 Most viewed - Lake Toya (Toyako) 洞爺湖 |
G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit countdown at the former Hokkaido Government Building.120 views
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Swan boat and a real swan.119 views
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The sumo ring is not made of real dirt.119 views
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It looks kind of strange without his two attendants, the sword bearer and dew sweeper...119 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit potato confection.119 views
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118 views
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118 views
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Sculpture: by Keiko Amamiya, 雨宮 敬子「洞照」118 views
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Entrance to Toyako Visitor Center (free admission, but admission charged for the Volcano Science Museum).118 views
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Aqua-blue water was almost like a tropical ocean...118 views
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Alpine flowers118 views
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View of Showa-Shinzan and ropeway terminal.118 views
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The road is too steep to ride a bicycle, but short enough to walk it. You will be sweating though.118 views
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Well-placed sculpture at Ukimido: Dream Toya, by Mitsuaki Sora, 空 充秋「夢洞爺」117 views
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Lakefront promenade117 views
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Toyako Visitor Center117 views
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Mt. Usu Eruption Memorial Park on the west end of Toyako Onsen has more outdoor sculptures. 有珠山噴火記念公園117 views
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Sculpture at Kimundo-no-Ie: Winter: When Stars Fall, by 小野寺紀子「冬～星降る夜に」. A persistent problem is the bird droppings forming ugly white streaks on the pieces. Someone should clean it.117 views
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Sculpture: I was…I will, by Masaru Bando 坂東 優「I was（過去）…I will（未来）」116 views
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Close-up of Nishiyama's first crater formed during the March 2000 eruption.116 views
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Swan boats. You can pedal pretty far out in these things, but not to the Nakajima islands.116 views
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The water is very transparent.116 views
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116 views
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Vinyl house115 views
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115 views
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Swan boats again.115 views
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Wrecked car on display. The main attraction is the Mt. Usu Volcanic Eruption Theater which shows an engrossing film about Usuzan's eruptions. 火山科学館115 views
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Above is an actual tournament champion giant portrait which once hung in the Kokugikan.115 views
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Cherry blossoms and sculpture115 views
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Sculpture: 中井延也「シグナル」115 views
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Sculpture: 秋山沙走武「薫風」115 views
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Ticket office inside JR Toya Station with G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit flags.115 views
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Toyako Onsen Spa tourist information office with a G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign.115 views
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The Usuzan Ropeway terminal has gift shops selling a variety of G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit merchandise. T-shirts, bags, candy, etc.115 views
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114 views
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114 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit countdown at Toyako Visitors Center and Volcano Science Museum in Toyako Onsen Spa.114 views
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Sculpture at Kimundo-no-Ie: Spring Winds Blowing, by 熊谷紀子「春～風走る」114 views
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This box of cookies show all the G8 Summit leaders bathing in a hot spring and scrubbing each other's backs. They also say, "Ii yu!" (great hot spring) which is pronounced "EU" as a pun.114 views
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The Matsuhashi family later moved away from Toya village and entrusted the statue to a local temple.113 views
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The Toyako Visitor Center also has the Volcano Science Museum (admission 600 yen). A room (seen on left) simulating the 1977 Mt. Usu eruption with a video and vibrating sound is a must-see.113 views
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Kitanoumi's kesho mawashi set (ceremonial apron) on display.113 views
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Natural history exhibit113 views
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Sculpture at Kimundo-no-Ie: All-Day Autumn, by 秋山知子「秋～終日」113 views
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113 views
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Toya Mizunoeki, a local shopping place and rest house in northern Lake Toya. A good place to rest, eat, and inquire at the tourist info counter. とうや水の駅112 views
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How Lake Toya was formed.112 views
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Power generation machinery112 views
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Sobetsu Park gives great views of Lake Toya and the Nakajima islands.112 views
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Cherry blossoms at the top of Sobetsu Park.112 views
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The Windsor Hotel, G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit venue is on a hill overlooking the lake. Below is a lake cruise boat.112 views
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Sculpture: Dreamy Lake View, by Masafumi Maita 眞板 雅文「湖景夢想」111 views
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Sculpture: Alveolus, by Goro Kakei 掛井 五郎「胞」111 views
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Cherry blossoms and Toyako Onsen in the distance.111 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign on the edge of Toyako Onsen hot spring.111 views
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Tournament champion portrait. Kitanoumi retired in Jan. 1985 and started his own Kitanoumi Stable. In 2002, he became chairman of the Japan Sumo Association. We missed Kitanoumi, but another great Yokozuna from Hokkaido, Chiyonofuji, filled the void.111 views
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Local wildlife exhibit, including the Ezo deer.111 views
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Little island in the lake. Name unknown.111 views
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111 views
