Kanto Maigo 關東迷子

Kanto Maigo – Day 9

Final day.

 

最後一天。

 

Our flight leaves at 1pm, I aim to get to Narita before 11am, either the 8.46 or 9.31 direct train from Shinbashi. Leave some time to do a final luggage check and reserve time for unforeseen issues. That leaves us an hour and a bit in the morning.

 

下午1點的班機,預計11點前到成田,搭8.46or 9.31從新橋直達車。留點時間最後確認行李和突發狀況。早上有一個多小時的時間。

 

The options was either Meiji-Jingu Outer Garden or Zoujouji, a temple with a view of Tokyo Tower not far from the hotel.

 

選項是明治神宮外苑或增上寺,離旅館不遠可看到東京鐵塔的佛寺。

 

Meiji-Jingu Outer Garden is about 7 minutes from Shinbashi, accounting for walking time it’d be about 20 minutes each way. Doable but will be cutting it close even if we left at 7am.

 

明治神宮外苑從新橋站坐車要7分鐘,考慮走路時間來回至少20分鐘。可行但就算7點出發還是有點趕。

 

Zoujouji is about 10 minutes walk, easier to control the timing. And since we had seen ginkgo leaves the day before I felt Zoujouji would be more interesting.

 

增上寺走路10分鐘,較容易掌握時間。反正昨天看過銀杏了去增上寺必較有意思。

 

For breakfast, the egg was scrambled egg with sausage wieners, fish was salt grilled fish, plus roasted potato with bacon, salisbury steak.

 

早餐的蛋換成西式炒蛋與小熱狗,魚是鹽燒魚,另外有培根烤馬鈴薯,絞肉排。

Breakfast

Breakfast


We headed out about quarter past 7.

 

大約7.15分出發。

 

Super Hotel is already outside the commercial areas of Shinbashi. From here to Zoujouji was mostly residential areas.

 

Super Hotel在新橋鬧區外,從這走到增上寺多是住宅區。

 

Along the way we passed the Prince Hotel, it had a fancy looking cafe/restaurant/bakery looking place by the roadside away from the main hotel building. Wondered if it was targeted at the guests or nearby office workers. The large car park before the hotel was mostly empty except for one or two tour buses.

 

路上經過王子飯店,遠離主飯店靠路邊有家看起來很高檔的Cafe/餐廳/烘培坊。很好奇鎖定的顧客層是住客還是附近的白領。旅館前廣闊的停車場空空的,只有一兩台遊覽車。

 

The main gate of Zouzouji was under renovation works. The two side doors were entirely boxed behind protective boards.

 

增上寺的正門在整修中。兩個側門完全包在保護木板後。

Zoujouji

Zouzouji is one of the older temples in Tokyo, though not in its current location, it was moved twice during the Edo Era then much of it burned down during WW2.

 

增上寺是東京相當有歷史的佛寺之一,不過在現在的地點沒那麼久,在江戶時期被移過兩次,之後在二戰中大部份建築在火災中被燒掉了。

Zoujouji and Tokyo Tower

Zoujouji

Zoujouji

As the family temple of the Tokugawa the temple saw periods of incredibly glory, with over 120 buildings at its peak. Even today the temple is a massive complex with several interconnected giant halls.

 

身為德川家的家族佛寺,增上寺有過輝煌的時期,全盛時期境內有120多間建築。

 

The family tomb of the Tokugawa is located here. To the north western end of the temple grounds lies 6 of the Tokugawa shoguns. We weren’t able to enter the tomb area, it’s closed off and only opens at 10 plus 500Y entrance fee.

 

德川家的家族靈廟正在此。在境內西北側,有6位德川家的將軍在靈園內安葬。這次沒機會入內,靈廟要10點才開,門票500Y。

Tokugawa family burial grounds

Along the northern edge of the temple was a long row of child Jizos statues. They wore red little hats and capes and had windmills next to them. Dedicated for the safe growth of children and memorial of unborn babies.

 

沿著佛寺北側立著長長數排小地藏。幼兒臉的地藏們頭戴紅色頭巾和披肩,一旁插著風車。為了小孩的平安成長祈福,與紀念未能出世的胎兒。

Child Jizous

Child Jizous

Behind the temple hall rose the red and white of Tokyo tower. Replaced by the Skytree its original purpose may be have been, its faux Eiffel Tower silhouette remains the spirit and romance of Tokyo.

 

在佛寺大殿後樹立的是紅白交錯的東京鐵塔。雖然當初誕生的原因被晴空塔取代了,那偽巴黎鐵塔的身影依然象徵東京的精神和浪漫。

Tokyo Tower

The hour went by strangely quickly, I had envisioned there being enough time to go to the bottom of Tokyo tower.

 

一小時過得異常快,原本還想走到東京鐵塔下的。

 

We walked back to the hotel in the same way. In the narrow streets we passed a Lawson that advertized that it baked its own bread each day.

 

循原路走回旅館。在小巷中經過一家廣告店內每天烘培新鮮麵包的Lawson。

Lawson with bakery

True enough, the place has a mini bakery with two ovens. I imagine the dough is made centrally then delivered to each store, the staff only need to put the dough into the oven each morning. It’s a good step above regular packaged bread which I would have much enjoyed over cold rice balls if only these were more common place during my trips.

 

還真的,店內有個有兩個烤箱的小烘培間。想來麵糰應該是中央廚房製作後分送,店員早上只要將麵糰放進烤箱就好了。這是個不錯的點子,比一般的包裝麵包好很多,若這種店能更普遍一點,在旅途上就能常享受新鮮麵包,不用吃冷飯糰了。

 

We got back to the hotel with plenty of time to do some last minute packing, brush up and get a last minute coffee. There is no need to check out at Super Hotel, when ready just grab the bags and walk out.

 

回到旅館後還有充足的時間做最後的打包,刷牙洗臉,然後再拿一杯早餐咖啡。在Super Hotel不用退房,準備好了拿起行李直接走就行了。

 

We hopped on the direct train from Shinbashi to Narita according to schedule. The train was a typical urban commuter with seats along the walls. Actually not much slower than the Skyliner express and much faster than the NEX, at less than half the price.

 

我們準時的搭上新橋到成田的直達車。電車是一般的通勤電車,座椅靠車廂兩側。其實每有比Skyliner特快車慢多少,還比NEX快,且只要一半的車錢。

 

There weren’t too many people in the Sunday morning, we had no problem finding seats. The train surfaced after Skytree and I chanced a glimpse before it disappeared behind the high rises. The Tokyo cityscape slowly roll past, the hour slipped by.

 

星期天一大早沒什麼人,座位很多。電車在晴空塔後爬升出隧道,在晴空塔躲入高樓後之前碰巧看到一眼。

Skytree

Vanilla Air was based in Terminal 3, the low cost airline terminal without its own railway station, one has to either walk 500m from Terminal 2 or wait for the shuttle bus.

 

香草航空在第三航廈,廉價航空專屬的航廈,沒有自己的車站,只能從第二航廈走500m過去或是等接駁車。

 

The walkway between the two terminal is painted like a sports ground runway, with several rest stops along the way with benches and vending. A lot of efforts went into making the walk interesting, changing lanes, colours, posters along the walls. The distance was barely felt, in a blink we were at the escalator leading up to the terminal.

 

兩個航廈間的走道漆得像操場跑道般,途中有數個休息區,有座椅和飲料販賣機。設計者為了讓旅客在航廈間移動時不感無趣花了不少心思,換跑道,亮麗色彩,牆上的海報。完全感受不到距離,轉眼就到另一頭上去航廈的手扶梯。

Runways

Not yet 10.30, the counter should open at 10.50, 2 hours before the flight. We were maybe 4th or 5th in line.

 

還沒到10.30,若準時櫃檯應該10.50,也就是飛機時間2小時前開。我們是排第4還是5位。

 

Originally I had considered taking the later train, not wanting to get here before the counter opened. With more thoughts now this way worked better. We may need to wait a short while for the counter to open but we were ahead of the line, as soon as the counter opened, we could drop off our bag and be on our way, whether to lunch or shopping. Had we come later we would have had to wait in the queue for time unknown.

 

起初我是想搭晚一班車的,覺得不用在櫃檯開始前到。現在想想這樣也好。我們可能需要等櫃檯一下但至少可確保在隊伍最前頭,櫃檯一開把行李一放就可以放心去逛了,看是出午餐還是逛街。若晚到的話不知道會需要排隊等多久。

 

While we waited for the counter to open I realized I had not yet bought a Playstation point card. Since I play Japanese games and the store only accepted credit cards from Japan, using a point card was the only way to buy the games online or for the DLCs. Thankfully there’s a Lawson right next to the counters.

 

當我們在等的時候我才想到這次來還沒有買Playstation點數卡。由於我基本上是玩日本遊戲而網路商店只接受日本的信用卡,我若要買DLC或遊戲就只能透過點數卡買。運氣很好,櫃檯旁就有一家Lawson.

 

After checking in we went to find something for lunch.

 

託運行李後我們去找地方吃午餐。

 

Terminal 3 had only a limited selection of shops but no shortage of food. Before customs there is a large food court with about 8 shops with a carefully selection ranging from ramen, sushi, donburi to western burgers and cafe.

 

第三航廈的店不多,但吃的到不算少。入境前有個很大的美食街,有8家挑選過的店家,從拉麵,壽司,丼飯到西式的漢堡和咖啡三明治。

Terminal 3 foodcourt

Coming early definitely worked out well, had we came later we would not have finished checking in till after 11.30, then we’d be in a hurry to eat lunch and get through customs. As it is we could easily peruse the available stalls, pick our choices and have lunch at a leisurely pace, enjoying the bustling activities all about from travellers of all walks. I went with the safe choice of the Nagasaki Champon noodle (same one in Hakata) while Y got a spicy ramen.

 

早來真是對了,若晚點到的話可能要11.30才能辦完託運行李,然後趕吃午餐出境。現在我們則能慢慢看有什麼店家看什麼好吃,然後悠閒的吃午餐,看來往的各式各樣旅客。我選的是長崎拉麵,就是上回在博多吃過的那家,Y則選了一家辣拉麵。

Nagasaki Champon Noodle

After that we went through customs. At one stage there was a tax claim station where they were supposed to inspect the tax free claimed items to ensure the travellers were bringing them with them. Instead there was only a basket with a sign and arrows. Y casually tossed the tax free claim slip into it.

 

吃完通關出境。途中有個退稅站理當要檢查旅客的免稅品,確認旅客有把免稅品帶出境。這裡只有一個籃子跟箭頭告示。Y隨意的把退稅單丟進去。

 

Airside there was just one souvenir store selling pretty much everything. Electronics, especially rice cookers at 220V aimed at chinese. Traditional Japanese wares like chopsticks and textiles, Hello Kitties and of course all sorts of sweets. Y knew about a lot of the various sweets and chocolates, which ones were famous, which ones were talked about. I had already got enough sweets so didn’t buy any.

 

過境後只有一家紀念品店,所有可想到的都有賣。電器,尤其是鎖定陸客的220V電器。傳統日本工藝品如筷子,紡織品,Hello Kitty和當然的各式甜點。Y對這些甜點還頗有研究的,那些有名,那些很紅,那些大家常討論。我已經帶很多甜點了所以沒有再買。

Airside souvenir store

Since this was a low cost terminal there were no air bridges. Passengers had to walk down 3 flight of stairs to the ground level, across the tarmac to the air stairs through an expendable corridor that provided some shelter from the elements and served to keep passengers from wandering off.

 

這是廉航航廈所以沒有空橋。旅客必須走下三樓階梯到一樓,穿過一個折疊式通道走過停機坪到登機階梯。折疊式通道可稍稍遮擋風雨,同時也可預防旅客亂跑。

Cleverly designed eh.. air bridge?

