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We arrived at the Fujiya
Hotel, Hakone at 17:00. It was the first Western-style
hotel in Japan, built in the 1930's and has, it is claimed,
a faded charm. It certainly was faded! But it is unusual
and the rooms are huge, with massive walk in closets, and
great Art Deco furniture. |
Chris proposed a tempura meal, and as we have come to
trust his restaurant judgement completely (with one possible
exception!), we all agreed to go. It was, as usual, great,
especially watching the chef prepare our food. I must
be going native, as I choose, and enjoy, puffer fish,
conger eel, and squid. And miso.
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After dinner,
we treat Chris to a well-earned drink in the bar in the
hotel. I don't know what is more interesting, the 1930's
decor or the clientele: well worth the ¥500 cover charge! |
The next day,
we explored Hakone itself. We walked down to the station
at Miyanoshita and caught a train, known as the switchback
train, because of the steep gradients and tight curves.
I certainly have never seen anything like it before. |
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Next, we catch a funicular railway... |
...then a cable car... |
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...where we
arrived at Mount Hakone with its steaming fumeroles and
boiling water pools in which they cook eggs (which turn
black in the sulphurous water). |
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Then onto another cable car... |
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...to get to Lake Ashi and to travel on
the most extraordinary pirate ship! |
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After a brief lunch, we caught a bus which twisted and winded
along, before changing onto another bus and arriving finally
at the Hakone
Open Air Museum (Hakone Chokoku No Mori Bijutsukan), where
sculptures are displayed in its spacious grounds with beautiful
views of the surrounding valley and mountains. Besides the
sculptures, the museum also has various indoor galleries,
including a sizable Picasso collection. |
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We however were rather taken
by the hot foot bath and the stained glass |
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Back to the hotel at Miyanoshita on the switchback
train - we are shattered after travelling on practically every
sort of transport! We have supper in a sushi restaurant where
Chris announced that if we are to see Mount Fuji, we shall
have to get up at 06:00! |
The next morning (Tuesday
1st November - can it really be November already? It is
so warm here), was bright and sunny, so we met Chris in
the lobby and caught the 06:25 bus to the famous viewpoint.
The driver was fascinated that foreigners are prepared to
make such an effort to see the elusive mountain. Alas, it
was misty. We saw nothing: even the torii gate was only
just visible. It was beautiful, however. |
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Then there was a hoot of a vehicle.
The bus driver had driven back specially to tell us the
Fuji was visible further down the road, and to take us all
there! We all jumped in and he took us to another spot a
couple of miles down the road. And sure enough, there was
Fuji, rising above the mist. Profuse thanks to bus driver.
There followed a long photo shoot session! |
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As we reluctantly left,
we passed the original viewpoint. The mist had cleared and
we got a glimpse of the view we were meant to have seen.
We were lucky, it is possible only one day in ten... |
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