 Most viewed - SAITAMA 埼玉県 |
Naoto Tsuji16 views
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Final score.16 views
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Post-game comments by Yuta Watanabe.16 views
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Saitama Super Arena snack bar.16 views
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Next was the women's national team playing against Chinese Taipei. The arena became pretty empty for women's basketball. Aug. 25, 2019.16 viewsWomen's basketball is nowhere near as popular as men's basketball in Japan. This was my first time to see a women's basketball game in Japan.
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Japan women's national team in red.16 views
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Arena layout.16 views
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We saw two women's semi-final basketball games for the 86th Empress's Cup at Saitama Super Arena.16 views
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稲井 桃子 / Momoko Inai16 views
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Another concourse.16 views
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Introducing the players.16 views
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Saori Miyazaki16 views
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In front of Satte Station, the bus stop for Gogendo Park.16 views
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I couldn't wait for the next bus.16 views
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So I started walking to the park. It took about 30 min.16 views
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Cherry blossoms and rapeseed blossoms at Gogendo Park in Satte, Saitama Prefecture. 16 views
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Rapeseed flowers at Gogendo Park in Satte, Saitama Prefecture. 16 views
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Cherry blossoms and rapeseed blossoms at Gogendo Park in Satte, Saitama Prefecture. 16 views
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Top of Yatate Bridge.16 views
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Soka senbei rice cracker. ¥9016 views
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Original road marker in Soka-shuku, Saitama on the Nikko Kaido. 道標元標16 views
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Senbei production equipment for mochi pounding.16 views
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My YouTube video of the 2023 Kita-Urawa Awa Odori dance festival held on Sept. 30, 2023.16 views
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When we arrived in Jan. 2020, we were greeted by a wonderful dance and taiko drum performance by kids and parents from the local Okegawa Tanpopo Nursery School (桶川たんぽぽ保育園).15 views
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Event stage at Benibana Furusatokan.15 views
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Map of Okegawa-juku showing the old buildings that still remain.15 views
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Inari Shrine in Okegawa-juku. 稲荷神社15 views
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Inari Shrine in Okegawa-juku. 稲荷神社15 views
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What's engraved on Inari Shrine's Power Stone (chikara-ishi). 力石15 views
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Nakasendo Road in Okegawa-juku.15 views
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About the Shimamura family earthen storehouse (島村家住宅土蔵). The storehouse is a National Tangible Cultural Property.15 views
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The ingredients used in making shoyu. Lots of soybeans and salt. 15 views
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He showed us how to mix the vat.15 views
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Inside the vat of fermenting shoyu.15 views
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Corridor15 views
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Courtside15 views
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Yuta Watanabe expresses his disappointment with the loss.15 views
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Chinese Taipei practicing.15 views
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Tip off.15 views
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Yuki Miyazawa15 views
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This semi-final game was Denso Iris (white) vs. Mitsubishi Electric Koalas.15 views
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Introducing the Toyota Antelopes.15 views
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At the foot of the embankment with cherry trees and food stalls. 15 views
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There are three rows of cherry blossoms on the riverbank. This row is on the foot of one side.15 views
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There are three rows of cherry blossoms. One row on both sides of the embankment, and one row on the top of the embankment.15 views
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Cherry blossom tunnel on the riverbank. It goes on for about 1 km. There are 1,000 cherry trees.15 views
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From the embankment, here's one path that goes to the rapeseed blossoms.15 views
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Cherry blossoms and rapeseed blossoms at Gogendo Park in Satte, Saitama Prefecture. 15 views
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Pine needles and pine cones up close.15 views
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Top floor and lookout atop the watchtower.15 views
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I think this is a bus stop on the Nikko Kaido.15 views
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Tofukuji's bell tower.15 views
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What the old Nikko Kaido Road looks like today.15 views
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Original road marker reinforced with steel. Rare remnant of Soka-juku on the Nikko Kaido. 道標元標15 views
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Floor layout on the 1st and 2nd floors. The old classrooms are now exhibition rooms for local history and artifacts.15 views
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First floor exhibition room displays old farming equipment.15 views
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About Emperor Meiji's visit to Soka in 1876 and 1881 when he was traveling to Tohoku or Hokkaido.15 views
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On the 2nd floor, Hinamatsuri Girl's Day dolls.15 views
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2023 is the Year of the Rabbit.15 views
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On the 2nd floor, Hinamatsuri Girl's Day dolls.15 views
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History of the museum/school.15 views
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Pink pay phone in Japan. Now obsolete. Took only ¥10 coins.15 views
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Free guided tours cover only a small part of the park. If you want to explore the entire park, go on your own. The park opened in July 1992 by Saitama Prefecture.15 views
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Mulberry tree whose bark is used to make washi paper.15 views
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Mini strawberries. Hardly any flavor.15 views
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About halfway on the procession route, they stop at a parking lot where there's a stage. Here's Princess Kazunomiya played by a local lady.15 views
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Benibana Furusato-kan Hall menu, mainly udon and soba noodles.14 views
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Okegawa Tanpopo Nursery School performed the Ara-uma horse dance (荒馬踊り) backed by taiko drummers.14 views
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Inside Nakasendo Shukuba-kan (中山道宿場館). Various exhibits and pamphlets about Okegawa-juku. Also a short video. No English.14 views
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More antique items on the 2nd floor.14 views
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Luggage case.14 views
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A sample vat that we could mix using a long stick.14 views
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Old warehouse.14 views
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This is Yuta Watanabe, one of the star players and an NBA player for the Memphis Grizzlies.14 viewsThe national team's other NBA player, Rui Hachimura, didn't play this day and was on the sidelines.
