 Last additions - Soka 草加市 |
Soka's manhole depicts Hyakutai-bashi (百代橋) and Soka-Matsubara pine trees in Soka, Saitama. "Hyakutai" (Eternity) comes from Basho's Oku-no-Hosomichi poetry collection.Mar 11, 2023
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Model of AKOS shopping complex in front of Soka Station.Mar 10, 2023
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Soka Station history.Mar 10, 2023
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Push button phone widely used in Japan until the early 1990s.Mar 10, 2023
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Pink pay phone in Japan. Now obsolete. Took only ¥10 coins.Mar 10, 2023
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Old telephone still widely used in Japan until the 1980s.Mar 10, 2023
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Old telephone.Mar 10, 2023
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Old telephone from 1931. Soka started telephone service in 1918. Only 60 phone numbers at first. By 1953, 431 people had a telephone number.デルビル磁石式壁掛電話機Mar 10, 2023
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Army helmetMar 10, 2023
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Japanese soldier's bag and boots from 1930s.Mar 10, 2023
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Japanese soldiers returning from the war gave these gifts to their well-wishers. From the 1930s. These are ceremonial sake cups. 兵隊盃Mar 10, 2023
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About Heihachiro Okawa.Mar 10, 2023
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Movie actor from Soka named Okawa Heihachiro (1905–1971) (aka Henry Okawa) who made it to Hollywood. He was in "The Bridge on the River Kwai" movie. 大川 平八郎Mar 10, 2023
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History of the museum/school.Mar 10, 2023
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History of the museum/school.Mar 10, 2023
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Soka Elementary School was built in 1926. Two-story, ferro-concrete building with six classrooms. Architect was Soka-native Okawa Isamu who even attended Soka Elementary School (right photo)..Mar 10, 2023
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Former classroom used as a meeting room.Mar 10, 2023
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2nd floor hallway.Mar 10, 2023
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On the 2nd floor, Hinamatsuri Girl's Day dolls.Mar 10, 2023
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On the 2nd floor, Hinamatsuri Girl's Day dolls.Mar 10, 2023
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2023 is the Year of the Rabbit.Mar 10, 2023
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On the 2nd floor, Hinamatsuri Girl's Day dolls.Mar 10, 2023
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On the 2nd floor, Hinamatsuri Girl's Day dolls.Mar 10, 2023
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On the 2nd floor, Hinamatsuri Girl's Day dolls.Mar 10, 2023
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On the 2nd floor, Hinamatsuri Girl's Day dolls.Mar 10, 2023
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Leather footwear and yukata kimono are also made in Soka.Mar 10, 2023
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Senbei production equipment for roasting and drying.Mar 10, 2023
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Senbei production equipment.Mar 10, 2023
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Senbei production equipment for mochi pounding.Mar 10, 2023
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Factory equipmentMar 10, 2023
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About Emperor Meiji's visit to Soka in 1876 and 1881 when he was traveling to Tohoku or Hokkaido.Mar 10, 2023
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Basho and Kawai Sora visited Soka-juku on March 27, 1689.Mar 10, 2023
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Replica scroll painting of Matsu Basho and Kawai Sora who visited Soka in 1689.Mar 10, 2023
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Documents related to traveling on the Nikko Kaido.Mar 10, 2023
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A few implements from the Okawa Honjin lodge.Mar 10, 2023
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About the ancient dugout canoe excavated from Ayase River in 1929.Mar 10, 2023
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About the dugout canoe from 5,300 years ago.Mar 10, 2023
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Remains of an ancient dugout canoe excavated from Ayase River in 1929.Mar 10, 2023
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Ancient pottery found in Soka.Mar 10, 2023
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Scale model of the Okawa Honjin lodge in Soka-juku.Mar 10, 2023
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Following Senju-juku (Adachi Ward, Tokyo), Soka-juku was the second post town on the old Nikko Kaido Road from Tokyo (Nihonbashi) to Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture. However, no original buildings from Soka-juku remain. Part of the Nikko Kaido road remains, and a few monuments mark the location of the Honjin VIP lodges and road marker. This is a scale model of Soka-juku displayed in the local history museum.Mar 10, 2023
