 Most viewed - HYOGO 兵庫県 |
Himeji Castle tower, a National Treasure. 大天守666 views
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Warrior armor displayed on second floor of Himeji Castle tower539 views
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Road to Himeji Castle. From Himeji Station, the main road leads to the castle which can be seen in the distance.494 views
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Nu-no-mon Gate (Important Cultural Property). This is the way out.432 views
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Since Jan. 2010 is the 15th anniversary of the Kobe earthquake that struck on Jan. 17, 1995, I decided to upload these photos for the first time. I visited Kobe 10 days after the killer quake struck. Had to take a hydrofoil from Osaka to reach Kobe.432 views
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Okiku's Well. Subject of a famous ghost story called "Banshu Sara Yashiki," about a castle servant named Okiku.412 views
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I was amazed to see Mos Burger back in business so soon. It was another sign of a very progressive recovery.389 views
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Harakiki Maru. Square where the samurai committed harakiri or seppuku. The well seen in the upper right may have been where the head was washed. The building on the right was actually a defensive post.387 views
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Twin turrets of Akashi Castle367 views
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Kitanozaka slope goes to the Kitano-cho area of Western homes built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many are very well-preserved and open to the public. This one has Starbucks. 北野坂（奥に北野物語館）359 views
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Osakabe Shrine on top floor of Himeji Castle. This shrine was already on the hill before the castle was built. The shrine was moved when the castle was built, but it was brought into the castle after some "curses" occurred.340 views
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Fukae Shopping Center335 views
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Model of castle329 views
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Barrels of sake displayed for Toka Ebisu inside Hanshin Nishinomiya Station.317 views
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Toka Ebisu banner inside Umeda Station.311 views
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Earthquake tourists getting their picture taken.308 views
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Otemon Gate, Main gate to castle. Reconstructed in 1937. 大手門305 views
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Santica building near Sannomiya Station had a middle floor crushed. As I walked around the devastation, I could see common ways in which the buildings collapsed. High rise buildings commonly collapsed on a middle floor.305 views
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Hishi Gate, Important Cultural Property. Pass though this large gate to proceed to the Ni no Maru compound. 菱門291 views
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Kobe manhole291 views
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Castle tower, a National Treasure. 大天守274 views
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Path to Harakiri (belly-slitting) Maru on the left or to Ri-no-mon Gate straight ahead.270 views
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The family crest of the resident warlords who repaired the castle are displayed. The warlords include Hashiba (later Toyotomi) Hideyoshi, Ikeda Terumasa, Honda Tadamasa, Matsudaira Tadaaki, Matsudaira Naomoto, Sakakibara Tadatsugu, and Sakai Tadazumi.269 views
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Castle view from San no Maru.265 views
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Wooden framework of castle tower265 views
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Family crest on roof tiles. The family crest of the resident warlords who repaired the castle remain on the roof.263 views
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Uchibori Inner Moat261 views
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Castle tower closeup. 大天守258 views
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World Heritage Site marker. 世界遺産 姫路城247 views
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Road to Himeji Castle. Otemae Boulevard (Symbol Road). 大手前通り246 views
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Path to Hishi Gate. 菱門244 views
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Take off your shoes before entering.242 views
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Castle moat238 views
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Main castle tower (donjon), called Tenshu. 大天守233 views
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Himeji Station230 views
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Mizu-no-ni Gate, Important Cultural Property229 views
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World Heritage Site marker. 世界遺産 姫路城228 views
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The family crest of the resident warlords who repaired the castle remain on the roof.226 views
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Weapon racks called bugukake. 武具掛225 views
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224 views
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More exhibits224 views
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Weathercock House, built in 1909, is one of the main Western homes open to the public in Kobe's Kitano-cho. 旧トーマス住宅224 views
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Mizu-no-san Gate221 views
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Ni no Maru. After passing through Hishi Gate, this is what you see.220 views
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Inside Ni-no-mon Gate. A bottleneck gate designed so not many enemy soldiers can pass through at one time.220 views
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View of Honmaru (Bizen Maru) and shachihoko roof ornament. The shachihoko ornament on the roof ridge guards against fire and natural disasters. Eleven of these are atop the castle.220 views
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Ho-no-mon Gate (lower left)220 views
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Path to Otemon Gate, the main gate to the castle. 大手門219 views
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219 views
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Path to Ha-no-mon Gate はの門218 views
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Castle tower viewed from Bizen Maru (Honmaru) 大天守218 views
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First floor218 views
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Sword exhibit218 views
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Inside storehouse216 views
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Weapon racks called bugukake. 武具掛216 views
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View of Honmaru (Bizen Maru), main road to Himeji Station, and Nishi-no-Maru215 views
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Sangoku Moat in Ni no Maru, 三国堀214 views
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Ni-no-mon Gate (Important Cultural Asset) にの門214 views
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Chi-no-mon Gate (after passing through)214 views
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Stone coffins at Bizen Gate. Due to a shortage of stones during the castle's construction, many stone coffins unearthed from the tumulus on the hill of the castle were used in the rock walls. The stone coffins were replaced by real stones during the c213 viewsDue to a shortage of stones during the castle's construction, many stone coffins unearthed from the tumulus on the hill of the castle were used in the rock walls. The stone coffins were replaced by real stones during the castle restoration in the 1960s.
