri is mainly an evening parade of dancers. During Aug. 7-8, 2009, the 40th Fukushima Waraji Festival was held. I saw it on the second day.193 views
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Fukushima Hanamiyama Park spring flowers 192 views
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190 views
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This girl's homemade happi coat says "Waraji Matsuri."176 views
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Photo gallery168 views
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Gift shop152 views
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About Hanamiyama Park.150 views
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Awards ceremony. The festival ended at about 9:30 pm.143 views
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Clear view of Mt. Shinobuyama 信夫山143 views
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Map of Hanamiyama Park. It's kind of hard to figure out.141 views
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Before you go to Hanamiyama Park, you can leave your luggage here right next to the bus stop.138 views
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Hanamiyama Park is literally a Flower-Viewing Mountain Park famous for spring flowers especially cherry blossoms sprinkled on the mountainsides. 137 views
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137 views
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A trio of belly dancers.136 views
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Notice anything unusual about these hula dancers?131 views
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On Aug. 8, 2009 at 12:30 pm, they held the 1st Waraji Day Dance Contest on Ekimae-dori. (わらじDayダンス選手権)128 views
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Look at their footwear. They are wearing a pair of waraji straw sandals.127 views
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It started in 1935 when local flower growers began planting flowers. In April 1959, it became Hanamiyama Park.125 views
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From the bus stop, you walk a bit to Hanamiyama Park. Very pleasant walk.125 views
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124 views
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123 views
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Although Hanamiyama Park is most famous for cherry blossoms (which past their peak when I visited), there are many other spring flowers as well.123 views
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123 views
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122 views
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121 views
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121 views
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For a few hours, numerous dance groups performed in a contest. They even had a hula troupe dance, to my delight as I'm from Hawaii.120 views
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120 views
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119 views
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Hanamiyama Park, Fukushima city.119 views
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119 views
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119 views
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View of Fukushima Station's east side.118 views
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117 views
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116 views
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A panel of judges were there to judge the dancers.115 views
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115 views
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115 views
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Road back to the parking lot.115 views
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113 views
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113 views
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Monument on the west side of Fukushima Station. The shinkansen train can be seen.113 views
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113 views
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Cherry blossoms past thir peak.113 views
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113 views
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The park include residential and farming areas so there are roads and areas off limits to tourists.112 views
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111 views
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110 views
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110 views
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109 views
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108 views
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108 views
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107 views
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107 views
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107 views
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Waraji race at Fukushima Waraji Matsuri Festival. Each race team had to have 10 members. Also see my YouTube video here.106 views
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East exit of JR Fukushima Station has a statue of Haiku poet Matsuo Basho and his traveling companion Sora.106 views
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Local guides show you the flowers for free.106 views
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106 views
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106 views
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Irises for June.106 views
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106 views
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You can sit here.106 views
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Each dance group had to perform two numbers. The first one had to be "Dancing Soda Night" for 3 min. and the second one could be anything for 5 min. or less.105 views
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School girls105 views
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105 views
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Plants for sale.105 views
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Nice views all around.104 views
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104 views
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104 views
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"Waraji" means straw sandals. In central Fukushima city, Ashio Shrine (足尾神社) at a mountain called Shinobu-yama (信夫山) has Japan's largest waraji at 12 meters long and weighing 2 tons. 103 views
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Announcement of the winners.103 views
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They also displayed this giant golden waraji.103 views
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Eisa group from Okinawa103 views
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View of Fukushima Station's east side.103 views
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The giant waraji sandal is an offering for healthy legs/feet. On the first day of the festival (which I missed in 2009), they carry this giant waraji to the festival grounds along Route 13. Here it is displayed at the intersection.102 views
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Near the intersection of Ekimae-dori and Route 13 was this entertainment stage.102 views
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Corasse Fukushima also has a lookout deck on the top 12th floor. コラッセふくしま102 views
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102 views
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102 views
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100 views
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Groups of children, women, etc., were to pull this large waraji on wheels on the 300-meter long race course along Route 13. A pair of large waraji were raced down the road. Then raced back by another pair of racers.100 views
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Paseo Road Tanabata Matsuri, Fukushima100 views
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Ekimae-dori street leading to Fukushima Station is closed to traffic.99 views
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Some fireworks99 views
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99 views
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Inside JR Fukushima Station. Sample fireworks balls.99 views
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Toward the west exit the tourist info office on the left. Pick up pamphlets and maps.99 views
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Paseo Road also intersects with Bunka-dori road which also has its own Tanabata Matsuri with bamboo branches hung with wishes.99 views
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Closeup of the giant waraji. 98 views
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Giant golden waraji had ema votive tablets written with people's wishes.98 views
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JR Fukushima Station with shinkansen approaching.98 views
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Inside the shop, you can find the best products of Fukushima, including edibles.98 views
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A good-size crowd watched the dance contest.97 views
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97 views
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97 views
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They weren't wearing waraji.96 views
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Apparently, it was their first time to appear in this festival.96 views
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96 views
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JR Fukushima Station on the east side (Higashi-guchi).96 views
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96 views
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95 views
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After the waraji races, they also had taiko float races where people pulled/pushed a taiko float in a race.95 views
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Finally at 7:30 pm, the main event called Dancing Soda Night started along Route 13 and Ekimae-dori.95 views
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JR Fukushima Station shinkansen platform.95 views
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At the intersection. Notice the giant waraji straw sandal.94 views
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Inside JR Fukushima Station.94 views
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Bunka-dori road Tanabata Matsuri94 views
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The giant golden waraji was used to open the waraji races on the second day of the festival.93 views
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Many of the dance groups were from dance studios or schools.93 views
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93 views
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93 views
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92 views
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92 views
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Inside JR Fukushima Station.92 views
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92 views
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91 views
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JR Fukushima Station shinkansen platform.91 views
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91 views
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Children's wishes for Tanabata Matsuri on Bunka-dori Road.91 views
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91 views
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On the west side of Fukushima Station is a tall building called Corasse Fukushima. The ground floor has the Fukushima Tourism and Product Center selling products of Fukushima.91 views
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On Aug. 8, 2009 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, the second day of the festival, they held waraji races along Route 13 (Shinobu-dori).90 views
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90 views
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90 views
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90 views
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Hula dancers89 views
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Entrance to the shinkansen tracks.89 views
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Around Aug. 7, the Tanabata Matsuri Star Festival is held along Paseo Road, a short walk from the east side of Fukushima Station.89 views
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Poster for Bunka-dori Tanabata Matsuri.88 views
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87 views
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