Sunday, September 16, 2012

Views from and of Hakone's Lake Ashi (Photo-essay)

Yesterday, while two friends and I were having a post-hike dinner in Mui Wo, we noticed that a TV at the eatery was showing scenes of angry, at times violent, anti-Japanese demonstrations taking place in China as part of its evening news program. I don't plan to take sides in the dispute over whether the islands whose sovereignty ostensibly are the cause of the demonstrations and riots are Chinese or Japanese.  However, I'm going to voice my feeling that all this discord is really sad -- and so, too, is the way that some of the protesters are going about venting their frustrations.

Put another way: there is no way I'm going to throw away or damage my precious Panasonic camera that I've used to take the vast majority of the photos found thus far on this blog.  Nor do I plan to be getting rid of my Hello Kittys, Ponyos or other Japanese belongings any time soon.  In addition, I don't plan to start boycotting any Japanese restaurants, particularly my favorites among them, any point in the near future -- and I do intend to continue to put up photos and blog entries about my recent Japan vacation for another week or two.

Speaking of which: the following is a photo-essay showing some more of what I did and saw in Hakone.  In particular, it focuses on one more highlight of my Hakone visit in addition to my Hakone Open-Air Museum visit, and the ride on the Hakone Ropeway and brief stopover at volcanic Owakudani -- one that yielded more grand views and lovely memories of one more part of Japan that I now have happy associations with...

 One of these colorful "pirate ships" transported me
from one end of Lake Ashi (AKA Ashi-no-ko) to another! :)

 I'm not sure if this structure located on the eastern side of 
this large crater lake is a hotel or private palace -- but I do 
reckon it'd be lovely to spend a night (or two) there! :b

Also visible on the eastern side of Lake Ashi is one of th
torii of Hakone-jinja -- the area's most famous Shinto shrine

A more close-up view of the picturesque torii that is quite the
sight and landmark in this beautifully scenic part of Japan 

 If the "pirate" ships weren't a surreal enough sight on 
a Japanese lake, how about these swan-shaped boats? ;b

View of the lake from Hakone Machi-ko 
(Although not at all unpleasant, alas, it didn't
have the bonus of including Mount Fuji in the mix!)
 I scrambled up to higher ground -- specifically that within 
some more sights before the sun completely set that day

Minutes before boarding the bus that'd take me away 
from Hakone, I savored this tranquil lake scene -- 
and managed to capture it for posterity on my camera :)

9 comments:

YTSL said...

Hi Anonymous reader --

You're welcome! :)

sarah bailey knight said...

hi ytsl,

Those Swan Boat look cool to me. Friends don't agree and don't want to go on them. Fie on them. Maybe they don't like to paddle and paddle and paddle...

YTSL said...

Hi sbk --

I have to admit that I wonder re what brought about the choice of design for the swan boats and pirate ships on Lake Hakone. One thing for sure: they sure aren't what I expected to see floating on a Japanese lake... ;b

Trekcapri said...

Hi YTSL, wow such a beautiful location. I really love the sunset and pier shots. You're right, the pirate ship and swan boats is a bit unexpected in this tranquil lake setting, but it's cool too.

Thanks so much for sharing.

YTSL said...

Hi Trekcapri --

Hakone's Lake Ashi really is pretty. I have to say that I wish I could have spent even more time on and around it than I did! Maybe next time... ;b

Dragonstar said...

How beautiful! I'd love to visit the places you show. As I can't, I'll just have to continue enjoying your photos ;-)

YTSL said...

Hi Dragonstar --

You've paid me a great compliment and also gave credence to one of my main purposes for putting up my pictures, etc.: i.e., to let people who can't make it to the places I visited to get a sense of how nice they are via the photos I've taken and put up on this blog. :)

ewaffle said...

YTSL--

I think you have outdone yourself with these images, particularly the last three which are simply lovely.

As far as the Sino-Japanese dispute over the Diaoyu/Senkaku islands and its possible effect on Japanese goods in China, Even though you seem to be a peaceful and most likely kind person who is and willing to see the viewpoints of others...I would hate to be the person who tried to separate you from either Kitty White or Ponyo puppet!

YTSL said...

Hi ewaffle --

I'm glad you like this photo-essay -- and thanks in particular re the compliments re its last three photos.

And hehehe: your comments re hating to be the person who tried to separate me from either Kitty Chan (my preferred name for her) or Puppet Ponyo really did make me laugh. :D