 Image search results - "koi" |
Held during late April to early May, Kanna's Koinobori festival of carp streamers is this town's claim to fame. About 800 colorful carp streamers swim in the sky above a river. Strings of carp streamers viewable from the road.
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From late April to early May, five long strings of giant carp streamers swim in the air high above the Sagami River in Sagamihara, Kanagawa. This event was started in 1988.
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Strings of carp streamers latched to the ground from the mountaintop.
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There are five rows of streamers. In Japan, the koi carp is regarded as a symbol of valiant manhood because it swims up the river against the rapids.
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Eight strings of carp streamers hover over the river.
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The cable length is 250 meters and 13mmm thick. There are about 1,200 carp streamers. They are reused every year and donated by local families. (I also noticed a few advertising carps.)
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These pictures were taken in May 2003, when Kanna-machi town was newly formed upon the merging of Manba town and Nakazato village.
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I would say this is one of Japan's top five best places to see carp streamers at Kanna-machi, Gunma.
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Kanna-machi is quite out of the way, but worth the time it takes to get there (from Takasaki).
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Sagami River Koi-nobori
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Parking lot downstream. Most people arrive by car or bus. (No nearby train station.)
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Bridge with a view
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In Japan, the koi carp is regarded as a symbol of valiant manhood because it swims up the river against the rapids.
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The longest carp is 10 meters.
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Riverside
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Swimming in the air
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Along the river were food stalls.
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Festival site
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Cable anchor
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Statistics
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Koi carp fish
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Eight strings x 100 carp streamers = 800 carp
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Carp streamer caught at Kanna-machi, Gunma
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Lying low
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Raft rides
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Entrance to Koishikawa Korakuen Garden. It opened as a public garden in 1938. The garden is modeled after Chinese concepts and features.Near Iiidabashi Station and Korakuen Station.
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Koinobori carp streamers adorn Hokule'a. A great Japanese touch.
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Ticket office at Koishikawa Korakuen Garden. Admission ¥300. Free English pamphlet/map available.
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Ground connection
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Map of garden. Koishikawa Korakuen Garden is designated as one of Japan's Special Historic Place and Special Scenic Spot. Only select places in Japan (like Kyoto's Kinkakuji) have both designations. 国の特別史跡・特別名勝
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Ground connection: Cable anchor for one string of carp
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Weeping cherry tree
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Huge and hungry carp
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Cables go all the way up the mountain.
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Weeping cherry tree, Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, Tokyo. 枝垂桜
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There's a secret technique to fasten the carp to the cable so they don't slide around.
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This weeping cherry tree is about 60 years old.
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Weeping cherry tree, Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, Tokyo.
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Entertainment on stage
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Weeping cherry tree, Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, Tokyo. Called "Shidare-sakura" in Japanese meaning cherry tree with drooping branches.
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Hiking up the mountain.
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With Tokyo Dome looming above, Koishikawa Korakuen is another famous Edo-Period Japanese garden originally built by Lord Yorifusa of the Mito Tokugawa Clan in 1629 as part of his Edo estate.The garden was completed under Lord Mitsukuni, the second lord of the Mito clan.
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Hiking up the mountain.
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View from halfway up.
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Shorozan hill 小廬山
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The wind died.
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Tokyo Dome in the background. The garden is right next to Tokyo Dome.
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Larger weeping cherry tree.
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The mountain is an easy hike. But hardly anybody climbed it.
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Superb views from the mountain.
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The mountain top has a small rest house.
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Weeping cherry tree, Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, Tokyo.
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Weeping cherries
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Top of the mountain
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Weeping cherry tree and Tsutenkyo Bridge 通天橋
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Cable anchor
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Tsutenkyo Bridge 通天橋
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View from mountain top, Kanna-machi town seen below.
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Large weeping cherry tree しだれ桜
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Koi in Ochiai River
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Folding screen (byobu) rock 屏風岩
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Going down
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Colorful koi fish see me, and they come...
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Tsutenkyo Bridge 通天橋
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View from Tsutenkyo Bridge 通天橋
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Bus back to JR Shin-machi Station, takes about 90 min.
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Koi carp fish Frenzy for food.
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Kanna-machi banners celebrating the formation of the new town.
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Koi carp fish
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Tokujindo Hall which stores wooden statues from old Chinese stories. 得仁堂
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JR Shin-machi Station to go back to Takasaki.
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Koishikawa Korakuen Garden has a circular design around a pond and low hill. 回遊式庭園
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Bus we rode to and from Kanna-machi.
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Picnic area
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Gate to Eko-in temple where early sumo tournaments were held. The temple was originally built in 1657 for the repose of over 100,000 people who died in the Great Fire of Meireki (Furisode Fire). 回向院
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Sumo monument in Eko-in temple. Sumo was first held here in 1768. 力塚
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Cherry trees line the Osensui pond. 大泉水
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Sumo monument in Ekoin temple. Sumo matches were held here regularly from 1833 to 1909 when the Kokugikan sumo stadium was built.
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In the background is Horaijima island (not accessible). 蓬莱島
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Memorials for those who died in maritime disasters.
