 Most viewed - Chiyoda-ku 千代田区 |
Sakuradamon Gate, rear view131 views
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Tokyo Station Marunouchi South Entrance dome in 2007.131 views
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130 views
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Throne used by the Emperor in the National Diet during the Meiji Period. 御椅子130 views
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130 views
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130 views
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130 views
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Prefectural trees from all prefectures 都道府県の木130 views
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Shinmon Gate 神門130 views
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129 views
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Garden 神池庭園129 views
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Sakashita-mon Gate 坂下門129 views
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Ninomaru Garden 二の丸庭園129 views
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Side view of castle tower foundation.128 views
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桔梗門128 views
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Hie Jinja Shrine128 views
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127 views
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Signboard for nobles127 views
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Guarded entrance to National Diet127 views
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127 views
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This looks more like something you would find in a tropical ocean.127 views
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Sumo. Even little girls participated in Budo Hajime at Budokan.127 views
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126 views
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126 views
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Tanabata streamers festoon the gate.126 views
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126 views
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126 views
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Inari Sando torii gates 稲荷参道126 views
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Sumo at the Budokan.126 views
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参集殿125 views
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125 views
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124 views
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After the mikoshi, the Nebuta float and haneto dancers make an appearance.124 views
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Miyazaki Prefecture's official tree 都道府県の木（宮崎県の木）124 views
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124 views
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123 views
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Food stall123 views
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123 views
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123 views
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Rest house122 views
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Moat near Sakashita-mon Gate122 views
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Shinmon Gate 神門122 views
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On Aug. 15 at Yasukuni Shrine, you can see former soldiers and nationalists dressed in military uniform marching in the shrine.122 views
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Houkago Princess122 views
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122 views
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121 views
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121 views
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House of Councillors Visitors' Lobby. Various exhibits are here. 参観ロビー121 views
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121 views
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121 views
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Tokyo Station unveiled its fully-restored Marunouchi building on Oct. 1, 2012 after taking several years. To appreciate the extent of this splendid restoration, I've included photos of what it looked like before.121 views
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Spotlights hit the torii.120 views
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120 views
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Tokyo Station Marunouchi North Entrance dome has paint peeling off. A net catches the paint.120 views
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119 views
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117 views
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Inari Sando torii gates 稲荷参道116 views
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Sanno torii gate leading to the Omotesando path to the shrine. 山王鳥居116 views
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At night, 30,000 lanterns light up. A real summer spectacle.115 views
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Rassera-rassera!113 views
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113 views
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112 views
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At 6:30 pm, a mikoshi portable shrine was paraded along the promenade.111 views
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The National Diet building (Kokkai Gijido in Japanese) was built in Nov. 1936 after 17 years of construction. 国会議事堂111 views
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Shinmon Gate 神門111 views
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On Aug. 15 at Yasukuni Shrine, you can see former soldiers and nationalists dressed in military uniform marching in the shrine.111 views
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Nippon Budokan is Japan's most famous and prestigious martial arts hall in the grounds of the Imperial Palace. It was built for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.111 viewsThe Budokan was where the Beatles played in 1966, the first band to play there. The acoustics are not that good for concerts though. Playing at the Budokan is a hallmark of a bonafide rock star in Japan.
