Hakone Sekisho

After lunch we went to Hakone Sekisho.  We went through the museum and toured the grounds.  It started raining toward the end of our visit, but the rain didn't last very long.  On clear days, mount Fuji can be seen from Hakone Sekisho, but alas, not that day.

In the gift shop they had spinning tops which could flip to the top and continue spinning.  I thought it would be a great souvenir for the kids, and Masao-San saw me admiring them and bought a couple for me, along with a puzzle box.  It was so sweet.  

Tokugawa shogun placed 53 sekisho (inspection checkpoints) on major roads across the nation to defend Edo (current Tokyo).  Hakone Sekisho was one of the largest and was thought to be important among them.  Hakone Sekisho was placed on the current location in 1619, during an early period of Edo Era.  One of the main roles of sekisho was to control 'incoming guns and outgoing women,' which meant preventing weapons from being brought into Edo and wives and children of feudal lords from fleeing Edo.  However, Hakone Sekisho did not inspect 'incoming guns,' very seriously, but severely inspected 'outgoing women.'  Sekisho, which operated for about 260 years during Edo Era, was dissolved in the year of 1868, when the government changed.

They would "inspect" the women's hair for lice, and keep the women as hostages so the men would return

Climbing the stairs to the lookout tower

The lookout at the top of the hill

Such a beautiful view--I had to get several pictures--I wasn't all the way to the top at this point

The weapons range

Sign indicating Mt Fuji can be seen...

...but not that day

Hakone--Hotel de Yama

We stopped for lunch at Hotel de Yama, which is nestled on the shoreline of Lake Ashi.  We had a beautiful view of the lake, and we even got to see a Pirate ship out on the water.  The menu was entirely in Japanese, and it was a set menu--meaning that you don't really get to choose your meal.  The menu just informed you what was being served.   Nevertheless, it was all really good.  A lot of little portions add up to one very full tummy!

I just thought the old well was really neat

Our "menu"

My meal

Owakudani Nature Trail (Hakone Volcano)

Our next stop was the Owakudani Nature trail at the Hakone volcano.  We walked up the short path to and had onsen eggs.  The eggs are boiled in the hot springs, which blackens the shell, and is said to add seven years to your life if you eat it.  The onsen eggs tasted just like a regular hard-boiled egg--but hey, I just added seven years to my life!  On a clear day, you can see Mount Fuji, but as you can see, it wasn't a clear day.  In fact, I never did see Mount Fuji while I was in Japan, even though I was right at the base the next day!

 

Emily really wanted me to try some wasabi ice cream, so when she saw that they sold it, she bought some for me.  It wasn't bad...mostly sweet with just a slight kick, but definitely not my favorite.  Good to try once.