 Most viewed - Shizuoka city 静岡市 |
From Shizuoka Station (bus stop 19), it takes 35 min. by bus to Nihondaira. The bus comes to this Nihondaira Park Center. From here, you can easily walk to the points of interest.580 views
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Yaji in front of Sumpu Castle in Shizuoka city. 「東海道中膝栗毛」十返捨一九307 views
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Daidogei World Cup in Shizuoka at Sumpu Park302 views
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Shizuoka manhole284 views
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Mt. Fuji as seen from Nihondaira's Ginbodai. Even sunny days can be hazy, but at least Mt. Fuji was visible when I went in mid-March. It was too hazy to see the Izu Peninsula.283 views
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Mt. Fuji as seen from Nihondaira.275 views
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Parking area for people going to Nihondaira via the steps up the mountain. Near here is the bus stop for Shizuoka Station.261 views
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Sumpu Castle's Higashi Gomon Gate and bridge 東御門258 views
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Also visible from the station is Granship, the Shizuoka Convention & Arts Center.246 views
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Statue of Yajirobe'e ("Yaji") on the left and Kitahachi ("Kita") from the story "Tokaido-chu Hizakurige" by Juppensha Ikku (1765-1839) a comic playwright who was born in Shizuoka city.238 views
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Torii with Kunozan in the background.226 views
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Stone torii 山下石鳥居214 views
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Sunpu Castle's Tatsumi Yagura Turret and Higashi Gomon Gate.208 views
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Life-size spaceship.206 views
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Map of Kunozan Toshogu Shrine. It's not as big as it looks. The shrine is one of Nihondaira's main attractions. It was the original burial site of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. The shrine was built by his son Hidetada.205 views
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Kita in front of Sumpu Castle in Shizuoka city. 「東海道中膝栗毛」十返捨一九198 views
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Sumpu Castle moat. The buildings are the Shizuoka Prefectural capital.197 views
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He turns his head back.194 views
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Daidogei World Cup in Shizuoka at Sumpu Park176 views
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Honden Hall of Kunozan Toshogu Shrine at Nihondaira, Shizuoka. The shrine's focal point and most magnificent building. Important Cultural Property.174 views
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The shrine looks spanking new and the colors are very impressive. It cost 1,300,000,000 yen to restore the lacquer and paint.171 views
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Higashi-Shizuoka Station is close to the Shizuoka Hobby Fair held from July 24, 2010 to March 27, 2011.164 views
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Unfortunately, he couldn't walk or fly.164 views
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Hiroshige's woodblock print of Miho no Matsubara Beach and Mt. Fuji from his "Famous Views of the 60 Provinces" series.164 views
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Kunozan Toshogu Shrine was built 19 years before the famous Nikko Toshogu Shrine (Tochigi Prefecture) which is where Ieyasu was reburied. According to his will, Ieyasu wanted to be buried on Kunozan. Before the shrine, there was a temple and a castle here160 views
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One main attraction of Nihondaira is views of Mt. Fuji and Miho no Matsubara on sunny days. If it's really sunny, you can also see the Izu Peninsula.159 views
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Higashi Shizuoka Station.159 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu's tomb at Kunozan Toshogu158 views
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Nihondaira is a plateau 308 meters high. It affords great views almost all around. There are a few lookout points on Nihondaira and this is one of them on Nihondaira's peak. Called Ginbodai.156 views
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Mt. Fuji as seen from the Eastern Lookout Deck. This is one place where you would want to visit on a clear day. Otherwise, you won't see Mt. Fuji.154 views
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Gundam models153 views
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Admission to Kunozan Toshogu Shrine is 500 yen (or 800 yen if you also want to see the museum). It's worth it. After paying admission, you see this Romon Gate which is an Important Cultural Property. 楼門144 views
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View of Mt. Fuji from Nihondaira139 views
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Monument on the peak of Nihondaira. It says "Ginbodai." 吟望台136 views
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Carving on Romon Gate. If you've been to Nikko Toshogu Shrine, many architectural and artistic elements here at Kunozan will look familiar.135 views
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Handprint of Tokugawa Ieyasu displayed behind Romon Gate.135 views
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Another lookout deck is this Higashi Tenbodai or Eastern Lookout Deck. 東展望台134 views
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Off of Shimizu Port is Miho no Matsubara, a pine-clad, slither of land jutting into the ocean. 133 views
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Map of Nihondaira. It's not as spread out as it looks. Everything is within easy walking distance. If you visit in Feb., see the ume plum trees in bloom.131 views
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Not much inside the Tea Hall which sells some tea.128 views
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Nihondaira was designated as a National Scenic Site in 1963 by the Japanese government. This high and flat plateau was recognized for its grand views all around, especially of Mt. Fuji. It also includes Mt. Kunozan, home of Toshogu Shrine.126 views
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126 views
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Another lookout deck on top of a souvenir shop. Free admission. Go up to the 4th floor.125 views
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Plum garden marker125 views
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Torii122 views
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Plum trees122 views
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Tea Hall (Cha Kaikan) 茶会館121 views
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Yet another Nihondaira stone marker.120 views
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By coincidence, a newly married couple disembarked from the ropeway after their wedding held at Kunozan Toshogu Shrine. We clapped for them.120 views
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Mt. Kunozan probably got its name from Kunoji temple built by Kuno Tadahito in 600. The temple suffered a fire in 1225. In 1568, Takeda Shingen moved the temple to Shimizu and built a castle on Kunozan. 120 views
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Shimizu Port and Miho no Matsubara beyond it. Miho Peninsula is also home of one of Japan's swan maiden legends. There's even a shrine dedicated to the swan maiden.119 views
