Hakone Open-Air Museum - 1

Museum Entrance (Hakone) - Japan  2023

Hike to Museum (Hakone) - Japan  2023

We took a (very crowded) bus to a little-used bus stop, pushed our way through the throng, got off and followed a fairly convoluted route to get to the museum.

This was one of Margaret's must-sees, nice for Hali and myself, since we normally don't go out of our way to visit museums. 

One of the first art pieces visible is seen below. I think that it might be titled "Spheeve Mesh" but I'm not certain.

Sculpture (Hakone) - Japan  2023

Hakone Cemetery

Cemetery Steps (Hakone) - Japan  2023

Cemetery, Fog (Hakone) - Japan  2023

Photos of cemeteries are scattered throughout the blog. This one was located on the road that went from the ryokan to the main street of the town. 

I'm thinking that the earliest photo I took of a cemetery in Japan was in Okinawa in 1966. The spookiest one was in Nakatsugawa.

Japan Culinary Adventure (41): Yoshimatsu Breakfast

Breakfast Dish, Coffee (Hakone) - Japan  2023

Breakfast Dish (Hakone) - Japan  2023

I've already posted some photos of the artistic meals at Yoshimatsu. This time we got a slightly different experience - breakfast served on a table with chairs (!) and some very tasty coffee (!)

Ryokan Yoshimatsu

Koi, Pond, Lantern, Fog (Hakone) - Japan  2023

Flowers, Scroll (Hakone) - Japan  2023

We've stayed here before, in 2016, and liked it so much we wanted to return. So we did! Just as beautiful as we remembered, and of course the icing on the cake was the outdoors private onsen.

Also: there's a video I made during our last visit.

Onsen (Hakone) - Japan  2023

Monday Cat Blogging

Cat (Hakone) - Japan  2023

The last time I was here I saw some angry cats. No anger in evidence here, however.

Hakone

Tree, Blossoms (Hakone) - Japan  2023

Rhododendrons, Fog (Hakone) - Japan  2023

We visited Hakone before, in 2016. The weather this year was quite nice . . . photographically speaking, that is. Foggy, windy and rainy. Very atmospheric!

Mt. Fuji

Mt. Fuji - Japan  2023

Mt. Fuji, Trees - Japan  2023

Whoa . . . really nice views of the iconic peak, courtesy of our solicitous taxi driver, who seemed to know just the spots to stop at. This is the first time I've had such a clear view - my earlier Fuji photo was taken from the train in 2014. And, as we've seen, at times the view just has to be imagined.

Scenes from the Romancecar

Soccer - Japan  2023

 

Rice Paddies - Japan  2023

Yes, the train is called the "Romancecar." It's an Odakyu limited express train from Tokyo to Hakone that we were taking on our way to a short stay at a ryokan.

Romancecar Terminal (Tokyo) - Japan  2023

Ohara Sightems

Real Estate Cafe (Ohara) - Japan  2023

Margaret, Mike (Ohara) - Japan  2023

I've passed through Ohara twice now, once in 2017 and again this year. It looks like an interesting little town . . . too bad that I haven't been able to spend more time there. (I've read that the harbor is a 20 minute walk from the train station.) While waiting for the return express to Tokyo we wandered around as much as time allowed. 

On the way back we could view some fleeting glimpses of Tokyo Disneyland! Wow!

Tokyo Disney Resort - Japan  2023

Back to Ohara (Little Girl)

Little Girl in Train - Japan  2023

 

Little Girl Running - Japan  2023

The train back to Ohara was relatively crowded, but that gave me an opportunity to sit up front, next to this little girl. She was mainly engaged in dealing with her annoying brother; once the train stopped, she took off running and vanished into the station.

Kurashow Sightems

Local Beer (Otaki) - Japan  2023

Flowers, Vase, Table (Otaki) - Japan  2023

A few more images from our meal at Kurashow. The beer was good!

