Chris
The Kamakura Adventure
We awoke the next morning bright and early, ate a big breakfast at the hotel, checked out, and headed to the JR ticket counter. We bought the Kamakura/Enoshima Free Kippu, which would get us into the area, and then let us use the local trains there as much as we needed. Technically it would get [...]
Odawara Castle
Just to the south of Odawara station is Odawara Castle, a reconstruction of an Edo-style castle. I’d say its about a 10-15 minute walk, depending on how tired you are, and given the size of the station. Admission is ¥400 for adults, which gets you a tour of the museum inside, and up to the [...]
The Hakone Loop, Part 5: The Ropeway and Cable Car
Having exited the shuttle bus at Owakudani, we were now in a totally different world. Surrounded by rocky landscapes and sulfurous smoke, we were in the volcanic area, ready to hop on the ropeway. Basically you’re riding in a little pod suspended by cables some 100′s of feet in the air. The Mrs. wasn’t too [...]
The Hakone Loop, Part 4: Lake Ashi
Once we got to the end of the old cedar highway, we had to walk the rest of the way to Hakone-Machi, and find the sightseeing boat docks. It was a bit of a walk, but not bad. We found ourselves going through an open air exhibit of some kind, that I think we were [...]
The Hakone Loop: Part 3, Moto-Hakone and the Old Cedar Highway
We got off the bus at Moto-Hakone, and stopped to take in the beauty of Lake Ashi, and the majesty of Mt. Fuji in the distance. We’d spotted the tip of Fujisan here and there on the train to Hakone-Yumoto, but it was more visible over the Ashi valley now. Wow. A few of the [...]
The Hakone Loop, Part 2: Up the Mountain
So we got on the bus for Moto-Hakone, which would finally get us to where the real scenery was. The bus ride up was uneventful, mostly locals getting off fairly close to Hakone-Yumoto. By the time we reached Moto-Hakone, we were the only ones left! The road up the mountain is pretty wild. Lots of [...]
The Hakone Loop, Part. 1: Getting There….
So I skipped something from yesterday’s entry, before we went to the totally excellent Himawari Sushi, we had to go to the Odakyu Sightseeing Center in their section of Shinjuku Station. Luckily this part was really straightforward. Find the big Odakyu building (not the HALC!) go in, and look for the counter marked “Sightseeing Service [...]
Observation: Where Are The Bugs?!
One thing we noticed, was that there was a surprising lack of insects about, especially for the first part of July. Normally, I would have expected to be assaulted by mosquitoes, flies, various types of bees or wasps (yellow jackets!) or to see at least a cockroach or two scurrying around on the street. Especially [...]
Mt. Takao
(note: I may split this post up, and with more detail later…) Today we started our day trips out of the city. Rather than get breakfast at the hotel, we opted for a little (again, pseudo-Italian) bistro/cafe place up the street from the hotel. We shared a mediocre-at-best panini or whatever you call it. Meh. [...]
Meiji Jingu
Well, at last we come down to it, the last major sight we’d see in Tokyo, The Meiji Jingu, or Meiji Shrine. Built to remember the Meiji Emperor, who as you recall, opened up Japan to the rest of the world in the mid 1800s, it occupies a large portion of Yoyogi Park, which is [...]
