Most viewed - Ota-ku 大田区 |
ANA (All Nippon Airways) offers free tours of their maintenance facilities at Haneda Airport in Tokyo. You can see planes in a huge hangar being serviced.661 viewsYou have to make reservations at their website, but everything is in Japanese. They have four 90-min. tours almost daily, but only in Japanese. (Pamphlet has some English.) You should reserve weeks or months in advance because tours get booked up quickly. However, when people cancel their reservations, tours may open up. You have to keep checking. Children must be at least elementary school age. http://www.ana.co.jp/group/kengaku/outline.html
|
|
Way to Ikegami Honmonji Temple. Belonging to the Nichiren Sect, this is one of Tokyo's major temples.352 views
|
|
Ikegami Baien Garden was originally the estate of Kokura Makoto (小倉誠), an owner of a high-class restaurant. After he died, his family donated the estate to Tokyo which later transferred it to Ota Ward.282 views
|
|
Soshido Main Hall, Ikegami Honmonji. The original Main Hall was burned during an bombing raid in April 1945. 大堂(祖師堂)280 views
|
|
See the baby buddha's hands pointing to Heaven. Sweet tea is poured over a statue of a baby buddha. According to legend, sweet rain (or perfumed water) fell when the Buddha was born.276 views
|
|
Hanamatsuri, Buddha's birthday on April 8. A small statue of the baby Buddha is in a miniature temple called Hanami-do (花御堂). This is Ikegami Honmonji temple in Tokyo.256 views
|
|
Map of temple grounds. There are both traditional and modern buildings.249 views
|
|
Statue of Rikidozan (1924-1963) at his grave at Ikegami Honmonji temple, Tokyo. He was a sumo wrestler until 1950 before becoming a pro wrestler.230 views
|
|
Niomon Gate 仁王門(三門)193 views
|
|
Hoto means "Treasure Tower." A beautiful building. Ikegami Honmonji, Tokyo 宝塔189 views
|
|
Ikegami Station platform on the Tokyu Ikegami Line187 views
|
|
Inside Soshido Hall, view of left side. 大堂(祖師堂)185 views
|
|
The hall was reconstructed in 1964 financed by donations from all over Japan. It is a ferro-concrete structure. 大堂(祖師堂)180 views
|
|
大堂(祖師堂)169 views
|
|
Ikegami Station on the Tokyu Ikegami Line which starts in Gotanda.169 views
|
|
159 views
|
|
Ontakesan Station on the Tokyu Ikegami Line which starts at Gotanda Station. 東急池上線御嶽山駅156 views
|
|
Incense burner150 views
|
|
Shopping street near Ontakesan Station149 views
|
|
Soshido Hall altar 大堂(祖師堂)147 views
|
|
Inside Soshido Hall, view of right side. 大堂(祖師堂)146 views
|
|
Poster for the temple's spring festival which includes Hanamatsuri.146 views
|
|
Ikegami Baien Garden in Ota Ward, Tokyo.146 views
|
|
Ikegami Baien Garden plum blossoms in Ota, Tokyo.141 views
|
|
Weeping cherry and Senzoku-Ike Pond. Near Senzoku-Ike Station on the Tokyu Ikegami Line from Gotanda.140 views
|
|
137 views
|
|
Statue of Rikidozan who was famous for his "karate chop" during the 1950s and early '60s. This famous postwar "Japanese hero" was actually Korean.136 views
|
|
Ikegami Baien Garden, Ota Ward, Tokyo136 views
|
|
Plum blossoms at Ikegami Baien Garden, Ota Ward, Tokyo136 views
|
|
Ikegami Baien Plum Garden in Tokyo.135 views
|
|
Plum blossoms at Ikegami Baien Garden, Ota Ward, Tokyo133 views
|
|
Setsubun bean throwing at Ikegami Honmonji temple, Tokyo.130 viewsThey threw a lot of beans for about 10 min. Interesting that they did not say, "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" We caught a good haul of lucky beans.