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Nishi no Maru and Sangoku Moat in foreground213 views
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Special Historical Place marker212 views
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Ro-no-mon Gate (Important Cultural Asset) ろの門212 views
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Castle roof underside212 views
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Chi-no-mon Gate in the distance. On the left partially hidden is To-no-ichi Gate. ちの門212 views
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First flight of stairs212 views
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Castle ticket office and entrance. Admission is 600 yen for adults. Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (September through May) or 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.(June through August).211 views
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View from He-no-mon Gate211 views
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210 views
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San no Maru. This area is ringed by cherry trees. 三の丸広場209 views
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View from the right of Hishi Gate208 views
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Koshi Kuruwa storehouse (Waist Quarter) for salt and rice.208 views
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"Sama" hole for dropping stones, throwing spears, etc.208 views
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Mizu-no-ichi Gate, Important Cultural Property.208 views
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View from the right of Hishi Gate207 views
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Castle tower 大天守207 views
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San no Maru cherry trees. The stone marker says that Himeji Castle is one of Japan's 100 Best Cherry Blossom Sites.205 views
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Bizen Gate entrance to Honmaru, also called Bizen-maru. Notice the coffin stone on the right of the gate. (Important Cultural Property) 備前門205 views
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Top floor of castle tower205 views
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I-no-mon Gate (Important Cultural Asset) いの門204 views
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He-no-mon Gate への門204 views
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Well Turret. The well is 16 meters deep with water 1 meter deep.204 views
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Sign for bugukake weapon racks. Most explanatory signs are also in English.204 views
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Nishi no Maru and Hishi Gate (lower right)204 views
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Storehouse203 views
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Mizu-no-go Gate. 水五門202 views
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Mizu-no-roku Gate door202 views
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Well Turret sign. The turret is to defend the rear of the castle. It has three rooms, one of which has a 16-meter deep well. 井郭櫓201 views
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Inside Weathercock House.201 views
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Path to Ni-no-mon Gate200 views
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Path to castle tower entrance200 views
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Inside storehouse198 views
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Coins stuck on giant tune at Nishinomiya Shrine Toka Ebisu.198 views
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Koshi no Kuruwa storehouse for rice and salt197 views
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Castle tower stone foundation197 views
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197 views
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View of Honmaru and main road to Himeji Station, Otemae Boulevard (Symbol Road). 大手前通り197 views
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They also had a giant maguro tuna fish on display as an offering to the shrine from a fishing cooperative.197 views
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Shrine maidens selling fuku-sasa branches at Nishinomiya Shrine's Toka Ebisu.197 views
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To-no-ichi Gate との一問196 views
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View of castle tower from Chi-no-mon Gate196 views
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Mizu-no-go Gate door196 views
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195 views
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Moegi no Yakata or Sharp residence 萌黄の館（シャープ住宅）195 views
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One end of To-no-ichi Gate194 views
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Mizu-no-roku Gate194 views
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Inside Mizu-no-roku Gate194 views
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Gun racks called bugukake. 武具掛194 views
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To top floor194 views
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194 views
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Akashi Castle seen from the train platform of Akashi Station.194 views
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He-no-mon Gate in the distance. As seen from Chi-no-mon Gate.192 views
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To second floor192 views
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Fifth floor192 views
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Another major house is Uroko no Ie which has an art museum as well. 旧ハリヤー邸（うろこの家）192 views
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British House 英国館190 views
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189 views
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Map of Akashi Park188 viewsThe castle is now only a small part of the park.