It was a small single aisle 737, the flight was short and past lunchtime, I don’t think many people ordered meals during the flight.

 

小型單走道737客機,飛行時間沒有多久且已過午餐時間,機上沒有多少人另外點餐。

 

We arrived at Taiwan late in the afternoon and after we passed customs, disbanded and waved each other farewell.

 

我們傍晚回到台灣。通關後解散,互相說掰掰後各自回家。

 

Kanto Maigo – Day 8

For once an easy start to the day. There’s no hurry today, everything revolved around places within Tokyo.

 

終於可輕鬆開始的一天。今天不趕時間,全在東京都內。

 

Breakfast had a makeover and all the dishes were different from yesterday. The egg became Japanese eggroll, the fish a traditional grilled fish, a broccoli vege and seafood stirfy, and ginger stir fried pork.

 

早餐菜色全換過了。蛋換成日式蛋捲,於是傳統烤魚,一道青花菜炒海鮮和薑汁炒豬肉。

Breakfast

First stop today was Tsukiji… or outer Tsukiji anyway. Because poorly behaviours from tourists they’ve banned tourists from visiting the inner market before 10am. Most of the fish shops are closed at that point and not much point in visiting. What is it with modern tourists…

 

今天第一站是築地市場….或該說築地外市場。因為一些不知自我約束的觀光客的行為,內市場10點前禁止觀光觀光客入內。那時候大部分魚店都關了也沒什麼好逛的。現代的觀光客真是…

 

It’s one stop from Shiodome to Tsukiji. It’s also walkable if I wasn’t feeling lazy, about 1.2km.

 

築地從汐留過去一站。若不是我懶要走也可以,大約1.2公里。

 

The outer market had changed a lot since 6 years ago. More people, the shops sold more things catering to tourists, and a lot more sushi shops. Some shops are even tax free though I have no idea how that is meant to work.

 

外市場跟6年前差了許多。人更多了,店家賣的東西比較觀光取向,也更多壽司店。有些店甚至能免稅,雖然不太懂生鮮這樣如何處理。

 

We did a general loop through the outer market to the border of the inner market, to the Namiyoke Inari Shrine then back out through each of the outer market streets.

 

我們繞外市場外側一圈到內市場邊,到波除稻荷神社後再繞回外市場一條條逛。

Tsukiji

Tsukiji

The line outside Sushi Dai extended from the alley to a long line on the side of the thoroughfare. To be a gourmet in Tokyo required zenful patience.

 

壽司大外的隊伍從小街內排到大街外長長一排。在東京想當饕客需要坐禪般的定力。

Sushi dai

We passed a Yoshinoya. I did not realize at the time, only found out when we saw a memorial stone at the shrine, that the cheap gyudon chain originated right here at Tsukiji.

 

Should have gone in for a bowl if I had known.

 

途中經過一家吉野家。當時不曉得,後來在神社看到一個紀念碑才知道原來這牛丼連鎖店正是從築地發跡的。

 

若早知道就進去吃一碗。

Yoshinoya

At the crossing that lead to the inner market, a security guard escorted two tourists away from the inner market while holding up a sign saying no tourists allowed before 10. They’re treating the ban quite seriously.

 

在通往內市場的入口對面,一個保全正護送兩名觀光客離開內市場,手中拿著一個10點前不開放觀光客的標示。這禁令還真有在執行。

Namiyoke Inari Shrine

Yoshinoya memorial

Shrine for fallen eggs

Many fresh seafood shops offered service to cook them on the spot, the smell of grilled crab legs and oysters was salivating.

 

有不少海產店有提供現煮服務,烤蟹腳和牡蠣的香味令人垂涎。

 

I checked out some of the knife shops, looking to see if they sold those special knives used to cut specific fish like tuna and eels. Looks to be all sushi and chopping knives though, perhaps the demand for fish cleaning knife is less and aren’t on display.

 

我逛了幾家刀店看有沒有那種專門用來處理鮪魚或鰻魚的專用刀。看來都是壽司和菜刀,大概處理魚的刀銷路沒好到擺出來。

Bonito

Knives

Tsukiji

Grilled crab legs

Actual wasabi

Next to Tsukiji is the Hongan-ji, quite different from the usual wooden temples found in Japan, is built of concrete in the architectural style from buddhism’s birthplace India. There was strangely an organ on the second level by the entranceway.

 

築地旁是本願寺,與日本大多木造佛寺不同,是水泥建造,仿造佛教誕生地的印度風格建築。入口上方二樓奇怪的還有管風琴。

Hongonji

Hongonji

Hongonji

Hibiya line station is just outside Hongan-ji. A quick transfer at Ginza to the Marunouchi line gets us to Ikebukuro.

 

日比谷線的車站就在本願寺外。在銀座轉到丸之內線到池袋。

 

The Sunshine Aquarium is about 10 minutes walk from the station.

 

Sunshine水族館從車站走大概10分鐘。

Ikebukuro

The aquarium is one of several within Tokyo. There’s something cultural about Japan and aquariums, it has to be one of the most common attractions in Japan. Perhaps it’s a combination of love for fish and cute things, and who doesn’t like a cuddly seal or penguins.

 

東京都內有數個水族館,現在去的是其中之一。日本文化中水族館似乎是不可或缺的存在,肯定是日本最普遍的觀光設施之一。或許是熱愛魚和可愛事物的結合,誰不喜歡討喜的海豹或企鵝。

 

Sunshine Aquarium is situated on top of Sunshine City shopping complex. It recently renovated its penguin enclosure into something it calls flying penguin experience. The penguin tank consists of glass on both side so visitor can see out through the tank at the Tokyo skyline, with the interior forming a convex cave that visitors can stand underneath, when penguins swims in the tank it looks as though the penguins are flying through the air.

 

Sunshine水族館是Sunshine city樓頂。最近企鵝區剛翻新過,改造成所謂的飛天企鵝。企鵝池子兩側皆是玻璃,遊客可看到外側的東京天際,內側是凹入的洞穴形狀,遊客可站在水池下方,看起來池中游泳的企鵝就如在天空中飛翔似。

 

I had bought the tickets beforehand and skipped the ticket booth queue.

 

之前已預先買了門票,可跳過買票的隊伍。

 

The aquarium has indoor and outdoor parts. The indoor aquarium exhibiting various habitats and the outdoor area where penguins and seals are.

 

水族館分室內外。室內包含各種生態區,室外則是企鵝和海豹。

 

We headed indoor first, there was still time till the penguin feeding.

 

離企鵝餵食時間還有一點時間,就先逛室內吧。

 

For an urban aquarium with limited space, the place had a good variety of different fishes and other aquatic animals Though the enclosures tended on seemingly too small, Y pointed out.

 

以有限空間的都會水族館來說,魚和其他水棲動物的種類真不少。但是箱子都太小了,Y這麼評論。

Sunshine Aquarium

Sunshine aquarium

 

I don’t think Y like aquariums too much, a miss on my part.

 

Y不太喜歡水族館吧,我沒事先弄清楚。

 

Just before we came the aquarium had an accident where the air bump to the largest tank was turned off and the tank lost most of its fishes. The tank thus was ironically spacious.

 

我們來的前幾天水族館發生了意外,供給氧氣的幫浦被人不小心關掉了,主水箱大部分的魚就這麼完蛋了。於是主水箱反而諷刺的空曠。

 

All else not being too bright, there’s still the penguins. The penguins here are cape penguins, much smaller and more resistance to heat than the more popular adele or emperor penguins, making them more suited for urban Tokyo.

 

儘管其他不佳,還是有企鵝。這裡的企鵝是非洲企鵝,比出名的阿德利企鵝或帝王企鵝小,更能耐熱,適合東京都內的環境。

Sunshine aquarium

Adorable adorable little penguins, so clever and so silly. Before proper feeding time the staff came out with small bucket of fish. The fishes were likely specially prepared, either with medicine or special supplements, since the staff went out of the way to ensure each penguin was fed one fish.

 

小小討喜的企鵝們,又呆又聰明。在正式餵食前解說員先那了一小桶魚出來。這些魚應該是特別處理過的,可能塞了藥或補給營養的維他命之類,解說員特別確認給每一隻企鵝分配一條。

Sunshine aquarium

At feeding time one staff tossed fishes at the waiting penguins while she introduced the penguins, another staff at the front held up placards showing photos of what the first staff talked about, such as the photo of the coastal environment where the penguin came from. The little birds scampered and flapped each other to get at the fish. Those that had their fill wriggled down little holes back to their nest.

 

餵食時一名解說員一邊拋魚給圍著的企鵝,一邊介紹這裡的企鵝種類和習性,另一名解說員則站在前面舉牌子,上頭有解說內容的照片,如企鵝的原生海岸的照片。小鳥們拍著翅膀踩來擠去,搶著接魚。吃飽了的就扭著鑽入小洞回巢。

Sunshine aquarium

At the end of it the staff held up a penguin and brought it closer to the fence. Visitors weren’t allowed to touch the penguins, this was as close as people were allowed to the cute litte thing.

 

最後解說員把一隻企鵝抱到欄杆前給大家看。遊客禁止觸碰企鵝,離這些小傢伙們最近就只能這樣了。

Sunshine aquarium

After the feeding we moved to the penguin swimming tank. The tank was quite large which allowed the penguins to pick up speed in the water. The curved glass tank design works very well, while it’s not quite flying penguins, it’s amazing to see the penguins swim past the shoulder or even over head.

 

餵食結束我們移動到企鵝池。池子挺大的,企鵝能游到挺快的。內凹的玻璃水箱設計真的不錯,雖沒有到企鵝飛翔那樣,但看企鵝從肩頭甚至頭頂游過是很驚奇的體驗。

Penguin tank

Penguin tank

Aquarium

Then we finished looking at the indoor areas, then searched for penguin goods in the souvenir shop. There was a disappointing lack of giant penguin plushies.

 

接著看完室內區後到紀念品店看有什麼企鵝商品。令人失望的沒有大企鵝玩偶。

Aquarium

Lunch was where I messed up again. The original plan was to go to sushi train but my mind had gotten blanked out. The aquarium had not been as interesting as hoped, I was not sure whether going out of the way to the sushi train that likely had a queue was a good idea.

 

午餐我又弄砸了。原本是要去吃迴轉壽司但頭腦一片空白。水族館沒想像的有意思,不知道特地繞去吃多半要排隊的迴轉壽司好還是不好。

 

So I said to walk to the station and grab whatever we find okay along the way.

 

所以我說回車站沿途看有什麼好吃就吃吧。

 

A restaurant was right across the main intersection leading to the station front district. It’s a oyakodon place, similar in concept to Yoshinoya. I looked the menu then looked at Y who didn’t have an opinion either way, so we ended up eating there.

 

往站前鬧區的通路對面正好有家餐館,一家親子丼店,類似吉野家的概念。我看了看菜單又看了看沒意見的Y,總之就這樣決定在這吃了。

 

The ticket machine really did not like 100Y coins. In the end I fed it a 1000Y note for it to grant me food.

 

點餐機很不喜歡100Y硬幣。最後只好餵一張1000Y鈔票才讓我吃。

Oyakodon place

Oyakodon

While we ate I thought about where to go in the afternoon. There were a number of options. The original plan were Rikugien or Koishikawa-Korakuen, the two autumn leaves garden in Tokyo. Though Y was not that eager, having seen the autumn leaves in Hakone yesterday.

 

我邊吃邊想下午該去哪裡。選項還不少,原計畫是六義園或小石川後樂園,東京都內的兩個賞楓名所。Y不是很感興趣,昨天在箱根看楓葉很滿足了。

 

I went through the alternatives. Ginza, Meiji Jingu/Omotesando/Takeshita. Not too big on those shopping destinations. Maybe Ameyoko.