|
|
Side view of Soshido Hall. 大堂129 views
|
|
Five-story Pagoda and cherry blossoms. 五重塔127 views
|
|
Plum blossoms at Ikegami Baien, Tokyo126 views
|
|
Rikidozan's gravestone125 views
|
|
Ontakesan Station125 views
|
|
Map of pond124 views
|
|
White elephant for Hanamatsuri122 views
|
|
Priests procession heading for Ikegami Honmonji's main worship hall on Setsubun day, Feb. 3.122 views
|
|
Matsumoto Iyo to throw beans for setsubun at Ikegami Honmonji temple, Tokyo.120 views
|
|
119 views
|
|
Hanamatsuri, Buddha's birthday. When the Buddha was born, he walked seven steps and said, "I am my own Lord through Heaven and Earth," and pointed one hand to Heaven and the other to Earth. 118 views
|
|
Rikidozan's grave, the temple's most famous grave.118 views
|
|
Setsubun at Ikegami Honmonji temple, Tokyo.118 views
|
|
Senzoku-Ike Station on the Tokyo Ikegami Line. THe train line was built in 1928.117 views
|
|
Boy priest sweeping at Ikegami Honmonji, Tokyo.117 views
|
|
People line up to pour sweet tea over the baby buddha. 大堂115 views
|
|
Five-story Pagoda was another structure which escaped war damage. 五重塔114 views
|
|
Back of Soshido Main Hall113 views
|
|
Tokyu Ikegami Line train111 views
|
|
Path to Ontake Jinja.111 views
|
|
110 views
|
|
Senzoku-ike station platform110 views
|
|
Rikidozan's grave109 views
|
|
Sign pointing the way to wrestler Rikidozan's grave.108 views
|
|
Hachimangu Shrine torii107 views
|
|
Roof of Soshido Main Hall 大堂106 views
|
|
The festival ended in about an hour.104 views
|
|
Senzoku-Ike Pond and cherry blossoms.102 views
|
|
Five-story Pagoda built in 1607, Tokyo's oldest pagoda. 五重塔101 views
|
|
Behind the pagoda are many graves.100 views
|
|
Negi-no-Mai Sacred Dance at Tenso Shrine on April 21, starting at 3 pm. 禰宜の舞100 views
|
|
Bridge99 views
|
|
JAL's first cabin attendant uniform appeared in Aug. 1951.99 views
|
|
Ontake Jinja 御嶽神社98 views
|
|
After the Negi-no-Mai Dance, the shrine priest mixes branches and paper in boiling water. 「お湯花(ゆばな)」という儀式98 views
|
|
Tea ceremony97 views
|
|
JAL's cabin attendant uniform worn in the 1970s (left) and 1980s (right).97 views
|
|
Doors of Soshido Main Hall 大堂96 views
|
|
Altar in Kyozo 経蔵95 views
|
|
Marker for the temple.95 views
|
|
This is where the path around the lake ends.95 views
|
|
Graves near Hoto tower94 views
|
|
Senzoku-Ike Pond has a walking path which goes almost completely around. Only 1.2 km.94 views
|
|
Sakurayama with hanami pinickers.94 views
|
|
Hoto tower built on the site where Nichiren was cremated. 宝塔93 views
|
|
The dance is a prayer for a good harvest and to ward off bad luck. This dance was once performed by about 20 shrines along the Tamagawa River in Tokyo and Kawasaki. Now, only this shrine performs it in Tokyo. 天児屋根命(あめのこやねのみ�93 viewsThis god is called Amenokoyane-no-Mikoto (god of festivals).