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Shiraito Waterfall. Nothing spectacular. 白糸の滝
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The temple has many other memorials and monuments.
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Iris bed. Should come back in June.
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Colorful flowers break the monotony of greenery. ハナモモ
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Cemetary
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Ornamental peaches (Hanamomo in Japanese) ハナモモ
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White ornamental peaches (Hanamomo in Japanese) look like cotton on branches. ハナモモ
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White ornamental peaches ハナモモ
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The temple itself looks so modern and ordinary that it does not look like a temple.
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Pet memorial, Eko-in
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Pet memorial, Eko-in temple.
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Eight-plank Bridge 八つ橋
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Engetsukyo Bridge (Full Moon Bridge) 円月橋
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Stone bridge steps 円月橋
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Engetsukyo Bridge (Full Moon Bridge) so named because it creates full moon with its reflection in the water. 円月橋
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Kuhachi-ya 九八屋
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Naitei Inner Garden, formerly a private garden for a guesthouse built by the Mito Clan. The garden just does not match the huge Tokyo Dome in the background... 内庭
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Picnickers
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Outside wall of garden.
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The outside wall also uses stones from the Sotobori Moat of Edo Castle.
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The tower is 333 meters high, with two observatories. The lower one, called the Main Deck, is 150 meters high. The higher one, the Top Deck, is 250 meters up.
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Tokyo Tower has a number of evening illumination themes. This is the "Diamond Veil" illumination.
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In early May for Children's Day, Tokyo Tower was festooned with colorful koinobori carp streamers.
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Tokyo Tower with koinobori carp streamers in early May.
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Tokyo Tower with koinobori carp streamers in early May.
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Tokyo Tower with koinobori carp streamers in early May.
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A real crowd pleaser. Beautiful and photogenic.
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Tokyo Tower with koinobori carp streamers in early May.
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Elevator for the Main Deck.
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Ticket for the Main Deck.
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It wasn't a long wait for the elevator.
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Inside the elevator.
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Main Deck had a cherry blossom-theme projection mapping on the windows.
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Main Deck at Tokyo Tower. Despite the opening of Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Tower is still holding its own with innovative attractions.
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Tourists loved to pose with the projection mapping imagery.
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Long line for the down elevators.
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Tokyo Tower celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2018.
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Restaurant on the Main Deck.
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End of the line on the Main Deck for the Down elevator.
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1st floor elevator.
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Near the elevators on the 1st floor is this exhibition space.
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A mysterious baseball was found on the top of Tokyo Tower.
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In early May, koinobori carp streamers are displayed for Children's Day at Tokyo Skytree.
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In early May, koinobori carp streamers are displayed for Children's Day at Tokyo Skytree.
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In early May, koinobori carp streamers are displayed for Children's Day at Tokyo Skytree.
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Tokyo Skytree and carp streamers.
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In early May, koinobori carp streamers are displayed for Children's Day at Tokyo Skytree.
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In early May, koinobori carp streamers are displayed for Children's Day at Tokyo Skytree.
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Tokyo Skytree and carp streamers.
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In early May, koinobori carp streamers are displayed for Children's Day at Tokyo Skytree.
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In early May, koinobori carp streamers are displayed for Children's Day at Tokyo Skytree.
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In early May, koinobori carp streamers are displayed for Children's Day at Tokyo Skytree.
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Inside Solamachi too.
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In early May, koinobori carp streamers are displayed for Children's Day at Tokyo Skytree.
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In early May, koinobori carp streamers are displayed for Children's Day at Tokyo Skytree.
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In early May, koinobori carp streamers are displayed for Children's Day at Tokyo Skytree.
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JR Koiwa Station, north exit
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JR Koiwa Station, north exit sculpture
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JR Koiwa Station, south exit
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JR Koiwa Station, south side
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JR Koiwa Station has this statue of Yokozuna Tochinishiki, a famous sumo wrestler who was from Koiwa.
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Statue of Yokozuna Tochinishiki (1925-1990) inside JR Koiwa Station. The statue is now a popular meeting place inside the station.
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Statue of Yokozuna Tochinishiki inside JR Koiwa Station. He was the 44th yokozuna and head of the Japan Sumo Association during 1974-1988. The new and current Kokugikan was built under his watch.
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It's a very good likeness, and almost life-size. After retiring as an active wrestler, he became Kasugano oyakata.
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Very well done, and wise to put it inside the station where birds cannot sully it.
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Back view.
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Showa-dori shopping street near Koiwa Station.
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Shopping street near Koiwa Station.
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The Koiwa Iris Garden is a large patch along the Edogawa River. With about 50,000 iris plants, the garden comes alive with purple, white, and pink irises in late May and June.With irises mainly donated by residents, the garden opened in June 1982. A 5-min. walk from Edogawa Station on the Keisei Line or 25 min. walk from Koiwa Station on the JR Sobu Line. Free admission. I walked from Koiwa Station and saw this sign for the Koiwa Iris Garden (Koiwa Shobu-en).
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Walk further along the Edogawa River and you see this. The iris garden occupies a good-sized area along the river.
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The irises are in full bloom during mid-June.
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Enter here.
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Kanji characters read "Koiwa Shobu-en."
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