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Toyako Visitor Center and Volcano Science Museum (smaller building on left). 洞爺湖ビジターセンター110 views
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Referee costumes in the showcase.110 views
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Rocky shore110 views
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Eastern Lake Toya, with Mt. Usu in the distance.110 views
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110 views
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New Chitose Airport, another welcome sign as we head for the baggage claim area.110 views
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109 views
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Little Kitanoumi. He was born in May 1953 in Sobetsu-cho town which includes the eastern shore of Lake Toya (Toyako). At age 13, he moved to Tokyo and entered the Mihogaseki Stable.109 views
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And some of his trophies. Besides the Emperor's Cup (not displayed), the tournament champion receives numerous trophies and awards from various organizations and countries.109 views
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It was pretty sunny, but I still used flash for this shot.109 views
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Sculpture: Ripple Dance, by 関 正司「漣舞・リップル・ダンス」109 views
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108 views
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108 views
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Photos of other tournament champions. Six official 15-day sumo tournaments are held every year in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka.108 views
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Typical abode of early Hokkaido settlers who first came to this area in 1879.108 views
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108 views
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Toyako Enchi Park, a lakeside picnic area.108 views
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Sculpture at Kimundo-no-Ie: Spring Winds Blowing, by 熊谷紀子「春～風走る」108 views
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When I went in early May, it was a little too soon for the plum blossoms which were just beginning to bloom.108 views
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One girl takes notes as the others give her their test results.108 views
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Inside New Chitose Airport's Central Plaza, more G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome signs.108 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign at Usuzan Ropeway terminal.108 views
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Inside Toya Mizunoeki, they sell local produce, tourist souvenirs, etc.107 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign on entrance of Toya Mizunoeki.107 views
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Cherry trees almost in full bloom.107 views
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Carp, they must love this clean lake.107 views
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Love this transparent water. Makes you feel like canoeing or kayaking to the Nakajima islands.107 views
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Nice cycling path goes quite far.107 views
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Personal computers for public use inside Toya Mizunoeki in northern Lake Toya. Notice the G8 Summit flags.107 views
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Toya Shonen Shizen no Ie (Toya Nature House for Youth) is a lodging and seminar facility. 道立洞爺少年自然の家106 views
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How the lake was formed.106 views
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The sculpture on the right: Wave Play, by Kyuzaemon Orihara 折原 久左ェ門「波遊」106 views
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Silo Lookout Point in western Lake Toya is not on the lakeside road. It is on a highway running almost parallel to the lakeside road. Not really accessible by bicycle.106 views
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Fishes in Lake Toya106 views
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Lakefront promenade on the west end of Toyako Onsen Spa.106 views
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Top row has miniature versions of the tournament champion portraits awarded to the wrestler and hung in the Ryogoku Kokugikan. Bottom row of photos show his best career moments.106 views
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This is the main room of the Kitanoumi Memorial Hall. It includes half of a sumo ring (dohyo) with a mannequin.106 views
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Scale model of a sumo drum tower106 views
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106 views
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Sculpture: Posing for a Photo in May, by 峯田敏郎「記念撮影五月のかたち」106 views
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Sculpture: Scene of a Portrait, by 湯川 隆「肖像のある風景」106 views
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106 views
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106 views
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Sculpture: Scene of a Portrait, by 湯川 隆「肖像のある風景」106 views
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By early May, police already started to invade the Lake Toya area.106 views
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Toyako Visitors Center and Volcano Science Museum in Toyako Onsen Spa.106 views
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A path of stones lead to the Ukimido.105 views
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Around 1912, a Buddhist priest traveling north reached Toya village and rested at the Matsuhashi home. He gave a statue of Prince Shotoku Taishi to the family and said that they and the village shall prosper by taking care of it.105 views
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Upon the wishes of the local people, they built the Ukimido pagoda in 1937 and put the Shotoku Taishi statue on the altar inside. They also started the annual Shotoku Taishi Festival every July.105 views
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105 views
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Birds around Toyako105 views
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Sculpture: 峯田敏郎「記念撮影五月のかたち」105 views
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Finally, cherry blossoms near the lake water...105 views
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New Chitose Airport, another welcome sign as we head for the baggage claim area.105 views
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Inside New Chitose Airport at the check-in terminal, more G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome signs.105 views
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The train to Lake Toya is also decorated with G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign.105 views
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Nakajima islands as seen from northern Lake Toya.104 views
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Behind Ukimido pagoda, Lake Toya104 views
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The Ukimido houses a small statue of Prince Shotoku Taishi. Inside, it still looks quite new.104 views
