H a k o n e

We took the 'Romance Car' from Shinjuku to Hakone today. As this was going to be a day trip, we made the most of it by taking the earliest train there. The journey took almost 2 hours, and we were greeted by a bright and sunny day.

 A shrine along the train station.

 We bought the Hakone Free Pass that include return trip back to Tokyo, unlimited rides on the train, cablecar, ropeway, boat and bus in the Hakone area.

 The tram arrived just on time.

 Taking the cable car next.

 Arriving at Owakudani, and we were greeted by the strong sulphur smell emitted from the active Mount Hakone.

 Visitors making their way up to the hot spring.

 Sunray breaking through the cloud.

 We took the ropeway down to Lake Ashi.

 Boarding the Hakone sightseeing boat

 Titanic it is not, but we enjoyed the beautiful lake view.

 Against the sun.

 Lone lake front torii gate near the Hakone Shrine.

 Ahoy there!

 The iconic Hakone Ryuguden Hotel on Lake Ashi.

 Fishing on a cold morning.

 My travel group checking out a stall at the town of Moto-Hakone.

 Colourful find.

His & hers Japanese sandals

 The ladies in our group. Nah, she is not that tall.

It was a wonderful trip and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Not mentioning it was the photographer's birthday today, I was particularly delighted because I could capture many memories in this trip. I will definitely go back to Hakone again, and perhaps spend a night in the onsen hotel. 

And another travel trip awaiting....

N i k k o

We have many days in Tokyo that we decided to spend 2 days at Nikko, a World Heritage site. 

We arrived at Nikko Station from Tokyo by train in the morning. The weather was excellent.

 We were confused with the schedules of the sightseeing bus and waited a long while. We decided to walk to our Ryokan instead.

 As always, we get distracted along the way, especially with things of our passion.

Our friend sitting pretty to pose.

 First sight we see at the entrance to Nikko's temples and shrines

 The sacred Shinkyo Bridge.

 A small stream runs under the bridge.

 Moss gathered on the rocks that dotted along the stream.

 Delicate wood carvings decorated the Toshogu Shrine.

 Close-up of a small fountain.

 Shinto Shrine set in a beautiful forested site.

 A lavishly decorated pagoda.

 One of Toshogu's most famous carvings

 Entrance to Yomeimon.

 The place is well maintained by their dedicated staff.

 More intricate wall carvings

 Send a blessing to your loved ones.

Cold & wet form the best condition for moss to grow.

Leading to a quiet but charming path ahead.

 We sorted out the bus system and made our way to Lake Chuzenji the next day.

 We stopped at the Nature Museum with Mount Nantai at the background

 The beautiful mountain range surrounding of the lake.

 Kegon Waterfall is the most famous of Nikko's many waterfalls.

 The fall is a 100m drop.

 Arriving at Lake Chuzenji with the iconic torii gate.

 Peace and quiet surround the beautiful lake.

 The wind and cold is a challenge for us to stay outdoor for long. We need to find shelter soon.

We met a new friend who has returned to the same restaurant where they served excellent food.

Leaving our messages on the ceiling of the restaurant, to mark our presence and appreciation.

We had 2 wonderful days in Nikko, although I find the town lackluster. Perhaps summer here would be more vibrant.

And another travel trip awaiting....

T o k y o

Our return trip from USA allowed us a stopover at Tokyo with a small fee, and we gladly spent a few days there. The extended family joined us in Tokyo and together, we visited several new places like Nikko & Hakone. I simply love Tokyo, and Japan!

 

 This is the resting lounge at the top floor of our service apartment. The furnishing here is very tastefully done.

 Tokyo's famous JR train in operation.

 Morning has broken....

 ...and its time to hit the street!

1st stop: Ueno Station and Yamashiroya, where Sharon probably has to be their biggest supporter because she must come here very time we are in Tokyo

 Yamashiroya is a toy store, all 7 floors of it. Impressive!

 They sell just about any toy, and is a child's haven. Actually, adult too.

 Here we go, the thrill of the unknown reward.

 The older folks would love Ameyayokocho. It is a street stores and market place along the foot of the train tracks.

 Obasan looking for cheap buys. Grab!

 Au contraire, a lone ojisan checking out across the road.

 From Ueno, we proceeded to Asakusa. It is almost an automatic choice of destination after Ueno.

 Nothing much to shoot except a different perspective of the pagoda temple.

  Odaiba is another automatic venue of interest. Liberty looks better in the day.

Our adventure ended with a visit to the Meiji Shrine.

 And we were fortunate to spot a wedding possession in progress.

But the rain did not bring joy to this couple. What a letdown from the weather.

Who else wants to tie the knot?

I could be a tour guide since I have been to Tokyo many times, and is familiar with the places of interest. It is not difficult to travel around in the local train system, if you do your research well in advanced. With this confidence, we ventured out of Tokyo to Nikko, our destination for the next few days.

And another travel trip awaiting....