Hakone

Our 2-day journey outside of Tokyo was a loop of sorts that involved multiple means of transportation: train, to electric tram that zig-zags up the mountains (2 times it literally pulls into a dead end, they pull a track switch, and we pull out going the other way to continue up), to “cable car” (a tram that is at about a 40-degree angle but the seats are level—to get from one end of seats to the other you have to climb stairs—and it is pulled up the mountain by a cable), to a “roapway” (I would call it a gondola), to a boat across Lake Ashi, to a bus, and back to train again.

People do the whole circuit in one day, but as I said we stayed a night at the Fujiya Hotel. After checking in, Anna stayed to rest while I explored a sculpture garden (they call it the “Open Air Museum”). Here are some photos of the journey:

On the grounds of the Fujiya Hotel. It is made up of several buildings from different eras, as well as many gardens and thermal pools. The area is famous for hot springs.

Hydrangeas in bloom all over the area.