We are off to Hakone supposedly to get views of Mt Fuji there.
It’s a fine day - and you can actually see Fuji (with snow!) from Tokyo through the smog as we leave - and the traffic is horrendous so the views might be gone by the time we get there!
Our bus driver (Mr Chimura-san) takes a required break at a huge roadstop: amazing facilities; very good coffee (not expensive!!). Leaves our roadside stops back home for dead.
It is a winding road from Hakone Yumoto which is the town at the base of the Hakone mountains and very popular with tourists (and busy as we drive through). The town had been one of Japan's most popular hot springs resorts for centuries.
As we climb, we follow aside the river: very pretty even though the autumn colours haven’t peaked here yet.
This is the historic road from Tokyo to Osaka via Hakone: the Tokaidō. It was a vital artery for trade and travel, especially during the Edo period (1603-1868). There were 53 post stations to support travellers, with Hakone forming a critical, mountainous section of the journey.
We stop at the Hakone Open Air Museum - totally amazing. And the Picasso exhibition was a highlight. We enjoyed the parkland and soaking our feet in the public hot spring foot bath.
Then to the Gotemba Peace Park - for a view point of Mt Fuji. Well, we got our view. Great! And as we left, the mountain was almost clouded over. How lucky.
We pressed onto another road stop - for late lunch (with views of the Pacific Ocean).
After 6:30 pm (and a pretty sunset enroute) we arrive in Hamamatsu (pop. over 800,000).
The city is an important industrial centre, home to several companies such as Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha and Kawai Pianos, as well as several factories such as Sony and Panasonic. Hamamatsu is well known for the automotive parts and musical instruments, among other things, that are produced here.
We had dinner at a ramen restaurant under the railway station - great ramen plus gyoza (a local specialty - along with unagi (eel!!). MF-san had karaka ramen: a spicy ramen featuring a rich tonkotsu (pork bone) broth, thin noodles, and a spicy "karaka" miso paste.
On the way back to the hotel we see a schloss (yes, would you believe it - in Japan!) lit up with lights and on investigation, decide on a whim to have a beer at this German beer hall (complete with classical music playing) - and watched a couple of Spanish soccer teams thrash it out on the TV.
Walked 9.45 kms.
A great trip you are having! I’m glad you are getting to know the ramen cafes, we use to frequent them relative cheap and the food is so fresh, I watched women through a window one time making gyozas, the way they move their fingers to form dumplings, it was an art!!! Great view of Fuji!! I think I’ve been to that place known for the onsens and hot springs , what a great day, went with another Aussie lady and a Japanese lady, which was good as all we heard was Japanese , on the train , what a day!! Magic!! Cheers Jenny B
ReplyDeleteBeen catching up on your trip , all sounds fabulous. Loving the photos Chris M
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