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Epsilon rocket.6 views
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Japan's Kibo experiment module (full-scale replica) for International Space Station (ISS). We can go inside. 日本実験棟「きぼう」6 views
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Inside Japan's Kibo module (replica) for International Space Station (ISS). The module is used to conduct various experiments in space.6 views
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Inside Japan's Kibo module (replica) for International Space Station (ISS).6 views
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Japanese astronauts starting with Akiyama Toyohiro, the first Japanese national to go into space in Dec. 1990. He went to Russia's Mir space station via Soyuz rocket. His trip was sponsored by his company TBS where he was a TV journalist.6 views
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Section S5 is about space probes to learn more about the origin of space and life.6 views
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Improved aircraft technologies and materials have improved the plane's range and efficiency.6 views
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If you're coming from Meitetsu Nagoya Station, you can transfer at Inuyama Station to get on the Kakamigahara Line.6 views
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Mieji Station on the Tarumi Line (Tarumi Railway). Unmanned station. 樽見鉄道樽見線 美江寺駅6 views
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Mieji Station platform on the Tarumi Line.6 views
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Entrance to Mie Shrine and Mieji Kannon Temple at the corner of the road. 美江神社6 views
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Turn the corner here.6 views
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Site of Mieji-juku's Honjin (VIP lodging). 6 views
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Turn right here.6 views
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Mizuho is a major producer of Fuyu-gaki persimmons. 6 views
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Back to Mieji Station.6 views
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View from my room on the top floor (9th floor).6 views
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Soaping area.6 views
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Mt. Fuji can be seen from Koyama Castle.6 views
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Fishing boat sailing past Manazuru Peninsula.6 views
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Niseko Hirafu has both easy and steep (moguls) slopes. ニセコ ヒラフ6 views
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Skiing on Niseko Annupuri. ニセコアンヌプリ6 views
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Views while skiing on Niseko Annupuri. ニセコアンヌプリ6 views
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Newer Lake Mashu sign at a lookout point. 6 views
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Beautiful shades of blue.6 views
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Trail to a scenic lookout point on Lake Mashu.6 views
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Literally nicknamed "Sulfur Mountain," Mt. Io is a convenient, steaming tourist attraction between Lake Kussharo and Lake Mashu. The mountain's Ainu name is "Atosa-nupuri," meaning "naked mountain" since it hardly has an6 views
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Takao Baigo is in the area of the famous Mt. Takao. Plum blossoms here bloom in March, so if you were too busy to see plum blossoms in Feb., you can still see the ume blossoms in mountainous western Tokyo.6 views
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Bus stops between the two nearest train stations and Takao Baigo.6 views
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Walking to Kogesawa Bairin.6 views
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The plum grove has walking paths across the slope.6 views
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Top of Kogesawa Bairin. Plum tree branches seem to grow in random directions, but the tree always maintains its balance.6 views
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Plum trees also have lichens growing on the trunk and branches. These lichens form on plum trees in rural areas. We don't see them on plum trees in the city because exhaust fumes from vehicles kill them. 6 viewsSo if you see these lichens on plum trees, it means the surrounding environment is very clean. (Parmotrema tinctorum ウメノキゴケ)
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Steps going down hill of plum trees at Kogesawa Bairin.6 views
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Some plum trees with pruned branches. May they flower again someday.6 views
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Surusashi Bairin6 views
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Takao Ume-no-Sato Machi-no-Hiroba is more for picnicking.6 views
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Next plum grove was Tenjin Bairin. It's somewhat hidden behind trees, but there's a sign and bridge to get there.6 views
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About Takao Tenmangu Shrine. Plum blossoms are associated with Sugawara Michizane because he once wrote a poem for his beloved plum blossoms that "flew through the air" to follow him when he was exiled to Dazaifu, Fukuoka.6 views
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Next to Tenjin Bairin is this reforestation area.6 views
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Walking path along the river.6 views
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Lake Kussharo has two tourist areas. One is here at Sunayu. 砂湯6 views
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Lake Kussharo was also known for the "Kusshi" legend similar to the Loch Ness Monster, "Nessie." Credible sightings of Kussi were widely reported from 1973-1974, but stopped after the 2000s.6 viewsThis is an old statue displayed at JR Bihoro Station. Newer statue is at Sunayu near the lake shore.
