The Yanagawa Hina Festival is where little girls in bright kimono ride on river boats for their first festival, while the reflections of sagemon (hanging ornaments unique to the Yanagawa region) glimmer on the river.
A group of teachers and there families went to Yanagawa today to see the festival. As it turned out, we were actually in the river to enjoy it up close and personal. We did not see the beginning of the route where the girls ride in the boats under the sagemon. We began at the opposite end and travelled down the river. We met up with the colorful boats with the young girls inside near a bridge. We were able to stay in one location while the boats passed by us.
One thing that was quit amusing was that while we were in our boats the people in other boats and along the river would call out to us and take our photos. We were taking photos of them while they were taking photos of us.
When we went under the bridges we had to bend way down in the boat. Some of the bridges are very low to the water. It was an interesting experience.
Yanagawa is known for their steamed eel. Obviously, I did not eat any...but it was being cooked all around. Not the best fragrance, but I am sure many people enjoy it.
Enjoy the photos.
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| The boat men waiting for people to take down the river. |
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| A boat doing down the area with the sagemon. |
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| A bridge with the picture of the boats on the rivers. |
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| Our boat captain. He even sang a song for us. |
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| Many boats on the river. |
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| More boats |
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| The sagemon hanging over the river. |
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| The dolls and sagemon on the side of the river. |
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| This was displayed at the police station. |
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| Girls in their kimonos. |
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| Adorable girls in the boat. |
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| Girls in kimonos. |
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| Girls in the boat. |
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| Looking behind our boat. |
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| People on the bridge were taking photos of us. |
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| A classic VW Bus. |
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| The side at the train station. |
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| Boats along the way. |
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| Close up of girls. |
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| Close up of the musicians. |
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| Sagemon and doll display in a shop. |
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| Eel sign |
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| Fishing nets |
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| Girls and women in kimonos. |
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| Other boaters traveling down the river. |
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| Going under a bridge. |
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| A house along the river. |
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| The musicians behind us. |
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| Display in the shop where we bought our tickets for the boat ride. |
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| Sagemon |
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| Samurai |
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| Shops along the river. |
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| Close up of the shops along the river. |
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| Statue along the river. Our boat driver sang us a song in front of this. |