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After the game, team members lined up on the court for a thank you speech by Rui Hachimura (in black on the left).14 viewsIt seems men's basketball has finally become a lot more popular with Rui being drafted to the NBA's Washington Wizards and a member of Japan's national team. Rui has a Japanese mother and Beninese father. Born and raised in Toyama, Japan and fluent in Japanese. He's likely to appear in Tokyo 2020.
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Cheerleaders shoot a prize to the crowd.14 views
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Nako Motohashi14 views
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Eneos Sunflowers 14 views
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Eneos Sunflowers (yellow) vs. Toyota Antelopes. Asami Yoshida14 views
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Saori Miyazaki14 views
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We also visited courtside.14 views
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Yatate Bridge on the southern end of Soka-Matsubara. It's 96.3 meters long and 4.14 meters wide. Bigger than Hyakutai Bridge. 矢立橋14 views
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Another Soka senbei shop. There are over 60 senbei shops in Soka.14 views
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Okawa Honjin lodge monument in Soka-juku, Nikko Kaido Road. There was also another Honjin in Soka-juku. 大川本陣跡碑14 views
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Original road marker in Soka-shuku, Saitama on the Nikko Kaido. 道標元標14 views
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Soka folk history museum is near the old Nikko Kaido. 歴史民俗資料館14 views
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First floor hallway.14 views
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Scale model of Soka-juku post town along the Nikko Kaido. The red tag on the lower left is where the folk history museum is.14 views
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Replica scroll painting of Matsu Basho and Kawai Sora who visited Soka in 1689.14 views
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On the 2nd floor, Hinamatsuri Girl's Day dolls.14 views
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On the 2nd floor, Hinamatsuri Girl's Day dolls.14 views
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Old telephone.14 views
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Boardwalk across the marsh.14 views
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Boardwalk and reeds where birds and fish can live.14 views
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Princess Kazunomiya's palanquin carried on wheels by four guards. The festival is held from 9 am to 4:30 pm. The Nakasendo is closed to traffic and has food stalls.14 views
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Okegawa Tanpopo Nursery School taiko drummers.13 views
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Former wholesaler of safflower, called the Yabe residence. From the Meiji Period. 穀物問屋（矢部家） 13 views
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About Jonenji Temple in Okegawa-juku. It's a Jodo-shu Pure Land Sect Buddhist temple.13 views
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Seat categories.13 views
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Countdown to Tokyo 2020 as of Jan. 11, 2020. Saitama Shin-toshin Station.13 views
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赤穂 ひまわり / Himawari Akaho13 views
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While walking on this main road to Soka-Matsubara, you will soon see the large arch bridge over the road.13 views
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This is one of the two arch bridges. Named Hyakutai-bashi (百代橋), 62.5 meters long, 3.5 m wide. It has steps and a narrow slope to push bicycles. Not wheelchair accessible.13 views
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View from Hyakutai Bridge.13 views
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Harp Bridge has a harp sculpture. 13 views
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Matsubara Ayasegawa Park 13 views
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Matsubara Ayasegawa Park watchtower13 views
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The other arch bridge on the southern end of Soka-Matsubara.13 views
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Looking south from Yatate Bridge. Almost the end of Soka-Matsubara pine tree path.13 views
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Views from the watchtower.13 views
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Sora Kawai traveled with Haiku poet Matsuo Basho for most of Basho's Oku-no-Hosomichi poetry journey on foot to Tohoku and Hokuriku Regions in 1689.13 views