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Boats can be rented at Sunayu. In May 1938, the Kussharo Earthquake had sulfates seep into the lake from the lake bottom, making the water too acidic (pH4) for fish which got wiped out. 6 views
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By the 2000s, the water acidity decreased enough to introduce fish which could endure the acidity. Only small stocks of rainbow trout, Kokanee, and Masu salmon are now in the lake. The lake has no fishing industry.6 views
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Sawara Park, we walked through here.6 views
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Some cherry blossoms along Junsai-ike Pond in late March. じゅん菜池6 views
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Cherry blossoms along Junsai-ike Pond.6 views
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In autumn, Junsai-ike Pond is also noted for fall leaves.6 views
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Small island in the middle of the pond.6 views
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Some cherry blossoms along Junsai-ike Pond. じゅん菜池6 views
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Ekoin Betsuin Temple's main hall rebuilt in 2009. There's actually a cafe (Cafe Terrace Ekoin) on the 2nd floor. It belongs to the Jodo-shu Buddhist sect and is a branch of Ekoin Temple in Ryogoku, Tokyo. 回向院市川別院源光寺6 views
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Places to sit in the park.6 views
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Satomi Park also has the Akedo Kofun burial mound complete with two stone coffins exposed on the mound. 明戸古墳石棺6 views
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Map of Satomi Park. The burial mound is on the upper part next to the red, dotted oval on the map. The park is next to Edogawa River.6 views
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Marker indicating Ichikawa city's highest point (elevation). A whopping 30.1 meters above sea level.6 views
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Cherry blossoms in Satomi Park. 6 views
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Edogawa River.6 views
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Satomi Park cherry blossoms.6 views
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Satomi Park is also noted for roses in early summer and fall. The rose is Ichikawa's official flower. 6 views
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Near the Ichikawa Sekisho Checkpoint is a Yamazaki Baking (山崎製パン) research and training facility ("Creation Center"). Yamazaki is the world's second largest bread-baking company. Founded in Ichikawa, Chiba in 1948.6 views
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View from I-Link Town Observatory, looking west toward Edogawa River. This deck is open 9 am to 10 pm. Closed on the first Monday of the month and during Dec. 29 to Jan. 3.6 views
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"Temple" marks the location of Guhoji Temple, famous for a 400-year-old weeping cherry blossom tree. See this album.6 views
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Another side of the lookout deck.6 views
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In front of Ichikawa Station, the building (Sun Plaza 55) on the left has a coffee shop and bakery operated by Yamazaki Baking.6 views
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Near Guhoji is Tekona Reijindo, another temple. We didn't go to see this temple though. (Too tired walking.) Tekona Reijindo is dedicated to a local girl named Tekona who lived 2,000 years ago. 手児奈霊神堂6 viewsHer job was to fetch water from a well. She was such a beautiful girl that every man who saw her fell in love with her and wanted to marry her. They even fought over her. Even the moon fell in love with her. She got so distraught by all the attention and fighting that she drowned herself in the well. Poor girl, she was loved to death.
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Poem about Tekona.6 views
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Mama no Tsughihashi Bridge near the steps going up to Guhoji Temple. The bridge is mentioned in some poems in the Man'yoshu. 真間の継橋6 views
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About Mama no Tsughihashi Bridge. 真間の継橋6 views
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Mama River empties into Edogawa River. We later walked along Edogawa River toward Konodai Station on the Keisei Line.6 views
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Back of the Monchicchi statue. Shin-Koiwa is where Sekiguchi Corporation, the toy company which invented Moncchichi, is based. モンチッチ像6 views
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These Monchicchi monuments were donated by Sekiguchi Koichi, chairman of Sekiguchi Co., Ltd. which created Monchicchi.6 views
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Back of the Moncchichi monuments in front of Shin-Koiwa Station, not to be confused with Koiwa Station. Shin-Koiwa Station is in Katsushika Ward while adjacent Koiwa Station is in Edogawa Ward. They are two different stations easy to mix up.6 views
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There's a boy and girl Monchicchi usually depicted as infants sucking their thumbs.6 views
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This new Monchicchi Zone has 27 Monchicchi/Sekiguchi statues all donated by the Sekiguchi Koichi, company chairman.6 views
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Monchicchi Mini Museum exhibit panel explaining about Monchicchi.6 views
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There's also baby Monchicchi named Bebichhichi-kun (boy on the left) and Bebichhichi-chan (girl).6 views
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Playground equipment for older kids.6 views
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Road signs in Fukushima, Matsumae indicate you're in a Yokozuna town.6 views
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Chiyonoyama's trophy room.6 views
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Amami Oshima is slightly larger than the Hawaiian island of Molokai.6 views
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Fabric dyes.6 views
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Soka-Matsubara pine tree path.6 views
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Northern view from Hyakutai Bridge.6 views
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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.6 views
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Plum Blossom Festival (Ume Matsuri) sign.6 views
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Pink weeping plum blossoms.6 views
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Omurai Katori Shrine's Sacred Dance stage.6 views
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Entrance to the plum garden on the right side of the shrine. 6 views
