 Last additions - Osaka city 大阪市 |
Jan 16, 2007
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Jan 16, 2007
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Jan 16, 2007
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Jan 16, 2007
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Jan 16, 2007
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Another Shinsaibashi Top LadyJan 16, 2007
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Shinsaibashi Top LadyJan 16, 2007
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Jan 16, 2007
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Jan 16, 2007
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Miss Ebisu-bashiJan 16, 2007
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Cart for Miss Ebisu-bashiJan 16, 2007
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Miss Ebisu-bashi, Toka Ebisu, Imamiya Ebisu Jinja, OsakaJan 16, 2007
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Shinsaibashi Top Lady cartJan 16, 2007
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Cart for the Lucky MaidenJan 16, 2007
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Jan 16, 2007
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Slim-looking EbisuJan 16, 2007
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Fuku-musume Lucky MaidenJan 16, 2007
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Geisha on a palanquinJan 16, 2007
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Geisha on a palanquin, Toka Ebisu, Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, OsakaJan 16, 2007
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Jan 16, 2007
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Jan 16, 2007
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Shinsaibashi Top LadyJan 16, 2007
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Jan 16, 2007
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Ebisu on a palanquin.Jan 16, 2007
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Start of the procession's return trip from the shrine.とんぼりリバーウォーク→大和屋→道頓堀東映→B1角座（10：00）→松竹座→戎橋橋詰→千日前国際劇場→吉本会館→今宮戎神社（12：10頃）→なんばCITY→高島屋→大丸→大和屋Jan 16, 2007
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GeishaJan 16, 2007
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GeishaJan 16, 2007
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Fuku-musume or Lucky MaidensJan 16, 2007
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Miss Ebisu-bashi Runner-upJan 16, 2007
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Jan 16, 2007
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Miss Ebisu-bashi Runner-upJan 16, 2007
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Miss Ebisu-bashiJan 16, 2007
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The Fuku-musume or Lucky Maidens are all nice-looking.Jan 16, 2007
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Jan 16, 2007
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Jan 16, 2007
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Kimono-clad beauties, winners of some Miss contest.Jan 16, 2007
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Fuku-musume or Lucky MaidenJan 16, 2007
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Fuku-musume or Lucky MaidensJan 16, 2007
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Jan 16, 2007
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Geisha on palanquin.Jan 16, 2007
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The procession includes geisha and other celebrities.Jan 16, 2007
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Even a bunraku puppet walks in the parade.Jan 16, 2007
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Jan 16, 2007
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Omikuji fortune paper strips for sale at 200 yen.Jan 16, 2007
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Good Luck Palanquin procession on Jan. 10. They are entering the shrine's East Gate. 宝恵駕籠Jan 16, 2007
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Omikuji fortune paper stripsJan 16, 2007
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Even gaijin shrine maidens decorate bamboo branches or rakes. Toka Ebisu, Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, OsakaJan 16, 2007
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Fully-loaded "lucky rake."Jan 16, 2007
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More stalls behind the shrine.Jan 16, 2007
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Sacred dance performed at cost.Jan 16, 2007
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Good-looking shrine maidens decorate bamboo branches or rakes.Jan 16, 2007
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Shrine maidens decorate bamboo branches or rakes.Jan 16, 2007
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2007 is the Year of the Boar, decoration created by over 500 students at a local elementary and junior high school.Jan 16, 2007
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Even gaijin shrine maidens decorate bamboo branches or rakes. Toka Ebisu, Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, OsakaJan 16, 2007
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Toka Ebisu, Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, OsakaJan 16, 2007
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Higashi-mon east gateJan 16, 2007
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Shrine maidens decorate bamboo branches or rakes.Jan 16, 2007
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Higashi-mon east gateJan 16, 2007
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People line up to decorate their free bamboo branches with various lucky decorations.Jan 16, 2007
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Hauling away the old New Year's decorations.Jan 16, 2007
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Shrine maidens happily sell and attach lucky decorations on the branches.Jan 16, 2007
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New Year's decorations trashed at the shrine to be burned.Jan 16, 2007
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The shrine rakes in the money on its most important day of the year, Jan. 10.Jan 16, 2007
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Empty branches waiting for all the trimmings (at a price).Jan 16, 2007
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Money pitJan 16, 2007
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Who says money can't buy happiness?Jan 16, 2007
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Here you go...Jan 16, 2007
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Replenishing the supply of bamboo branches.Jan 16, 2007
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Jan 16, 2007
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Giving out free bamboo branches under the giant umbrella.Jan 16, 2007
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The small bamboo branches festoon the huge crowd on Jan. 10.Jan 16, 2007
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Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, OsakaJan 16, 2007
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Jan 16, 2007
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A giant umbrella serves as the roof.Jan 16, 2007
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Jan 16, 2007
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Torii and entrance to Imamiya Ebisu ShrineJan 16, 2007
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Imamiya Ebisu ShrineJan 16, 2007
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Jan 16, 2007
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Jan 16, 2007
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Path near the shrine is filled with street stalls selling Ebisu decorations and charms.Jan 16, 2007
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Imamiya Ebisu Shrine is dedicated to Ebisu, one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, representing business prosperity. On Jan. 9-11 (centering on the 10th), the shrine holds one of Japan's largest Toka Ebisu festivals to pray for good business. The festival is perhaps Japan's most commercial festival where souvenirs and trinkets for business prosperity are sold. Photo: The road from the subway station to the shrine is decorated.Jan 16, 2007
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Ebisu decorationsJan 16, 2007
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National Bunraku Puppet Theater MuseumNov 24, 2006
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Inside National Bunraku Puppet Theater. Photography is not allowed during the plays. Bunraku puppets can perform feats which human actors cannot. This can make it interesting. Bring binoculars though.Nov 24, 2006
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National Bunraku Puppet Theater at night.Nov 24, 2006
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National Bunraku Puppet Theater. Bunraku is over 370 years old, even older than kabuki. Nov 24, 2006
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View of castle from NakanoshimaJan 21, 2006
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Stone wall patternJan 21, 2006
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Castle towerJan 21, 2006
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Castle towerThis picture was taken before the 1995-97 renovation.Jan 21, 2006
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Stone wall patternJan 21, 2006
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Stone wall patternJan 21, 2006
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MoatJan 21, 2006
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Castle towerJan 21, 2006
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Sengan Turret near Otemon GateOne of the castle's oldest remaining buildings built in 1620. Underwent major restoration in 1961. Overlooking the outer moat.