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108 views
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107 views
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Awa Odori dancers also performed.107 views
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106 views
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105 views
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One of the giant spotlights used to accent the mikoshi, torii, and night sky.105 views
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105 views
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105 views
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The Central Tower is 9 stories high. Below it is the Central Entrance whose bronze doors are opened only for the Emperor of Japan, State Guests, and new Diet members on the first day of a Diet session.105 views
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The Jinko-sai Procession passes in front of the Imperial Palace.105 views
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There was also singer providing music in the background.105 views
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104 views
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104 views
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Shishimai Lion heads103 views
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102 views
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102 views
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Inside Hie Jinja Shrine's Shaden Worship Hall. 社殿100 views
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遊助100 views
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For a procession this large and grand, the crowd of spectators was extremely sparse. Good for photographers like me, but it was strange.99 views
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One of the three portable shrines.99 views
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99 views
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Ballot box and ballot slips. 投票箱・木札98 views
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98 views
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98 views
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98 views
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Portable shrines98 views
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Inside Tokyo Station Marunouchi South Entrance in Oct. 2012. Hordes of people gawking and taking photos. 東京駅丸の内南口98 views
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There were two horse-drawn carriages and I correctly assumed she was riding in the first one. No one waved Japanese and American flags though.98 views
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So I stuck around for about 15 min. and sure enough, at around 4 pm, her horse-drawn carriage appeared after she had shown her credentials to the emperor. I whipped out my camcorder and still camera and started shooting.98 views
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Storehouse for Sanno Festival floats97 views
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I shall miss the old Daimaru Dept. Store.97 views
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Kentosai Sacred Dance96 views
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They march up to the end of the line of worshippers lined up to pray at the shrine. Then they turn around and head back.96 views
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96 views
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Rear of Nijubashi Bridge.96 views
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95 views
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95 views
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95 views
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95 views
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In fall 2008, they started to build scaffolding around the old Daimaru Dept Store building on the Yaesu side. By this time, the building was empty.95 views
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By March 2009, the old Daimaru building was being demolished while totally hidden from view. We could still walk below the structure to enter the station.95 views
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Hanzo Moat95 views
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95 views
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94 views
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Omiko Shrine maidens94 views
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On Aug. 15 at Yasukuni Shrine, you can see former soldiers and nationalists dressed in military uniform marching in the shrine.94 views
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By Sept. 2009, over half of the old Daimaru building was well removed.94 views
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Remains of Ushigomi Mitsuke Gate along Sotobori Moat near Iidabashi Station.94 views
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Fortunately, she was sitting on the right side of the carriage facing my side of the street. You can see her in this photo. Wish she waved to us. As soon as she passed, the crowd dissipated.94 viewsWe haven’t had such a star ambassador to Japan in a long time, not perhaps since Edwin Reischauer in 1960s or the beloved Mike Mansfield in the 1980s. Welcome to Japan, Sweet Caroline!
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Second Nijubashi Bridge.94 views
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Police were on guard for crowd control. Although we could enter the palace until 3 pm, the crowds proved to be too much so they stopped entry by 1:30 pm.94 views
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93 views
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93 views
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93 views
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Sakurada Moat93 views
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After the Nebuta made its way in front of the shrine, a short prayer was held.92 views
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Nice to see a bit of Aomori in Tokyo.92 views
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During this break period, the shrine priest and other representatives enter the Imperial Palace to pray for the peace, happiness, and prosperity of the Imperial family. Hie Shrine is the only shrine in Japan bestowed with this privilege.92 views
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92 views
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Hanzo Moat with Hanzomon Gate in the distance.92 views
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Mexican monument92 views
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Weeping cherry blossoms near Otemon gate.92 views
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They plan to open Inui-dori to the public again in autumn for the fall leaves.92 views
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Nebuta close-up91 views
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The shrine91 views
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Shrine maidens dance in front of the three portable shrines near Sakashita-mon Gate.91 views
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Quite a spectacle.91 views
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91 views
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91 views
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91 views
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91 views
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Near Hie Shrine is (or was) Capital Tokyu Hotel where the Beatles stayed in 1966.91 views
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91 views
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91 views
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Insane crowds at Imperial Palace on April 4, 2014.91 views
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Lanterns90 views
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Stage entertainment is also provided during the festival.90 views
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Some entertainment.90 views
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90 views
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90 views
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90 views
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Worshippers at Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15.90 views
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90 views
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Remains of Ushigomi Mitsuke Gate along Sotobori Moat near Iidabashi Station.90 views
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90 views
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Hanzomon Gate, Imperial Palace, Tokyo90 views
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Sakurada Moat90 views
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On Nov. 19, 2013, I took a friend around Tokyo and when we headed for the Imperial Palace, we saw this large crowd on the streets. Most were middle-aged and older people. The palace was closed off to tourists as well. 90 viewsCouldn’t see the famous Nijubashi Bridge.
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I asked a bystander what was going on. She said they were waiting for “Caroline.” No mention of the last name. “Caroline” in Japan automatically means “Kennedy.”90 viewsAlthough I always think of Neil Diamond’s song which coincidentally is about the Caroline they were waiting to see.
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View of Marunouchi office buildings from Imperial Palace.90 views
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What happened was, tens of thousands of people showed up. On the first day April 4, 2014, over 55,000 people came to see the Inui-dori sakura.90 views
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On this fine day on March 31, 2016, 66,950 people visited Inui-dori. During March 25–April 3, 2016, a total of 508,010 visited Inui-dori.90 views
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The National Diet is Japan's political and legislative center. The capital of Japan. Free 60-min. tours (in Japanese only) are conducted every hour every day when the Diet is not in session.89 viewsYou can see the House of Councillors (Sangiin), the central tower, and the Emperor's Room.
