Most viewed - Fukushima city 福島市 |
Belly dancer at Fukushima Waraji Matsuri.1714 views
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Belly dancer at Fukushima Waraji Matsuri.1218 views
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Belly dancer at Fukushima Waraji Matsuri.1190 views
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My YouTube video featuring Diverse dance troupes on the streets of Fukushima in the evening at the annual Fukushima Waraji Matsuri. This is the evening parade (Dancing Soda Night) on Aug. 8, 2009.574 views
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My YouTube video featuring hula dancers in waraji straw sandals, hip-hop, belly dancers, and more during the 1st Waraji Day Dance Contest on Ekimae-dori near Fukushima Station on Aug. 8, 2009 at 12:30 pm. Also, giant waraji races.470 views
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Fukushima Waraji Matsuri240 views
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Fukushima Waraji Matsuri219 views
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214 views
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During April when the spring flowers are in bloom, a convenient shuttle bus runs from JR Fukushima Station to Hanamiyama Park. A short bus ride.211 views
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Fukushima Hanamiyama Park 211 views
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210 views
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JR Fukushima Station on the west side (Nishi-guchi).209 views
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Fukushima Hanamiyama Park spring flowers 207 views
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Many of the dancers wore waraji-related things.206 views
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Nanohana rape blossoms. In the distance are gift shops.206 views
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202 views
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201 views
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Fukushima manhole. I think it's waraji straw sandals.199 views
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Hanamiyama Park, Fukushima city.199 views
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Fukushima Hanamiyama Park spring flowers 196 views
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194 views
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Fukushima Hanamiyama Park spring flowers 194 views
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Held on the first Fri. and Sat. of Aug., the Fukushima Waraji Matsuri is mainly an evening parade of dancers. During Aug. 7-8, 2009, the 40th Fukushima Waraji Festival was held. I saw it on the second day.193 views
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Fukushima Hanamiyama Park spring flowers 190 views
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189 views
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This girl's homemade happi coat says "Waraji Matsuri."175 views
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Photo gallery168 views
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Gift shop150 views
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About Hanamiyama Park.148 views
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Clear view of Mt. Shinobuyama 信夫山142 views
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Awards ceremony. The festival ended at about 9:30 pm.141 views
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Map of Hanamiyama Park. It's kind of hard to figure out.139 views
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Before you go to Hanamiyama Park, you can leave your luggage here right next to the bus stop.138 views
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136 views
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Hanamiyama Park is literally a Flower-Viewing Mountain Park famous for spring flowers especially cherry blossoms sprinkled on the mountainsides. 135 views
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A trio of belly dancers.133 views
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Notice anything unusual about these hula dancers?130 views
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On Aug. 8, 2009 at 12:30 pm, they held the 1st Waraji Day Dance Contest on Ekimae-dori. (わらじDayダンス選手権)125 views
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Look at their footwear. They are wearing a pair of waraji straw sandals.125 views
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From the bus stop, you walk a bit to Hanamiyama Park. Very pleasant walk.125 views
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121 views
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Although Hanamiyama Park is most famous for cherry blossoms (which past their peak when I visited), there are many other spring flowers as well.121 views
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121 views
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121 views
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It started in 1935 when local flower growers began planting flowers. In April 1959, it became Hanamiyama Park.120 views
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120 views
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120 views
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119 views
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For a few hours, numerous dance groups performed in a contest. They even had a hula troupe dance, to my delight as I'm from Hawaii.118 views
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View of Fukushima Station's east side.118 views
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118 views
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118 views
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116 views
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Hanamiyama Park, Fukushima city.116 views
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116 views
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115 views
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114 views
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114 views
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113 views
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113 views
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A panel of judges were there to judge the dancers.112 views
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112 views
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111 views
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Monument on the west side of Fukushima Station. The shinkansen train can be seen.111 views
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Cherry blossoms past thir peak.111 views
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111 views
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111 views
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The park include residential and farming areas so there are roads and areas off limits to tourists.111 views
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110 views
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Road back to the parking lot.110 views
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109 views
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108 views
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Local guides show you the flowers for free.106 views
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106 views
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106 views
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Each dance group had to perform two numbers. The first one had to be "Dancing Soda Night" for 3 min. and the second one could be anything for 5 min. or less.105 views
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East exit of JR Fukushima Station has a statue of Haiku poet Matsuo Basho and his traveling companion Sora.105 views