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Scale model of Soka-juku post town along the Nikko Kaido. The red tag on the lower left is where the folk history museum is.Mar 10, 2023
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First floor exhibition room.Mar 10, 2023
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First floor exhibition room displays old farming equipment.Mar 10, 2023
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First floor hallway.Mar 10, 2023
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Museum hallway looks like a school hallway. When you enter the museum, they want you to sign your name on the reception sheet.Mar 10, 2023
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Floor layout on the 1st and 2nd floors. The old classrooms are now exhibition rooms for local history and artifacts.Mar 10, 2023
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Soka folk history museum entrance. Free admission.Mar 10, 2023
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Soka folk history museum. 草加 歴史民俗資料館Mar 10, 2023
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Soka folk history museum used to be Soka Elementary School built in 1926. New school buildings were built to replace this old building which opened in 1983 as a local history museum.Mar 10, 2023
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Soka folk history museum is near the old Nikko Kaido. 歴史民俗資料館Mar 10, 2023
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Original road marker in Soka-shuku, Saitama on the Nikko Kaido. 道標元標Mar 10, 2023
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Original road marker reinforced with steel. Rare remnant of Soka-juku on the Nikko Kaido. 道標元標Mar 10, 2023
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Original road marker in Soka-shuku, Saitama on the Nikko Kaido. 道標元標Mar 10, 2023
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Okawa Honjin lodge monument in Soka-juku, Nikko Kaido Road. There was also another Honjin in Soka-juku. 大川本陣跡碑Mar 10, 2023
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Honjin lodge monument in Soka-juku, Nikko Kaido Road. 大川本陣跡碑Mar 10, 2023
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What the old Nikko Kaido Road looks like today.Mar 10, 2023
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About Tofukuji's bell tower.Mar 10, 2023
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Tofukuji's bell tower dragon wood carvings. Mar 10, 2023
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Tofukuji Temple in Soka, Saitama.Mar 10, 2023
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Tofukuji's bell tower is noted for wood carvings. Mar 10, 2023
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Tofukuji's bell tower.Mar 10, 2023
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About Tofukuji Temple Hondo main hall wood carvings. Mar 10, 2023
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Tofukuji Temple Hondo main hall in Soka, Saitama. The temple is noted for wood carvings on this main hall. (Not to be confused with other temples named "Tofukuji.") 東福寺Mar 10, 2023
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Tofukuji Temple was first built in 1606 by Okawa Zusho who once served the Hojo Clan in Odawara, Kanagawa.Mar 10, 2023
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Tofukuji Temple gate.Mar 10, 2023
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Way to Tofukuji Temple.Mar 10, 2023
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What the old Nikko Kaido looks like today. Nikko Kaido was one of the five main roads from Edo (Tokyo) during the Edo Period (17th to 19h centuries). Nikko was important for having the splendid mausoleum for Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa shogun.Mar 10, 2023
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I think this is a bus stop on the Nikko Kaido.Mar 10, 2023
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Soka senbei rice cracker. ¥90Mar 10, 2023
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Another Soka senbei shop. There are over 60 senbei shops in Soka.Mar 10, 2023
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Soka senbei shop on the old Nikko Kido Road.Mar 10, 2023
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Shinmei Shrine 神明神社Mar 10, 2023
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Soka-juku Shinmei-an tourist info center closed on March 21, 2022. The staff moved to the tourist info center near the Basho statue in Fudaba-kashi Park. 草加宿神明庵Mar 10, 2023
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How to make Soka senbei rice crackers. At least 10 steps.Mar 10, 2023
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Soka senbei rice cracker birthplace monument in Osen Park, Soka, Saitama. Soka was a rice-growing area and farmers first made rice crackers as a snack. They were later sold to travelers when Soka-juku was established and became a cottage industry. They also used soy sauce from Noda. 草加せんべい発祥の地の碑Mar 10, 2023
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Sora Kawai traveled with Haiku poet Matsuo Basho for most of Basho's Oku-no-Hosomichi poetry journey on foot to Tohoku and Hokuriku Regions in 1689.Mar 10, 2023
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Catfish sculpture on a small office building in Soka, Saitama.Mar 10, 2023
