I visited Hakone Mountain in Kanagawa Prefecture again. It was a beautiful and sunny day for visiting the countryside. In this season, the northern mountains block the cold, wet wind blowing from the northwest, which causes heavy snow to fall on the Sea of Japan side and sends cold, dry air to the Pacfc side of the archipelago. So, it stays fine for many days in the Tokyo metropolitan area except in the high mountains such as Mt. Fuji.
My purpose of visiting Hakone was to see the winter view of Mt. Fuji (3,776 m above sea level). I climbed up Taikanzan (1,012 m above sea level), which is one of the peaks of Hakone Somma. From Taikanzan, I could see the beautifully snow-capped Mt. Fuji rising behind Lake Ashinoko.
To get to this scenic viewing spot, please get off at Taikanzan stop on the Hakone Tozan Bus. It takes about two and a half hours from Shinjuku Station in the downtown Tokyo area, using connections of Odakyu Electric Railway, Hakone Tozan Railway and bus services.
On the way to Taikanzan, I came across a new colored train, set number S2 (KuMoHa 2003 + KuMoHa 2004) of the EMU Hakone Tozan 2000 series at Hakone-Yumoto Station. The original body color has been changed to match the new model, EMU 3000 series, for coupling.
What is the new model, 3000 series? I beg that you wait for a moment. I will report it soon.
