Hakone: Dec 26-27, 2024

 

I visited Hakone to relax my year-end days in the hot spring.

I stayed in the Moto-Hakone district, which locates in the south-east side of Lake Ashi (Ashinoko).

 

There is Hakone Shrine in the district. The main gate of the shrine is built on the lake. (See the top photo)

I found many people making a queue to take good photos.

 

People walk up steep stairs from the lake to the main shrine on a hill. There are tall cedar trees at the sides of the stairs.

 

There is another approach to the shrine. Several gates stand on the approach.

 

Preparation for a new year was underway in the main building on a hill.

 

The dragon-shaped sculptures at the shrine fountain were impressive.

 

There remains an old Tokaido street of the Edo era in this area. Cedar trees are preserved on both sides of the street. (See also the 2nd photo)

Old atmosphere remains in this part.

Old street has been converted to modern national route in this part. Ceder trees stand at the sided of the road. (See the 3rd photo)

 

I visited Hakone several times. One of my visits was made in 2011 as a part of my Tokaido Walk from Tokyo to Kyoto. (See Tokaido Walk's Hakone page on May, 2011) 

I found some changes in Hakone in the last 13 years. One of them was increasing number of foreign tourists. I saw many visitors waiting a  tour boat.

 

We can expect good views of Mt. Fuji from Hakone.

I was not fortunate enough to see a clear view of the mountain. There were some clouds covering the mountain. (see the 4th photo)

I, however, saw a good vies of Mt. Fuji from Sako River district, about 20km east from Hakone, on my way back from Hakone to Tokyo.

 

 

Special horse event @Equestrian Park: Dec. 21, 2024

 

In the eventing (horse trials) competition of equestrian sports in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Japanese team acquired a bronze medal. It was the first Olympic medal for the country in the equestrian sports in 92 years.

The team was called “shoro Japan” or Japanese team with elder members. The team became popular in the country after the Olympic Games, partially helped by the friendliness of the nickname.

 

There was a special event with the team members held in the Equestrian Park in Tokyo. The weather was good and the autumn color was beautiful today.

They played model performances in the three events -- dressage, cross-country and jumping.

 

Hundreds of audiences welcomed four members of the team.

 

Mr. Kazuma Tomoto performed dressage. It was so elegant. (See also the 2nd photo)

 

Mr. Yoshiaki Oiwa performed jumping. He rode the horse for the first time today, but he easily crossed the bars. (See also the 3rd photo)

 

Mr. Ryuzo Kitajima and Mr. Toshiyuki Tanaka played cross-country riding. They ran fast, jumped over various objects including a automobile, and jumped into the water. (See also the top photo)

I enjoyed the event very much.