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105 views
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105 views
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105 views
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105 views
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Nice views all around.104 views
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104 views
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104 views
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Irises for June.104 views
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104 views
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You can sit here.104 views
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Announcement of the winners.103 views
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They also displayed this giant golden waraji.103 views
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School girls103 views
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103 views
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Plants for sale.103 views
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"Waraji" means straw sandals. In central Fukushima city, Ashio Shrine (足尾神社) at a mountain called Shinobu-yama (信夫山) has Japan's largest waraji at 12 meters long and weighing 2 tons. 102 views
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Near the intersection of Ekimae-dori and Route 13 was this entertainment stage.102 views
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Waraji race at Fukushima Waraji Matsuri Festival. Each race team had to have 10 members. Also see my YouTube video here.102 views
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Eisa group from Okinawa102 views
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102 views
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102 views
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101 views
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View of Fukushima Station's east side.101 views
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101 views
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101 views
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The giant waraji sandal is an offering for healthy legs/feet. On the first day of the festival (which I missed in 2009), they carry this giant waraji to the festival grounds along Route 13. Here it is displayed at the intersection.100 views
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99 views
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Groups of children, women, etc., were to pull this large waraji on wheels on the 300-meter long race course along Route 13. A pair of large waraji were raced down the road. Then raced back by another pair of racers.99 views
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Toward the west exit the tourist info office on the left. Pick up pamphlets and maps.99 views
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Corasse Fukushima also has a lookout deck on the top 12th floor. コラッセふくしま99 views
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Inside JR Fukushima Station. Sample fireworks balls.98 views
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Paseo Road Tanabata Matsuri, Fukushima98 views
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Closeup of the giant waraji. 97 views
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Ekimae-dori street leading to Fukushima Station is closed to traffic.97 views
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A good-size crowd watched the dance contest.97 views
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Giant golden waraji had ema votive tablets written with people's wishes.97 views
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Some fireworks97 views
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Paseo Road also intersects with Bunka-dori road which also has its own Tanabata Matsuri with bamboo branches hung with wishes.97 views
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Inside the shop, you can find the best products of Fukushima, including edibles.97 views
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96 views
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96 views
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96 views
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JR Fukushima Station with shinkansen approaching.96 views
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96 views
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They weren't wearing waraji.95 views
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94 views
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Apparently, it was their first time to appear in this festival.94 views
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At the intersection. Notice the giant waraji straw sandal.94 views
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JR Fukushima Station on the east side (Higashi-guchi).94 views
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Inside JR Fukushima Station.94 views
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Finally at 7:30 pm, the main event called Dancing Soda Night started along Route 13 and Ekimae-dori.93 views
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93 views
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JR Fukushima Station shinkansen platform.93 views
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After the waraji races, they also had taiko float races where people pulled/pushed a taiko float in a race.92 views
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Many of the dance groups were from dance studios or schools.92 views
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Inside JR Fukushima Station.92 views
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The giant golden waraji was used to open the waraji races on the second day of the festival.91 views
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JR Fukushima Station shinkansen platform.91 views
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Bunka-dori road Tanabata Matsuri91 views
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91 views
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On Aug. 8, 2009 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, the second day of the festival, they held waraji races along Route 13 (Shinobu-dori).90 views
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90 views
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90 views
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90 views
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90 views
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90 views
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Children's wishes for Tanabata Matsuri on Bunka-dori Road.90 views
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90 views
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On the west side of Fukushima Station is a tall building called Corasse Fukushima. The ground floor has the Fukushima Tourism and Product Center selling products of Fukushima.90 views
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89 views
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Entrance to the shinkansen tracks.89 views
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Around Aug. 7, the Tanabata Matsuri Star Festival is held along Paseo Road, a short walk from the east side of Fukushima Station.89 views
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89 views
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89 views
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Hula dancers88 views
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88 views
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Poster for Bunka-dori Tanabata Matsuri.88 views
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86 views
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