 

我想了想其他方案。銀座,明治神宮表參道竹下通。不是很想去逛街。或許阿美橫丁。

 

Then it occured to me. How about ginkgo leaves, not the same as red autumn leaves and they should be almost at their peak at Tokyo Uni which is also on the way back Shinbashi.

 

想到了。銀杏葉呢,跟紅色的楓葉不太一樣,而且東京大學的應該全黃了,剛好回新橋順路。

 

Y agreed. But before we got to the station we were sidetracked when passing a Matsumoto Kiyoshi pharmacy store. They had several items on sale which Y was interested and we spent some time there looking. Apparently to be eligible for tax free required minimum 5000Y before tax, good to know.

 

Y也同意這計畫。在回到車站前我們路過一間松本清,然後就拐進去了。有幾樣Y想要的東西剛好在打折,就小逛了一下找一找。要免稅必須買到稅前5000Y,我以前都不知道。

 

We took the Marunouchi line to Hongo-sanchome. From there it’s about 300m walk to Tokyo Uni. At the Hongo-Sanchome intersection there was a Doutor and I went into a long story about how my fondness for the cafe developed.

 

我們搭丸之內線到鄉本三丁目。從這走到東京大學只要300m。在鄉本三丁目的十字路口經過一間Doutor,然後我開始分享我喜愛這咖啡店的因緣。

 

I had actually been to Tokyo Uni before, on my first trip to Tokyo. Only back then I did not even realize this was Tokyo Uni, I was merely looking for a way to get to my hotel. That first trip was a harsh lesson.

 

我其實來過東京大學,就是我第一次來東京那次。只是我當時根本沒意識到這是東大,只是在找去旅館的路。那第一次旅行真是上了殘酷的一堂課。

Tokyo Uni red gate

The main thoroughfare of Tokyo Uni from the main gate to the auditorium is lined with giant ginkgo trees against a backdrop of brick gothic brick buildings. Shimmering leaves crowned the tall trees standing tall over gilded carpet, golden flakes snowed in the air. Poetic, painted.

 

東大的大道從大門到講演廳,兩側以哥德式磚瓦建築為背景高聳著兩排銀杏。樹立在金繡地毯上的大樹戴著閃耀的皇冠,金色箔片在空中下雪般飄逸。如詩如畫。

Tokyo uni

Tokyo uni

Tokyo uni

Tokyo uni

Tokyo uni

 

People stood beneath the trees taking photos. Some sat before canvas stands capturing the moment with their brushes. Others slowly walked in marvel.

 

人們站在樹下拍照。有人靜靜在帆布前用筆捕捉這景色。也有人在驚嘆中慢慢踏步。

 

When the ginkgo trees at Tokyo Uni were planted in the early 1900s, ginkgo were not typically used as street landscape trees. In a way the ginkgo avenue here became a prototype and gave birth to the ginkgo tree lined streets that became the symbol of Tokyo.

 

當東大在1900年代種下銀杏樹時,銀杏還不常被用來作為行道樹。這條銀杏大道可說是時代的先驅,從這誕生了代表東京都的銀杏街道景色。

 

We took a break at Doutor before getting back on the train to Shiodome back to Super Hotel. There was no direct train between Ikebukuro and Shinbashi/Shiodome, by coming to Tokyo Uni the transfer was done away.

 

在搭車到汐留回Super Hotel前在Doutor坐了一下。從池袋沒有直達新橋或汐留的車,來東大某方面省去了轉車的必要。

 

I think it was maybe 4.30 by the time we got back to the hotel. A little break before the night’s schedule starting with dinner at 5.30.

 

回到旅館是4.30。在5.30從晚餐開始的晚上活動之前各自休息準備。

 

Dinner was at Gyu-katsu Motomura near Shinbashi station. A fried steak grill place.

 

晚餐是新橋站附近的牛排本村。燒烤炸牛排餐廳。

 

The steak is slightly fried first with batter with the inside still raw, then the customer can grill the steak to the desired degree at the table.

 

牛排稍微炸過,裡頭還是生的,然後客人自己在餐桌的烤爐上烤到自己喜歡的程度。

 

Because of various photos I had actually thought the steaks were meant to be eaten as is, till Y explained to me what the steak actually is. Apparently a similar place opened near Y’s home recently. There’s something about food which I’m just no good at researching.

 

從照片上看我原本還以為牛排是就直接生的吃,Y跟我解釋後才弄清楚吃法。Y家附近剛開了一家類似的店。我對研究吃的總是很生疏。

 

We got there at about 5.40 and just managed to not get in by a matter of seconds. The group just steps ahead of us took the last table. We waited maybe 15 minutes for a table to be made available.

 

我們大概5.40分到餐廳,差一點點沒坐進去。早我們幾步的那一組客人拿走了最後一桌。

 

The place was a little dive hidden in a basement off the main street, about seats for 20 people only.

 

小店在主街旁下去隱密的一個擁擠的小地下室,大概只有20人座位。

Gyukatsu motomura

They were well prepared for foreigners and had menus in english, chinese and korean. We were given a menu and asked to decide while we waited and have to order and pay before sitting down. Not that there was much to decide, there was only standard set, standard set with extra side and set with extra meat.

 

他們對外國客人準備周全,菜單有英中和韓文。在等的時候店員先給了菜單,請我們先決定要點什麼然後入座前先付費。也沒什麼好決定的,基本上只有一個標準套餐,頂多選加小菜或加肉量。

 

Okay Y did get an extra beer.

 

嘛~Y另外點了一杯啤酒。

 

The server sat us down and our order was brought over with extreme efficiency. There’s rice, miso soup, two kind of sauce, plate of beef cutlets with shredded cabbage salad and mash potato, and a hot plate over open flame iron plate grill.

 

服務員帶我們到位子後超有效率的堆來餐點。有一碗飯,味噌湯,兩種醬料,一盤切牛排和白菜切絲沙拉,馬鈴薯泥,還有一個底下點有火的小鐵烤盤。

Gyukatsu Motomura

Grill


The beef was very nice, the deep fried outside giving a slightly crunchy texture and the inside soft and succulent. I tried grilling several pieces at once to different degree to see how to best cook them but it hardly mattered, the meat was always very soft unless it’s obviously charred and overcooked.

 

牛排很好吃,稍微炸過的外皮有點脆脆的嚼感,裡頭軟又多汁。我試著烤到不同的熟度,不過基本上沒什麼差,不管烤多久除非真烤到焦了不然一樣很軟。

 

The evening was Caretta followed by Tokyo Midtown.

 

晚上安排去Caretta然後再去Tokyo Midtown。

 

The illumination theme at Caretta this year was Beauty and the Beast. The main component was similar to the Winter Forest in 2011, though with a lot more light and a much worse song and choreography.

 

Caretta今年的燈飾主題是美女與野獸。主要的元素跟2011年的冬之森類似,燈光更亮,搭配的音樂和演出感覺差了很多。

 

Caretta

 

We just missed the performance so headed upstairs to the observation deck first. From level 46 the observation deck looked down at tsukiji and Tokyo bay.

 

我們剛好錯過演出所以先上樓到觀景台。從46樓俯瞰底下的築地市場和東京灣。

Tsukiji at night

Caretta

Caretta

Caretta

After the Caretta illumination performance, then headed to Roppongi from Shiodome.

 

之後下樓看過燈光演出後從汐留出發去六本木。

I’m not sure whether it’s just this year, but the illuminations did not seem as good as before. Whether Caretta or the Midtown one.

 

不確定是不是今年特別,但感覺燈飾都沒有我之前那一年的好。不論是Caretta或Midtown。

 

I was expecting the kind of crushing crowd I met in 2011 but Midtown only had a small crowd. The display this year was also quite disappointing, forgoing the birth of planet theme for a shorter, much simpler swirling galaxy.

 

原本預期會碰到2011年那樣人山人海但Midtown周遭只有一點點來客。今年的燈飾捨棄了星球誕生的主題,取代的是較短的旋轉星系雲。

Midtown

Midtown

Midtown

We ended up returning to the hotel early and had a late night snack party together in the breakfast area, with the black egg we bought yesterday and the unpasteurized sake the day before.

 

結果提早回到旅館,在早餐區一起吃消夜,把昨天的黑蛋和前天的無殺菌日本酒吃完。

 

Kanto Maigo – Day 7

Hakone day.

 

箱根日。

 

This morning was to see one of the toughest challenges. Getting from Shinbashi to Hakone-Yumoto in just an hour.

 

今天早上將會是一場嚴峻挑戰。從新橋在一小時內到箱根湯本。

 

To backtrack a little.

 

說一下原由。

 

A day trip to Hakone was quite pressed for time, more so that it was imperative that we arrive at Moto-Hakone by the lakeside before at least 10 am if we wished to have a chance at seeing Mount Fuji.

 

箱根要一天來回算趕的,尤其是我們若想看到富士山的話必須在10點前到湖畔的元箱根。

 

Mount Fuji is also called the shy mountain because its peak is often shrouded by clouds. The best time to have a clear view of it is during the early morning or evening when the temperature is cool, during the day clouds often form and like a hat obscure it from view. Studying the live cameras over several days it appears clouds most often start to form after 10am.

 

富士山被稱作害羞的山,因為山頂常被雲霧圍繞。要清楚看到山景最好是一大早或是傍晚天氣涼爽的時候。白天山上容易起雲像戴帽子般把山頂遮住。研究幾天web cam影像,大多是10點後開始起雲的。

 

There’s also a bottleneck crossing Lake Ashinoko from Motohakone on the south side to Togendai in the north, with one boat every 40-50 minutes, catching just one boat earlier can make a huge difference in the schedule down the road. This means getting to Hakone as early as possible. Even half an hour can make a lot of difference.

 

另外是跨越芦之湖,從南岸元箱根到北邊桃源台的海盜船是個瓶頸,每40-50分鐘才一艘船,若能搭上早一班船對之後的行程有很大幫助。也就是說越早到箱根越好,就算只有半小時也差很多。

 

The earliest train from Shinjuku is an Odakyu express departing at 7am and takes an hour and 40 minutes, arriving at Hakone-Yumoto at 8:40.

 

從新宿最早的班車是小田急的特急列車,7點發車,車程約1小時40分,8:40到箱根湯本。

 

If one then first take the mountain railway to Kowakudani (since it may be dark by the time we descent, taking the railway in the morning ensures we get to enjoy the sights), then transfer onward to the bus, one should reach Moto-Hakone at 9:45.

 

若先搭登山鐵道到小涌谷(下山時可能天已黑了,先搭鐵道確保有欣賞到風景)再轉巴士,到元箱根是9.45。

 

7am is quite early especially for a station as large as Shinjuku. Assuming one’s hotel is at Shinjuku, accounting for walking time and navigating the station, this means leaving the hotel at latest around 6:30~6:40. Earlier if one did not stay at Shinjuku.

 

早上7點的車很早,尤其是如新宿這樣大的車站。假設旅館在新宿,考慮走路和車站內上下樓移動的時間,至少要在6.30~6.40離開旅館。若不住在新宿的話要更早。

 

The next express out of Shinjuku is 7:27 and arrives at Hakone-Yumoto at 9:01, which gets to Moto-Hakone at 10.

 

新宿晚一班車是7.27發,到箱根湯本9.01,到元箱根約10點。

 

This was a source of headache when choosing where to stay. 7am train is really early and there’s a risk of oversleeping it. If it’s the next train then arrival in Hakone will be a bit late.

 

在決定住哪裡時為這點煩惱了很久。7點的車挺早的,很容易睡過頭。若搭晚一班到箱根時又會太晚。

 

Until I found an alternative. Before that though it’s worth looking into why departing from Odakyu is considered the default.

