July Long Weekend in Hakone

This is what it ended like....

And this is what it started out like....                  

In between we had some good fun. Hakone is one of Japan's more popular holiday spots, providing walking trails, tourist shops, onsens and even a trip on a pirate ship. But it was extremely hot even for people from Nelspruit, via Durban, via Hotlanta.


16 July is a public Holiday in Japan, Marine day This celebrates the seas and oceans, which forms an important part in Japanese life and culture. The second photo above, was taken on Friday the 13th when we arrived in Hakone, at about 8:15pm. There was one open shop in the station, everything else was closed.














Fortunately the backpackers (K's House) where we stayed  was still open. We have stayed at a K's House in Mt Fuji area, as well as in Ito Onsen before. Every time we have been very satisfied with the experience we had.

In the next postings more about the open air Art Museum, the sulphur spewing volcano we visited, and the Pirate ship we sailed across Lake Hakone.....

Tanabata Festival in Kappabashi Dori

Tanabata Festival in Kappabashi Dori

Ester and I went out to Ueno and environs last weekend. (2018 07 07) Extremely hot afternoon.

The tower in the background is the Skytree. It supplanted the Old Tokyo Tower, which is a very close replica of the Eiffel Tower, which you can see below. (The Tokyo Tower, not the Eiffel Tower...)

We were actually on our way to Kappabashi Dori (street). On the way there, we went through the kitchen shopping district. At the entrance to the kitchen area, they had these cups built into one building. 

Ou visbek hieronder kon ons nie regtig agterkom wat aan die gang is nie, maar van die inigtingstukke het te doen gehad met die verwyder van vullis en gemors uit die water oor die eeue.

All  the next photo's were taken in Kappabashi Dori. It is a street that was closed down for the Tanabata festival. Lot's of alcohol and food from street vendors, including some traditional dancing. Which seemed to be very similar to Hawaian dancing.

(For more, see Matcha Travel Site)