 Most viewed - MIYAGI 宮城県 |
Held annually during Aug. 6-8, the Sendai Tanabata Matsuri is Japan's largest, grandest, and most famous Tanabata Festival. Commonly called the Star Festival, Tanabata Matsuri features large colorful, streamer decorations (called take-kazari).611 views
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Matsushima is a 30-40 min. train ride from Sendai on the JR Senseki Line.473 views
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JR Sendai Station on the west side (Nishi-guchi). This is the main side. There is a tourist information office inside the station where you can pick up maps and pamphlets, maybe in English too.376 views
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You could write a wish on the paper and hang it on the bamboo branch. I wrote "Live long and prosper."325 views
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City of trees on a main road in Sendai.295 views
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In the Shimin Hiroba was also this space.283 views
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Many girls (and kids) dressed in yukata (cotton kimono) came to see the Tanabata Festival. Her facial reaction was typical.274 views
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My YouTube video of Sendai Tanabata featuring the festival eve on Aug. 5, 2009 when they had fireworks and the morning of Aug. 6 when they were setting up the Tanabata decorations. 269 views
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Street lamp260 views
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Hip hop257 views
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Even the pointer markings where the train doors will open have a photo.254 views
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The take-kazari bamboo decorations were marvelous. A myriad of designs and variety. Paper was the main material used to make all these decorations, unlike the predominant plastic found at other Tamabata Festivals in Japan.252 views
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On the morning of Aug. 6, the first day of Sendai Tanabata, shop owners started to set up their tanabata bamboo decorations from around 8 am to 9 am.249 views
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Matsushima Kaigan Station245 views
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Sendai Castle's Waki-yagura turret at the site of Otemon Gate. Reconstructed in 1965. We cannot enter it. 脇櫓240 views
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Hirose River, teeming with wildlife.233 views
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Statue of Lord Date Masamune at Sendai Castle's Honmaru. 230 views
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Waki-yagura turret at Sendai Castle.229 views
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Statue of Lord Date Masamune at Sendai Castle's Honmaru. One of the most popular and famous samurai of all time.227 views
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Tiny origami paper cranes. Guess how many paper cranes there are? Over 1 million.224 views
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My YouTube video of Sendai Tanabata featuring Tanabata decorations and seeing the evening entertainment (Awa Odori, Tanabata dancers, etc.) on Jozenji-dori during 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. 223 views
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If you look closely, you can that see one of his eyes is blind.222 views
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This was my second time to see Sendai Tanabata. The first time was quite some time ago. I had high expectations, and I was not disappointed.217 views
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View from Sendai Castle's Honmaru. Sendai has over a million people. On clear days, you can also see the Pacific Ocean.209 views
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A short walk from Jozenji-dori is the Shimin Hiroba (Citizens' Square) where there was a stage for more entertaining performances by numerous groups. The program started at 6 pm and ended at 8:45 pm.201 views
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Inside Sendai Station's west side. A great greeting for visitors to Sendai during Tanabata Matsuri.175 views
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In Sendai, famous daimyo Date Masamune had the warrior and merchant classes observe the Star Festival. 173 views
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Eye-catching trio of yukata-clad girls.173 views
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I show you photos of the boat cruise first. There are many boats coming and going in Matsushima Bay. You have to decide which cruise to go on.171 views
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Map of Matsushima near Matsushima Kaigan Station. Places of interest include Ojima island, Matsushima boat cruise, Godaido island, Fukuura island, and Zuiganji temple.170 views
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This decoration had little owl-shaped paper balloons. These girls are blowing air into the balloons with a straw. Sendai Tanabata.167 views
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The festival is said to have originated from a Star Festival in China. According to Chinese legend, east of the Milky Way there was a Heavenly King whose daughter worked as a weaver. However, when she married a herdsman, she quit weaving. 164 views
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Many of the Tanabata streamers are quite commercial, with sponsors prominently displayed on the streamers.154 views
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The yukata has become quite modern. You no longer have to put your hair up when wearing one.149 views
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Map of Sendai Castle site. It's quite a large site, with museums and other facilities occupying the former castle site. The Honmaru (partially hidden) is on the right of the map.149 views
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I arrived in Sendai on Aug. 4, 2009, two days before the festival, and Sendai Station here was already decorated with these huge tanabata streamers. Very impressive.148 views