 

後來找到了另外一個選項。不過在說是怎樣的選項時要先解釋一下為何小田急是一般認知的標準方案。

 

Transport around Hakone is dominated by the Odakyu group. Odakyu is one of the major private railways in the Kanto region, its main line connects Shinjuku to Kamakura and Odawara, Hakone. In addition, the group also owns the Hakone Mountain Railway, Hakone Cable Car, Hakone Ropeway, Hakone Sightseeing Cruise and most of the local bus in Hakone region.

 

箱根地區交通基本上是小田急集團一手包辦。小田急是關東地區的大手私鐵之一,主幹線從新宿連結鎌倉和小田原,箱根。另外集團也擁有箱根登山鐵道,箱根空中纜車,箱根登山纜車,箱根海盜船和大部分的地方巴士路線。

 

The Hakone Pass issued by Odakyu allowed tourists unlimited access to all transports in the Hakone region for just 4000Y, and for another 1140Y also included a single regular return ticket from Shinjuku.

 

小田急發售的箱根周遊卷只要4000Y就可無限搭乘箱根區的交通工具,再加1140Y附一張新宿來回車票。

 

A small trap with the pass is that the return ticket is only valid for non-express trains which required transfers and takes about 2 hours. To take the express trains one has to purchase another 890Y to get an express ticket, 890×2 (1780) for return. All up this means 2920 extra or about 1460 each way.

 

有一個小陷阱,那就是來回車票只包含區間車,車程需2小時。若要搭特急需要另外加890Y買特級卷,也就是來回1780Y。加起來等於多2920或單程1460。

 

Going to Hakone effective means having to get a Hakone pass, the natural outcome is to also get the return from Shinjuku as one single simple solution. Since most people chooses this way, various guides and blogs also discusses only this way when concerning how to get to Hakone.

 

既然去箱根一定會要買箱根周遊卷,很自然的也就加價新宿來回了,省事方便。既然大多人都是這樣買,導覽和部落格在介紹箱根交通時也只解說小田急這選項。

 

But while Odakyu is the only choice within the Hakone region, it is not the only choice getting from and to Hakone from Tokyo. There is also JR East whose local train (there are no expresses) takes about 70~80 minutes between Tokyo and Odawara, and the shinkansen which can cover that distance in just 35 minutes. From Odawara one can use the basic Hakone pass up to Hakone-Yumoto (another 20 minutes) and onward.

 

但是呢,雖然小田急是箱根區域內唯一選擇,他並不是東京來往箱根唯一選擇。另外有JR東日本的區間車(沒有特急)從東京到小田原大約70~80分鐘。還有新幹線,只需35分鐘。到小田原後就可用箱根周遊卷上到箱根湯本(20分鐘)和其他地點。

 

The JR East train costs 1490 one way, which is actually comparable to Odakyu.

 

JR東日本的車是單程1490,跟小田急差不多。

 

The shinkansen on other hand while being extremely fast, costs 3220 each way.

 

新幹線則快很多,但單程就要3220。

 

The JR East train can be an alternative but did not solve my problem of getting to Hakone early enough.

 

JR東日本是另外選項但並沒有解決我想早點到箱根的問題。

 

The shinkansen was too expensive, until I found that JR Central sold a special outing ticket called Shinkansen Odekake-Kippu, where one can purchase returns to Odawara for 2 people travelling together for just 4630 per person, or effectively 2315 each way. It’s still >800Y more each way compared to Odakyu but brings it into the bounds of reasonable trade-off worth considering.

 

新幹線則太貴了。直到我發覺JR東海有賣一種おでかけ(出遊)的特別套票,雙人一起出遊時小田原來回一人只要4630,也就是單程2315。比小田急貴800多但落入值得考慮取捨的範圍。

 

Once I discovered this possibility I started charting out possible timetables. Catching the shinkansen from Shinagawa was the best choice since compared to Tokyo station it would shave ~10 minutes off again from the time one has to leave the hotel in the morning. That left any stations close to Shinagawa (there are very few hotels around Shinagawa), such as Shinbashi.

 

發現這可能性後,我開始計算可能的時刻表。從品川上新幹線是最佳選擇,可比東京站上車更晚10分鐘離開旅館。也就是任何接近品川的車站(品川附近沒什麼住宿),如新橋。

 

I charted out every train for each segment of the transfers. Shinbashi>Shinagawa, Shingawaga>Odawara, Odawara>Hakone-Yumoto, Hakone-Yumoto>Kowakudani, Kowakudani>Moto-Hakone. From the table a precise transfer could be worked out. Based on the station layouts it was very tight but definitely doable.

 

我列出了到元箱根間每一段轉車的班次。新橋到品川,品川到小田原,小田原到箱根湯本,箱根湯本到小涌谷,小涌谷到元箱根。利用表格準確抓出了一個轉車方案,按照車站平面圖會有點緊湊但絕對可行。

 

7:15 Shinbashi departure, 10 minutes transfer at Shinagawa, 5 minutes at Odawara, arrive at Hakone-Yumoto at 8:21. Then 3 minutes to walk up the platform onto the mountain railway (once this transfer is made the trip is safe), with arrival at Moto-Hakone at 9:25. The transfers are too tight to show up on transfer apps like Jorudan or Ekitan, have to be worked out manually.

 

7.15新橋出發,在品川轉車10分鐘,小田原5分鐘,8.21到箱根湯本。然後有3分鐘朝月台另一頭走一點轉登山電車(只要搭上這個就安全了),到元箱根9.25。這轉車間距太緊湊了在轉乘app如jorudan,ekitan是不會顯示的,只能土法煉鋼手工排出來。

 

Compared to Shinjuku departure on the 7am Odakyu express, we can leave at least 15 minutes later (more since Shinbashi station is small, only need to account for time from the hotel) but will end up at the lakeside actually 20 minutes earlier.

 

與新宿7點出發的小田急特急比,我們可晚至少15分鐘出發(新橋車站很小,只用考路旅館間走的時間)但至少早20分鐘到湖邊。

 

Now back to the trip.

 

回到旅遊上。

 

The day began with Super Hotel’s breakfast. Breakfast here started at 6.30, I went down right on the minute. We had agreed to meet in the lobby at 7, until then it’s up to each when to have breakfast and anything else to do.

 

一天從Super Hotel的早餐開始。早餐6.30開始,我很準時的下樓。我們約好7點在大廳碰面,在那之前各自決定何時吃早餐和其他想做的事。

 

One thing I love about Super Hotel is that their breakfast is always familiar but never the same. The food is very consistent no matter which location, one knows exactly what to expect yet won’t know what one might get.

 

我喜歡Super Hotel的一點就是他的早餐總是令人很熟悉但從不一樣。菜色種類不論地點有一致性,知道可期待什麼但仍不知道會有什麼。

 

There’s a few things that are certain. Selection of coffee from the machine, organic salad with range of Super Hotel’s signature sauces, yoghurt, fruit, bread, rice and sides that go with it such as nato, pickles, miso soup.

 

有幾樣是絕對的。咖啡機供應的各種咖啡,有機沙拉配上Super Hotel自家口味的醬料,優格,水果,麵包,白飯和配飯的小菜如納豆,醬菜,味噌湯。

 

There will be a fish dish. The fish may not be the same nor may it be cooked the same way. I don’t know whether it’s company policy but I have yet to have one without fish.

 

會有一道魚。不一定是同一種魚,料理方式也不一定相同。我不知道這是不是公司規則但我還沒一次沒吃到魚的。

 

There will be an egg dish. The egg also may not be cooked the same way but there will be eggs.

 

會有一道蛋料理。料理方式也不一定相同但一定有蛋。

 

Then there will be a meat dish. Plus one or two other dishes that varied.

 

然後一道肉。另外一兩道變化菜色。

 

Many branches tend to also have a “local” dish, a dish unique to that Super Hotel or Super Hotels in that region. It could be curry, miso topping…etc. The specialty of this Super Hotel was Fukagawa-Meshi, a clam rice stew.

 

許多分店還有一道地方特色菜,那家Super Hotel或那地區Super Hotel才有的菜色。可能是咖哩,味增醬之類。這家的是深川飯,一種貝類煮粥。

 

Super Hotel’s breakfast leaned on traditional Japanese breakfast, this requires comparatively more effort. Other business hotel usually provided just scrambled eggs, weiners and maybe hashbrown or potato, items that can be much easily prepared. It’s one reason why I chose Super Hotel since Y is not used to western style bread or sandwiches.

 

Super Hotel的早餐偏傳統日式。準備上比較費事。其他商務旅館通常是提供炒蛋,熱狗,然後薯餅或馬鈴薯,這種比較好弄的菜色。選Super Hotel的原因之一,Y比較不習慣西式的麵包或三明治。

Super Hotel Breakfast

Super Hotel Breakfast

The transfer went smoother than planned. At Shinagawa we had to wait for the Nozomi currently on the platform to clear out first before the Kodama showed up. I had already checked the best car number for transfer and we boarded car number 7.

 

轉車比預期的順利。在品川還必須等月台上的Nozomi班車開出後等Kodama進月台。我已經查過轉程位置,坐第7節車廂。

Shinkansen

The tightest transfer was Odawara, with just 5 minutes to go up the platform, exit the Shinkansen gate, up the main concourse then through the Odakyu gate and down to the platform and board the train. It’s my first time to Odawara, though I had checked the station layout on youtube things could look different on arrival.

 

最緊湊的是小田原轉車,只有5分鐘從月台上樓,出新幹線閘口,上樓到車站大廳,入小田急閘口下月台上車。這是我第一次到小田原站,雖然youtube上看過車站內走法但實際到了後長什麼樣子很難說。

 

We made it with about a minute to go. Had no need to run. But would not have made it if I had not purchased ticket beforehand.

 

上車時剩大約一分鐘。還沒需要跑的程度,但若沒預先買好票的話是趕不上的。

 

On the train from Odawara to Hakone-Yumoto we met a pair of Chinese old couple who came from the States. They seemed to have bought the Hakone mountain railway+bus pass at a whim and had not yet looked at what to see and do at Hakone. So they asked us what was our plan and whether we had any suggestions.

 

在小田原到箱根湯本的車上遇到一對從美國來的華裔老夫妻。他們似乎臨時買了箱根鐵道+巴士卷,還沒考慮太多過在箱根要玩什麼。他們問我們打算怎麼玩,有沒有什麼建議。

 

I outlined our plan of taking the railway up to Kowakudani and transferring to the bus, doing a clockwise loop around the area. They seemed to like the idea and followed us up till Moto-Hakone.

 

我大略說了一下要搭電車到小涌谷轉巴士,順時鐘繞箱根一圈。他們對這主意似乎覺得不錯,一路跟我們一起坐到元箱根。

 

Once we got on the mountain train at Hakone-Yumoto we no longer had to worry about transfers and the sightseeing begins.

 

在箱根湯本上了登山鐵道後就不用擔心轉車了,放輕鬆開始遊玩欣賞風景。

Hakone Yumoto

The Hakone Mountain railway is the Japan’s oldest mountain railway and the steepest railway in Japan without a rack rail. In less than 10km it climbs from Hakone-Yumoto at 108m to Gora at 556m.

 

箱根登山鐵道是日本最古老的登山鐵道,也是日本沒有齒軌的普通鐵道中坡度最陡的。從箱根到強羅不到10km的軌道從108m爬升到556m。

 

The leaves close to Hakone-Yumoto was still green, which I took to be a good sign that there were bound to be red leaves along the way up.

 

靠近箱根湯本的樹葉還是綠的,這算是好事吧,代表一路往上總會遇到紅葉。

Hakone

Along the tracks there are 3 turnbacks to navigate the steepest inclines.The turnbacks also doubled as a passing stop for trains coming the other direction, there was plenty of time to take in the view as we waited for the descending train or for the poor driver to run to the other end to drive the train in the other direction.