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Soka-juku Shinmei-an tourist info center closed on March 21, 2022. The staff moved to the tourist info center near the Basho statue in Fudaba-kashi Park. 草加宿神明庵13 views
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Soka senbei shop on the old Nikko Kido Road.13 views
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Soka folk history museum used to be Soka Elementary School built in 1926. New school buildings were built to replace this old building which opened in 1983 as a local history museum.13 views
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Soka folk history museum entrance. Free admission.13 views
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First floor exhibition room.13 views
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Ancient pottery found in Soka.13 views
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About the dugout canoe from 5,300 years ago.13 views
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About the ancient dugout canoe excavated from Ayase River in 1929.13 views
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2nd floor hallway.13 views
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Army helmet13 views
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Soka Station history.13 views
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Stuffed wild animals in Saitama Nature Study Center.13 views
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Guided tour of the park. About an hour long.13 views
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Giant dogwood is a tall flowering plant. ミズキ13 views
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Not allowed to pick any plants.13 views
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Nature trail.13 views
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Endangered flower species named golden orchid. Vulnerable (VU). キンラン（金蘭）13 views
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Dainty flower.13 views
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Making sounds with a leaf. Loud, piercing sound. 13 views
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In front of the Saitama Nature Study Center is china root or Smilax china. サルトリイバラ13 views
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Asami Yoshida12 views
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The arch bridge is near the middle of the pine tree path. If you want to walk through the entire pine tree path from here, go left first, then backtrack and walk south until the end. Monument near the arch bridge. 12 views
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Northern end of Soka-Matsubara.12 views
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View from Hyakutai Bridge. This road goes to the train station straight ahead.12 views
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Southern view of Soka-Matsubara pine trees from Hyakutai Bridge, Saitama.12 views
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Monument inscribed with: "Place of Scenic Beauty: Soka Matsubara - Scenic Place Along Oku-no-Hosomichi" Calligraphy by Donald Keene.12 views
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Soka Matsubara goes along the Ayase River.12 views
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Matsubara Ayasegawa Park 12 views
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Matsubara Ayasegawa Park 12 views
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Northern view from Yatate Bridge.12 views
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Southern view from Yatate Bridge.12 views
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Statue of Matsuo Basho at the southern end of Soka Matsubara pine tree path in Fudaba-kashi Park. Created by Tadahiko Mugikura (麦倉忠彦), a Soka-native sculptor. He also made the Kawai Sora sculpture nearby in 2008.12 views
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Watchtower on the southern end of Soka-Matsubara. 望楼12 views
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Map of Soka-Matsubara and Soka-juku post town, short walk away.12 views
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Statue of Kawai Sora (河合曾良), Matsuo Basho's travel companion for his Oku-no-Hosomichi five-month journey on foot to Tohoku and Hokuriku Regions. Statue built in 2008 to mark Soka's 50th anniversary.12 views
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What the old Nikko Kaido looks like today. Nikko Kaido was one of the five main roads from Edo (Tokyo) during the Edo Period (17th to 19h centuries). 12 viewsNikko was important for having the splendid mausoleum for Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa shogun.