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Back at the Nihondaira Park Center (next to the bus stop), there are souvenir shops and a ropeway station to go to Kunozan Toshogu Shrine.118 views
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Nihondaira Ropeway costs 550 yen one way (1000 yen round trip). If you go to Nihondaira by bus, you can take a bus back from Kunozan instead of going back to the Nihondaira bus stop.118 views
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Nihondaira Ropeway operates from 9:10 am to 5:15 pm (till 4:15 pm in winter months).118 views
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Ishiyama-dera Tahoto pagoda model.118 views
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Statue of a mother and child. Based on the famous children's song called "Akai Kutsu" (Red Shoes). The song was modeled after a little girl who was from Shimizu, Shizuoka. The sculpture was made in 1986.117 views
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View from the Eastern Lookout Deck on Nihondaira. 117 views
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Nihondaira monument and Mt. Fuji.117 views
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117 views
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Nihondaira marker116 views
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Lion dog painting on the Hionden Hall.116 views
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Lookout deck116 views
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Nihondaira Ropeway to Kunozan. The ropeway ride is only only 5 min. It runs quite often.115 views
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Nihondaira monument in the parking lot.114 views
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View of Nihondaira's parking lot and Mt. Fuji.114 views
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Lock your heart.114 views
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Purification water fountain is an Important Cultural Property.114 views
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Carving114 views
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Lots of antenna atop Nihondaira.113 views
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Song monument113 views
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Honden roof113 views
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I went on a Sunday and it was noisy with all these motorcycles and sports cars buzzing around. They catch their thrills on the curving roads of Nihondaira.112 views
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View of central Shizuoka city from Nihondaira Park Center.112 views
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About Kunozan Toshogu Shrine in English.112 views
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In 1582, the Takeda clan was defeated and Kunozan fell to the Tokugawa. Kunozan Toshogu Shrine was built in 1617 by Tokugawa Hidetada to bury and deify his father Tokugawa Ieyasu.112 views
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Giant Gundam with eyes aglow at Shizuoka Hobby Fair 2010-2011.112 views
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Bridge over the first moat.111 views
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Mt. Fuji as seen from Yui.111 views
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Ieyasu plum tree110 views
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Sacred horse stable. (Mannequin horse)110 views
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Site of a five-story pagoda which had to be torn down in 1873 when Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples had to be separated. (A pagoda is a Buddhist structure.)109 views
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109 views
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Side gate roof109 views
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109 views
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Tatsumi Yagura Turret (Reconstructed in 1992)108 views
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108 views
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Karamon Gate entrance to the Haiden Hall. The ornate Karamon Gate is an Important Cultural Property. However, we are not allowed to enter through this gate. 拝殿108 views
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Roof tiles are decorated with the Tokugawa crest.108 views
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Sumpu Castle is a short walk from JR Shizuoka Station. You'll find mainly moats, a large park, and some government buildings.107 views
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But I did find a plum tree with flowers. Smells nice.107 views
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Riding the Nihondaira Ropeway to Kunozan. Built in 1957, the ropeway is 1,065 meters long.107 views
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Kaguraden Hall for sacred dances is also an Important Cultural Property. 神楽殿107 views
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Hieda Shrine is what you see before the Honden main hall.107 views
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Tokugawa crest on this rain catcher.107 views
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Tokugawa crest107 views
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Plum garden marker107 views
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Lover's Monument near the Nihondaira ropeway.106 views
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Side gate to the Haiden and Honden Halls.106 views
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106 views
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About Kunozan Toshogu Shrine in Japanese.105 views
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They repaint and lacquer the shrine only once every 50 years. It takes several years to complete the job and they just finished it in 2006.105 views
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Honden Hall105 views
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Inside Kunozan Toshogu Shrine Museum, articles belonging to Ieyasu are displayed. If you're Spanish, you'd be interested in seeing the Spanish clock owned by Ieyasu. Admission charged.105 views
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Kunozan Toshogu Shrine Museum has about 2,000 pieces in its collection of mostly everyday things used by Ieyasu and other Tokugawa shoguns. Besides swords, there are Western articles. 博物館105 views
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Statue of Yajirobe'e ("Yaji") on the left and Kitahachi ("Kita") from the story "Tokaido-chu Hizakurige" by Juppensha Ikku (1765-1839) a comic playwright who was born in Shizuoka city. In front of Sumpu Castle.104 views
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Shizuoka city104 views
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There's also a lookout deck on the roof of the Nihondaira Park Center.104 views
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Kunozan in the distance. You can see Kunozan's sloping peak on which Kunozan Toshogu Shrine is built. Its elevation is 270 meters.104 views
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Kunozan is accessible by ropeway (aerial tram) from Nihondaira or by winding steps going up on the other side from the coastal road.104 views
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Karamon Gate's ornate roof.104 views
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Honden Hall roof104 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu's tomb at Kunozan Toshogu. The tomb actually faces west, toward Okazaki in Aichi Prefecture where Ieyasu was born. 神廟104 views