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Statue of Kawai Sora, Matsuo Basho's apprentice and travel companion for Oku-no-Hosomichi. This statue is at the intersection leading to the old Nikko Kaido Road. It's across the bridge from the Basho statue at the watchtower.Mar 10, 2023
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Statue of Kawai Sora (河合曾良), Matsuo Basho's travel companion for his Oku-no-Hosomichi five-month journey on foot to Tohoku and Hokuriku Regions. Statue built in 2008 to mark Soka's 50th anniversary.Mar 10, 2023
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Bridge to Osen Park.Mar 10, 2023
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Near the watchtower is Soka-juku Basho-an, a visitor information center.Mar 10, 2023
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About the watchtower and Soka post town.Mar 10, 2023
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Map of Soka-Matsubara and Soka-juku post town, short walk away.Mar 10, 2023
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Post towns along the Nikko Kaido Road to Nikko.Mar 10, 2023
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Views from the watchtower.Mar 10, 2023
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Top floor and lookout atop the watchtower.Mar 10, 2023
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Spiral steps up the wooden watchtower.Mar 10, 2023
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Old map of Soka-juku post town.Mar 10, 2023
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Watchtower is free and open to the public.Mar 10, 2023
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First floor of watchtower has a few exhibits explaining about Soka-Matsubara and Soka-juku post town.Mar 10, 2023
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Fudaba-kashi Park on the southern end of Soka-Matsubara also has this rebuilt watchtower. Mar 10, 2023
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Watchtower on the southern end of Soka-Matsubara. 望楼Mar 10, 2023
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Statue of Matsuo Basho at the southern end of Soka Matsubara pine tree path in Fudaba-kashi Park. Created by Tadahiko Mugikura (麦倉忠彦), a Soka-native sculptor. He also made the Kawai Sora sculpture nearby in 2008.Mar 10, 2023
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Statue of Matsuo Basho at the southern end of Soka-Matsubara, Saitama. Depicts him looking at his well-wishers in Tokyo (Edo) as he departed for his Oku-no-Hosomichi trip. Mar 10, 2023
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Statue of Matsuo Basho in Fudaba-kashi Park on the southern end of Soka-Matsubara. Statue was built in 1989 to mark the 300th anniversary of Basho's Oku-no-Hosomichi journey in 1689. Built with donations.Mar 10, 2023
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The southern end of Soka-Matsubara has Fudaba-kashi Park with cherry blossom trees and tourist information center. 札場河岸公園Mar 10, 2023
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Nikko Kaido Road monument. Nikko Kaido was one of the five main roads from Edo (Tokyo) during the Edo Period (17th to 19h centuries). Nikko was important for having the splendid mausoleum for Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa shogun.Mar 10, 2023
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Nikko Kaido Road monument near Yatate Bridge. The monument is in the shape of Saitama Prefecture indicating Soka-Matsubara on Nikko Kaido is one of Japan's 100 Best Roads. 日本の道百選の顕彰碑Mar 10, 2023
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Yatate Bridge on the southern end of Soka-Matsubara. "Yatate" also comes from Basho's prose in Oku-no-Hosomichi. 矢立橋Mar 10, 2023
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Picture tile on the bridge depicting a samurai procession on the Nikko Kaido in Soka.Mar 10, 2023
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Looking south from Yatate Bridge. Almost the end of Soka-Matsubara pine tree path.Mar 10, 2023
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Southern view from Yatate Bridge.Mar 10, 2023
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Northern view from Yatate Bridge.Mar 10, 2023
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Northern view from Yatate Bridge.Mar 10, 2023
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Top of Yatatebashi arch bridge.Mar 10, 2023
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Top of Yatate Bridge.Mar 10, 2023
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Going up Yatate Bridge.Mar 10, 2023
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Northern view from Yatate Bridge.Mar 10, 2023
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Northern view from Yatate Bridge.Mar 10, 2023
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Bicycle slope decorated with these picture tiles.Mar 10, 2023
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Yatate Bridge includes a narrow slope for walking your bicycle. Not wheelchair accessible. 矢立橋Mar 10, 2023
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Yatate Bridge on the southern end of Soka-Matsubara. It's 96.3 meters long and 4.14 meters wide. Bigger than Hyakutai Bridge. 矢立橋Mar 10, 2023
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The other arch bridge on the southern end of Soka-Matsubara.Mar 10, 2023
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Directions and distances.Mar 10, 2023
