Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Glorious bronze statue of the Daibutsu (Great Buddha) looming over visitors in Kamakura
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Kamakura
Hakone Open-Air Museum fea-
tures sculpture by the likes of
Rodin and Henry Moore. Gora is
the terminus. Take the funicular
and cable car to the shore of
Lake Ashi-no-ko, stopping off on
the way at Owakudani volcanic
springs. Mount Fuji dominates
Hakone's landscape.
d
Map A2
• Odakyu express bus from Shinjuku; JR
line from Tokyo; Odakyu line from Shinjuku
The shogun's capital from
1192 to 1333, this seaside town
has ancient shrines, gardens, and
the Daibutsu Buddha statue, all
within an easy train ride of Tokyo.
Of its two stations, Kita-Kamakura
is close to Engaku-ji Temple and
the lush gardens and religious
spots of Meigetsu-in. Kamakura
Station is close to the local craft
and food stores along Wakamiya
Oji and Komatsu-dori streets,
and to Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu
Temple.
d
Map B2 • JR Yokosuka line
from Tokyo, Shimbashi, Shinagawa
&
Koishikawa Korakuen
With an exquisite landscape
design dating from 1629, Tokyo's
oldest formal garden was created
around a central pond. Features
replicate scenes found in Japan
and China and referred to in
literature: a modest hill covered
in dwarf bamboo represents
Mount Lu; a stream symbolizes
a river in Kyoto
(see pp22-3)
.
*
Sengaku-ji Temple
^
Hakone and Mount Fuji
The enjoyable switchback
route up the slopes on the
Hakone Tozan Railway starts at
Hakone-Yumato, a hot spring
town. Alight at Miyanoshita,
stopping for tea at the Fujiya
Hotel
(see p113)
. Farther up, the
The temple is best known
for its association with the “47
Ronin” incident that took place in
1701
(see p32)
. The retainers of
Lord Asano carried their enemy's
decapitated head to the temple,
placing it on Asano's grave. Well-
wishers visit the temple to burn
incense at the graves of the faith-
ful
ronin
.
d
Map D2 • 2-11-1 Takanawa,
Minato-ku • 3441-5560 • Sengaku-ji,
Asakusa subway • Open 7am-5pm
(museum: 9am-4pm) • Adm (museum)
East Meets West
On February 11 1854, Commodore
Perry, hoping to open up Japan to
foreign trade and diplomacy, sailed
“black ships” into Uraga Bay
(see
p32)
. The ritual exchange of gifts
that ensued - a bronze temple
bell and teapot on the Japanese
side, a telegraph machine and
daguerreotype camera from the
visitors - showed how much
progress had bypassed Japan.
110
Mount Fuji's climbing season is limited to July and August. At
other times, the 12,388-ft (3,776-m) mountain is covered in snow.