 

沿途有3個Z字反折攀爬最陡的山側。反折點同時也是電車會車處,讓反方向的車輛通過。在等下山的車輛或是駕駛跑去電車另一端開車時有充足時間看外頭山色。

Switchback

Hakone

The train winded through narrow tunnels and bridges over steep valleys. Only in the old days could a railway be built through terrain as difficult as this only for access to tourist destination.

 

電車穿過窄小的隧道和陡峭的溪谷。只有在從前才有可能為了一個觀光地如此翻山越水興建一條鐵道。

 

Two stops from Gora we got off at Kowakudani. This was the station where the railway and the bus route headed for Moto-Hakone diverged.

 

我們在到強羅兩站前的小涌谷下車。這裡是鐵道和往元箱根巴士路線分道揚鑣之處。

Kowakudani

Originally the bus was not due for another 12 minutes and Y had begun to wander off when a H route bus turned around the corner. Is the bus early or the previous one late? No matter, I hurriedly called Y back.

 

原本巴士應該要等12分鐘,Y正要附近晃晃時一輛H路線的巴士就轉過彎來。是早到還是上一班晚到?管他的。我連忙把Y叫回來。

 

Since the bus came early we now had time to go to Onshihakone park instead of just Moto-Hakone. Onshihakone was about 500m further down the Lake Ashinoko south bank and used to be the Emperial family’s vacation palace. It’s a small peninsula jutting out into the lake and from its higher elevation offered a fantastic view of Mount Fuji and Lake Ashinoko.

 

巴士早到,時間也就多了一些,可以去恩賜公園而不只是元箱根。恩賜公園在芦之湖南岸再走500m處,曾是皇室的渡假宮殿。是個突出湖面的小半島,從公園內高處是看富士山和芦之湖的最佳地點之一。

 

The poor weather over the last few days had cleared up, in the distance Mount Fuji loomed over the pristine lake. I had been very worried about whether we would be able to see Mount Fuji today and was very relieved.

 

前幾天的天氣轉好了,遠處的富士山聳立在潔淨的湖上。

 

Thanks the the early bus we were by the lakeside at 9:15.

 

感謝早來的巴士,我們9.15就在湖岸了。

 

The main structure in the palace grounds is a western style hall. There used to be an Japanese style Hall adjoining the western Hall but after destruction in multiple earthquakes had been reduced to a small wooden building.

 

離宮的主建築是個西式宅邸。從前旁邊也連著一棟日式宅院但幾遭地震摧毀,現在只剩下一個小小的木造房。

Hakone Palace

 

From the 2nd floor balcony of the Hall one had a clear view of the lake and the far shores. A pirate cruise ship leaving Moto-Hakone glided into view before turning north toward Togendai.

 

從宅邸二樓陽台看出去,眼下湖面延伸到遠岸。一艘離開元箱根的海盜船滑入視野,在湖心轉往北方的桃源台。

Mount Fuji

There was another small viewing platform in the park where high magnification binoculars were installed. Through it we could see the smallest valley on Mount Fuji, the snowy slopes glistening in the sun.

 

公園內還有一個聊望台,有免費的高倍數望遠鏡。透過他們連富士山上最小的山坳也可看的一清二楚,還有在陽光下閃耀的雪坡。

Mount Fuji

Between Onshihakone and Moto-Hakone is a length of forest path which used to be the old Tokaido postal road. The ancient road is lined with 400 years old giant cedar trees. Hakone had long been a vital town due to its status as a major checkpoint controlling travellers heading in and out of Kanto.

 

恩賜公園到元箱根間有條曾是東海道驛道的林間小路。古道兩旁是400年的老杉樹。箱根從古就是驛道上的重要小鎮,作為掌控進出關東旅客的主要關卡。

 

The old checkpoint that had been reconstructed is at Hakonemachi, not far in fact from Onshihakone, unfortunately it was one of the many placed that had to be left out due to the tight schedule.

 

重建的箱根關所就在附近,離恩賜公園很近,因時間上的問題而被刪除的無數景點之一。

 

Cedar Avenue was actually less exciting than it sounded, being a stone throw away next to the main road with cars constantly whizzing by definitely took away its atmosphere.

 

杉樹道實際上不如導覽介紹上吹捧的壯觀,跟車道只有拋石之隔,來往車子的聲響把氣氛都吵不見了。

Cedar Avenue

We got back to Moto-Hakone and continued along the waterfront to Hakone shrine. The Hakone shrine used to be on the summit of Komagatake, related to mountain worship. It was later moved down to the foot of the mountain. The shrine is best know by its torii the stood in the lake at the bottom of the stairs.

 

我們回到元箱根,沿著湖岸往箱根神社前進。箱根神社原來是在駒岳山頂,與山神信仰有關。後來被移到了山腳下。神社出名在石階底端立於湖水中的鳥居。

Hakone Shrine

Hakone Shrine

 

Hakone Shrine

 

Hakone Shrine

 

Hakone Shrine

Hakone Shrine torii

The tourists were out in force now, plenty of traffic going to and from the shrine.

 

一般遊客們到上山了,往神社的路上人來人往。

Moto-Hakone

I had taken some measures to avoid the two main bottlenecks in Hakone. The cruise ship and the ropeway. The cruise ship departed to a fixed timetable and if there were more people than allowed it was a 40min wait for the next one. The ropeway similarly had limited capacity. It’s said that sometimes traffic gets so backed up it could take an hour just to get on the ropeway.

 

我在行程上做了些許措施,避開箱根的兩大瓶頸。海盜船和纜車。海盜船班次有限,若坐不下就需要等上40分鐘等下一艘。纜車的運量也很有限。傳說有什麼等纜車需要等上一小時。

 

Coming on a weekday avoided the most heavy traffic, and doing the Hakone circle in a clockwise direction (official recommendation is anti-clockwise) means we go against traffic and can manage time more effectively in the afternoon since we would already be past the bottlenecks. I’m actually not sure why the recommendation is anti-clockwise since Mount Fuji is best viewed in the morning.

 

選平常日來避開大部分的人潮,然後走順時鐘(官方推薦逆時鐘)與人潮反方向,在下午已經過了瓶頸路段,時間上必較好掌握可有效利用。我不知道為什麼官方推薦逆時鐘,看富士山最好是在早上不是。

 

We had to hurry for a bit on the way back to catch the 10:50 cruise ship. At first I was a little worried as there were already quite a few packed on the pier. I needed not worried, the ship was maybe 1 /2 full, based on the licensing plaque the boat had a capacity of over 500 people, not sure if they would actually pack that many people onto it in peak season, the boat already a little crowded today.

 

回頭時稍微快走了一段,趕10.50的船。一開始看到滿滿的碼頭還有點擔心上不去的。結果多慮了,船大概只有半滿,依照船上的證照牌子載客量是500人,不過不知道實際在旺季會不會真塞上500人。光今天的遊客量船上已經有一點感覺擠了。

Pirate Cruise ship

The boat had 2 levels plus an open top deck and also partitioned into front and back. The front was the first class section which required an extra 500Y one way. From the photos it didn’t look like it was much of an improvement other than the front view. In peak season it may be a way to get away from the crowd in the back.

 

船有兩層座艙加一甲板,另外又分前後半。前半是頭等艙,單程需要令花500Y升等。照片上看起來沒什麼特別,只有可看前頭景色這點。旺季時大概可不用在後頭人擠人吧。

Deck

Pirate ship interior

Shrine from ship

The journey from Moto-Hakone on the south bank to Togendai on the north takes about 30 minutes. From the boat one could see all the sights around the lake, like Hakone shrine, the ropeway climbing up Komagatake and various hotels and resorts dotted along the banks.

 

從南邊元箱根到北邊桃源台要30分鐘。在船上可沿路欣賞湖兩側的景點,如箱根神社,往駒岳山頂的纜車,還有點綴岸上的各個旅館和度假村。

Ashinoko

By now the clouds had gathered on Mount Fuji and its peak had disappeared. Fortunate that we had come early. The autumn leaves had passed for the forests on either side of the lake, only a smattering of lingering red left amongst the brown barren woods.

 

這時富士山上已經消失在集結的雲霧後了。幸好有早來。兩岸的紅葉時期已經過了,一片光禿林間只剩零落點點紅。

 

On the open lake the wind blasted across the decks. I gripped onto the camera tightly for fear of it being blown overboard. Y had already retreated below to safety and warmth. Despite my struggles I too had to go downstairs.

 

開闊的湖面陣陣強風刮過甲板。我緊緊抓住相機,深怕一陣風颳洛水中。Y早就逃到下面尋求溫暖了。經過一番掙扎我也受不了,投降下樓。

 

Togendai is the western terminus of the Hakone ropeway. The ropeway goes from Togendai up to Owakudani, active geothermal area at the top of the crater.

 

桃源台是纜車西端的終點站。纜車從桃源台上到大涌谷,山頂地熱活躍的火山坑口。

 

The ropeway had one of the largest gondolas I’ve seen, able to seat 18 passengers at maximum. Since it’s not a particularly busy day the staff chose to fill each with only 10-11 people.

 

纜車的車廂是我看過最大的了,可坐18人。今天遊客不算特別多,站務人員每個車廂只分配大約10-11人而以。

 

The ropeway had a steep and exciting climb, rising quickly up into the air and gave great views of the lake. The ropeway also offered a majestic view of Mount Fuji on good days, today the mountain was shrouded and all we could see is the wide rolling foothills beneath the sea of clouds, which is also very impressive in its own ways.

 

纜車爬升的很快,像雲霄飛車似刺激,一下就升入半空,俯瞰湖色。好天時從纜車上可看到富士山全景,但今天山頭被壟罩,只能看到雲海下廣闊的山腳,以很壯觀。

Ropeway from Togendai

Mount Fuji from ropeway

We reached Owakudani and was immediately greeted by the cold and sulfuric air.

 

到大涌谷後撲面而來的是冷空氣中的硫磺味。

 

Owakudani was still under level 2 alert, meaning the area was experiencing more volcanic activity than usual and the geopark trails around Owakudani was off limits to tourists. A year ago the ropeway was even closed due to too much noxious gas spewing out the crater.

 

大涌谷還在二級警界,也就是這地區的火山活動異常活躍,大涌谷周遭的地熱教學步道禁止遊客進入。一年前因為坑口噴出的有毒氣體連纜車都被迫停駛呢。

 

Since it was nearing 12 we decided to have lunch. Food options in Hakone is fairly limited. Outside of cafe and eateries there were only 2 good places to eat around Gora and those usually had lines outside, so anywhere was as good as any. Having lunch here allowed the most flexibility overall, there was no need to backtrack and no pressure to eat quickly to get to the next spot.

 

快要12點了,趁這時先吃午餐。箱根吃的選項不多,除了咖啡店和食堂外只有強羅附近兩家比較可以吃的,那會需要排隊,所以基本上哪裡吃都沒有差。在這裡吃相對上比較有彈性,不用走回頭或趕著吃完去下個地點。

Owakudani eatery

The eatery attached to Owakudani ropeway station has a very simple menu, probably due to its hard to access location. Curry rice or chips and fried chickens. The price is on the expensive side like most places in Hakone. It’s still before proper lunchtime, we were able to pick a window seat overlooking the crater energetically spewing steam, a view worth the extra price (probably).

 

大涌谷纜車站的食堂的菜單很簡單,或許是不容易送太多材料上來吧。咖哩飯或薯條和炸雞。價錢跟這裡大部分地方一樣偏貴。還不到正式午餐時間,我們選了個窗戶邊的位子,可以看外頭很有精神分著煙的坑口,能有這景色貴一點也是值得(可能)。

View from table

 

Owakudani eatery

The crater is also where ryokan and hotels in the area make their onsen water.