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Such a pleasant walk along Soka-Matsubara.Mar 10, 2023
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Walking further south along Soka-Matsubara.Mar 10, 2023
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Soka-Matsubara pine trees and Ayasegawa River.Mar 10, 2023
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Matsubara Ayasegawa Park watchtowerMar 10, 2023
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Matsubara Ayasegawa Park Mar 10, 2023
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Matsubara Ayasegawa Park Mar 10, 2023
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Matsubara Ayasegawa Park Mar 10, 2023
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Matsubara Ayasegawa Park's cherry blossoms must be beautiful when in bloom.Mar 10, 2023
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Matsubara Ayasegawa Park is a large park with cherry blossoms.Mar 10, 2023
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Soka Matsubara goes along the Ayase River.Mar 10, 2023
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Soka Matsubara goes along the Ayase River. 綾瀬川Mar 10, 2023
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Harp Bridge has a harp sculpture. Mar 10, 2023
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Harp Bridge to Matsubara Ayasegawa Park across Ayase River.Mar 10, 2023
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Pine coneMar 10, 2023
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Soka-Matsubara pine trees in Soka, Saitama. Part of the Nikko Kaido road and Oku-no-Hosomichi stop by Haiku poet Matsuo Basho.Mar 10, 2023
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Non-stop pine trees on Soka-Matsubara. Probably the longest pine tree path I've been on.Mar 10, 2023
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Soka's claim to fame is this pine tree path's inclusion as a Scenic Place along the Oku-no-Hosomichi travel route taken by famous Haiku poet Basho.Monument includes a map of Basho's Oku-no-Hosomichi travel route. He started from Fukagawa, Tokyo, visited Soka, went up north to Sendai, Sakata (Yamagata), and proceeded back along the Sea of Japan, Niigata, Kanazawa, Tsuruga, and ended at Ogaki, Gifu. All the places he visited on this epic journey has monuments or statues celebrating Basho. Mar 10, 2023
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Donald Keene wrote the inscribed sentence: "Place of Scenic Beauty: Soka Matsubara - Scenic Place Along Oku-no-Hosomichi"Donald Keene was a renown professor of Japanese studies (especially literature) at Columbia University in New York. Keene is revered in Soka for helping with local activities related to Oku-no-Hosomichi.
He also famously became a Japanese citizen and spent the last years of his life living in Japan.Mar 10, 2023
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About Soka Matsubara as a Scenic Place Along Oku-no-Hosomichi. It's one of the 25 designated Scenic Places along the Oku-no-Hosomichi extending over 12 prefectures.Mar 10, 2023
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Monument inscribed with: "Place of Scenic Beauty: Soka Matsubara - Scenic Place Along Oku-no-Hosomichi" Calligraphy by Donald Keene.Mar 10, 2023
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Straw bands are wrapped on the tree trunks to catch harmful insects.Mar 10, 2023
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Walking south along Soka-Matsubara pine trees.Mar 10, 2023
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Monument for the Japanese bush clover planted by the late Donald Keene. Mar 10, 2023
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Monument for the Japanese bush clover planted by the late Donald Keene. Flowers not in season in Feb. Donald Keene was a renown professor of Japanese studies (especially literature) at Columbia University in New York. ドナルド・キーン記念植樹Mar 10, 2023
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Along the pine tree path is this monument for the Japanese bush clover planted by the late Donald Keene who first visited Soka in 1988 to give a keynote speech at the Oku-no-Hosomichi International Symposium.Mar 10, 2023
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Southern view of Soka-Matsubara pine trees from Hyakutai Bridge, Saitama.Mar 10, 2023
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Southern view from Hyakutai Bridge.Mar 10, 2023
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View from Hyakutai Bridge.Mar 10, 2023
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View from Hyakutai Bridge. This road goes to the train station straight ahead.Mar 10, 2023
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Hyakutai Bridge.Mar 10, 2023
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Northern view of pine trees from Hyakutai Bridge.Mar 10, 2023
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Northern view from Hyakutai Bridge.Mar 10, 2023
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Going up Hyakutai Bridge.Mar 10, 2023
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Hyakutai Bridge is decorated with small relief sculptures like these pine cones.Mar 10, 2023
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Hyakutai Bridge has steps and a narrow slope for pushing bicycles. Not wheelchair accessible. 百代橋Mar 10, 2023