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Nihondaira ume plum grove. Flowers already withered by the time I was there in mid-March. 日本平梅園103 views
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Kunozan Toshogu is designated as an Important Cultural Property, but unlike the Nikko Toshogu, there are no National Treasures (except in the museum).103 views
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103 views
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The annual Daidogei (street performance) World Cup in Shizuoka is held in Sumpu Park in autumn.102 views
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Side gate to Honden102 views
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Roof corner102 views
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View from Karamon Gate102 views
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102 views
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It might take at least 30 min. to go up these steps, 1,159 steps spanning 760 meters with 17 switchbacks.102 views
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About Sumpu Castle101 views
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The Nihondaira Ropeway goes over Byobu-dani Valley, noted for rock formations resembling folding screens (byobu).101 views
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Side gate101 views
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101 views
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Approach to Ieyasu's tomb101 views
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101 views
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View from lookout deck101 views
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Stone steps going down to the coast. It takes about 20 min. to go down these stone steps to the bottom. There are 1,159 stone steps which don't mean much unless you're climbing up.101 views
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Nice view from the stone steps. Those vinyl houses are growing strawberries which are sold everywhere at the foot of Kunozan during Jan. to May.101 views
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Yui is so scenic that Hiroshige made a ukiyoe print of it in his Tokaido series.101 views
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Kunozan is right next to the coast. That's the Pacific Ocean.100 views
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Side gate roof.100 views
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Karamon Gate door carving100 views
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Gate keeper station 門衛所99 views
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Honden Hall98 views
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It takes about 30 processes to restore the lacquer.98 views
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98 views
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98 views
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Gate to Tokugawa Ieyasu's tomb is also an Important Cultural Property. 廟所98 views
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98 views
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Hiroshige's woodblock print of Ejiri (19th post town on the Tokaido) from his "Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido Road" series. Miho no Matsubara in the background.98 views
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Tokugawa Ieyasu's tomb at Kunozan Toshogu97 views
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When Tokugawa Ieyasu retired as shogun, he lived here at Sumpu Castle. He also died here at age 72 in 1616. On the day of his death, his body was taken to Mt. Kunozan at Nihondaira for burial.96 views
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Sunpu Castle has only two castle buildings, both reconstructed. This is one of them, the Tatsumi Yagura Turret. 巽櫓96 views
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Plexiglass protects the lower carvings.96 views
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Stone steps 石段95 views
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Yui with a view of Mt. Fuji.93 views
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Tatsumi Yagura Turret at the southeast corner of Sumpu Park. 巽櫓91 views
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Near Nihondaira is Yui, a scenic point on the coast accessible by car.88 views
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Map of Sumpu Park86 views
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Inside Tatsumi Yagura Turret85 views
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Higashi Gomon Gate83 views
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Shizuoka Hobby Fair site as seen from Higashi Shizuoka Station. The giant Gundam statue is clearly visible.83 views
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Higashi Gomon Gate and bridge 東御門82 views
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Higashi Gomon Gate 東御門82 views
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Ruins of the Inner Moat82 views
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Higashi Gomon Gate and bridge81 views
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Ruins of the Inner Moat 内堀81 views
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Park area81 views
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Higashi Gomon Gate and bridge80 views
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Tatsumi Yagura as seen from behind.78 views
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Giant Gundam statue is clearly visible from Higashi Shizuoka Station.78 views
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About Higashi Gomon Gate76 views
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Higashi Gomon Grassy Lawn74 views
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Plastic models on display.72 views
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Higashi Gomon Gate Bridge71 views
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Rear view of Gundam.71 views
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Castle models.71 views
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Gate door70 views
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Stone wall of Higashi Gomon Gate70 views
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The giant Gundam is the main attraction by far.69 views
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Higashi Gomon Gate 東御門67 views
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About Tatsumi Yagura67 views
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Straight ahead is Gundam and on the left is a pavilion.63 views
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There was a long line to get a closer look and pass under the statue.63 views
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A lookout deck for Gundam.63 views
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Higashi Gomon Gate 東御門62 views
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Inside the hobby pavilion were exhibits of numerous plastic models.62 views
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Gundam looms over Shizuoka Hobby Fair sign.61 views
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Sign pointing the way to the Shizuoka Hobby Fair.60 views
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Entrance to Shizuoka Hobby Fair.59 views
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He can even turn his head. This show occurs every 30 min.58 views
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