 

這坑口也是旅館製造溫泉的地方。


Many of onsens in the Gora and Senseki area actually gets their onsen water via manufacturing. By directing water over/into the crater’s steam vents minerals are dissolve in the water, the infused water is then piped down to the ryokans. Whether these qualify as natural onsen is up for each. Just something nice to know.

 

Personally this makes it possible to control the mineral concentration which leave me a little wary.

 

Beitou onsen in Taiwan also uses the same method to produce onsen water.

 

許多強羅和仙石地區的旅館的溫泉水其實是人工製造的。將山泉水引到坑口內的噴口,讓其中的礦物溶解入水中,再將溶解水抽到山下的旅館。至於這樣還算不算真的溫泉見仁見智。多留意就是。

 

個人而言這樣可以控制溫泉的礦物濃度,讓我比較不放心。

 

題外話,台灣北投溫泉也是用同樣的方式製造溫泉。

Owakudani

Owakudani

When we left the restaurant there was at least 6-7 groups waiting, having wrote their name on a list and have to wait for the staff to call them.

 

當我們吃飽離開時餐廳外有6-7組人在等,只能在排隊列表上寫名字後在一旁慢慢等服務員來叫。

Owakudani

Owakudani

A specialty unique to Owakudani is the black eggs. They’re regular hard boiled onsen eggs but the egg shell reacts to the volcanic water and turns into a charcoal black. It’s said that eating one of the black egg will add seven years to your life.

 

大涌谷的一特產是黑蛋。其實是普通的白煮蛋,只是蛋殼與火山水起反應變成碳黑色。說是吃一個可延命7歲。

The black egg

They’re sold in bags and 5 and I am very glad Y is around since there’s no way I am going to eat 5 eggs by myself (we ended up eating it over 2 days).

 

他們一次賣就是一袋5個,幸好有Y在不然我怎麼樣也不可能一個人吃5個蛋(我們花了2天吃完)。

 

When the trails were open one could walk up to the original black egg shop and one can watch how they dip the eggs go into the water white and come out black. For now though just have to buy them at the store next to Owakudani station.

 

當步道還開放時可以走到黑蛋本店看他們把蛋白淨的放入水中,變黑的提上來。現在只能在大涌谷旁的店裡買。

Owakudani

I secretly hoped the clouds on Mount Fuji might move off during lunch time, alas no such luck.

 

我偷偷期待著吃午餐時富士山上的雲會散具,看來是無望了。

Fuji from Owakudani

Time to continue onward on the ropeway toward Sounzan. The station was packed with people. The line heading to Togendai/Lake Ashinoko had completely filled that side of the station, across the walkway and was spilling into the main station foyer.

 

該繼續坐纜車往早雲山。車站裡滿是人,往桃源台/芦之湖的隊伍已經把車站那一側填滿,跨過天橋溢入車站大廳了。

 

Goodness, thankfully we’re going the other way.

 

天啊,還好我們不是往那一側。

 

The ropeway to Souzan flew directly over the crater. For safety reasons they gave out medicinal towels to cover one’s mouth and nose incase people felt overwhelmed by the smell.

 

往早雲山的纜車將飛越坑口上方。安全起見站務人員給每個人發一個藥物濕巾,若感覺味道太濃不舒服時可用來遮住口鼻。

Ropeway down to Souzan

At Souzan there were even more people waiting to get on the ropeway toward Owakudani. I think people start to move toward Ashinoko after lunch to leave enough time to visit Hakone shrine.

 

在早雲山等著上車去大涌谷的人竟然更多。可能是大家當想午餐後往芦之湖移動,好預留時間去箱根神社。

 

Between Souzan and Gora is one of the core areas of Hakone. There are many hotels and ryoukans, and the bus routes connects out from here to nearby parks and museums.

 

在早雲山和強羅間是箱根的核心地帶。這裡有許多旅館,還有巴士路線通往附近的公園和美術館。

 

Despite just 1.2km as the crow flies between the two locations, there is an elevation difference of over 200m, requiring cable towed cars to climb the steep slope. Yet another reason to travel clockwise. It is possible to walk downhill in the direction of Gora, while going uphill from Gora is going to work up a sweat even in the cold winter.

 

雖然兩地間直線距離只有1.2km,但高低差有超過200m,需要靠登山纜車才能攀爬這陡坡。走順時鐘再多一個理由。往強羅下坡走是可行的,但反過來從強羅走上坡可會累死人。

 

The cable car is single tracked with a passing track in the middle. The towing cables runs down the middle of the track and I was very intrigued by how at the passing tracks the cables are directed down the respective sides without getting entangled.

 

登山纜車是單軌,中間有個會車處。托引的纜繩在軌道中間通過,讓我非常好奇在會車處纜繩是如何導入各自的軌道而不纏在一起。

 

On either side of the track lined autumn leaves in full bloom of red and orange.

 

鐵道兩側是旺盛的楓葉,鮮豔的紅橘色。

Hakone Mountain Cable Car


The main attraction for the afternoon was Hakone Museum of Art.

 

下午主景點是箱根美術館。

 

Hakone Museum of Art ironically was not most known by its collection but by its impeccably maintained moss garden. In autumn the red leaves in the moss garden is one of the most poster perfect scene of Hakone.

 

箱根美術館有名反而不是因他的收藏,而是精心整理的苔庭。在秋天苔庭的紅葉是箱根最常刊登上海報的完美景色之一。

 

The entrance was just across the road from Koen-Kami station. I had already bought the tickets electronically so we headed straight in.

 

入口就在公園上站前馬路對面。我已經買好了電子門票所以不用等直接入內。

 

The museum grounds consists of roughly 4 parts in a loop. Going anti-clockwise, the museum building overlooks the entire garden, followed by the rock garden, the tea house, and the moss garden.

 

美術館園內有4區,反時鐘分別是俯瞰整個庭園的美術館主樓,石園,茶庭,苔庭。

Hakone Museum of Art

Hakone Museum of Art

The moss garden was the main reason for scheduling the trip at this date and I had watched the online photos intently for the past few weeks, checking the progress of the autumn leaves. For a while it looked as though we might miss the autumn leaves, even when they proved much more resilient I worried they might be half barren.

 

苔庭是在將旅行定在這日期的主因,在出發前已經緊密跟隨網上照片幾個星期,確認楓葉的變化。有一陣子楓葉轉紅的情勢看來我們可能會錯過,即便楓葉比我預期的耐,還是很擔心見到的是散洛一半了的楓葉。

 

My eyes widened at the sight of the fiery tree tops. In rolling green seas winded stone paths like shallow reefs. Fallen maple leaves laid quietly on the soft carpet in tranquil sleep. The burning canopy contrasted with the green moss below formed a beautiful dreamlike landscape.

 

眼前烈火似的樹梢令我目不轉睛。和緩綠色波浪間的繞著如淺灘礁石的步道。掉落的楓葉安逸的躺在柔軟的地毯上沉睡著。火紅樹冠對比底下深綠的苔皮如夢如幻。

Hakone Museum of Art

Hakone Museum of Art

 

Hakone Museum of Art

Hakone Museum of Art

Hakone Museum of Art

Hakone Museum of Art

Hakone Museum of Art

Hakone Museum of Art

There was a constant stream of other admirers lost in the beautiful world like us. Just enough to not feel alone, not too many to be intruded.

 

庭園中魚貫走過同樣迷失在美景中的尋秋者。少不感寂寞,多不感煩心。

 

Since this place is ostensibly an art museum, one should definitely still check out its collections regardless of how mesmerized one is by its garden.

 

這地方總是個美術館,再怎麼被庭園著迷不去看看展出總說不過去。

There are 4 exhibition spaces, each about the size of a small auditorium room. The collection is quite varied, being the personal collection of the museum founder Okada Kimochi. Okada was the founder of a new Japanese religion in the early 20th century.

 

有4個展示廳,每個大概有一個小講堂的大小吧。展出物品項很多,原本是美術館創建者岡田茂吉的個人收藏。岡田是日本一個新興信仰的創教者。

 

On display were many ukiyo-e, traditional paintings. Part of the ukiyoe featured scenes of the tokaido which Hakone as mentioned before was an important checkpoint on it.

 

展示中有許多浮世繪和傳統墨筆畫。一部分浮世繪描繪的是箱根曾經是重要關口之一的東海道景色。

 

Funny painting of kappa fishing

Upstairs were the ceramic exhibitions displaying buddhist statues and bowls, plates, jars, including flame jars from the Jomon period.

 

樓上是瓷器展出,有佛像,碗,盤,壺,還有縄文時代的火焰壺。

Pottery collection

There was still light, though the sun had fallen behind the peak and we were in the shadows. Our next stop was the nearby Gora park, free entry with the Hakone pass. I got a little confused with the map, despite there being an entrance on the topside right next to the art museum we ended up going down to the bottom main entrance.

 

天還沒黑,但太陽落到山頂後,山背這側籠罩在陰影下。下一站是強羅公園,有箱根周遊卷免費入內。我地圖弄錯了,結果上頭美術館旁就有入口的,結果一直走到下側的主門。

 

The park was a western style garden best known by the giant fountain at its centre.

 

公園是個西式花園,中間的大噴水池很好認。

Gora park

It was hard to get a good judge of the gardens in the fading light. Other than the gardens, there was a restaurant/cafe overlooking the fountain and several craft houses where one could participate in glass blowing, dried flower arrangement, glass etching.

 

在陰暗光線中不太看得出花園好壞。除了花園外還有一家餐廳咖啡廳在噴水池旁,另有幾間手工體驗工作室,遊客可體驗吹玻璃,裝置乾燥花,或是玻璃刻畫。

Glass blowing

The craft activities takes from 30 min to an hour and a few thousand yen, though some have to be delivered to the hotel a few days later due to the need to either put it through the kiln or additional processing.

 

手工體驗需30分鐘到一小時,收費幾千,有些由於需要燒窯或另外處理加工需要幾天後才能快遞送到旅館。

 

The garden is better visited in spring and summer when flowers are in bloom.

 

花園大概要春夏花開時來會比較好。

 

Time starts to slip in the twilight. It was still about 3:30pm but was starting to feel like 5 or 6pm. We wandered down to Gora station.

 

日落時分,對時間感受有很大差異。雖然才3.30感覺已經5點還6點。我們晃下至強羅車站。

 

There was a tofu shop behind the station that was somewhat well known. I mulled over whether it’s worth the trouble going there. Y wasn’t that interested either so we only looked about the station front then lined up to head down to Hakone-Yumoto.

 

車站後有家豆腐店小有名氣。我猶豫著值不值得繞過去。Y也不是太有興趣於是我們看了看站前的店就排隊準備下去箱根湯本。

 

I had known that the trip down would be problematic. Normally the bus trip would be 20min faster than the mountain train but during the autumn leaves season the road gets backed up all the way from Odawara to Kowakudani. I however did not expect the train to be also so packed that we were not able to get on the first train and had to wait another 15min for the next one.

 

我原本就有預期下山會比較麻煩。一般來說搭巴士是最好比登山鐵道快20分鐘,但在楓葉季道路會從小田原一路塞到小涌谷。但我沒想到電車竟然也會擠到我們上不了第一輛車,必須再等15分鐘搭下一班。

 

Travelling in Hakone during peak season requires a lot of patience and lead times in the schedule, potentially queues everywhere.

