Downtown Kushiro
Kushiro is a town of some 200,000 in the southeastern corner of Hokkaido
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Main Street
The downtown area is characterized by offices, apartments, stores, and shops.
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Vending Machines
Like other Japanese cities, vending machines offer a variety of products.
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Harbor
Kushiro is Hokkaido's only ice-free port, and exports fish, timber, and...
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Industry
Kushiro is a center of coal mining. It manufactures paper, fertilizer, dairy...
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Hospital
Kushiro boasts a modern multi-story medical facility.
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Museum Building
Situated on a hill, the city museum holds a variety of natural history...
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Overview of Kushiro
The museum affords a panoramic view of Kushiro.
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Museum Entrance
This modernistic building was designed by a local architect to reflect...
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Museum Exhibits
This section of the museum displays marine animal exhibits.
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Tancho Crane Reserve
Just outside Kushiro is a reseserve established in 1957 to save this crane...
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History of the Crane Reserve
The sign traces the evolution of the reserve.
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Visitors
A pair of herons gazes wistfully at the privileged abode of the Japanese cranes
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"Hell's Valley"
The southwestern Hokkaido city of Noboribetsu boasts a natural hot...
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Protective Demons ("Oni")
These guard a small shrine not far from Hell's Valley.
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Anti-Disease and Anti-Disaster Oni
Several demon figures stand on Noboribetsu's main street.
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Oni Figure That Promotes Romance
Another figure on the main street
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Karakuri King
This figure actually animates at fixed times during the day. It was...
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A Hot Springs Hotel
The hot waters flowing out of Hell Valley are piped to a number of...
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Hotel Lobby
Hotels offering onsen baths tend to be luxurious.
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Onsen Wastewater
After providing therapeutic baths, the hot waters are directed into the small...
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Main Street
The curving main street has a host of onsen establishments and tourist shops.
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7-11 Store
Japan boasts more than 11,000 of this international grocery chain's stores.
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Clothing Store Window
The constant flow of affluent tourists to the onsen hotels has led to several...
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Tourist Shops
A wide variety of shops compete for customers in the city.
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Barber Shop
Noboribetsu's streetlights are on distinctive poles.
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Bus Station
The station sits astride the Noboribetsu River
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Lake Poroto
East of Noboribetsu is this beautiful lake, on the shores of which is a...
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Village Founder's Statue
Visitors to the Ainu Village are greeted by this larger-than-life statue.
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Traditional Pond
The village is dotted with elements of Ainu culture.
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Village Guardian
An owl observes the passing parade.
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Totem
A black kite is challenging the owl currently sitting on top of the heap.
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Welcoming Committee
Ainu village performers often join Shiraoi town officials in official...
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Drum Corps
The town of Shiraoi maintains an impressive accustical team for ceremonies.
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A Farewell to Hokkaido
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Asia
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