"From the eye of the east": Hakone : Where nature still flourish

Salam & こんにちは、

今回のポストはゴールデンウィークの休みで、俺の行ったところについて話そう。今回の旅行地は　箱根です！箱根は、静岡県に近い神奈川県南西部の一角、箱根カルデラ近辺の一帯を指す地名。地図の上では、行政区画としての箱根町におおむね重なる概念である。古来東海道の要衝であり、「天下の険」と謳われた難所箱根峠のふもとには宿場や関所が置かれた。近代以降は保養地・観光地として発展。各所に湧く温泉や、芦ノ湖、大涌谷、仙石原などがとりわけ有名である。

箱根は俺の日本人の友達から知られた。彼は穏やかな場所が大好きだから、そのような場所がよく知ってる。さらに箱根は今俺の住んでる場所と近いので、すげー便利だと思う。あの日、東海大学前駅から10時ぐらい出発。小田急線で小田原まで向かった。次は、小田原に着いたら、箱根フリーパスを買った(Hakone Free Pass) 。箱根フリーパスは「箱根にいる間で交通機関を何回も無料乗れる」というチケットだ。いいんでしょう？

The example of Hakone Free Pass

(Taken from internet)

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When imagine about Japan, we will always wondering about gadget, technology stuff, skyscrapper and those kind of things. Sometimes we forget about the beauty of the nature in Japan; the scenery of Mt. Fuji.

So, in this post i want to talk about the place i went during my last holiday which was Golden Week holiday. I went to Hakone; one of places where the beauty of the nature is still untouched. A little brief about Hakone :

The economy of Hakone is strongly dominated by the tourist industry. Hakone is noted for its onsen (hot spring resorts), which attract both Japanese and international visitors looking for a break from a busy Megalopolitan Tokyo. Other tourist sights include the volcanically active Owakudani geysers and Hakone Shrine on the shore of the lake, as well as the Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands and the view of a nearby Mt. Fuji. In April the cherry blossoms (sakura) and in autumn the Miscanthus sinensis (susuki) are noted sights. Hakone also has a number of art museums, including the Hakone Open-Air Museum and Pola Museum of Art.

Odakyuu rail express

I'm departed from my nearest train station which is 'Toukai-daigakumae' around 10 in the morning, using the Odakyuu Rail head to Odawara which is the last station along this route. Then, i bought a ticket which was the 'Hakone Free Pass' for about 5000yen. Hakone Free Pass allows you to board any public transportation in Hakone for free, during your stay time in Hakone. This pass comes with a day pass or 2 days pass; so you can choose it depending on your staying schedule.

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箱根にある交通機関

以上の図により、小田原から箱根湯本に行く。箱根湯元は箱根の入り口と知られる。なぜかというと、箱根湯元から強羅（ごうら）へ行って、また早雲山ー桃源台ー箱根町ー元箱根へ行って、最後に箱根湯本に戻る。それとも、逆の流れもできる。箱根湯本は最初と最後のスポットだ。それに　より箱根で旅行するのは簡単でしょう？交通機関もいろいろあるから、すげー便利と思う。

じゃ、俺の話に戻ろう~

俺は箱根湯元に着いたら、俺の友達を会った。彼は箱根に住んでるから、一緒に遊びましょうと呼び出した。彼は実はあの日にアルバイトがあるのに、「じゃ、遊びましょう」と返事してくれて、俺は本当に幸せだった。せめて案内くれる人がいるだよね~

ありがとう上野~

Teppanyaki Restaurant

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Continue the journey from Odawara :

From Odawara, i took Hakone Tozan Line to Hakone Yumoto. Hakone Yumoto can be called as the entrance gate of Hakone. Because you can travel in Hakone either clockwise or anti-clockwise (refer picture above). That means we can travel like the whole Hakone by using the public transport provided. That's why it is worth to buy Hakone Free Pass, as you would use it frequently.

In Hakone Yumoto, i met with my friend; he lives in Hakone. Actually he had a part-time job on that day....but when he received a call from me that i'm in Hakone, he finished his part-time early to meet me. Soo kind-hearted person. Furthermore, eventhough he had a hard time during his part time job, yet he still spent some time with me, it makes me really happy. 褒めすぎちゃった ;)

In front of the restaurant ; Kappa if i'm not mistaken

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じゃ、そこから話は終わり。ただ写真見せてあげる。

Let the picture do the talking from here onward :

Managed to snap this picture while queueing to ride the cable car

View from the cable car

Cloudy day....残念

Can see Mt. Fuji from here...but it's too hazy

Take a stop at Owakudani....let's see what we have here :

ちょっと見てみよう...ここに何がある？

Owakudani is the area around a crater created during the last eruption of Mount Hakone some 3000 years ago. Today, much of the area is an active volcanic zone where sulfurous fumes, hot springs and hot rivers can be experienced.

The attraction point here is they selling a black eggs, cooked in the naturally hot water, whose shells are blackened by the sulfur and which are said to prolong one's life by seven years.