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It's nearly impossible to define or describe an outstanding decoration, but you know it when you see it.146 views
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Lucky Alex...146 views
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Route of the Sendai Loop bus. Get off at Sendai-joshi to see Sendai Castle. The bus will take you all the way to the top of the hill where the castle is. Much easier than walking up.145 views
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This angered her father who banished the herdsman to the other side of the Milky Way. He allowed the two to meet only once a year on the evening of the seventh day of the seventh month (according to the lunar calendar). 144 views
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On Aug. 4, two days before the start of Tanabata Festival, the shopping arcades already had these bamboo poles with ropes set up.143 views
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Shrine on Ojima142 views
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Torii to a shrine on Ojima island, Matsushima142 views
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Sendai International Center142 views
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Entrance to Tsutsujigaoka Park in Sendai, Miyagi. The park is near Tsutsujigaoka Station on the JR Senseki Line, one stop from Sendai Station.141 views
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The pedestrian overpass connected to Sendai Station is also decorated.139 views
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Attaching the ball to the body of the decoration.138 views
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People who wear yukata know how to enjoy each of Japan's seasons.138 views
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Matsushima Pier. There are boats which go around the Matsushima islands and return to Matsushima. Others go to Shiogama (toward Sendai) or a longer route toward Oku Matsushima.137 views
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Korean performers.136 views
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Kanejima136 views
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Bottom of the paper cranes.135 views
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Miyagi-ken Gokoku Shrine in Sendai Castle. Emperor Hirohito as well as Crown Prince Akihito (current emperor) visited this shrine to pay their respects. 宮城縣護國神社135 views
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Waki-yagura turret at the site of Otemon Gate.134 views
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Statue of Hasekura Tsunenaga, a samurai retainer of Date Masamune who sent him to the Vatican in 1613. 支倉常長134 views
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During the Tohoku Industrial Expo in 1928, the forerunner of today's Tanabata Festival was held. Sendai merchants strived to uphold the tradition, resulting in today's elaborate and gaudy Tanabata decorations.132 views
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This is the Hapina Nakakecho arcade. "Hapina" stands for "Heartful Amenity Place Interfaced Natural Arcade." It also refers to "happy." When the Japanese create a new name, they love puns.132 views
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These people are spreading the wings of the origami cranes.132 views
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The boat passes by numerous pine-clad islands of Matsushima.131 views
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Statue of Lord Date Masamune at Sendai Castle's Honmaru. Very popular for picture-taking.131 views
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About the Otemon Gate.130 views
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Small museum in Honmaru showing results of excavation work and stone wall reconstruction. 130 views
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Pieces of bamboo hung from the ropes on bamboo poles.129 views
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Another famous and unique island in Matsushima is Niojima, shaped like a Deva King found at the gate of Buddhist temples. 仁王島129 views
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Sendai Castle's Honmaru.129 views
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Nishi Park in Sendai is full of people on fireworks night.128 views
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Setting up Tanabata bamboo decorations.128 views
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Sendai Tanabata Fireworks on Aug. 5, 7:30 pm to 9 pm. It was impressive. The theme was "Ring of Love."128 views
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THis is one of the more famous Matsushima islands, named Kanejima with three holes. 鐘島128 views
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Inside Sendai Station, heading to train platforms.128 views
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The weaver is represented by the Vega star and the herdsman by the Altair star. As a prayer to produce better arts and crafts, the Imperial Court and the warrior class paid homage to these two stars from ancient times. This practice spread to the masses.127 views
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According to the legend, the original date of Tanabata is July 7 according to the lunar calendar which is about a month behind the calendar we use today. Some places hold the festival on July 7 to match the original, numeric date.127 views
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The shopping arcades on the west side of Sendai Station is where the Tanabata decorations are. The main arcades where you can see the streamers are basically on two arcade roads: Chuo-dori and Ichibancho-dori. They intersect at a T-intersection.127 views
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Tanabata decorations outside S-PAL, a shopping complex next to Sendai Station.127 views
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Miyagi-ken Gokoku Shrine enshrines Miyagi Prefecture's war dead since 1868. There are over 56,000 war dead.127 views