 

在箱根旺季時移動需要耐心和在行程中預留空間,到處都可能需要排隊。

 

The street of Hakone-Yumoto was a little disappointing. The main issue was that the busy road was filled with cars and the sidewalks was too narrow for the number of people and became difficult to walk or to see the shops ahead. The street was not very long, maybe just a hundred metres, more of a shopping street than an onsen street, much less souvenir shops than would have thought. Part of it may be that Hakone isn’t known for any local specialties so the shops are more croquette shops, sweet shops, cake shops…etc.

 

箱根湯本大街有點令人失望。主要問題是主街上滿是車子來往,人行道對人潮來說太窄了,不好走也不容易看到前頭的店面。

 

主街沒很長,大概幾百公尺而以,要說溫泉街的話可能一般商店街比較貼切,沒有太多土產店。可能是箱根本身沒有什麼在地特產,店家主要是什麼炸肉餅,甜點,蛋糕之類的。

Hakone Yumoto

Hakone Yumoto

We tried to look for a place to eat but did not find anyplace too appetizing. There are eateries in the backstreets, though I was not keen on possibly wasting effort looking. I think both of us were getting a little tired.

 

我們沿路找地方吃晚餐,但沒看到什麼好吃的。後街有幾家食堂但我不是很想可能浪費時間的去找。我們兩人都有點累了。

 

The original dinner plan was Curry Cocoro, that only opened at 5:30pm, still some time to go. The alternative was to head back and see what we can get at Odawara or even back in Tokyo at Shinagawa.

 

原計劃是咖哩一心,要5.30才開,還要好一會。備用計畫是看小田原有什麼吃的或是乾脆回東京品川吃。

 

We ended up eating at Odawara station while waiting for the next shinkansen train.

 

結果是在小田原等新幹線時吃。

 

Inside the shopping arcade at Odawara station there’s a small foodcourt specializing in noodles. There’s ramen, udon, sobas. We ended up getting yakisoba.

 

小田原車站內的商店街有個麵街,有拉麵,烏龍,蕎麥麵。我們結果選了家炒蕎麥麵。

 

The portions was quite large, the taste a touch too salty though that was probably expected in Japan, otherwise quite happy with. (I regret not researching more, the same tofu tonkatsu shop in Gora has a branch here, so should have gone to that instead)

 

論份量很多,味道偏鹹但在日本而言可說是想當然爾,不然還算滿意。(我很後悔沒有多花點心思研究,強羅的豆腐豬排在這有家分店,真應該去那裡的)

Noodle street

Yakisoba

We whizzed back to Shinagawa in less than 30min. Along the way we decided since it was still early, we’d go to Shibuya to see the Blue Cave illumination there.

 

回到品川花不到30分鐘。路上我們決定既然還早,去澀谷看看那裡的燈飾青之洞窟。

 

And.. right into Yamanote line during the evening peak hour. Should have seen that coming and planned accordingly.

 

然後正好撞入下班尖峰時段的山手線。早該知道會這樣,做出調整的。

 

The carriage was packed tighter than sardine. People gripped the top of the doorframe to give themselves leverage to push onto the train. Just when one thought the train could possibly fit no more, somehow another five people would skillfully push themselves in.

 

車廂比沙丁魚罐頭還擠。上車的乘客借抓住門匡上方使力硬擠上車。當覺得不可能裝下更多時就會有另外五個人手法熟悉的幾上來。

 

At the intermediate stations I have no idea how people squeezed themselves off the trains. The train had to pause for extended periods while the station attendants asked for people to stop trying to get on and wait for the next train.

 

在中間幾個車站我真不知道下車的人是怎麼擠出人群的。電車被迫多停許久,站務人員不斷廣播請大家不要再試圖擠上車,等下一輛車。

 

Thankfully we were getting off at Shibuya which was not too many stops away and plenty of people would be getting off that we only needed to go with the flow.

 

感謝我們是在澀谷下,不用太多站且大多人會在這裡下,我們隨波逐流就好。

 

It was an experience, though one me and Y both agreed best to never have again.

 

很獨特的經驗,我和Y同意這經驗無需再度體驗。

 

The Blue Cave was at Yoyogi park, where the trees along the main walk were strung up with blue christmas lights, and the pavement was covered with reflective boards to create a scene of mirrored lights.

 

青之洞窟在佐佐木公園,步道兩側的樹上掛滿藍色聖誕燈,步道則鋪上反光板,塑造倒影般景色。

 

The streets between the station to the park was also decorated with blue lights, creating a guideway through the busy shopping district.

 

車站到公園間的街道也掛出藍色小燈,導引人們穿過繁忙的市區。

Hachiko statue

Shibuya crossing

 

 

The Blue Cave area was filled with people basking in the luminescence. A little hard for the reflection to be seen in its full elegance.

 

青之洞窟的人好多,藍色的光澤暈染每個人身上。人有點多不好欣賞作品整體美感。                                                     

Blue cave

Blue cave

Blue cave

At the end of the Blue Cave was a food event called Oedo Japanese Feast, some 30 stores selling all kind of nightmarket foods like grills oysters, crabs, steaks, skewers..etc. Despite being sponsored by the Japanese Sake association there was no stalls selling sake in sight.

 

在青之洞窟底端有個大江戶和宴的活動,大概30幾家夜市攤販在賣烤生蠔,螃蟹,肉排,烤串的。雖然活動是由日本酒協會贊助現場沒看到賣酒的。

Oedo feast

Oedo feast

Time to head back to Shinbashi. Shibuya is connected to Shinbashi directly via the Ginza line, it also won’t be as crowded as the Yamanote line. The Ginza line station at Shibuya was under re-construction and we were led into climbing up 3 storey tall flight of stairs to reach the platforms. Tokyo stations is known to be terrible with accessibility but this was the first time I’ve thought things to be ridiculous. The least they could have done was show a map pointing to the elevator or escalators.

 

該回新橋。澀谷到新橋搭銀座線可直到,也不會如山手線班擁擠。澀谷的銀座線車站在重建中,結果我們跟著牌子爬了三樓高的階梯才到月台。東京的車站無障礙設計不好沒錯,但這是我第一次覺得太誇張了。至少貼個地圖說手扶梯或電梯在哪吧。

 

Still not very late, I suggested we go to Don Quijote nearby. I had alway heard a lot about the discount variety store but never did go to one, in part because of my habit of going to rural areas and also because I’m not big on shopping and saw no need to go to one specifically.

 

還沒有太晚,我建議去附近唐吉柯德逛逛。我久聞這家折價連鎖商店的名聲但從未去過,一半是我喜歡跑鄉下,一半是因為我不是很愛買東西,感覺沒必要特地去逛某家店。

 

The store, turned out to be nothing like what I had seen before.

 

這次才發現唐吉柯德是一種我從未見過的店。

Donquijote

It sold everything, from the expected sweets and cookies to some downright bizarre items like second hand Burberry bags.

 

Cosmetics, small electronics to appliances like rice cookers and the ever in demand hairdryers, strange toys, stationary, cameras.

 

這裡什麼都賣,從可預期的糖果餅乾到一些不知道為什麼會出現在這的東西,如二手Burberry包。

 

化妝品,小家電如電子飯鍋和仍很受歡迎的吹風機,奇怪的小玩具,文具,相機等。

 

While Y went to do some pricing research on alcohols, I lost myself in a strange world of exotic cookies, 10 different flavors of kit kat (sake kit kat??) and the unseen flavors of white pepsi and cherry coke.

 

當Y去研究酒品價格時我則迷失在奇異的零食世界,10種Kit Kat(日本酒口味?)和白百事和櫻桃可樂這種沒見過的口味。

Lots of flavors

Donquijote

Second hand bags

Couldn’t tell whether things here are good bargains or not like it’s said on the net, it’s very fun to just see what craziness gets concocted.

 

這裡不知道是不是真的如網上說的東西便宜,不過看各種莫名其妙的東西很有意思。

 

I ended up getting two cans of strange flavoured cokes (they were terrible), a bottle of juice cocktail (this one is okay) and a pack of mochi sweets to bring to work (surprisingly good).

 

結果買了兩罐奇怪口味的可樂(不好喝)一罐水果調酒(還算好)和一包要帶去公司的麻糬甜點(意外的好吃)。

 

All in all a very filled and exciting day. Could have spent a little longer at Gora, maybe even allocated some time to do some handicrafts. Got to saw Mount Fuji and the autumn leaves, very happy with that.

 

總結來說很滿足的一天。在強羅可以多待一會,會許可多安排一點時間去做手工藝。有看到富士山和楓葉就很滿足了。

Kanto Maigo – Day 6

Buzzing sounds at 4:35am. It’s the alarm.

 

清晨4.35嗡嗡作響。是鬧鐘。

 

I leapt out of bed and quickly got changed.

 

我跳起床連忙換上外衣。

 

The first monorail leaves at 4:59am.

 

單軌電車首發4.59。

 

Hamamatsucho station where the monorail terminates on the Tokyo end is just 800m from the hotel. This was one of the major considerations in choosing the location, to catch the very first train to Haneda Airport.

 

單軌電車東京側終點的浜松町站離旅館只有800公尺。這是選這地點的一大理由,好搭第一班車去羽田機場。

 

There was a lot of traffic given the hour, the sky was still dark and darker still with the light drizzle. I got to the station with several minutes to spare, already there were many people lined up outside the ticket gate with large luggages with them also wanting to get to the airport as early as possible.

 

這時間來說街上的車挺多的,天還黑的,薄薄細雨下更顯昏暗。到車站時離發車還有幾分鐘,閘門外已經有許多人帶著大箱小箱等著趕去機場。

 

Y had landed early and had already passed customs. I sent a message to find some place or cafe to rest first.

 

Y 提早降落已經過海關了。我傳短訊請說先找個地方還是咖啡店休息一下。

 

The first train was an rapid service, took just 13 minutes to get to Haneda.

 

第一班是快車,只13分鐘就到羽田。

Monorail

We met up outside the Lawson store, I also got a rice ball to tie me over till breakfast opens, and we headed to the Keikyu gates to go to Shinbashi.

 

到了後在Lawson碰面,我順便買了個飯糰不然撐不到早餐時間,接著去京急搭車去新橋。

 

There was a lot of people waiting to top up at the Keikyu machines so I took Y’s card and ran to the monorail side just on the other side of the terminal hall and topped up there.

 

有很多人再京急外等著買票儲值,我靈機一動拿Y的卡到車站大廳另一側單軌電車外儲值。

 

Unfortunately we still missed the train, thankfully only had to wait 15 minutes for the next one.

 

但還是沒能趕上車,下一班等15分鐘還算好。

 

The Keikyu line connected to the Asakusa metro, the train goes directly to Shinbashi in about 25 minutes. It had begun to rain moderately. We walked to Super Hotel, threw the luggages into my room for now and went back to Shinbashi station.

 

京急線與地鐵淺草線有直通,坐車直達新橋大約25分鐘。雨變大了。我們走到Super Hotel先把行李丟我房間,然後回到新橋站。

 

The rain did not look to be stopping anytime soon, I decided to shift the original plan of going to Meiji Jingu Outer Garden then breakfast at Shinjuku to the backup.

 

雨看來一時不會停,於是我把原本要去明治神宮外苑然新宿吃早餐的計畫移掉,改去備用行程。

 

Tokyo station first for breakfast, then Shinjuku and arrive early at Jindaiji temple.

 

先去東京車站吃早餐,再經新宿早點到深大寺。

 

Tsukiji Sushi Sei at Gransta (the shopping street beneath Tokyo station inside the ticket area) opened at 7am.


Somehow despite missing the earlier train back at the airport, we were still a few minutes early and first waited by the Silver Bell.

 

Gransta(東京站閘門內地下街)的築地壽司清7am開。

 

即便稍早在機場錯過了班車,到東京站時依然早了幾分鐘,只好在銀鈴旁等了一下。

 

This was the first proper meal I had planned to eat and actually ate since arriving in Japan, I commented.