天狗様「猿田彦命(さるたひこのみこと)」や、神事、祭りを司る神「天児屋根命(あめのこやねのみこと)」、山の幸の神「彦火火出見命(ひこほほでみのみこと)」など、それぞれの役どころを表現する個性豊かな神の舞を見せてくれる。
|
|
Hanamatsuri parade92 views
|
|
Hachimangu Shrine torii92 views
|
|
Hachimangu Shrine92 views
|
|
Hachimangu Shrine. Do not climb on the horse.90 views
|
|
五重塔89 views
|
|
Nitchodo Hall 日朝堂89 views
|
|
宝塔89 views
|
|
88 views
|
|
Car for Hanamatsuri88 views
|
|
Ontake Jinja, main hall on right.88 views
|
|
87 views
|
|
Hanamatsuri Parade on April 8, Buddha's birthday.87 views
|
|
A total of five gods are depicted in this sacred dance. Today, "Negi" refers to the rank of a Shinto priest. During the Edo Period, "Negi" referred to Shinto priests in general. 山の幸の神「彦火火出見命(ひこほほでみ87 views
|
|
Ikegami Honmonji, Tokyo87 views
|
|
86 views
|
|
Hanamatsuri Parade on April 8, Buddha's birthday.86 views
|
|
86 views
|
|
Gate to Honden85 views
|
|
85 views
|
|
Honden Hall 本殿84 views
|
|
Spring festival site with food and entertainment.84 views
|
|
Hanamatsuri Parade on April 8, Buddha's birthday.84 views
|
|
Built in 1828 and made of wood. It is the only tower of its kind in Japan placed outdoors. 宝塔84 views
|
|
The area with the cherry trees is called Sakurayama.84 views
|
|
"Senzoku" means "wash feet." One legend says that Nichiren washed his feet in the pond.84 views
|
|
People then tore off the zigzag paper from the shimenawa rope and dipped it into the hot water and wiped themselves on their face, etc., for healing prayers.84 views
|
|
A small square area with a straw mat enclosed by a shimenawa sacred rope is the makeshift stage for the Negi-no-Mai Sacred Dance at Tenso Shrine.83 views
|
|
Bridge to Bentenjima.82 views
|
|
Behind Ontake Shrine's main hall is a wall of sculpture.82 views
|
|
Tenso Shrine 天祖神社82 views
|
|
Kyozo houses Buddhist scriptures. 経蔵81 views
|
|
Bell tower 鐘楼堂81 views
|
|
Hoto tower 宝塔81 views
|
|
White elephant is usually present during Hanamatsuri. On the day before the Buddha's mother Queen Maya gave birth, she dreamed that a white elephant entered her womb.81 views
|
|
Shrine on Bentenjima81 views
|
|
Hoto tower 宝塔80 views
|
|
The pond is also depicted in woodblock prints such as by Hiroshige.80 views
|
|
80 views
|
|
This last god, called Oyamazumi-no-Mikoto, threw mochi rice cakes to everyone. He brings water, greenery, etc. from the mountains. 大山80 views
|
|
JAL (Japan Airiines) offers free tours of their maintenance facilities and their Sky Museum at Haneda Airport in Tokyo. You can see planes in a huge hangar being serviced. 80 viewsYou have to make reservations at their website, but everything is in Japanese. They have four 90-min. tours almost daily, but only in Japanese. You should reserve weeks or months in advance because tours get booked up quickly. However, when people cancel their reservations, tours may open up. You have to keep checking. Children must be at least elementary school age. Shin Seibijo Station on the Haneda Monorail. JAL's maintenance hangar is a 10-15 min. walk from Shin Seibijo Station on the Haneda Monorail running from JR Hamamatsucho. http://www.jal.co.jp/kengaku/tour/
|
|
Hanami at Senzoku-Ike79 views
|
|
Honden and temple office on right. 本殿、客殿寺務所78 views
|
|
Treasure House 霊宝殿77 views
|
|
Hanamatsuri Parade on April 8, Buddha's birthday.77 views
|
|
This god is called Hikohohode-no-Mikoto which brings food from the mountains. Negi-no-Mai is nicknamed Dedenko-mai, in reference to the taiko drum beat ("dedenko").77 views
|
|
TDA's (Toa Domestic Airways) cabin attendant uniform (left) and JAS (Japan Air System) cabin attendant uniform. Bot TDA and JAS merged with JAL.77 views
|
|
Closeup of rear wall sculpture.76 views
|
|
Bentenjima, a small peninsula connected by a bridge.74 views
|
|
Wedded Pine Trees74 views
|
|
Tenso Shrine altar74 views
|
|
73 views
|
|
This ceremony is called Yubana, meaning "hot-water flowers."73 views
|
|
72 views
|
|
Gift shop sells ANA goods.66 views
|
|
Reception lobby of the ANA Maintenance Facility's ANA Component Maintenance Building. There's a gift shop, model planes, and other exhibits. At lunch time, they sold bento so we had lunch here after the tour.64 views
|
|
Tenso Shrine 天祖神社63 views
|
|
63 views
|
|
Another nearby shrine is Tenso Jinja, a 5-min. walk from Ontakesan Station. This is the schedule for their annual Negi-no-Mai Dance held on April 21.62 views
|
|
ANA's airplane maintenance hangar at Haneda Airport. Photography was permitted, but no videos. 62 viewsYou can post photos online, but you need their approval. These photos here have been approved by ANA. They don't allow ANA personnel and the other tour participants to be pictured. Also cannot show any non-ANA plane.
