 Most viewed - Shinjuku-ku 新宿区 |
Shimada hairstyle3541 viewsStandard hairstyle for geisha. This a wig.
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Rear view2691 views
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"Blue Ocean Waves" (青海波)2432 viewsThey performed four numbers. This first one was called "Blue Ocean Waves" performed by five geisha.
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Kagurazaka geisha dance2222 views
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Praying at Bishamon2177 views
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Kagurazaka geisha dance2109 views
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2030 viewsHer big round eyes makes her look like a real doll.
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1872 views
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1840 views
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1759 views
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1716 views
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1698 views
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"Hana no Kai" Dance by Kagurazaka geisha1441 viewsThe "Hana no Kai" geisha dance is held annually by geisha in Kagurazaka, one of Tokyo's major geisha districts. "Hana" means livley or gaudy. And "Kai" can mean gathering or party.
They held two shows on the same day. This was the second show starting at 3 pm on April 16, 2005. It lasted till about 4:45 pm.
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1383 views
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Eight Views of Tatsumi (巽八景）1370 viewsThe second number was about the Tatsumi and Monzen-nakacho (Fukagawa) district in Koto Ward, Tokyo. The dance reflects the chic and bravado of the area (in the old days) which was one of Tokyo's gay quarters with geisha as well.
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1277 viewsAfter the dance, this geisha posed with us for a picture.
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1270 viewsNotice that the kimono design shows waves.
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悋気しゃんすな1246 viewsSolo number performed by Maiko (her name). 舞子
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Geisha catching a taxi home1216 viewsPhoto by Kevin Mihaly.
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1200 views
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1183 views
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1156 views
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Finale1155 views
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1149 views
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Music and singing accompaniment1139 viewsAll numbers was accompanied by live music and singing.
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1117 viewsUnlike geisha dances in Kyoto which have elaborate backgrounds, the background here is quite plain, making us focus on the geisha which were enough eye candy. The background really didn't matter. The dances were very aesthetic and pleasing to the eyes and ears.
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Chestnut Rice Cakes （栗餅）1073 viewsThe third number was called "Chestnut Mochi." Mochi is rice cake. They pound sticky rice to make it. Performed by two geisha. The one in blue is a male role.
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Hand clapping1052 viewsThis is called sanbon-jime, a series of hand clapping to mark the end of a successful meeting.
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1038 views
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1034 views
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1033 views
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904 views
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Lively Colors of Kagurazaka（神楽坂華の彩）853 viewsThe final number, called Lively Colors of Kagurazaka (Kagurazaka Hana no Irodori) actually consisted of seven dances. This was the first one performed by three geisha. （ひと里）
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引けや引け引け852 views
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Intermission820 viewsThis Ushigome-Tansu Kumin Hall can hold almost 400 people. Both shows were sold out. Tickets are sold about a month in advance. They sold out within 2 weeks. I was sitting in the middle of the hall (non-reserved seating). Tickets cost only 2,000 yen.
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818 views
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777 views
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Closing curtain751 views
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711 views
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A bow of thanks675 views
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Hall entrance and sign666 views
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The Word Called Love (恋と云う字)665 views
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631 views
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Praying at Bishamon575 viewsBishamon is a Buddhist temple in Kagurazaka where the geisha go to worship. The song included a reference to this temple.
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Finale548 views
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536 views
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Towel throwing532 viewsDuring the finale, the geisha started throwing hand towels to the audience.
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Closing words531 viewsThe women standing in the back are the okami-san (proprietress) of high-class Japanese-style restaurants in Kagurazaka where the geisha are hired to perform at private geisha parties.
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Finale522 viewsEveryone performed in the finale.
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Towel throwing484 viewsThere were women in the middle the hall also throwing towels to people sitting further back.
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As the climax of the 37th Kagurazaka Matsuri Festival, the Kagurazaka Awa Odori Dance was held on July 25-26, 2008, from 7 pm to 9 pm. These photos were taken on July 25, 2008. Crowd at Bishamonten.422 views
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The Awa Odori is held on Kagurazaka's main street called Kagurazaka-dori, a sloping road near Iidabashi Station. 神楽坂阿波踊り343 views
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Shinjuku Eisa Matsuri, Tokyo319 views
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Shinjuku Gyoen is near Shinjuku Gyoen-mae Station on the Marunouchi Line. This is Shinjuku Gate, one of the three gates to the park. Admission 200 yen.312 views
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Many women drummers also perform. Shinjuku Eisa Matsuri, Tokyo266 views
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Infectious Okinawan beat. Shinjuku Eisa Matsuri, Tokyo251 views
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Kagurazaka Awa Odori Dance 神楽坂阿波踊り205 views
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Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden203 views
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Kagurazaka Awa Odori Dance193 views
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192 views
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Kagurazaka Awa Odori Dance 神楽坂阿波踊り190 views
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Cherry blossoms along the pond, Shinjuku Gyoen.186 views
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Kagurazaka Awa Odori dancers178 views
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Multi-colored cherry blossoms, Shinjuku Gyoen.177 views
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Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden177 views
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Kaguazaka Awa Odori dancers in front of Bishamonten temple. 毘沙門天171 views
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Several groups perform along the main road on the east side of JR Shinjuku Station. This is in front of Isetan Dept. Store.154 views
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148 views
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146 views
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Shinjuku Gyoen Sendagaya Gate144 views
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The cherry blossoms lining Sotobori Moat also look stunning from the road, Sotobori-dori in front of Kagurazaka.136 views
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Without alcohol, it's less noisy. But if you like to drink, go to Yoyogi Park instead.125 views
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These pictures were taken soon after the garden gates opened at 9 am in early April 2010 when it was overcast.122 views
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Map of Shinjuku Gyoen. It's huge with a variety of Japanese and Western gardens, not to mention thousands of trees.120 views
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From morning, people spread their picnic mats to claim their spot under or near the best cherry trees.117 views
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117 views
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Godzilla's roaring time. On a rooftop in Kabukicho, Shinjuku.114 views
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Eighteen awa odori dance troupes danced this night.107 views
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Canal Cafe104 views
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Shinjuku Gyoen has about 1,500 cherry trees.99 views
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Sotobori Park on the other side of the moat. 外濠公園97 views
