Myalgia And Arthralgia After Dengue Fever

step on the road to Hakone Tokaido

The view of Mount Fuji from Lake Hakone is one of the postcards from Japan. Like any tourist, Hakone obviously has its excesses, and those who waited two hours to board the cable car in bad memories, especially if their reward was a breathtaking view of ... the clouds that hid the famous volcano. Yet, if one avoids the crowds short periods, and if time is of the game, Hakone is an unforgettable trip to one hour by train from Tokyo: the volcanic activity, beautiful scenery and pleasant hiking you will forget a few moments of agitation Tokyo. You can also stop in Hakone to complete a trip to Japan centered on the Kanto (Tokyo area). This probably also include a stop at Nikko at Kamakura in mountains and the Izu Peninsula .

Hakone The merits are indisputable, but the trip from Tokyo is also interesting. The "Romance Car", a special unit of the private Odakyu, actually offer a few places with panoramic views across the front of the train, because the cab is raised. As the train crosses the entire suburb Tokyoite since the great center of Shinjuku is one of the best glimpses of the city. Since the towers, houses are becoming less dense, and activity gathers around stations. The fields appear first lost between houses, then become the majority, are emerging and the typical Japanese countryside with its rice fields never far away from home. After crossing some hills, you arrive in the small town of Matsuda (松田) and Odawara (小田原), before rising a long valley to the resort of Hakone Yumoto onsen (箱根 汤 本).

Hakone Yumoto Station is a large onsen chic enough from where the train line Hakone Tozan-(箱根 当 山). Budget travelers will appreciate the comfortable " Classic Hotel " Fujiya near the station Miyanoshita (宮ノ下 駅), who is also a great place for just a drink or buy the excellent curry-sided, one of the best in Japan. The place is quieter than Hakone-Yumoto. Gora Station (强 罗 駅), on top of the line Hakone Tozan Train-is also a good place to enjoy onsens. There are many isolated hamlets with one or two institutions for those who prefer to be surrounded by quiet nature. If you do enough, the Izu Peninsula is just minutes by train from Odawara, especially the resort of Atami, who is back in fashion.

Hakone The site is located in the collapsed crater of a volcano, a "caldera" of which the lake occupies the lowest place. The last eruption took place 3000 years ago, and formed the Lake Ashinoko and Valley Owakudani. From Hakone Yumoto and Lake Ashiko, the site of Owakudani (大 涌 谷) has an air gate of hell. Sulphurous fumaroles emerge, and many hot springs. As we are in Japan, a special dish was invented for the place: the black eggs, or "kurotamago (黒 玉 子), boiled in volcanic fumaroles. They are expected prolonged life of seven years if consumed in moderation, a custom handy to increase sales. The site is reached by the funicular and the cable car from Gora.

It comes mainly in Hakone for the superb views of Mount Fuji. These are most impressive from the end of the autumn and early spring when the mountain is still snow and the air clear enough to see the volcano. One of the nicest places is a park located on the site of a former imperial palace (Onshi-Hakone, 恩赐 箱根) between Moto-Hakone (元 箱根) and Hakone-machi (箱根 町). If one follows the usual tourist itinerary, you can reach Moto-Hakone by boat from the terminus of the cableway Togendai (桃源 台). The traveler will be lenient with the presence of a reproduction of a French ship of the line or a vapor of the Mississippi, and remember that eclecticism is also a central element of Japanese culture.

Once at Moto-Hakone, you reach this small peninsula of Lake Ashinoko (芦ノ湖) per 15 minutes walk from Moto-Hakone in a pleasant driveway lined with pine trees of the old historic route along Lake. Near the park towards Hakone-machi is the old border post Hakone (HakoneSekisho, 箱根 关 所) it marked the entry of the Kanto region (literally east doors), and could not be crossed without permission. The control of travel, especially lords, was one of the bases of power ShogunTokugawa, who thus secured the permanent presence of hostages from all clans in the city of Tokyo to ensure civil peace.

From Moto-Hakone, a nice walk is the old Tokaido Road or Kyukaido (旧 街道), which can reach a path downhill, Hakone Yumoto Station. Like many hikes in Japan, she can enjoy the forests that cover sides of this narrow valley. Good hiking shoes are required. The narrowness of the road was the main highway of Japan's Edo era (17th to 19th century) is surprising, but it must be remembered that the old roads, such as Roman roads, were in no economic axes : trade was by sea or inland waterways, road transport is too expensive, so it was reserved for passenger and troop movements. On the way, after you meet the one hour walk-Amasake Chaya (甘 酒 茶屋) which offers a warm welcome sake, and a small museum showing the old Tokaido Road. After 45 more minutes, you reach the small village of Hatajuku (幡 宿), whose specialty is the wooden box, available of course in many souvenir shops. It is possible to continue his journey to Hakone Yumoto, or take the bus from the village. The complete start up Hakone Yumoto takes a good half day.

Practical Information

The Romance Car cost 2020 Yen (15 Euro) from Shinjuku to Hakone Yumoto, with about one train every 30 minutes. A free pass provides the route since Tokyo and unlimited travel in the region of Hakone to non-residents. The price is 5000 Yen (38 Euro) for two days and 5500 Yen (42 Euro). The English website of the company provides detailed information in English: http://www.odakyu.jp/english/rc/index.html

The tourist route from Hakone Yumoto includes the train from Hakone-Yumoto HakoneTozan Gora at (390 yen one way), then the Hakone Tozan Cable Car up-Sounzan (早 云山), then the cable car (Hakone Ropeway, 箱根 ロープ ウェイ) to Togendai (桃源 台) (1330 Yen (10 Euros) each way, 2340 yen (18 euro) round trip).

Although funicular enjoyable, more convenient to reach the motor-Hakone bus is 40 minutes from Hakone Yumoto (price 930 yen (7 Euros)).

It is best to avoid the summer, where Mount Fuji will certainly be invisible, and it's busy during the holidays Japanese Golden week between April 28 and May 5 about, and leave late year around January 1.

The following map on the website of the Japanese tourist office is very convenient: http://www.tourisme-japon.fr/explorer/destinations/pdf/tokyo2-fuji-hakone.pdf

Secret Japan
The site offers many tips and addresses of the onsen area: http://www.secret-japan.com/forum/hakone- (Kanagawa-ken)-t18.html

The official site of Hakone onsen are 17 sources listed ( http://www.hakone.or.jp/english/midokoro/onsen.html )

The print is displayed after the series of 53 stations Tokaido (东海 道 五十 三次) by Utagawa Hiroshige (歌 川 広 重)

You can continue your reading and your trip with the following articles on the "Classic Hotels , the and Onsen Izu Peninsula .