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104 views
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The other half of the building is the Sobetsu History Museum. This panel shows how Lake Toya was formed.104 views
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Artifacts of early Hokkaido settlers.104 views
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104 views
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Sculpture at Kimundo-no-Ie: To the Shore in Summer, by 神田比呂子「夏～渚へ」104 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit countdown at Toyako Visitors Center and Volcano Science Museum in Toyako Onsen Spa.104 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign on window of Toya Mizunoeki in northern Lake Toya.104 views
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Left side of Ukimido pagoda, Lake Toya103 views
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Award from Czechoslovakia in 1978.103 views
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Kitanoumi-beya stable sign at top, and various award certificates.103 views
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Windsor Hotel in the distance.103 views
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Cherry blossoms and the Nakajima islands.103 views
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Carp fish103 views
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After pushing my bicycle up the long slope from central Sobetsu, I went back on the lakeside road and again went uphill to Sobetsu Park, famous for ume plum trees.103 views
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Beef103 views
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Flowers on the ground.103 views
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On the shore of Lake Toya is binoculars through which you can see the Summit venue, the Windsor Hotel.103 views
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Nakajima islands102 views
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Ukimido Park102 views
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Some photos are captioned with memorable quotes by Kitanoumi.102 views
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102 views
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Cherry blossoms and Lake Toya with the Nakajima islands.102 views
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Eastern Lake Toya, with pretty lake colors.102 views
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Kimundo-no-Ie Hot Spring and campsite.102 views
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Picture-taking point102 views
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View of Mt. Usu and Showa-Shinzan (left) from Sobetsu Park.102 views
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Inside New Chitose Airport's Central Plaza, more G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome signs.102 views
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Inside New Chitose Airport's Central Plaza, G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit countdown.102 views
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Welcome sign in front of JR Toya Station, the closest train station to Lake Toya.102 views
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Toyako Culture Center with G8 Summit flags.102 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign at Mt. Showa-Shinzan.102 views
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Personal computers for public use inside Toya Mizunoeki in northern Lake Toya. Notice the G8 Summit flags.101 views
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Ukimido101 views
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101 views
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Close-up of cherry blossoms. Doesn't look like the Somei-Yoshino type.101 views
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One thing I like about photographing human-figure sculptures is that they are very good at keeping still for my camera.101 views
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Road to Mt. Showa-Shinzan.101 views
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101 views
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More arrows point downward to show where the road edge is, when there is deep snow.101 views
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Passed by two small Shinto shrines...101 views
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At the top of the park's hill is a lookout deck. However, you can also walk on the slope and see the plum blossoms up close.101 views
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Snow in the refrigerated warehouse. In winter, they use a snow plow/blower to shoot the snow into the room. The temperature is adjusted by ceiling fans and the wall shutters which can open or close.101 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign on the edge of Toyako Onsen hot spring.101 views
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Official logo of the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit on the Toyako Culture Center.101 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome banner at a gas station in northern Lake Toya.101 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome poster.101 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit merchandise: T-shirts101 views
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Silo Lookout Point100 views
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100 views
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100 views
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100 views
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100 views
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I left the lakeside road and took a side trip to the center of Sobetsu town.100 views
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This river leads to Sobetsu Falls.100 views
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Color charts are used to assess the water quality. This is for phosphoric acid.100 views
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Next to Toya Station is the Toyako Town Hall, also with a G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign.100 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign on entrance of Toya Mizunoeki, a shopping and rest house in northern Lake Toya.100 views
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Takarada Nature Footpath along the lake shore. 財田自然観察道99 views
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Northern Lake Toya includes the Takarada Nature Footpath along the lake shore. 財田自然観察道99 views
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Ukimido pagoda juts out into the lake on a narrow islet connected by a stone bridge.99 views
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View from the Ukimido's tiny balcony.99 views
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99 views
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Volcanic rock which you can touch. Toyako Visitor Center99 views
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Front of the Yokozuna Kitanoumi Memorial Hall, dedicated to Sobetsu's most famous son. Yokozuna Kitanoumi was one of sumo's greatest grand champions in modern times. "Kitanoumi" means "Lake of the North," and this refers to Lak99 views
