Most viewed - Fuchu 府中市 |
Map of Kyodo-no-Mori Museum. It is quite spacious and park-like with a modern museum, planetarium, and a few vintage buildings moved here. Also noted for flowers such as plum blossoms in Feb. and hydrangea in June when I visited.318 views
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Bubaigawara Station on the Keio Line from Shinjuku. Closest station to Kyodo-no-Mori Museum. Take a bus or walk 25 min.310 views
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The Tokyo Racecourse is near two train stations. This is one of them, Fuchu Keiba Seimon-mae Station on the Keio Keibajo Line that shoots off from Higashi Fuchu Station (a Jun-tokkyu stop on race days) on the Keio Line from Shinjuku. 府中競馬正門前302 views
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Way to Tama Cemetery. One of Tokyo's major cemeteries with the graves of celebrated figures including politicians, scholars, and novelists. Also a noted cherry blossom spot in spring.208 views
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Kurayami Matsuri in Fuchu, Tokyo200 views
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The festival music is called Fuchu Hayashi (府中囃子) native to Fuchu. There are two schools: Meguro-ryu (lively music west of the shrine) and Funabashi-ryu (elegant music east of the shrine).177 views
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Bus stop for JR Musashi-Koganei Station.175 views
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Kurayami Matsuri: The mikoshi would spend the night at the Otabisho. At 4 am the next morning, they were carried back to the shrine by 7:30 am.174 views
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Sculpture in front of Fuchu Pool in Tokyo.168 views
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Sculpture in a park in Fuchu, Tokyo.166 views
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Deep Impact164 views
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Sculpture in front of Fuchu Pool in Tokyo.164 views
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Narita Brian, a famous racehorse.161 views
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157 views
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Horse exhibit.155 views
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136 views
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Kofun tumuli types125 views
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118 views
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The Kurayami Matsuri is Okunitama Shrine's most important festival held annually on April 30-May 6 in Fuchu, Tokyo. The main festival days are May 4 and 5. Kurayami means "pitch dark" in reference to it originally being a night festival.105 views
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105 views
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Statue in front of Bubaigawara Station.104 views
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Also see my Kurayami Matsuri video taken on May 5, 2014.103 views
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Watch the video to see how they beat the taiko.102 views
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Best to watch my video of Kurayami Matsuri on May 4, 2014.101 views
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Okunitama Shrine's Honden in Fuchu, Tokyo. The shrine was established in 111 by Emperor Keiko (景行天皇). It worships six deities from Musashino Province. 101 views
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The road is not that long so it was easy to see all the floats.101 views
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100 views
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99 views
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The giant taiko drums appeared again to purify the path for the mikoshi portable shrines.99 views
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99 views
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First a giant taiko drum passed by me as I was going to the shrine.98 views
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Wash basin to purify yourself.98 views
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Local TV reporter.98 views
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Men standing precariously on one of the smaller taiko drums. They hold on to a rope tied to the drum. The smallest taiko is 1.29 meter wide. Up to 11 people stand on it.98 views
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Sacred music gagaku musicians.98 views
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98 views
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Inside museum, local history.97 views
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Keyaki-dori road of trees leading to Okunitama Shrine.97 views
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The floats started to gather.97 views
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97 views
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The taiko drums are beaten to purify the path for the mikoshi portable shrine.97 views
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97 views
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97 views
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This unusual float named Kotobuki-cho is a danjiri float whose front end has to be lifted to turn.97 views
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Shishimai lion dancers.97 views
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Floats on Keyaki road.97 views
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They play the flute (笛), shime-daiko drum (締太鼓), large taiko (大太鼓), hand bell (鉦), and wooden clappers (拍子木). The flutist is like the music conductor who directs the music.97 views
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On May 4 during the day, they had children carrying small mikoshi. They also had twirling flower umbrellas called mando 万灯.97 views
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97 views
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Each mikoshi was led by paper lantern bearers.97 views
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The giant taiko later paraded along the Keyaki road.97 views
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Former town hall building.96 views
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Fuchu has Sakura-dori road lined with cherry blossoms in early April. Where they hold the cherry blossom festival. Near Fuchu Station on the Keio Line from Shinjuku.96 views
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It was pitch dark because humans were not allowed to see the god's divine spirit being transferred from the shrine to the mikoshi and transported to the Otabisho rest place.96 viewsThe festival is near Fuchu Station on the Keio Line.