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Under a tall, weeping plum blossom tree.6 views
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These were still one or two days before peak bloom.6 views
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JR Musashi-Masuko Station platform. From central Tokyo, the train ride took about 1 hr. 20 min. JR武蔵増戸駅6 views
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In front of Musashi-Masuko Station are these two Yasube'e cherry blossom trees. The third one is further toward the right.6 views
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The third cherry tree is the largest, seen here over the train station building.6 views
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The third cherry tree at JR Musashi-Masuko Station.6 views
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The third cherry tree is already entangled with power lines. This one has to go, sadly.6 views
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Types of cows. The cow's excrement and urine are converted into fertilizer for growing vegetables, etc.6 views
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Posters explaining the work done at the dairy farm, anatomy of a cow, and the life cycle of cows. At the dairy farm, cows are fed, cow shed is cleaned, hay is made, and cows are milked.6 views
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Calf in the pasture. 放牧場6 views
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The park has multiple ponds, but this Waterfowl Pond is the largest one.6 views
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Lots of large trees for shade.6 views
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Types of bicycles available for rent. But all gone. Long wait.6 views
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More large trees.6 views
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Train-shaped bus to get around the park.6 views
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The field of red poppies has a walking path in the middle. Poppy field is much bigger than it looks.6 views
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The field of red poppies at Showa Kinen Park.6 views
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The field of red poppies at Showa Kinen Park.6 views
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Closeup of nemophila (baby blue eyes) 6 views
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Showa Kinen Park also has a large slope with nemophila (baby blue eyes). Crowd favorite.6 views
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On May 3, 2023, 260,000 turned out to see 59th Odawara Hojo Godai Matsuri samurai parade highlighted by five Hojo Odawara Castle lords and their ladies in colorful costumes. Held for the first time in four years due to the pandemic.6 views
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The first Odawara Hojo lord, Hōjō Sōun played by actor Goda Masashi. 初代北条早雲 (合田 雅)6 views
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Start of the samurai entourage for the second Odawara Hojo lord, Hojo Ujitsuna. Played by Odawara government officials.6 views
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Morito Coast has this Yujiro Ishihara Memorial Monument. He was a famous actor from this area. 石原裕次郎記念碑6 views
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Sake barrels.6 views
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Morito Daimyojin Shrine on the Morito Coast. 森戸大明神6 views
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Misogi Bridge. みそぎ橋6 views
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Smiley face on Shin-Nase Beach. PR for a local exhibition.6 views
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Coastal road along Shin-nase beach. 真名瀬海岸6 views
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Kumano Shrine in Hayama, Kanagawa Prefecture. 熊野神社6 views
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If you're lucky, you might see whales and dolphins.6 views
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Mt. Sokuryo has a clear view of Muroran Port. The mountain is a 50-min. walk or 10-drive from JR Muroran Station. It's uphill, so going by car/taxi is recommended.6 views
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Mt. Komagatake as seen from Mt. Sokuryo in Muroran.6 views
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Hakucho Bridge, Muroran. Built in 1998. 白鳥大橋6 views
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Hakucho Bridge memorial stone.6 views
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The museum also has a balcony with views of Hakucho Bridge.6 views
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Floor map.6 views
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The Great Hall of Hogwarts (大広間)6 views
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Tableware in the Gryffindor section with their robes displayed behind.6 views
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Great Hall’s head table.6 views
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Hagrid6 views
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Severus Snape, potions professor and later Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts and Head of Slytherin House.6 views
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Minerva McGonagall (next to Sorting Hat), Hogwarts Transfiguration professor, Head of Gryffindor House, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts.6 views
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Great Hall roof model.6 views
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Hogwarts Marble Staircase which actually moves (swivels).6 views
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Moving portrait experience: Next to the Marble Staircase, you can be a moving portrait too. The studio’s first interactive experience has booths with different backgrounds to film yourself for 15 seconds.6 views
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We visitors could act as spectators at a Quidditch match between Griffindore and Slytherin.6 views
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Props for Goblet of Fire.6 views
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Griffin Stairwell to go to Dumbledore’s Office.6 views
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Thirty-three wands of all the wizards and witches.6 views
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Death Eater masks.6 views
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Defence Against the Dark Arts Classroom.6 views
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Defence Against the Dark Arts Classroom. There was a wand-waving lesson to defeat a Death Eater (right) on the balcony.6 views
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About Voldemort, The Dark Lord.6 views