千貴櫓Jan 21, 2006
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Castle towerJan 21, 2006
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One of the largest stonesJan 21, 2006
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The castle's fourth and fifth largest stones.Brought by the Tokugawa during construction. Next to Tamon Yagura Turret and Daimon Gate.Jan 21, 2006
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Outer moat and Sengan TurretJan 21, 2006
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Otemon Gate in the distanceJan 21, 2006
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Jan 21, 2006
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Kadomatsu New Year's decorationLeft side of Sakura-mon Gate.Jan 21, 2006
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Near Otemon GateJan 21, 2006
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Near Otemon GateJan 21, 2006
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Otemon Gate大手門Jan 21, 2006
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View from castle towerJan 21, 2006
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Tamon Yagura Turret and Daimon GateJapan's largest turret of this type where the turret above is integrated with the gate below. First built in 1628, reconstructed in 1848 and renovated in 1969.
多聞櫓と大門Jan 21, 2006
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Kadomatsu New Year's decorationRight side of Sakura-mon Gate.Jan 21, 2006
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Castle tower balconyJan 21, 2006
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Tamon Yagura Turret and Daimon GateJan 21, 2006
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Expo '70 Time CapsuleThe plaque reads that the time capsule is to be opened in 5000 years or the year 6970. It can also be opened at the start of each century. I wonder if it was opened in 2001.Jan 21, 2006
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Sakura-mon Gate with kadomatsu New Year's decorationJan 21, 2006
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Castle tower balconyJan 21, 2006
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ShachihokoJan 21, 2006
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Castle towerJan 21, 2006
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Castle tower balconyJan 21, 2006
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Inside castle towerJan 21, 2006
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View of Nishinomaru Garden from castle towerJan 21, 2006
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Castle towerJan 21, 2006
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Castle tower entranceJan 21, 2006
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Jan 21, 2006
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Inside castle towerJan 21, 2006
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Castle towerIt is modeled after the tower built by the Tokugawa shogunate who made it bigger than the castle Toyotomi Hideyoshi had built. One reason why it's such a big castle.Jan 21, 2006
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Osaka Castle tower closeupJan 21, 2006
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Jan 21, 2006
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Kadomatsu at castle tower entranceNew Year's decorationJan 21, 2006
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Jan 21, 2006
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About the castleJan 21, 2006
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Castle tower, reconstructed in 1931, was renovated in 1995-97.The exterior walls are gleaming white and bright gold ornaments shine in the sun.Jan 21, 2006
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Path to castle towerJan 21, 2006
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Slope to castle towerJan 21, 2006
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Castle mapJan 21, 2006
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Gokuraku-bashi BridgeJan 21, 2006
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Gokuraku-bashi BridgeJan 21, 2006
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Osaka Castle was built on the foundations of Ishiyama Honganji, a fortress-like temple.Jan 21, 2006
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Gokuraku-bashi BridgeMeans Paradise Bridge. The original bridge was wooden. Rebuilt in 1965. It connects the Yamazato-maru section with the Ninomaru section.
極楽橋Jan 21, 2006
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Inner moatJan 21, 2006
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Jan 21, 2006
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In 2006, a rare folding screen painting showing Osaka Castle during Hideyoshi's years in early 17th century was found at Schloss Eggenberg Castle in Austria.http://www.museum-joanneum.at/en/schloss_eggenberg/saka-zu-bybu-1Jan 21, 2006
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Jan 21, 2006
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The original Osaka Castle built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi was actually buried (smothered) by the Tokugawa and a new castle was built on it. Aoya-mon Gate 青屋門. Rebuilt in 1970.
Jan 21, 2006
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Aoya-mon GateRebuilt in 1970. Although this is not the main or front gate, it is the closest castle gate to Osaka-jo Koen Station.
青屋門Jan 21, 2006
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A symbol of Osaka and one of Japan's largest reconstructed castles. Originally built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1583. The castle tower was reconstructed in 1931 and underwent major renovation during 1995-97 and serves as a very modern history museum. Closest station is Osaka-jo Koen Station.Jan 21, 2006
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