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Local cheerleaders included these kids.126 views
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Inside Sendai Station is a large information booth where you can obtain maps and pamphlets of Sendai and Tanabata Matsuri.126 views
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THe Nio Maru boat which I rode for the cruise. For an extra 600 yen, you can go on the first-class upper deck. I waited until it got sunny later in the day, then went on the cruise. The islands look better when it's sunny.126 views
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Subway train in Sendai.126 views
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It rained sometimes during the Tanabata Festival since the Tohoku region was still in the rainy season.125 views
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Tanabata decorations at the entrance of Sendai Station.125 views
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The decorations can cost thousands of dollars or even tens of thousands of dollars (US$). (Hundreds of thousands of yen or a few million yen.) 124 views
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Kids loved to jump and try to touch the streamers.124 views
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Female lover in heaven124 views
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From Matsushima Kaigan Station, almost everything is within walking distance. If it were cherry blossom season, you could proceed first to Saigyo Modoshi-no-Matsu Park on a hilltop behind the station.124 views
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Most boat cruises cost 1400 yen, taking about 50 min. Boats leave almost every 30 min. The boat cruise is the main and most popular activity at Matsushima.124 views
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Inside Nio Maru's lower deck. Comfortable and air-conditioned. The places of interest are explained in Japanese and English during the cruise.124 views
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Nearby is Godaido temple on a small island close to shore. 124 views
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Honmaru northern stone wall.124 views
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Origami paper cranes is actually one type of Tanabata decorations. Many decorations had paper cranes as you can see here.123 views
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One bamboo pole has several decorations and each one hangs on a rope.123 views
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Tanabata Matsuri is held in many parts of Japan, usually in shopping arcades to draw customers. The more famous ones are in Hiratsuka in Kanagawa and Asagaya in Tokyo.123 views
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This is Sun Mall Ichibancho. This Ichibancho-dori road is also straight, but consists of three seamless shopping arcades: Sun Mall Ichibancho, Brand Dome Ichibancho, and Ichibancho Yon-chome.123 views
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Next to the boat pier is this building selling cruise tickets. No reservations required. You can buy a ticket even 5 min. before departure. 123 views
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These birds fly very close, within arm's reach.123 views
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Morning rush hour at Sendai Station. People heading for the exit inside Sendai Station.123 views
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The area has these nice multi-lingual plaques explaining the points of interest with a map included.123 views
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Sendai Castle site's torii. The torii is here because there's a Shinto shrine in Honmaru.123 views
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Nio Maru at Matsushima Port.122 views
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The sea gulls follow where there's food, and the tourists are happy to toss junk food at them.122 views
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Godaido is another famous and storied icon of Matsushima. In any painting or depiction of Matsushima, Godaido is always there.122 views
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Godaido 五大堂122 views
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Way to Godaido.122 views
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Godaido is also noted for wooden carvings of Eto zodiac animals. Cock.122 views
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Sankeiden hall at Entsuin temple is an Important Cultural Property. This is a mausoleum for Date Mitsumine. 三慧殿122 views
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Kamikaze suicide fighter pilot memorial next to a war museum within the shrine.122 views
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The Chuo-dori arcade is about 750 meters long. Although this arcade is a straight and continuous road, it is actually consists of three seamless arcades named Hapina Nakakecho (ハピナ名掛丁), Clis Road, and Marble Road Omachi.121 views
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You can see Tanabata in various locations (smaller scale) in Japan such as Hiratsuka in Kanagawa held around July 7 and Asagaya and Fussa in Tokyo around Aug. 7.121 views
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The streamers can also be quite hypnotizing if not captivating.121 views
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During the morning of Aug. 6 the first day, a team of judges wearing a white cap and yellow shirt proceed through the decorations for judging. Dressed in pink is the back is one of the three Sendai Goodwill Ambassadors (not Miss Tanabata).121 views
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Organizations who made the 1 million+ paper cranes. About 25,000 people from all over Japan from age 5 to 103 made over 1 million paper cranes. That's an average of 40 cranes per person.121 views
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Trains in Tohoku have a door open/close button to save on air-conditioning or heating.121 views
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Site of Nenomon Gate. This leads to Sendai City Museum in the castle area called Sannomaru. 子門121 views