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Rest stop near Sakashita-mon Gate at the Imperial Palace.89 views
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89 views
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I was told that most breeders are older folk, in their 60s and 70s. Young people are not taking it up.89 views
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Hanzo Moat, near Hanzomon Gate.89 views
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89 views
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89 views
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89 views
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89 views
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89 views
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It was worse during the weekend.89 views
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Sample of various stones used in the building. As much as possible, domestic materials were used in the construction.88 views
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88 views
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88 views
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On July 13, 2009, I went to see the floating lantern festival held on the Chidorigafuchi moat.88 views
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People on rowboats in the moat await darkness.88 views
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88 views
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88 views
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88 views
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Hanzomon Gate88 views
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Marker for an old high school.88 views
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88 views
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For the first time, they allowed the public to enter the Imperial Palace to view cherry blossoms along a short path called Inui-dori during April 4-8, 2014.88 views
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People waited 2-3 hours to get in and underwent body searches. I arrived at 2 pm and it was too late to get in.88 views
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88 views
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A total of 360,000 people visited Inui-dori during the period it was open to the public.88 views
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In Japanese, the festival is called Chiyoda-ku Noryo no Yuube. 千代田区納涼の夕べ87 views
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Finally, it got dark enough to start releasing the candlelit floating lanterns into the moat.87 views
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Hanzo Moat, near Hanzomon Gate.87 views
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87 views
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87 views
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Hanzomon Gate is guarded. This is the closest gate to the Emperor's residence. This is where they normally enter and leave the palace.87 views
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87 views
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The Nebuta then went back to the promenade.86 views
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Rising Sun flag86 views
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Worshippers at Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15.86 views
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Maihime cherry blossoms 舞姫86 views
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Hanzomon Gate86 views
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The original procession included many high floats. However, due to overhead power lines and overpasses, such floats cannot be included.85 views
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Hanzomon Gate85 views
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Cherry blossoms in front of British Embassy near Hanzomon.85 views
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Inui-dori is a somewhat narrow paved path along a moat. It has small cherry trees and autumn foliage.85 views
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85 views
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The exit at Inui Gate85 views
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Next to the museum was a display of different lanterns, including a Neputa (left) and Nebuta (right).84 views
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The lanterns are written with the names of the donors.84 views
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Side view of the House of Councillors (Sangi-in).84 views
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Map of Jinko-sai Route.84 views
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84 views
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Cherry blossoms along Hanzo Moat.84 views
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84 views
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Long house84 views
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Neputa is from Hirosaki, Aomori Pref.83 views
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Inside the Central Tower. Stained glass and murals depicting the four seasons.83 views
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On the next day on June 12, 2004, was Miya-iri or portable shrines entering Hie Shrine. Led by this cart of festival musicians. 山王まつり宮入り83 views
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83 views
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On Aug. 15, the anniversary of Japan's surrender and the end of World War II, Yasukuni Shrine is a busy with worshippers and police. These are police buses.83 views
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Yukata girls in a rowboat.83 views
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Photo exhibition space which nobody sees.83 views
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83 views
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Imperial Palace Chowaden, where formal banquets are held and where the Imperial family appears in public for New Year's and Emperor's Birthday.83 views
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Yushukan war museum82 views
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In front of the shrine, the priest blesses the mikoshi portable shrine.82 views
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From Kudanshita Station to the first torii, the path is jammed with political activists not even related to the war or shrine.82 views
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Rowing a boat while dressed in yukata.82 views
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Tokyo Station Marunouchi North Entrance in Oct. 2012.82 views
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Long line to enter Inui-dori, a 600-meter path lined with cherry trees along a palace moat. 皇居乾通り一般公開82 views
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They started another line of people.82 views
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Policeman was shouting that people with no bags to be checked can go through a different (faster) line.82 views
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After waiting for about 15 min. in the heat, just when I seriously thought about giving up and going home, the line moved forward to the checkpoint where they checked our bags and gave us a body check. It was quick and easy.82 views
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Fujimi Tamon, defense house. 富士見多聞82 views
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Weeping cherry tree, too early.82 views
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Lots of people, but very civil. No pushing or shoving. No time limit either. I took my time, taking pictures.82 views
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Dokan moat82 views
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82 views
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They will do major gardening work from this year, so Inui-dori will not be open this fall and next spring. Have to wait until fall 2017 to see this again.82 views
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Inui Gate82 views
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The bigger lanterns have artwork. Some of them were done by celebrities.81 views
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81 views
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