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Okunitama Shrine's torii96 views
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96 views
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About Okunitama Shrine96 views
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Mikoshi at the shrine await.96 views
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Giant taiko ahead next to the torii.96 views
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Giant taiko drum beating like the sound of dinosaur footsteps.96 views
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On May 4 from 5 pm to 6 pm, large taiko drums (太鼓の響宴) were beaten on the street near the shrine.96 views
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96 views
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Another taiko arrives.96 views
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At around 6 pm, the ornate floats started to appear.96 views
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I went back to Fuchu the next day on May 5, 2014, the festival climax. Very crowded in front of the shrine.96 views
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The mikoshi bearers arrived dancing in circles.96 views
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96 views
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The first mikoshi was Ichinomiya. 一之宮 Ono no Okami 小野大神 小野神社 東京都多摩市鎮座 (延喜式内論社・旧郷社)96 views
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Second mikoshi was Ninomiya 二之宮 Ogawa no Okami 小河大神 二宮神社(小河神社) 東京都あきる野市鎮座 (旧郷社).96 views
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Third mikoshi was Sannomiya 三之宮 Hikawa no Okami 氷川大神 氷川大社 埼玉県大宮市鎮座 (延喜式内 名神大社・旧官弊大社).96 views
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All the mikoshi were brought here amid much fanfare.96 views
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96 views
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Thatched-roof farmer's house called the former Kouchi home. 河内家95 views
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Today, the festival is well lit in the evening with paper lanterns. On May 4 from 5 pm to 6 pm, large taiko drums (太鼓の響宴) are beaten on the street. 95 views
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Crowded path to Okunitama Shrine.95 views
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The main god is Okunitama-no-Okami, god of nation-building. Same god as Izumo Taisha.95 views
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95 views
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The largest taiko is made of bubinga wood. They even made another taiko from the wood carved out of this trunk. 95 views
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From 6 pm to 9 pm on May 4, 22 ornate wooden floats carrying musicians and dancers paraded on the street in front of the shrine (山車の巡行).95 views
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95 views
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95 views
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95 views
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On May 5 at 6 pm, the festival climaxes with six large taiko drums followed by eight mikoshi portable shrines carried to the Otabisho, a short distance away pictured here.. 95 views
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95 views
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95 views
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Main drag at Kyodo-no-Mori Museum.94 views
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94 views
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Comical dancers wearing masks performed on the floats.94 views
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94 views
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Each float was led by paper lantern bearers followed by people pulling the float.94 views
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94 views
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94 views
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On May 4, the float parade ended at about 9 pm.94 views
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People couldn't cross the road.94 views
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The formal procession started with some musicians.94 views
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Eight mikoshi proceeded from Okunitama Shrine to the Otabisho.94 views
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The action and crowds shift to the Otabisho seen in the background.94 views
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94 views
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Ajisai Matsuri poster for Kyodo-no-Mori Museum.93 views
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93 views
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In the old days, they used to ram the taiko drums at each other. Since a bigger taiko was more advantageous, four neighborhoods sought to make the largest drum.93 views
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93 views
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93 views
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93 views
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93 views
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93 views
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93 views
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93 views
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Mando flower umbrella displayed in a dept store.93 views
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93 views
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Inside former Kouchi home. 河内家92 views
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That's how the taiko got bigger and bigger.92 views
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The floats carry festival musicians and dancers wearing a mask.92 views
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92 views
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92 views
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92 views
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92 views
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92 views
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92 views
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Police constantly warned people about stepping back.92 views
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92 views
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Floats would meet up and perform together for a few minutes.91 views
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91 views
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The floats later paraded on the tree-lined Keyaki road.91 views
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91 views
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91 views
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People cheer whenever they tilt this danjiri float.91 views
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91 views
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Hydrangea in full bloom.90 views
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90 views
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88 views
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Horse racing by foreign residents.87 views
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Mitama-do Hall87 views
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Inside former Ochi House86 views
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86 views
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85 views
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Inside former town hall. 85 views
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Garden of hydrangea in June at Kyodo-no-Mori Museum.84 views
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82 views
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82 views
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Inside Former Shimada Home used as a warehouse for a drugstore.81 views
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81 views
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81 views
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Former Ochi House, another thatched-roof farmer's house.81 views
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81 views
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80 views
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Former Shimada Home80 views
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80 views
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Hoofs79 views
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79 views
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79 views
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79 views