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Map of the original Sendai Castle also called Aobajo or Aoba Castle since the castle is on Aobayama or Mt. Aoba. Sumo fans might know the name Aobajo, a sumo wrestler from Sendai active in the 1980s.121 views
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By 10 am on the first day of Aug. 6, most all of the Tanabata decorations were set up. Large crowds soon followed.120 views
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These decorations cannot be massed produced, all one of a kind.120 views
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Write your wish on a paper tag and affix it to the bamboo branch.120 views
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THe name "Matsushima" of course means "Pine Islands," so you may hear "Matsushima" in other places in Japan wherever there are pine-clad islands. 120 views
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Sendai City Loop bus goes to the major tourist spots in Sendai. Most convenient to get to Sendai Castle. 250 yen per ride or 600 yen for a day pass.120 views
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About the Waki-yagura turret.120 views
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Monument for the war dead.120 views
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It's also possible to walk to the park from Sendai Station, about 20 min.120 views
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Gold Award + Outstanding Award.119 views
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Stone wall at the site of Otemon Gate.119 views
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From the city, this is what the castle site looks like on Aobayama. You can see the lookout deck.119 views
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Sample stone work on a castle wall.119 views
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Monument for Doi (Tsuchii) Bansui who created the song, "Kōjō no tsuki" (荒城の月 lit. "Moonlit castle ruins") which is about Sendai Castle. 土井 晩翠119 views
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Hiroshige's woodblock print of Matsushima from his "Famous Views of the 60 Provinces" series.119 views
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This road was filled with people as well for the fireworks.118 views
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The decorations are given awards such as the Gold and Silver Awards. The winners are announced later in the day, and the winning decorations are tagged with the awards. This is the Gold Award.118 views
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As each boat leaves, sea gulls follow.118 views
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They even sell bird food on the boat.118 views
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The first bridge to Godaidojima island.118 views
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Next to the Honmaru northern stone wall is this large torii gate and steps going up to the Honmaru, the castle's central keep. This place in front of the torii was a parking lot before. Glad that parking is no longer allowed here.118 views
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View from Sendai Castle's Honmaru.118 views
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Origami paper cranes.117 views
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The crowd take pictures in front of this Outstanding Award decoration.117 views
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After the festival ends, many of these decorations are discarded. But some are donated to a shopping arcade in Fukuoka (Kyushu). 117 views
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Hoisting up the bamboo support pole.117 views
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Tourist info next to Matsushima Kaigan Station.117 views
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Godaido temple in Matsushima. This building was built in 1604 by Lord Date Masamune.117 views
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Map of Fukuura island. Points 3 and 5 are worth seeing. You have to leave the island by 5 pm or (4:30 pm during winter months).117 views
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Statue of Hasekura Tsunenaga acros the road from the Waki-yagura.117 views
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As you climb up the Aobayama, you pass through the sites of former gates. This one was Nakanomon Gate. 中門117 views
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People were amazed at these cranes. This is one type of streamer you won't see at other Tanabata Festivals in Japan.116 views
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Interview by local TV.116 views
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This large tanabata bamboo was being set up on Aug. 4.116 views
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It says "No More Hiroshima."116 views
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Welcome to Matsushima. Getting out of Matsushima Kaigan Station.116 views
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This was my favorite island in Matsushima.116 views
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Godaido enshrines five statues representing the Mikkyo teachings of Shingon Buddhism.116 views
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Boar116 views
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Inside Sankeiden hall which also has a painting of a rose.116 views
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Inside Sendai subway train.116 views
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Goshikunuma Swamp is a moat of Sannomaru.116 views
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Sculpture in Sannomaru.116 views
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Sendai's shopping arcades were obviously designed for tanabata decorations. There are eyelets or hooks for ropes on the ceiling.115 views
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Another crowd favorite was these streamers made of tiny origami paper cranes. 115 views
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First time I saw a train station sign on the platform with a photo on it.115 views