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Castle tower viewed from Bizen Maru (Honmaru). 大天守187 views
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187 views
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187 views
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185 views
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View of Shirotopia Memorial Park. Site of the Shirotopia Expo held in 1989 to celebrate Himeji city's centennial. シロトピア記念公園184 views
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182 views
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Going back down182 views
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Kobe City Hall buckled at the middle floor.182 views
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Himeji Station181 views
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Weapons racks called bugukake. 武具掛180 views
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View of Honmaru178 views
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Nihon Seimei Bldg. collapsed at the middle, near Sannomiya Station. It's hard to imagine what would've happened if the quake struck during working hours with people working in this building.177 views
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Going down176 views
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Inside Moegi no Yakata175 views
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Ben's House175 views
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Video of Toka Ebisu at Nishinomiya Shrine, Hyogo.175 views
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View looking east173 views
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The Japanese tile roof makes the home top-heavy, making it more vulnerable to horizontal swaying and eventual toppling.173 views
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170 views
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Something unique is this upside down kadomatsu decoration flanking Nishinomiya Shrine's Haiden Hall.168 views
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167 views
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167 views
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Akashi Castle seen from the train platform of Akashi Station.164 views
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Animal rights activists will love this house.164 views
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Hammack which Ben slept on.164 views
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Tilted buildings near Sannomiya Station. It took only 15 sec. to wreak all this damage.164 views
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Shopping arcade163 views
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Photo gallery162 views
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Akashi Station162 viewsOn the JR Sanyo Line.
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161 views
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Kobe Shimbun newspaper offices near Sannomiya Station was in shambles.161 views
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By this time, the tuna was dry and solid as a rock. It was impossible to stick on more coins.161 views
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No, my camera lens is not distorting this picture. That building is actually tilting a lot, but they still allowed traffic on the road below.157 views
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Toka Ebisu ad inside Hanshin Line train.155 views
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154 views
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Hanshin Nishinomiya Station.154 views
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The expressway that supposed withstand such quakes collapsed. It was a major scandal. The shinkansen bullet train tracks also had broken concrete columns which revealed pieces of scrap wood mixed in. 152 views
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Near Kobe City Hall along Flower Road was this office building which had also collapsed at a middle floor.151 views
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Sogo Dept. Store cracked vertically in the middle. This building was later torn down and replaced with a new dept. store building.149 views
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149 views
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Where the tail is cut off.149 views
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Castle moat148 views
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Entrance to Akashi Park146 views
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Interesting contrast between buildings which fell and didn't fall.146 views
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Castle wall144 views
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Garden of Musashi 武蔵の庭園144 viewsNear the park entrance is a Japanese garden designed by Miyamoto Musashi, famous warrior.
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View from Hitsujisaru Turret142 views
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In front of Sannomiya Station is Sogo Dept. Store.142 views
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142 views
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The main square in Kitano-cho. Most of the homes charge admission. It's cheaper to buy a set of tickets to see multiple homes. Most of the major homes have a ticket booth selling these ticket sets.141 views
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The engineers said this would be strong enough, but they were dead wrong.141 views
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Hitsujisaru Turret (坤櫓)140 views
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Inside Hitsujisaru Turret140 views
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When you arrive JR Toyooka Station, you will soon notice that the Oriental white stork ("kounotori" in Japanese) is the symbol of the city. Even the roof looks like a soaring bird. 139 views
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Damage to Sannomiya Station building.138 views
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Castle moat137 views
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Inside Hitsujisaru Turret136 viewsRoof tile ends on display.
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Expressway pylon broken.134 views
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Tatsumi Turret (巽櫓) (not open to visitors)132 views
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Sherlock Holmes room in British House, Kobe Ijinkan131 views
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Tatsumi Turret (巽櫓)130 views
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Stairs inside Hitsujisaru Turret130 viewsUnfortunately, the upper floor is bnot open to visitors.
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Statue of Nakabe Ikujiro (1866－1946) 中部幾次郎130 viewsA pioneer in building up Akashi's fisheries industry. Also a philanthropist who donated money to build schools in Akashi.