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79 views
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Across the Shimada Home is a complex of buildings called the former Tanaka Home.78 views
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School auditorium78 views
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78 views
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The former classrooms are now exhibition spaces.78 views
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Former Shimada Home78 views
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The Japan Racing Association's flagship horse-racing course in Fuchu, Tokyo got a makeover in April 2007 with a spanking new grandstand called Fuji View Stand. Very impressive, and entertaining even for non-gamblers.77 views
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Map of Tokyo Race Course. There are also amusement facilities within the race course oval itself, accessible through an underground tunnel.77 views
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77 views
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Hydrangea77 views
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Former Tanaka Home was a rich merchant's home in Fuchu-juku post town on the Koshu Kaido Road.77 views
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Room where Emperor Meiji stayed.77 views
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76 views
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76 views
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Photo of the original Fuchu school.76 views
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Museum and planetarium76 views
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Also some irises.76 views
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Sakura-dori road with cherry blossoms.76 views
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History of horse racing.75 views
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About the former Kouchi House.75 views
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75 views
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Video simulation and horse ride during a race. Neat ride for kids.74 views
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74 views
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Front entrance to Tama Cemetery.74 views
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Inside Fuji View Stand.73 views
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Food court73 views
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73 views
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Door to Principal's office73 views
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About former Ochi House73 views
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There are a several floors in the Fuji View Stand. 72 views
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Inside the former primary school.72 views
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72 views
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72 views
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On the right is the paddock. (More paddock photos later.)71 views
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About the former primary school. This is only part of the school buildings that existed.71 views
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Inside the school auditorium issome art work by former students during the 1930s.71 views
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Former Fuchu primary school, originally built in 1935.71 views
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71 views
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Cemetery map and sign.71 views
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Inside Fuji View Stand. Very spacious and modern, the Tokyo Race Course is a huge facility not only for horse racing and betting, but also for family recreation and amusement.70 views
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70 views
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70 views
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Inside Principal's office70 views
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Even Emperor Meiji once stopped in the Tanaka Home.70 views
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Inside a classroom70 views
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Memorial plaque in Japanese and English.70 views
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Horse statue69 views
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Fuji View Stand, so named because Mt. Fuji can be seen on clear days.69 views
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There were 12 races this day, and before each race the horses were paraded around the paddock for all to see.69 views
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A pedestrian overpass connects the Fuchu Keiba Seimon-mae Station directly to the Tokyo Race Course's Fuji View Stand.69 views
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Going upstairs.69 views
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About Former Shimada Home.69 views
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The main roads have cherry trees.69 views
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69 views
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If it rains, you can sit here. On this day on June 14, 2009, the Grade III Epsom Cup horse races were held. 68 views
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Room where Emperor Meiji stayed.68 views
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Classroom corridor68 views
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68 views
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68 views
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68 views
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A pedestrian overpass connects the Fuchu Keiba Seimon-mae Station directly to the Tokyo Race Course's Fuji View Stand.67 views
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67 views
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Tama Cemetery Fountain tower.67 views
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View from Fuji View Stand. The place is huge, enough to host a small airport. These photos were taken on June 14, 2009 when the Grade III Epsom Cup races were held.66 views
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Entrance to Tokyo Racecourse. Admission is only ¥200.66 views
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Different student desks.66 views
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Second floor has classrooms.66 views
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66 views
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66 views
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Room where Emperor Meiji stayed.66 views
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66 views
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You can also watch the race inside on a large monitor.65 views
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Fuji View Stand from behind. The overpass from the train station can be seen. This building was built in April 2007.65 views
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65 views
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65 views
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From the overpass, there's this on the left side.64 views
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64 views
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The cemetery is basically in a grid pattern.64 views
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64 views
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Horse named "Hurry Up" to be ridden by famous jockey Take Yutaka.63 views
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Betting windows63 views
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Fuji View Stand. The upper levels are reserved seating which cost extra. Most people sat on the free, lower level.63 views
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View from Fuji View Stand.63 views
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63 views
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Sign at overpass entrance.62 views
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Sakura-dori road in Fuchu.62 views
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Cherry blossoms and graves at Tama Cemetery.62 views
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Tokyo Racecourse paddock.61 views
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For the dirt track, trucks smooth the track.61 views
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61 views
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60 views
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