|
|
How workers get around. Enjoyed the tour.60 views
|
|
ANA cockpit in the lobby.59 views
|
|
Passenger seats were taken out and the cushions replaced.59 views
|
|
ANA Gundam in the lobby.58 views
|
|
58 views
|
|
Jet engine undergoing maintenance.58 views
|
|
The hangar can get very noisy when they are testing an engine.58 views
|
|
From Haneda Airport's International terminal, you can see ANA's maintenance hangars at the end of Runway A which is one of the airport's original runways.57 views
|
|
After passing the JAL maintenance hangar, you will see this overpass connecting the ANA buildings.57 views
|
|
ANA's Boeing 78757 views
|
|
ANA's Boeing 787 inside the maintenance hangar at Haneda Airport. 57 views
|
|
57 views
|
|
On the left is the ANA Component Maintenance Building where you check-in for the tour. Show the security guard your reservations (printout of the email confirmation) to enter the building.56 views
|
|
ANA's lecture hall has some exhibits like model planes.56 views
|
|
Tires56 views
|
|
Always impressive to see a jet plane up close. We see it only on the outside, cannot go inside the plane.56 views
|
|
56 views
|
|
The same type of happi coat the Beatles wore when they got off the JAL DC-8 ("Matsushima") at Haneda for their Budokan concerts in 1966.56 viewsThe back has the kanji for kotobuki (寿) meaning "celebration." Famous story behind how a JAL stewardess got John to wear the happi coat. "Wearing a happi coat when you land in Japan would make the fans really happy!" "Good idea!," said John who then wore it. The other Beatles followed and wore one too. A major, historic PR coup for JAL.
|
|
55 views
|
|
ANA model planes in the lobby.55 views
|
|
In this lecture hall, ANA's tour started with a 30-min. talk and video about flight, their planes, Haneda Airport, etc.55 viewsPart of ANA's talk was about how planes fly. They demonstrated how wind can lift the wings of a toy plane.
|
|
ANA's whale plane.55 views
|
|
Free souvenir of the tour. Cell phone strap with an ANA maintenance man.55 views
|
|
After the slide show lecture, we wore a hard hat and walked on the overpass to the plane hangars. 55 viewsThere were around 80 people in the tour and they divided us into around 15 people per group for the hangar tour. Each group had a guide explaining things in Japanese.
|
|
55 views
|
|
When you enter the building, you will be in the reception lobby.54 views
|
|
Pose54 views
|
|
54 views
|
|
54 views
|
|
Engine removed from the plane.54 views
|
|
Tires54 views
|
|
Tires are not that huge. Tires are inflated with nitrogen, not air (one thing that they always mention).54 views
|
|
Extra hangar space.54 views
|
|
54 views
|
|
Go to the JAL Maintenance Center 1 Building and show your reservation to the reception. They will give you a pass. You can arrive 30 min. before the tour starts. Use the time to see this Sky Museum.54 viewsThe tour pass is on a JAL cell phone neck strap that you can keep.
*Note that if you take the tour and take pictures and want to post pictures online, you will need JAL's approval. They don't allow photos of JAL personnel and tour guests in online photos. All these photos have been approved by JAL for posting here.