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This is what you first see. Photos of Kitanoumi growing up in Sobetsu town. Looks like any ordinary kid. Admission is 250 yen for adults, 100 yen for kids. Open 9 am to 5 pm, closed Jan. 1.99 views
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Sacred offerings buried in the dohyo before each tournament.99 views
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Artifacts from the defunct local Iburi rail line discontinued in 1986. There was a Sobetsu Station.99 views
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99 views
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Lakeside road on eastern Lake Toya.99 views
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Plum trees closer to the sun were blooming earlier.99 views
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The students do various tests, each one does a specific task. 洞爺高等学校99 views
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For nitrate.99 views
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The lake cruise boat with G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign.99 views
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Sobetsu Town Hall with a G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign. Sobetsu fronts the east shore of Lake Toya.99 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign in Sobetsu.99 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome poster.99 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit merchandise: Manju99 views
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Northern Lake Toya98 views
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Inside Toya Mizunoeki98 views
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Northern Lake Toya98 views
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Cherry blossoms and Ukimido pagoda.98 views
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However, on Oct. 15, 2003, the Ukimido was struck by lightning and both the building and Shotoku Taishi statue were lost in the fire.98 views
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Local residents then launched a project to rebuild the Ukimido and through numerous donations, a new Ukimido and Shotoku Taishi altar statue was completed in July 2004.98 views
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98 views
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Swan boat too.98 views
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98 views
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98 views
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98 views
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The main reason for the side trip was this museum, the Yokozuna Kitanoumi Memorial Hall, dedicated to one of sumo's greatest grand champions. He was from Sobetsu.98 views
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View of Nakajima islands from eastern Lake Toya.98 views
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Sobetsu Town Hall with a G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign.98 views
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98 views
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Ticket office inside JR Toya Station. Notice the G8 Summit flags.98 views
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Glass door with G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sticker.98 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome poster.98 views
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Environmental poster.98 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit merchandise: Confections sold at the train station kiosk98 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit confection98 views
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Take home your trash!97 views
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View of Lake Toya behind Toya Mizunoeki.97 views
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Silo Lookout Point97 views
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Today, Kitanoumi is a stablemaster and the chairman of the Japan Sumo Association. The front entrance of the Yokozuna Kitanoumi Memorial Hall which opened in May 1991..97 views
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97 views
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97 views
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97 views
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Arrows point downward to show where the road edge is, when there is deep snow.97 views
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Kimundo-no-Ie Hot Spring and campsite office. You can bath in a hot spring for 390 yen here. Open 10 am - 9 pm. Closed Thu. Phone: 0142-66-7022 来夢人の家、仲洞爺湖温泉97 views
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97 views
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97 views
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This refrigerated warehouse for vegetables uses winter snow as the coolant, reducing the electricity bill.97 views
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Toyako Town Hall, front side, festooned with G8 Summit flags.97 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign at Usuzan Ropeway terminal.97 views
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Reeds barely grow here.96 views
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Pier96 views
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Nakajima islands as seen from northern Lake Toya. They seem to look the same from whichever direction. Totally conical islands.96 views
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Inside Toya Mizunoeki96 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit Welcome sign on window of Toya Mizunoeki in northern Lake Toya.96 views
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Outside Toya Mizunoeki fronting Lake Toya.96 views
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Another major sight in Lake Toya is the Ukimido pagoda in northern Lake Toya.96 views
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Ukimido means "floating view temple."96 views
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The Ukimido is the focal point of the lakeside Ukimido Park.96 views
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Nakajima islands as seen from western Lake Toya.96 views
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Right outside the Yokozuna Kitanoumi Memorial Hall are sumo banners. From left to right, they read, "Kitanoumi Stable," "Yokozuna Kitanoumi Memorial Hall," and "Sobetsu History Museum."96 views
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96 views
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96 views
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96 views
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Near the Silo Lookput Point is this large refrigerated warehouse for vegetables operated by the Toya JA agricultural cooperative. 野菜貯蔵用雪蔵（雪エネルギー利用)96 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit merchandise: Eco-bag96 views
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Takarada Nature Footpath along the lake shore.95 views
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The lake shore behind the Toya Mizunoeki also has swans.95 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome banner at a gas station in northern Lake Toya.95 views
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