 Last additions - Tsukuba つくば市 |
My video of Matsuri Tsukuba and the Nebuta parade.Dec 31, 2011
|
|
Torii to Tsukuba-san Jinja ShrineNov 22, 2009
|
|
|
When I was there, a helicopter hovered about Mt. Nantai to rescue an injured hiker. I took a bus back to Tsukuba Station.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Gate to Tsukuba-san Jinja Shrine's Haiden HallNov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Depicting Mt. Tsukuba.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
In autumn, a chrysanthemum display is held on the grounds of Tsukuba-san Shrine.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Tsukuba-san Jinja Shrine's Haiden Hall is adjacent to the cable car station. The Honden Hall is atop the two peaks on Mt. Tsukuba. 筑波山神社Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Tsukuba-san Jinja Shrine's Haiden Hall. The shrine is dedicated to both Izanagi and Izanami, Japan's parent gods.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Autmun maple leaves on Mt. Tsukuba-san.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Around the cable car station below the mountain, the fall leaves were very nice.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Entrance to Tsukuba-san cable car station.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Bottom cable car station.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Tsukuba-san cable car on Mt. Tsukuba's Miyukigahara, near Nantai.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Cable car going up to Mt. Nantai on Mt. Tsukuba.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
The cable car runs every 20 min. Fare is 570 yen one way. There are trails going down the mountain as well.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Miyukigahara also has a cable car station.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
View from Mt. Nantai on Tsukuba-san.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
This is one of them.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Hiking trail around Mt. Nantai. There are two other lookout points along the trail.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
On Nantai, there's an easy hiking trail going around the peak.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Ropeway station on Mt. Nyotai.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
View from Mt. Nantai on Mt. Tsukuba.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Mt. Nyotai as seen from Mt. Nantai on Mt. Tsukuba.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Tsukuba-san Jjinja Shrine atop Mt. Nantai on Mt. Tsukuba. This is the Honden for the male god Izanagi.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
View from Mt. Nantai on Mt. Tsukuba.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Shrine atop Mt. Nantai on Mt. Tsukuba.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Mt. Nantai marker for 871 meter elevation.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
The trail soon gets steep and rocky, but not a problem for most people. High heels and miniskirt are not recommended.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
About Mt. Tsukuba's geology in Japanese.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Mt. NantaiNov 22, 2009
|
|
Trail to climb up to Mt. Nantai.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
View from Miyukigahara.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Looking toward Nyotai from Miyukigahara.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Miyukigahara.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Tsukuba-san Shrine on Mt. Nantai, the male peak.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
View from Miyukigahara.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
View from Miyukigahara.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
The round building has a gift shop on the bottom, restaurant on the 2nd floor, and a revolving lookout deck on the roof (free admission).Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Between Mt. Nyotai and Nantai on Mt. Tsukuba is a row of tourist shops in this palce called Miyukigahara (御幸ケ原). That's Mt. Nantai in the background.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
The trail continues to a clearing in the middle of the two peaks.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
From Mt. Nyotai, it's an easy hike but rocky trail to Mt. Nantai.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Rock formation called Gama-ishi. ガマ石Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Tsutsujigaoka Ropeway Station below, as seen from the summit of Mt. Nyotai on Mt. Tsukuba.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Views from the summit of Mt. Nyotai on Mt. Tsukuba.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Atop the summit of Mt. Nyotai on Mt. Tsukuba.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
People climbing on the narrow peak of Nyotai. Mt. Tsukuba is one of Japan's 100 Famous Peaks.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Tsukuba-san Jinja Shrine's Nyotai Honden on Mt. Nyotai. It worships Izanami, wife of Izanagi.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Climbing up the peak of Mt. Nyotai.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
In the middle of the two peaks is another lookout deck and gift shops.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
View from Mt. Nyotai.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Mt. Nantai in the distance.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Mt. Fuji as seen from Mt. Nyotai.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
View from Mt. Nyotai.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Lookout deck on Mt. Nyotai on Mt. Tsukuba.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
It's possible to climb up to Mt. Nyotai as well.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Approaching Mt. Nyotai. Mt. Tsukuba is noted for fall leaves. But I was a little too late. The leaves here turn color earlier than on the plains. 女体山Nov 22, 2009
|
|
The ropeway runs every 20 min. The fare is 600 yen one way.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
I got off the bus at Tsutsujigaoka, the last stop. I hiked it from Mt. Nyotai (female peak) to Mt. Nantai (male peak). It's also possible to do it in the opposite direction from Nantai to Nyotai. つつじヶ丘Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Tsutsujigaoka has a ropeway aerial tram terminal taking you up to Mt. Nyotai, Mt. Tsukuba's female peak. 女体山Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Getting to Mt. Tsukuba is easy by bus from Tsukuba Station's Tsukuba Center Bus Terminal. Tsukuba-san Shuttle buses going directly to Mt. Tsukuba leave every 30 min. on weekends or every hour during weekdays and non-peak hours.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Mt. Tsukuba has two peaks, Mt. Nantai (male peak) on the left and Mt. Nyotai (female peak) on the right. They are wedded peaks due to the wedded gods Izanami and Izanagi. 男体山 女体山Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Mt. Tsukuba ahead. It takes about 50 min. to reach Mt. Tsukuba by bus from Tsukuba Center Bus Terminal.Nov 22, 2009