Kurashow Sign (Otaki) - Japan  2023

Monday Cat Blogging

Cat (Fairfax) - Marin County  2023

Not in Japan. Seen on one of our walks going up the street here in Fairfax. Photo was taken last May; I wanted to get it in before moving on to a new quarter.

Japan Culinary Adventure (40): Kurashow in Otaki

Tomato Dish (Kurashow) - Japan  2023

Dessert (Kurashow) - Japan  2023

We last ate here in 2017; we were so impressed that we had to reschedule another visit for this trip. This time Jim and Margaret joined us for another memorable meal. Once again, as in our previous visit, "dishes kept coming out on a regular basis . . . everything pristine, picture-perfect and delicious."

Hali even got a special welcoming sign!

Welcome Sign (Kurashow) - Japan  2023

Otaki Sightems - 2

Doki Doki (Otaki) - Japan  2023

Azaleas, Rock Wall (Otaki) - Japan  2023

Doki Doki or doki-doki (Japanese: ドキドキ) is a term for the sound of a beating heart in Japanese sound symbolism. (Wikipedia)

We last visited Otaki in 2017. That was in the Fall, so there were persimmons ready to be harvested.

Otaki Sightems - 1

Visitor Center (Otaki) - Japan  2023

Fire Brigade (Otaki) - Japan  2023

We were there for lunch at Kurashow, one of our favorite restaurants. But we had some time before our reservation to wander about the town.

Scenes from the Wakashio Express - 2

Rice Paddies - Japan  2023

Rice Paddies, Houses - Japan  2023

After skirting Tokyo Bay the Wakashio Express travels though serene rural landscapes.

We got off at the Ohara Station and walked a few feet to board the Isumi train for Otaki.

Isumi RR - Japan  2023

Scenes from the Wakashio Express - 1

Coast Guard - Japan  2023

Cranes, Japan  2023

We were returning to Kurashow, the restaurant in Otaki that we last visited in 2017. First, we took the Chuo Line from Shinjuku to Tokyo Station. Then, we had to navigate a total maze towards our train,  complicated by hundreds of students milling about (going to Tokyo Disneyland, we speculated). 

Once we got going I noticed that the train wound around Tokyo Bay with some interesting sights seen through the window.

Japan Culinary Adventure (39): Shaved Ice at Himitsu

Strawberry Shaved Ice (Nippori) - Japan  2023

Shaved Ice, Outside Sign (Nippori) - Japan  2023

Shaved ice is a dessert made of finely shaved ice with syrup and other ingredients, and has been eaten in Japan for about 1,000 years. Himitsu-do is a store specializing in shaved ice, and the shaved ice is filled with the owner's expertise. The sauces used are additive-free and handmade, and preserve the flavor of the freshness of the seasonal ingredients. They have used all natural ice since their opening in 2011, and it is all shaved by hand to ensure that the ice matches the temperature and humidity.

Not on our planned itinerary, but we couldn't help but notice that, down a side street, there was a line outside a small store consisting mainly of moms and kids. Once Hali and Margaret peeked inside they realized that we had to get in. We finally did, after a shortish wait. Very impressive presentation, the serving size roughly equivalent to a ladies bowling ball. Of course, once we started in on it the strawberry topping began to drip all over the place. 

Yes, the ice was shaved by hand! A Culinary Adventure for sure!

Monday Cat Blogging

Cat (Nippori) - Japan  2023

Cat (Nippori) - Japan  2023

Seen on our Nippori walk. Cat in the lower photo peeked out, then stubbornly refused to look towards the photographer.

Nippori Sightems

Flowers (Nippori) - Japan  2023

Flowers, Mail Slot (Nippori) - Japan  2023

Nippori is a train station on the Yamanote Line; you can also catch a high-speed train to Narita Airport from there. These photos were taken as we were walking down a quiet side street in the Nippori vicinity. On the route there were various nicely decorated businesses and residences, as well as a political poster for the Communist Party! (Pointed out to us by Jim. Theme is anti-military spending, as far as I can tell.)

BTW, in 2014 I visited the large cemetery nearby.

Communist Party Poster (Nippori) - Japan  2023