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Matsushima Kaigan Station115 views
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Godaido 五大堂115 views
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Monkey115 views
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This odd-loking building calls itself Matsushima Castle. I saw nobody there so decided not to enter.115 views
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Altar inside Sankeiden with a statue of Mitsumune.115 views
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Ojima island is accessible by a red bridge.115 views
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Kids writing their wishes.114 views
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Silver Award. Besides awards for individual decorations, awards are given to the shopping arcade as a whole for the bext decorations.114 views
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Matsushima would also be interesting to geologists.114 views
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Matsushima Rest House is next to the pier, where you can buy cruise tickets or just rest on chairs. Tourist info counter also provided.114 views
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Another noted building in Matsushima is Kanrantei, perched on a low hill. Now it is a rest place where they serve tea.114 views
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Outside Sendai Station, they are constructing the Tozai subway line due to open in 2015.114 views
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About the Honmaru northern stone wall.114 views
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View from Sendai Castle's Honmaru.114 views
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Male lover in heaven113 views
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Peace message.113 views
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No smoking in the shopping arcades.113 views
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This was the 34th Tanabata Decoration of Peace. Aug. 6, the first day of the Sendai Tanabata Matsuri, also happens to be the anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing.113 views
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Hapina arcade113 views
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Fujisaki's decoration is at the T-intersection between Chuo-dori and Ichibancho-dori.113 views
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The decorations usually arrive in huge plastic bags, especially the outdoor ones. This is the Fujisaki decoration.113 views
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Attaching ropes. The decorations will later be attached to these ropes.113 views
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Closeups of one of the best take-kazari of 2009.113 views
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Famous for centuries, Matsushima has inspired many haiku poets like Matsuo Basho and painters.113 views
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Original letter written by Lord Date Masamune from a battlefield.113 views
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Climb further and you'll reach large stone walls, called the Honmaru northern stone wall. 113 views
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About the sample stone walls.113 views
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When the decorations are unpacked or unraveled, they are freshened up. 112 views
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Extravagant Award112 views
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On the evening of Aug. 5, the Tanabata Festival Eve, a fireworks display is held at Nishi Koen Park. Here are many girls in yukata waiting for friends at Sendai Station to see the fireworks.112 views
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Matsushima Kaigan Station on the JR Senseki Line. This is the closest to Matsushima's main attractions. Note that there is also a Matsushima Station. Don't get off there.112 views
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Route 45 running parallel to the shore. Busy road with shops and restaurants.112 views
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Second bridge to Godaido.112 views
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On the right side toward Zuiganji are these huge caves.112 views
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About Zuiganji temple caves.112 views
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About Enmei Jizo, the Guardian Deity of Lnogevity.112 views
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Nice walking path on Ojima112 views
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These photos were taken in early May 2012.112 views
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The walls also have eyelets/hooks for ropes to support the bamboo poles.111 views
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Perhaps she wished for a rich husband.111 views
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Godaido was first erected in 807 called Bishamondo. We cannot go inside. Important Cultural Property.111 views
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These are original Edo Period stones removed when the stone wall was renovated. These stones could not be reused.111 views
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Also in the Honmaru area is Gokoku Shrine decorated here during the Tanabata Star Festival in early Aug. 宮城縣護國神社111 views
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Date Masamune110 views
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Face to face with a bird. "Hey, any food for me??"110 views
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Waki-yagura as seen from afar.110 views
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Types of tanabata decorations.109 views
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Travel photos (Matsushima)109 views
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This one was clearly a crowd favorite, and not surprisingly, it won the Outstanding Award.109 views
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