|
|
Map of central Tsukuba.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Matsuri Tsukuba postersAug 31, 2009
|
|
Rear view has a sleeping cat.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Nebuta face-off.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
HanetoAug 31, 2009
|
|
For the finale, all the giant nebuta gathered at the large intersection. They didn't do much.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
|
Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Without the plastic covering.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
And other musicians.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Each giant nebuta float is preceded by a set of drums and drummers.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
At the very end, despite the rain, they took off the vinyl.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Rear view of Ramses IIAug 31, 2009
|
|
Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Ramses IIAug 31, 2009
|
|
Rear view.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Too bad the plastic was on the floats. Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Aug 31, 2009
|
|
The slayed dragon exhaled smoke.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Poor dragonAug 31, 2009
|
|
Quite dramatic indeed.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
At first, I thought it looked kind of gimmicky, comical, and fake, but it turned out to be quite impressive.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
This small float by local Boy Scouts.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
The inflated nebuta comes around.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
This float by a junior high school.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Kids dancingAug 31, 2009
|
|
HanetoAug 31, 2009
|
|
Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Hayashi festival musicAug 31, 2009
|
|
Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Another one squeezes through. Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Being inflated now.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Almost fully inflated.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Haneto dancers. Much fewer of them than in Aomori.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
The first big one squeezes under the bridge. Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Aug 31, 2009
|
|
At first glance, it looks very strange. But they soon inflated it.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
The floats were covered with plastic due to drizzling rain.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
At 5 pm, the Nebuta Parade started. It was kind of strange to see a nebuta parade in almost broad daylight. Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Banpaku FloatAug 31, 2009
|
|
Aug 31, 2009
|
|
The mikoshi goes to meet the float.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Then came this giant mikoshi portable shrine called the Tsukuba Manto Mikoshi. It doesn't seem to belong to any shrine. つくば万灯神輿Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Aug 31, 2009
|
|
万博山車パレードAug 31, 2009
|
|
The fourth giant nebuta was perhaps the most unique. It was made of inflatable vinyl. It is partially deflated here.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
From about 4 pm, they had the Matsuri Parade on the main road. まつりパレード 万博山車パレードAug 31, 2009
|
|
Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Inside the nebuta tent.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
A third giant nebuta depicts the Pharaoh Ramses II. Seeing an Egyptian theme on a Japanese float was interesting.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Another giant nebuta float.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Monkey's underarm has patch-up work.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Patching up the damaged parts of the float. Apparently, it got damaged as it passed under a bridge that is a little too low for the giant nebuta.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Inside the nebuta tent was this nebuta float from Aomori, arrived earlier in Aug.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
The nebuta tents were built in late July. No kids around sketching the nebuta though, as they do in Aomori during the day.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
In Oshimizu Park were these nebuta tents where they store the nebuta floats. 大清水公演Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Walking further down the Tsukuba Koen-dori road toward Oshimizu Park.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
A nice elevated walkway connected Chuo Park and the main festival area.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Street performersAug 31, 2009
|
|
Chuo Park bazaarAug 31, 2009
|
|
Street performer (Sign says, "Photography allowed.")Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Kabuki-like magician.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
The program was called Happy Hawaiian Stage. ハッピーハワイアンステージAug 31, 2009
|
|
Another venue in Creo Square was this small outdoor stage featuring hula dancing all afternoon long by various groups. クレオ前広場Aug 31, 2009
|
|
On the other side of the underground train station is Chuo Park where Art Town Tsukuba and street performances were held. アートタウンつくば2009 ～大道芸フェスティバル～Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Aug 31, 2009
|
|
What would a festival be without taiko drummers?Aug 31, 2009
|
|
A hula troupe dances next to a yosakoi group.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
A short walk away is this large road serving as a venue for numerous dance groups performing almost all day long. This is also where the nebuta floats would be paraded in the eveing.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
It drizzled off and on during the day.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
English translators available! I noticed quite a few foreigners in Tsukuba, a national science and technology research and academic center.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
Center Hiroba outdoor stage センター広場特設ステージAug 31, 2009
|
|
Tsukuba Tourism AmbassadorsAug 31, 2009
|
|
There are many things going on at the same time all day long for two days from 10 am to 9 pm. Aug 31, 2009
|
|
A big, two-day August festival in Tsukuba featuring diverse dance groups, bazaar, street performances, hula dancing, and food stalls. The climax is a nebuta parade in the evening. Everything is near Tsukuba Station (Tsukuba Express). Ever since the Tsukuba Express train line opened in 2005 from Akihabara, getting to Tsukuba is a breeze in about 45 min. Wide streets and sidewalks. The festival's main venue centered around this brown building which you see from Exit A5.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
This is Tsukuba Center Hiroba, the central part of the festival where there are food stalls and information booth.Aug 31, 2009
|
|
|
|
|
