Tokyo: Hiking @ Mount Takao, Nov 2011

Mount Takao (高尾山, Takaosan) offers great hiking trails for beginners and is one of the closest to central Tokyo. Located within metropolitan Tokyo, it takes only about 40-50 minutes by train from Shinjuku.

We took the Keio line from Shinjuku to Takaosanguchi station. Direct semi-limited express trains, which take about 50 minutes and 390 yen, departs at 20-minute intervals. Takaosanguchi station, the line's last station, is located at the foot of the mountain.
Alternatively, you can take the JR Chuo line (550 yen, about 40 minutes) from Shinjuku to Takao station and transfer to the Keio Line (130 yen, 3 minutes, one station away) to Takaosanguchi station.

 View from the summit

Lunch at restaurant near the Summit

Took the Lift Chair on the way down at the halfway point

 Freshly-made Senbei

Tokyo: Tsukiji Fish Wholesale Centre before relocation (7 Dec 2015)




Store selling Bonito Flakes

Sushi Zanmai Restaurant

X'mas lightings at Omotesando

Tokyo Late Autumn Colours (5 Dec 2015 & Dec 2018)

Late autumn colours of the Ginko trees at Kudanshita station besides the moat of the Kitanomaru Park - 5 Dec 2015

Entered Kitanomaru Park through the gate near Kudanshita station.  Could see artists capturing the scenic views within the park near the Nippon Budokan.

Took a nice stroll through the Kitanomaru Gardens which connects to the Imperial Palace East Gardens (皇居東御苑).  This belongs to the inner palace area and is open to the public. You can see the former site of Edo Castle's innermost circles of defence, the honmaru ("main circle") and ninomaru ("secondary circle"). Edo Castle was the residence of the Tokugawa shogun who ruled Japan from 1603 to 1867. Emperor Meiji also resided there from 1868 to 1888 before moving to the newly constructed Imperial Palace.



What a fantastic day !  Such a luxury to bask under the warm sunlight and yet cool weather 

 Looking up the corner of the remains of the former
                                                                                       castle tower

Views around the Wadakura Gate, which is very near the Tokyo station.... 



Back to Kudanshita in 2018 (Dec 24)

- Walking from Kudanshita towards the direction of the controversial Yasukuni shrine

Hakone (4 Dec 2015)

We bought the 2-day Hakone Freepass from the Odakyu Station Sightseeing Service Center. The Freepass includes free travel on the:
1. Odakyu train (round-trip) between Shinjuku and Hakone
2. Hakone Tozan Railway/Bus(designated section only)/Cablecar/Ropeway
3. Lake Ashi Pirate Ship
It also offers discounts to the entrance fee for the art museums as Hakone Open-air Museum, hot spring facilities and other sightseeing spots.

From Shinjuku Odakyu station, we took the Odakyu Romancecar (additional cost of about 900 yen per person for limited express) to Hakone Yumoto. It took about 85 minutes, about 10 min faster than the Odakyu trains and comes with reserved seating.

From Hakone Yumoto station, we went around using the Hakone Tozan Railway, Buses and Ropeway.


Superb views of Mt Fuji from the Hakone Tozan Bus from Hakone-machi-ko to Togendai-ko.  We took the Tozan Bus to Togendai-ko as the Lake Ashi Pirate Ship did not operate on that day due to strong winds.

Boarding the Hakone Ropeway from Togendai-ko to Ubako



Boarding the Hakone Tozan Cable Car from Sounzan Station to Gora