Story 09 — Two Hours from Tokyo
Two hours from Tokyo, another world.
About one to two hours by shinkansen or limited express. Just beyond the bustle of the city, lakes, forests and waterfalls await.
Photo: 663highland / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.5
HAKONE — Kanagawa
Hakone, a misty lake
Ride the mountain railway up to Lake Ashi. The lake in morning mist, and hot springs at night.
Going somewhere different matters more than going far.
Photo: Hiroaki Kaneko / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
KARUIZAWA — Nagano
Karuizawa, a summer retreat in the forest
Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Karuizawa. Step out of the station into the air of Mount Asama and the forest.
NIKKO — Tochigi
Oku-Nikko, falling water
Kegon Falls, where water from Lake Chuzenji drops 97 m in a single plunge. It shows a different face with each season.
Photo: Jordy Meow / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
Destinations in this story
Places visited in this story
HAKONE
HakoneKanagawa · Kanto
Hakone Town, Kanagawa Prefecture. The closest mountain resort to the Tokyo area, gathering Lake Ashi and Owakudani, both shaped by volcanoes, and numerous hot springs. Part of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.
Lakes / Hot spring towns / Mountains
KARUIZAWA
KaruizawaNagano · Koshinetsu
Karuizawa Town, Nagano Prefecture. A highland summer retreat on the southeastern foot of Mount Asama (2,568 m). Developed as a villa area since the Meiji era, it is surrounded by quiet nature, from forest paths to Shiraito Falls.
Highlands / Forests / Waterfalls
NIKKO
Nikko & Kegon FallsTochigi · Kanto
Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture. At Kegon Falls, water flowing out of Lake Chuzenji plunges straight down a 97 m cliff. Counted with Nachi Falls and Fukuroda Falls among Japan's three great waterfalls, it is a signature landscape of Nikko National Park.
Waterfalls / Lakes / Forests
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