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Shop shutters along Ikuta Road are tilted due to the crushing weight.129 views
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The building next to Washington Hotel scraped against the hotel as it fell.129 views
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Twin turrets of Akashi Castle128 viewsThe left turret is called the Hitsujisaru Turret (坤櫓) and the right one is called the Tatsumi Turret (巽櫓).
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Tatsumi Turret (巽櫓)128 views
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Hitsujisaru Turret (坤櫓) is open to visitors.128 views
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Crushed car128 views
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Exiting Hanshin Nishinomiya Station on Jan 10, 2011.128 views
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Tatsumi Turret (巽櫓)127 views
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Steps to turrets126 views
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Selling omikuji fortunes.125 views
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View from castle124 viewsThe train station can be seen in the distance.
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Another common way in which buildings collapsed was the 1st floor giving way like this small hotel.124 views
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Inside Hitsujisaru Turret123 views
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Statue of Nakabe Ikujiro (1866－1946) 中部幾次郎122 viewsA pioneer in building up Akashi's fisheries industry. Also a philanthropist who donated money to build schools in Akashi.
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Sannomiya Station122 views
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Castle wall and Hitsujisaru Turret (坤櫓)121 views
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121 views
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Oriental White Stork manhole in Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture.121 views
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So named because of a weathercock (rooster) on the spire.120 views
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119 views
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Cracked Sogo Dept. Store in Sannomiya.119 views
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Ebessan-suji road going to Nishinomiya Jinja Shrine.119 views
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Path to turrets118 views
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Inside Hitsujisaru Turret118 views
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Way to Hanshin Nishinomiya Station.117 views
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Kobe Port. Most of the people entering Kobe during this time were relatives and friends of Kobe residents, bringing relief goods.116 views
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Distribution place for relief goods. Ten days after the earthquake, the initial fires, confusion, and pandemonium had subsided. It was pretty calm by then, but the damage was still visible.116 views
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Directional sign at JR Toyooka Station.116 views
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Hitsujisaru Turret (坤櫓) and castle tower foundation114 views
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Castle tower foundation113 views
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112 views
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112 views
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Crushed car112 views
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On the left was a separate entrance here to see the giant tuna (maguro).112 views
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112 views
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112 views
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112 views
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Hankyu Railways' Sannomiya Station being torn down.111 views
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Fallen clock which stopped at the time of the earthquake.111 views
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Rhine House (free admission) 旧ドレウェル邸（ラインの館）110 views
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Crushed Audi.110 views
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Oriental white stork eating a fish.110 views
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Oriental White Stork manhole in Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture.110 views
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Amid the rubble of a collapsed building, a yakisoba stall sold yakisoba noodles.109 views
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109 views
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At Osaka's Imamiya Shrine (another big Ebisu shrine), the tree branches are real and you can choose which decorations to put on it.109 views
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Jazz sculptures accent the Kitano-cho area.108 views
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108 views
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108 views
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People on the left are leaving the shrine, while people on the right are heading for the shrine. About a million people visit Nishinomiya Shrine during Jan. 9-11.108 views
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About the tai sea bream.108 views
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I didn't expect to see the storks flying around, so I was thrilled when a few of them flew overhead while I was in the park. They flew in during feeding time.108 views
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Two Oriental white storks on a nesting platform. Each nesting platform has a video camera monitoring it 24/7 especially during the egg-laying and hatching season in spring.108 viewsThe park is likely crowded during this time until the babies leave the nest in June/July.
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107 views
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107 views
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Employees are removing merchandise from Sogo Dept. Store.107 views
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107 views
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The next day, I again visited Kobe, this time by train to Ashiya Station. See gravestones overturned.107 views
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107 views
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The tuna is 2.9 meters long weighing 280 kg. About the same as two sumo wrestlers.107 views
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Fuku-zasa branches cost 1000 or 3000 yen.107 views
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Entering Nishinomiya Shrine at the Omote Daimon Gate, usually called Akamon Gate. 西宮神社表大門 通称赤門106 views
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People on the left are heading for the shrine, while people on the right are leaving.106 views
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White stork mail box at Oriental White Stork Park in Toyooka, Hyogo.106 views
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106 views
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Ashiya Station105 views
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Wash basin to purify yourself. Few people stopped here.105 views
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Entering the Nishinomiya Shrine's Haiden Hall.105 views
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105 views
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Exiting Nishinomiya Shrine.105 views
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White stork landing in the paddy during feeding time.105 views
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