|
|
A visitor tries an interactive exhibit for directing a JAL plane to a gate.54 views
|
|
Cabin attendant uniforms throughout JAL's history (including TDA aka Japan Air System that merged with JAL). 54 views
|
|
Model of JAL Boeing 747.54 views
|
|
54 views
|
|
Photography was permitted, but no videos. You can post photos online, but cannot show personnel (I assume faces) and the other tour participants. Also cannot show any plane from another airline which might be taxiing or flying outside in the background.54 views
|
|
About the JAL "Fuji" DC-8.54 views
|
|
Entrance to Ikegami Baien plum tree garden which opened in Aug. 1978. Admission is only 100 yen. The garden is operated by Ota Ward.53 views
|
|
Excellent sloping garden boasting over 360 plum blossom trees amid numerous azalea bushes. Near Nishi-Magome Station on the Toei Asakusa Line.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Tire, cockpit window, lights.53 views
|
|
Where the tail fits.53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
Jet engine undergoing maintenance.53 views
|
|
ANA plane53 views
|
|
53 views
|
|
ANA's Peanuts (Charlie Brown) plane.52 views
|
|
52 views
|
|
52 views
|
|
52 views
|
|
Extra dock in the maintenance hangar.52 views
|
|
52 views
|
|
Jet engine cowlings.52 views
|
|
Historical model planes in JAL's Sky Museum. The museum is quite big, and we didn't have time to see everything.52 views
|
|
JAL's tour also started with a 30-min. talk and slide show in Japanese.52 views
|
|
JAL Boeing 787.52 views
|
|
Tail of the JAL "Fuji" DC-8. Looks like they are restoring the plane.52 views
|
|
51 views
|
|
ANA plane parked outside the maintenance hangar.51 views
|
|
Panel about the 747. ANA retired its last Boeing 747 in March 2014. ANA first flew 747s in 1979. Will be missed.50 views
|
|
They have to replace the tires quite often, every 2 months or so.50 views
|
|
JAL's "Sky Museum" shows JAL's history, interactive exhibits like a cockpit, first-class seats, and a special room showing special plane seats used by the emperor before Japan got its own Japanese Air Force One. In Japanese only though50 views
|
|
History of JAL planes.50 views
|
|
Vintage JAL luggage tags.50 views
|
|
One corner of the hangar preserved the cockpit/lounge section of the JAL "Fuji" DC-8. This was Japan's first passenger jet put into service in 1960, replacing prop planes. This plane had 104 seats, 36 first class and 68 tourist class.50 views
|
|
49 views
|
|
First class section of JAL's "Fuji" DC-8.49 views
|
|
49 views
|
|
47 views
|
|
46 views
|
|
Remains of a torii that collapsed during the March 11, 2011 earthquake.46 views
|
|
Wore hard hats and toured JAL's maintenance hangar for about 40 min. JAL's airplane maintenance hangar at Haneda Airport. Huge facility.46 views
|
|
The lucky treat of the JAL tour was seeing Japan's Air Force One (actually, Air Force Two). The Japanese government plane that carries the prime minister or emperor.46 viewsThey are normally parked at Chitose Airport in Hokkaido. Flown by the Air Defense Force, but maintained by JAL. Japan's Air Force One/Two will be retired in 2019, to be replaced by Boeing 777. The new Boeing 777 will be maintained by ANA. Photos were allowed, but not allowed to be posted online.
|
|
JAL plane parked outside the maintenance hangar.45 viewsJAL sent out an online questionaire afterward for feedback about the tour. I told them that many foreigners were also interested in the tours so they should provide foreign language info too. I'm told that there are no tours like this in the States.
|
|
The garden is open from 9 am to 4:30 pm (enter by 4 pm). Closed on Mon. except in Feb. and March.44 views
|
|
About the Suikinkutsu, a water drop harp.44 views
|
|
Most of the plum trees are on this hillside on the left. More trees if you walk further straight.43 views
|
|
Ikegami Station on the Tokyu Ikegami Line43 views
|
|
42 views
|
|
Japanese tea ceremony house and Japanese-style room for rent. 清月庵42 views
|
|
41 views
|
|
41 views
|
|
40 views
|
|
39 views
|
|
38 views
|
|
38 views
|
|
In front of Ikegami Station on the Tokyu Ikegami Line, follow this road for a short walk to Ikegami Honmonji temple.38 views
|
|
37 views
|
|
37 views
|
|
37 views
|
|
37 views
|
|
37 views
|
|
37 views
|
|
Japanese tea ceremony house for rent. 聴雨庵37 views
|
|
37 views
|
|
37 views
|
|
37 views
|
|
Matsumoto Iyo's place.37 views
|
|
Press cameramen behind us on their own platform to record the event.37 views
|
|
At 3 pm, the bean throwers appeared and took their positions after attending a ceremony inside the temple.37 views
|
|
36 views
|
|
36 views
|
|
36 views
|
|
36 views
|
|
Called a Suikinkutsu, the water drops make a soothing sound like from a koto harp. 36 views
|
|
36 views
|
|
Taiko drum performance in early April in front of the temple.36 views
|
|
Incense burner36 views
|
|
The bean throwers included minor celebrities, former pro wrestlers, and men and women born in the Year of the Monkey.36 views
|
|
The ANA (and JAL) Maintenance Facilities are next to each other near Shin Seibijo Station on the Haneda Monorail going to Haneda Airport from JR Hamamatsucho Station.36 views
|
|
Shin Seibijo Station on the Haneda Monorail. ANA's maintenance hangar is a 10-15 min. walk from this station.36 views
|
|
|