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Travel

Photos and stories from many of my travels in the past 5 years

Japan: Hakone ropeway; onsen at Hotel Green Plaza

By Mithun Divakaran
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Jul 21, 2016
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Japan, Travel

Date: 31 March 2015

After the cruise across Lake Ashi on a pirate-themed ship, next I was going to take the Hakone Ropeway (cable car) to get to Ubako Station.

Hakone Ropeway Togendaiko station Japan — The ropeway is one of Hakone’s main attractions

Hakone Ropeway queue Japan — The Hakone Pass I was holding covered the ticket fares for the ropeway

If you would like to know how much the one-way and round trip fares for Hakone Ropeway are, click here.

Cable car Hakone ropeway Japan — This would be be my 3rd cable car experience, after Langkawi and Hong Kong

Inside cable car Hakone Ropeway Japan — It’s definitely not as impressive an experience as the one in Langkawi or Lantau Island (Hong Kong), but I guess maybe it’s because the ‘wow factor’ has been lessened after being on other cable car rides now

Hakone ropeway cable car Japan — The views are alright

Views from Hakone ropeway Japan — You get decent views of Mount Fuji along the way up

Hakone machi ropeway tower station — My stop was the very next one

Green Plaza Hotel Fuji view Japan — I walked to Hotel Green Plaza which is very close to Ubako Station

The lady who sold me her half-used Hakone pass recommended the onsen at Hotel Green Plaza, for its splendid views of Mount Fuji as you bathe in the hot springs. Continue reading “Japan: Hakone ropeway; onsen at Hotel Green Plaza” »

Japan: Getting to Hakone; Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise

By Mithun Divakaran
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Jul 05, 2016
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Japan, Travel

Date: 31 March 2015

The second to last day on Japan soil. I had to make the most of it and accomplish a few more things. Experience a proper, natural outdoor onsen (hot spring), see Mount Fuji from closer up, — and eat sushi at a proper sushi restaurant.

Today I was going to be spending the whole day at Hakone, a popular getaway for Tokyo’s residents. Famous for offering great views of Mount Fuji, many hiking trails, resorts and many natural hot springs.

Yesterday, I bought a Hakone pass off a hostel mate who had purchased a two-day pass but only used the benefits of the pass yesterday. I could make use of the pass to avail buses and local trains within Hakone today. But first I had to get to Hakone from Tokyo station.

Tokyo station Odawara platforms — At Tokyo station, platforms 9 and 10 have trains going to Odawara (Tokaido Line)

Tokaido line Okachimachi eki Japan — I forget exactly which stations I had to get down at and transfer trains, but eventually I had to stick to the Tokaido line to get to Odawara station

View from train to Odawara — It was time leave the urban sights of Tokyo

Shinagawa station platform Japan — I think this was Shinagawa station, the second station I had to switch trains from

Odawara station Japan — It took just over an hour because of all the transfers

Bus depot Odawara station Japan — But from Odawara station, I now had to take a bus to get to the docks at Lake Ashi from where the sightseeing cruise departs

Odawara river stream Japan — You could see right away why city-dwellers come here

Continue reading “Japan: Getting to Hakone; Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise” »

Japan: Rikugien garden’s weeping cherry blossom tree

By Mithun Divakaran
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Jun 22, 2016
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Japan, Travel

Date: 30th March 2015

The last time I tried to visit Rikugien garden, I was too late. They weren’t allowing anymore people to queue up. This time I arrived earlier, got off at Komagome Station and rushed towards the entrance. Luckily, the lines were still open.

Line to get inside Rikugien Tokyo — But the line was long — both in front of me and behind me

Sakura tree at night Tokyo city — In the mean time, I had a sakura tree across the road to look at

It took me nearly 20 minutes to get inside. There was an entry fee of 300 yen but I was happy to finally get in this time.

Rikugien garden sakura Tokyo — These are the dates for the special viewing of the famous ‘Weeping Sakura Tree’

Inside Rikugien garden at night Tokyo — It was pitch dark with only a few lights illuminating a few trees

Trees at night Rikugien Tokyo — I had my tripod with me

Rikugi-en means “Garden of the Six Principles of Poetry” — which comes from the idea of the six elements in waka poetry, while ‘en’ (as in gyuen) means garden. Continue reading “Japan: Rikugien garden’s weeping cherry blossom tree” »