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Back to Hyakutai Bridge. This is near the halfway point on the Soka-Matsubara path.Mar 10, 2023
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The pine tree path is popular among joggers and for walks.Mar 10, 2023
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Pine needles and pine cones up close.Mar 10, 2023
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Pine needles and pine cones.Mar 10, 2023
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Soka-Matsubara pine tree path.Mar 10, 2023
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Starting to backtrack to Hyakutai Bridge and proceed to the southern end of the pine trees.Mar 10, 2023
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Northern end of Soka-Matsubara.Mar 10, 2023
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Monument says 今様草加松原 mean "Modern-style Soka-Matsubara" in reference to current efforts to preserve the pine tree path in modern ways.Mar 10, 2023
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Northern end of Soka-Matsubara. From here, walk 1.5 km to reach the southern end of Soka-Matsubara pine trees.Mar 10, 2023
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The northern end of Soka-Matsubara has this ring.Mar 10, 2023
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Stone bench.Mar 10, 2023
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Turtle sculptures.Mar 10, 2023
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Ayase River looking south. 綾瀬川Mar 10, 2023
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Ayase RiverMar 10, 2023
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Green pines against the blue sky are therapeutic for the eyes.Mar 10, 2023
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Nakazone Bridge over Ayase River.Mar 10, 2023
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A local group was formed in 1976 to replant pine trees. Their efforts was successful with 500+ trees planted. Vehicular traffic through the pine trees stopped in 1982. Thankfully, it's now pedestrians only.Mar 10, 2023
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By 1877, Soka-Matsubara had 800+ pine trees. In the 1930s, Soka-Matsubara had over 700 pine trees. However, by the 1960s due to vehicle exhaust fumes, the number of pine trees shrank to 60.Mar 10, 2023
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Soka Matsubara pine trees may have been originally planted as early as 1683 by government official Ina Tada'atsu (伊奈忠篤) in the Fudaba Park area where there was a river boat dock.Mar 10, 2023
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Soka-Matsubara pine trees north of Hyakutai-bashi Bridge.Mar 10, 2023
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Matsuo Basho monument at Soka-Matsubara.Mar 10, 2023
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Matsuo Basho monumentMar 10, 2023
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From Hyakutai-bashi Bridge, I first walked north along Soka-Matsubara.Mar 10, 2023
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Monument indicating Soka-Matsubara as a Scenic Place on the Oku-no-Hosomichi path.Mar 10, 2023
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The arch bridge is near the middle of the pine tree path. If you want to walk through the entire pine tree path from here, go left first, then backtrack and walk south until the end. Monument near the arch bridge. Mar 10, 2023
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Soka-Matsubara pine tree path continues on the right going south. There's another similar arch bridge at the intersection further south.Mar 10, 2023
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This is one of the two arch bridges. Named Hyakutai-bashi (百代橋), 62.5 meters long, 3.5 m wide. It has steps and a narrow slope to push bicycles. Not wheelchair accessible.Mar 10, 2023
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Where the Soka-Matsubara pine tree path intersects with a major road at two locations, there's a large arch bridge to enable pedestrians to keep walking non-stop along the pine trees.Mar 10, 2023
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While walking on this main road to Soka-Matsubara, you will soon see the large arch bridge over the road.Mar 10, 2023
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From Dokkyodaigakumae Station's east exit, walk on this main road to Soka-Matsubara. Short walk.Mar 10, 2023
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Dokkyodaigakumae Station (Tobu Railway from Asakusa) east exit. Get out here to walk to Soka-Matsubara.Mar 10, 2023
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Soka Matsubara is near Dokkyodaigakumae Station (Tobu Railway from Asakusa) east exit.Mar 10, 2023
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Soka Matsubara is a nice, long pedestrian path stretching for 1.5 km lined on both sides with over 600 evergreen pine trees. Part of Soka-juku post town on the old Nikko Kaido road to Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture. Designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty. Near Dokkyodaigakumae Station (Tobu Railway from Asakusa).Mar 10, 2023
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About Soka Matsubara. Some 60 of the pine trees have survived since the Edo Period.Mar 10, 2023
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