A Trip to Hakone

by Rohan Ghoshal

International Journalism

Final Project

A Trip to Hakone

I reached the base of Mount Hakone in front of Lake Ashi, precisely at noon. I was expecting to be greeted by groups of rambunctious tourists crowding the coastline taking pictures, but it was quite the opposite. Upon reaching the lakefront I noticed an eerie quietness that I have yet to experience in Japan. It was almost as if the country had taken a moment to stop and relax. Perhaps the cold weather deterred foreigners from coming here relatively early in the day, but locals were walking to and fro in a leisurely manner.

Joining the locals, I too strolled along the coastline of Lake Ashi, where I encountered booths offering hour-long paddle boat rides on the lake. Most of these booths were being operated by the elderly, perhaps as a way of earning income in their old age. Further down I met a few men fishing on the boardwalk as a pastime activity. I kept walking until I finally had a view of Mount Fuji–the prized location on the lake. Unfortunately, the peak of the volcano was covered by the clouds, so I decided to head in the opposite direction towards Hakone Shrine.

This side of the lake was much busier with both Japanese and foreigners visiting the shrine to say their prayers. The wooded entrance provided a much needed sanctuary from the glaring sun. At the shrine, I participated in the traditional Japanese praying ritual, which was the first time that I did so. I then moved down to the Heiwa Torii gate to find a magnificent view of the lake and landscape, as well as a long line to take photos.

After visiting the shrine, I took some time to eat at a local restaurant–a refuge from the cold air which seemed to only get colder as the sun set. By the time I had finished taking my late lunch, the sun had already fallen behind the mountains and suddenly the skies were clear. Rushing to once again see Mount Fuji before my return bus had arrived, I was met with a picturesque view of the volcano with the lake at its base–the perfect reminder of my trip to Hakone.