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Way to Tofukuji Temple.12 views
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Tofukuji Temple was first built in 1606 by Okawa Zusho who once served the Hojo Clan in Odawara, Kanagawa.12 views
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Tofukuji Temple Hondo main hall in Soka, Saitama. The temple is noted for wood carvings on this main hall. (Not to be confused with other temples named "Tofukuji.") 東福寺12 views
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Honjin lodge monument in Soka-juku, Nikko Kaido Road. 大川本陣跡碑12 views
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Soka folk history museum. 草加 歴史民俗資料館12 views
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Remains of an ancient dugout canoe excavated from Ayase River in 1929.12 views
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Documents related to traveling on the Nikko Kaido.12 views
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Basho and Kawai Sora visited Soka-juku on March 27, 1689.12 views
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Leather footwear and yukata kimono are also made in Soka.12 views
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On the 2nd floor, Hinamatsuri Girl's Day dolls.12 views
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On the 2nd floor, Hinamatsuri Girl's Day dolls.12 views
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Soka Elementary School was built in 1926. Two-story, ferro-concrete building with six classrooms. Architect was Soka-native Okawa Isamu who even attended Soka Elementary School (right photo)..12 views
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History of the museum/school.12 views
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Japanese soldiers returning from the war gave these gifts to their well-wishers. From the 1930s. These are ceremonial sake cups. 兵隊盃12 views
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Push button phone widely used in Japan until the early 1990s.12 views
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Hay for cows.12 views
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Rolls of hay. ロール置き場12 views
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Saitama Nature Study Center is a visitor's center with park staff, park maps, a small library, nature exhibits, meeting rooms, and park offices. Open 9:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. (Till 7:30 pm on weekends and national holidays.) Guided tours start inside.12 views
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Raccoon, fox, and weasel.12 views
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Northern goshawk, juvenile.12 views
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Our guide showed us how to create a wind instrument using wild leaves like this. Roll it up into a cylinder and blow.12 views
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Evergreen tree named Castanopsis. Leaves are green on the top, but brown on the underside. Produces acorns. スダジイ（すだ椎 Castanopsis sieboldii subsp. sieboldii）12 views
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Kitamoto has other walking trails. Looks pretty during cherry blossom season.12 views
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My YouTube video (three parts) of the 2009 Kita-Urawa Awa Odori dance festival held on September 5, 2009.12 views
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From Dokkyodaigakumae Station's east exit, walk on this main road to Soka-Matsubara. Short walk.11 views
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Monument indicating Soka-Matsubara as a Scenic Place on the Oku-no-Hosomichi path.11 views
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From Hyakutai-bashi Bridge, I first walked north along Soka-Matsubara.11 views
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Matsuo Basho monument at Soka-Matsubara.11 views
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Soka Matsubara pine trees may have been originally planted as early as 1683 by government official Ina Tada'atsu (伊奈忠篤) in the Fudaba Park area where there was a river boat dock.11 views
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Green pines against the blue sky are therapeutic for the eyes.11 views
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Ayase River looking south. 綾瀬川11 views
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Starting to backtrack to Hyakutai Bridge and proceed to the southern end of the pine trees.11 views
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The pine tree path is popular among joggers and for walks.11 views
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Southern view from Hyakutai Bridge.11 views
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Monument for the Japanese bush clover planted by the late Donald Keene. Flowers not in season in Feb. Donald Keene was a renown professor of Japanese studies (especially literature) at Columbia University in New York. ドナルド・キーン記念植樹11 views
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Monument for the Japanese bush clover planted by the late Donald Keene. 11 views
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Donald Keene wrote the inscribed sentence: "Place of Scenic Beauty: Soka Matsubara - Scenic Place Along Oku-no-Hosomichi"11 viewsDonald Keene was a renown professor of Japanese studies (especially literature) at Columbia University in New York. Keene is revered in Soka for helping with local activities related to Oku-no-Hosomichi.
He also famously became a Japanese citizen and spent the last years of his life living in Japan.
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Soka's claim to fame is this pine tree path's inclusion as a Scenic Place along the Oku-no-Hosomichi travel route taken by famous Haiku poet Basho.11 viewsMonument includes a map of Basho's Oku-no-Hosomichi travel route. He started from Fukagawa, Tokyo, visited Soka, went up north to Sendai, Sakata (Yamagata), and proceeded back along the Sea of Japan, Niigata, Kanazawa, Tsuruga, and ended at Ogaki, Gifu. All the places he visited on this epic journey has monuments or statues celebrating Basho.
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Matsubara Ayasegawa Park is a large park with cherry blossoms.11 views
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Soka-Matsubara pine trees and Ayasegawa River.11 views
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Walking further south along Soka-Matsubara.11 views
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Directions and distances.11 views
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Bicycle slope decorated with these picture tiles.11 views
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Nikko Kaido Road monument near Yatate Bridge. The monument is in the shape of Saitama Prefecture indicating Soka-Matsubara on Nikko Kaido is one of Japan's 100 Best Roads. 日本の道百選の顕彰碑11 views
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Nikko Kaido Road monument. Nikko Kaido was one of the five main roads from Edo (Tokyo) during the Edo Period (17th to 19h centuries). Nikko was important for having the splendid mausoleum for Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa shogun.11 views
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Statue of Matsuo Basho in Fudaba-kashi Park on the southern end of Soka-Matsubara. Statue was built in 1989 to mark the 300th anniversary of Basho's Oku-no-Hosomichi journey in 1689. Built with donations.11 views
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Old map of Soka-juku post town.11 views
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