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Giant spider Aragog the Acromantula in his lair in the Forbidden Forest.6 views
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4 Privet Drive (Dursley residence)6 views
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From the Backlot, the studio tour continues this way as we go back inside.6 views
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Inside Hogwarts Express train carriage.6 views
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The exterior windows are video monitors showing the passing scenery.6 views
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London Ministry of Magic, Atrium (ロンドン魔法省)6 views
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For the movie actors, the broomsticks were custom-designed and fitted for each person. The stick was a solid metal pole strong enough to support the actor sitting on it in front of green screens.6 views
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Members of the Princess Kazunomiya procession are introduced on stage at around 2 pm. The procession ends at around 3 pm at Kido-ato (木戸跡). Thanks to A. Shimamura for these photos.6 views
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Gujo-Hachiman Castle turret and autumn foliage still green.5 views
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Gujo-Hachiman Castle corner turret and autumn foliage.5 views
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Gujo-Hachiman Castle corner turret and autumn foliage.5 views
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Gujo-Hachiman Castle corner turret and autumn foliage.5 views
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Red maples behind the main tower.5 views
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About Jion-zenji Temple. It worships Yakushi, the healing Buddha.5 views
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Nice pine tree at Jionji Temple.5 views
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Jion-zenji Temple's Tessoen Zen garden is Gujo-Hachiman's second most famous spot for autumn colors.5 views
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You can pray for whatever you want here. Family harmony, traffic safety, passing exams, business prosperity, recovery from illness, etc., etc.5 views
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On this small Otohime Stream is this water shed covering a dammed part of the river where locals can wash potatoes. Natural spring water.5 views
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Past Gujo Odori PR posters.5 views
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So happens that there are dance songs having no shamisen or no flutes or no taiko drumming, etc. That's when those musicians can take a break. Clever.5 views
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Sogisui natural spring.5 views
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Machinami Koryukan is a new local museum is near Hakurankan. まちなみ交流館5 views
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Inside Machinami Koryukan museum.5 views
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Small alley to Sogisui natural spring. The Kitamachi area of Gujo-Hachiman is also a National Important Traditional Townscape Preservation District (重要伝統的建造物群保存地区).5 views
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Homes along Kodara River.5 views
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Old-style mailbox.5 views
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Red water bucket to put out fires.5 views
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Gujo-Hachiman Castle seen from the street.5 views
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About Daijoji Temple, built in 1603.5 views
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Daijoji Temple in autumn. 大乗寺5 views
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Daijoji Temple in autumn. 大乗寺5 views
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Yoshida River in Gujo-Hachiman looking upstream. There are also cherry blossoms in spring.5 views
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Yoshida River in Gujo-Hachiman looking downstream toward Nagara River.5 views
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Looking downstream on Yoshida River. Miyagase Bridge can be seen.5 views
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Gift shop inside Former Hachiman Town Hall.5 views
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Directional signs in Gujo-Hachiman includes English.5 views
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About the former Hayashi Clinic that was donated to the city.5 views
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Yanaka Mizu no Komichi5 views
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Yanaka Mizu no Komichi5 views
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Real soba.5 views
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Enakyo or Ena Gorge is in the city of Ena (pop. 47,000 as of Nov. 2021) next to Nakatsugawa in eastern Gifu Prefecture.5 views
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Walking to Enakyo. The tourist information lady gave me a map to walk to Enakyo. Easy to follow.5 views
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Enakyo marker sign.5 views
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Cross the road and there's the starting point to explore Enakyo. Building on the left is the Visitors' Center.5 views
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On the right is Sazanami Park lined with autumn maple leaves in November and cherry blossoms in spring. Everything is within a short walk. These photos were taken in November.5 views
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Inside Enakyo Visitors Center.5 views
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Gift shops at Enakyo.5 views
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Entering Sazanami Park lined with red maple trees in autumn. "Sazanami" means "water ripples."5 views
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Sazanami Park has a small peninsula with a walking path lined with maple trees (and cherry trees).5 views
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The park has two levels. Lower level is a path along the riverside, and this upper level is a park-like lawn.5 views
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Rocks on the tip of Sazanami Park.5 views
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Upstream toward Enakyo Ohashi Bridge.5 views
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On the upper level of Sazanami Park, looking toward the tip.5 views
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Most maple trees aren't that large, but the river in the background makes them scenic.5 views
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Definitely the right place for red maple leaves. Most were already very red.5 views
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