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Very popular festival and well-worth seeing.96 views
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A large crowd watches as the crowd-pleasing drummers bring a bit of Okinawa to central Tokyo.95 views
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Hanami picnickers have to be well-behaved since alcoholic beverages are not allowed inside Shinjuku Gyoen. No bicycles, no badminton or games, no musical instruments or karaoke either.93 views
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92 views
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91 views
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What the new greenhouse will look like.91 views
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Another distinguished building is this Chinese-style Taiwan Pavilion (Goryo-tei) built by Japanese in Taiwan in 1927.91 views
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Originally, it was not open-air.91 views
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90 views
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90 views
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Shinjuku Gyoen had its beginnings as the estate of the Naito clan, a retainer of the Tokugawa shogun.90 views
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90 views
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Everyone commented on how a single tree could have three different colored flowers.90 views
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90 views
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About the Taiwan Pavilion.90 views
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89 views
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Tamamo Pond89 views
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89 views
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Garden management office.88 views
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88 views
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88 views
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Traditional Japanese Garden at Kami-no-ike Pond. (Upper Pond)88 views
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Mt. Fuji and Mt. Asama（富士や浅間）. Solo dance by a geisha named Mari（万り）.88 views
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87 views
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French Formal Garden87 views
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87 views
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86 views
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86 views
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The greenhouse was closed due to reconstruction.86 views
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86 views
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This is the tree which caught everyone's eye. It actually has flowers in three colors. All on one tree.86 views
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How it looks in May with azalea.86 views
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86 views
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85 views
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85 views
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Part of the English Landscape Garden which is mainly a grassy lawn.84 views
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Bridge over the Kami-no-ike Pond. (Upper Pond)84 views
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83 views
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Kagurazaka Matsuri poster83 views
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Former Imperial Rest House (Kyu-gokyusho), an Important Cultural Property. This Western-style building was where Imperial family members rested while visiting the garden.83 views
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83 views
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French Formal Garden is not yet colorful in early April.83 views
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83 views
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Naka-no-ike Pond (Middle Pond)82 views
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You can enter the Taiwan Pavilion for free. Enter from the back.82 views
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82 views
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Large camellia bush next to a cherry tree.82 views
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81 views
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About the former Imperial Rest House in Japanese.81 views
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81 views
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81 views
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Inside the Taiwan Pavilion, Shinjuku Gyoen Goryo-tei. Today it's an open-air lookout deck.81 views
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81 views
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A cluster of weeping cherry trees.80 views
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Great panoramic view from the Taiwan Pavilion.80 views
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Pine tree in the pond in front of the Taiwan Pavilion.80 views
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Smoking dragon dance78 views
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78 views
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78 views
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Next to the English Garden is this French Formal Garden.78 views
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Sakura roof78 views
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I spent 3 hours walking around this garden. Would've taken longer if the sky was blue.78 views
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78 views
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78 views
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78 views
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78 views
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78 views
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Canal Cafe is right below the cherries. But notice empty tables despite the long line.77 views
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77 views
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So many cherry blossoms. It can take hours to see them all.77 views
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77 views
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Here and there is a plaque like this in front of a large tree asking you what kind of tree it is. The answer is under the top flap.77 views
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Hand drum76 views
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Dancing in front of JR Shinjuku Station, East side76 views
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76 views
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These dancers head to the starting point.76 views
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Kagura-ren かぐら連76 views
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Kagura-ren かぐら連76 views
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76 views
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Large ginkgo tree at Shinjuku Goyen Garden, Tokyo.76 views
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How it looks from the end of the moat.75 views
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The local Kagurazaka Awa Odori troupe is Kagura-ren. かぐら連75 views
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75 views
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Cherry tree at Tamamo Pond.75 views
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French Formal Garden75 views
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A flower named after the International Herald Tribune.75 views
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Amazing tree sprouting another trunk after being cut down.75 views
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Shinjuku Gyoen Sendagaya Gate in autumn75 views
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Pine trees74 views
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Cherry blossom that blooms in Oct.74 views
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French Formal Garden in autumn at Shinjuku Gyoen Garden.73 views
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Cherry blossom that blooms in Oct.73 views
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Another gingko tree outside the garden.73 views
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Chuo Line passes through. 中央線72 views
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Unusual to see a woman drumming a big taiko drum.72 views
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72 views
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Damudan-ren has an easily-recognizable kimono design pattern. だむだん連72 views
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Shinjuku Gyoen Garden in autumn.72 views
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Crow72 views
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71 views
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Flute players71 views
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Cherry blossom that blooms in autumn.71 views
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The starting point was here, at the foot of the sloping Kagurazaka-dori near Iidabashi Station.70 views
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だむだん連70 views
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Photographers who love trains and cherries flock here.69 views
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