 

這是我這次到日本第一餐有計畫且順利好好吃到的一餐,我說道。

 

We were the first one there, more people soon came and a line quickly formed behind us. It’s a holiday, I thought. The restaurant opened, we were asked to order first so I ordered the tai fish in sesame sauce and Y the grilled fish and fish egg then we were shown to a table. The was not very big, maybe 6 tables and a row of counter seats.

 

我們是第一組客人,很快人越來越多,後頭很快排了一排。今天是國定假日不是。店開了,店員請我們先點餐,於是我點了芝麻醬鯛魚,Y則點了烤鮭魚和魚卵,然後被帶到座位。店不大,大概只有6張桌子和6個吧台座位。

 

By the time our food arrived the place was full. And today was a holiday, imagine on a work day.

 

當餐點送來時就坐滿了。今天還是假日,若是上班日還得了。

 

The set included the main dish, rice, pickles, eggroll, some seasoning and a small pot of soup. We were wondering what the pot was for before we found the instructions on the paper stand. The soup was meant to be poured into the rice bowl, it was recommended that this be done after half the rice had been eaten to enjoy a different rice experience.

 

That made sense.

 

餐點包含主餐,白飯,醬菜,蛋捲,一些作料和一小壺湯。一開始我們還在想這壺湯要怎麼喝,後來才在桌上立的紙板上找到說明。湯是直接倒飯碗裡的,建議飯吃了一半後在加,可享受兩種不同的味道。

 

原來如此。

Seasame tai fish

 

Grills fish with egg

Soup soaked rice

The fish was delicious if the portions a little small. The soup with rice was perfect on a cold morning, very light and gentle with a subtle flavour.

 

魚很好吃,份量少了一點。湯泡飯在寒冷的早上堪稱完滿,很清淡溫和的味道。

 

We did not sit for too long after finishing our meal, there were many people waiting outside.

 

吃完不好意思多坐,外頭等的人很多。

Sushi Sei

The plan was to wait until 8am when Pensta opens. Maybe because it’s a public holiday or my memory had failed me, shops only begun to open at 7:30 and even then most shops not until 8. We ended up wandering at random, checking out the bento stalls and sweets shops.

 

計畫是晃到8點等Pensta開。或許是假日或是我記錯了,一直到7.30才有一些店開門,而大多店要到8點。我們只好隨便亂晃,看看便當和糕點店。

 

Tokyo station sure have a lot of bentos. And Tokyo Banana seemingly have a stall at every corner and turn.

 

東京車站的便當有夠多種。而東京香蕉似乎每個轉角都有一家。

Bento festival

JR East’s suica IC cards have a penguin on them as mascot, Pensta is a store selling goods associated with the fluffy creature.

 

Cards, pens, mobile cases, pass cases, water bottles, even tooth brushes. There were also cookies and sweets. Small the shop may be, it held plenty curiosities.

 

JR東日本的西瓜卡上有隻企鵝吉祥物,Pensta就是專門賣這隻毛茸茸生物的周邊商品。

Pensta

Pensta penguin

卡牌,筆,手機殼,IC卡袋,水壺,甚至牙刷。還有餅乾糖果。店不大,奇妙的東西可不少。

 

Planned for first half of the day is Jindaiji and the Yumorinosato onsen nearby.

 

第一天早上的主軸是深大寺和附近的湯守之里溫泉。

 

Jindaiji is about 30 minutes west of Shinjuku, a few km below Mitaka. It’s not a super popular spot because of its distance from train stations makes it not very accessible comparatively.

 

深大寺大約在新宿往西30分鐘,三鷹下方幾公里。由於離車站有點距離相對下交通不很方便,不是說太有名的景點。

 

I ran across the location because I had already penciled in the sake brewery tour which is at Haijima on the far western side of Tokyo and wanted to find a place for Y to have some rest after the red eye flight.

 

會找到這地點是因為一開始就已經確認要去的酒造在東京最西側的拜島,同時又想要找個地方給Y在紅眼班機後休息。

 

I basically looked at every onsen, spa between Tokyo and Tachikawa. There’s LaQua at Tokyo Dome, Oedo Monogatari of course, there’s also Niwa no Yu at Toshima, several onsen baths in Kamata district, Akishima Onsen which is close but still some distance to Haijima.

 

差不多翻遍了東京到立川間所有的溫泉和澡堂。有東京巨蛋的LaQua,想當然的大江戶溫泉物語,豊島的庭之湯,蒲田的幾個溫泉,離拜島比較近但還是有段距離的昭島溫泉。

 

Yumorinosato was chosen due to it being next to Jindaiji, a nice place to visit and still more or less along the chuo line axis to be considered on the way, and just about the right distance that arrival there won’t be too early nor late.

 

選湯守之里是因為靠近深大寺,算不錯的景點,又還算在中央線軸上不算太繞路,距離又剛剛好不會到的時候太早或太晚。

 

There’s a small detour during the transfer at Shinjuku to check out the penguin statue outside the southern exit.

 

在新宿時稍微繞了一下去南口的企鵝廣場看企鵝雕像。

Shinjuku Penguin Square

There’s a few ways to get to Jindaij, either Mitaka from the north or Choufu from the south. Mitaka is faster by Chuo line from Shinjuku but has a longer bus ride. Choufu on the Keio line is slower but much closer by bus. In general, going via Choufu is faster all things considered.

 

到深大寺的方法有幾個,從北邊的三鷹或南邊的調布。從新宿到三鷹有中央線快速比較快但巴士路程較遠。調布是搭京王線比較慢但巴士比較近。考慮全部車程一般來說從調布會比較快。

 

We checked the map for the Keio line station at Shinjuku, it was as confusing as ever. Thankfully the flight of stairs we decide to go down was the correct one.

 

我們在地圖上找新宿的京王線車站,照樣是一頭霧水。幸好後來決定轉下去的樓梯是對的。

 

It was still raining by the time we reached Choufu, the forecast said it would stop by lunchtime but looking at the skies that seemed unlikely.

 

到調布時依然在下雨,天氣預報說中午就會停但看這天空實在是不樂觀。

 

The bus stop to Jindaiji is on opposite corner of the loop coming out the surprisingly new and fancy station. The bus waiting there was the one we wanted.

 

往深大寺的巴士站牌在意外新穎的車站外的圓環對側。停著的巴士正好是我們要的路線。

 

Does this go to Jindaiji? I asked.

 

No no, the driver answered.

 

有到深大寺嗎?我問道。

 

沒有,沒有到,駕駛回答道。

 

I stepped back and check the route number. It’s the right one, then I realized the driver must be pedantic.

 

我退了幾步看了看路線號碼。沒有錯啊。我突然想到駕駛一定是想太死了。


Jindaiji primary school? I asked again.

 

Primary school is fine. The driver replied.

 

深大寺小學?我改問道。

小學的話OK,駕駛這次說道。

 

The two stops were less than a hundred metres apart. The primary school stop is at the intersection while Jindaiji stop proper goes into the street and is right before the temple. There’s practically no difference for someone going to Jindaiji.

 

兩個車站相差不到100公尺。小學站牌在路口而真正的深大寺站牌在轉入街道佛寺正門前。對要去深大寺的人實際上沒有差。

 

A quick 10 minute bus ride and we got off at the start of the Jindaiji main street.

 

坐巴士10分鐘後再深大寺大街路口下。

 

Jindaiji is Tokyo’s second oldest temple. Sandwiched between the ruins of Jindaiji castle and a botanical garden the temple and surrounding area escaped modern encroachment and retained much of the traditional feel of the Edo era. The area is blessed with many natural springs and several streams flows through the area.

 

深大寺是東京第二古老的佛寺。夾在深大寺城蹟和植物園間,佛寺和周遭逃過了被現代化的命運,現在還保有江戶時代氣息。這一代又有許多天然湧泉,有無數條小溪流過。

Jindaiji east entrance

 

Jindaiji

Raindrops from heaven spattered on the stone paths. Pilgrims heading for worship on the timeless road.

 

雨打在石板路上。在見證歲月的小徑上走著去祭拜的信徒。

 

The main thatched gate is covered in moss, it has stood here for over 300 years, the oldest structure in Jindaiji.

 

佛寺草紮大門上滿是苔癬,樹立在這已有300年,是深大寺最老的建築。

Jindaiji gate

 

Jindaiji

Jindaiji

 

There was a small girl in formal kimono dress worshipping inside the main hall with her parent. It’s unclear whether today was actually a day with special meaning in Japanese tradition since we later saw another girl also in formal dress. Maybe some kind of growing up ceremony?

 

佛寺寶殿裡內有位穿傳統和服的小女孩跟她雙親在進行儀式。不確定今天是不是有什麼節日,後來也有看到另一個傳統穿著的小女孩。某種小孩長大的祈福儀式?

 

Jindaiji is home to a national treasure, a copper buddha statue from the late Asuka period sometime in the 7th century, one of the oldest in Kantou. The statue used to be gold plated but the gold was lost in a fire.

 

深大寺藏有一國寶,一尊後飛鳥時代,大約7世紀的如來佛銅像,關東最古老的銅像之一。銅像原本有鍍金但在一次大火中毀損掉了。

National treasure, Hokuho Buddha

It was housed in its own special display room which guests were allowed to view through the window. A monk standing on duty helpfully handed us Chinese pamphlets.

 

佛像擺在專用的展示間內,遊客只能從外面透過玻璃參拜。一位輪班的僧人熱心的拿了中文解說給我們。

Jindaiji

Jindaiji

 

Jindaiji

 

Kitaro cafe

 

Kitaro cafe

Kitaro cafe

It was past 10, meaning it was time to head to the onsen.

 

過10點,可以去溫泉了。

 

Yumorinosato was about 5 minutes walk south of Jindaiji. Much like Jindaiji it retained much of the old traditional bath atmosphere.

 

湯守之里在深大寺往南走5分鐘處。跟深大寺一樣的保有傳統溫泉湯屋的氣息。

Yumorinosato

Upon entering one is to remove thier shoes and put it into a shoe locker on the left, then take the shoe locker key to the front desk where one choose the desired plan.

 

入門後第一件事是拖鞋,拿到左側的鞋櫃收好,鞋櫃鑰匙再拿到櫃檯然後選想要的泡湯方案。

Shoe lockers

Front desk area

Today was a holiday so it was 1200Y for unlimited time with provided towels (on weekday it’ll also include a yukata). The front desk took away the shoe locker key and gave us a numbered locker key and a towel voucher. Any purchases made in the bathhouse is charged to the number and the total paid at the end when checking out.

 

今天是假日所以不限時1200Y,有附毛巾(平日多附浴衣)。櫃檯會把鞋櫃鑰匙收走,給另一個有號碼的置物櫃鑰匙和一張毛巾卷。在湯屋內的花費都直接報號碼,離開時再結帳。

 

The place was old but quite cozy. It went through a change of management a few years ago and it looked like the new owner brought in new decorations like the suit of armor and potted plants, hung arts.

 

當屋很老不過很舒適的感覺。前幾年換過經營者,新的老闆看來有重新整理過,添置了許多例如盔甲,盆栽,畫。

 

The interior could be broken into a few areas. Near the front desk was a little shop area where one could buy beauty products and some traditional Japanese souvenirs, the selection indicates the place sees quite a few foreigners. A long corridor goes all the way through the building, midway down the corridor there’s a reading area where juice and other drinks are also sold, outside the reading area is a foot onsen. At the end the corridor opens up into a foyer area where the bath entrance is and the stairs to the second floor, outside the foyer is a small garden where the source well of the onsen water is.

 

裡頭可分幾個區域。櫃檯一側是個販賣部賣美容化妝品和一些日本風格的紀念品,看商品走向這裡應該有不少外國客光顧。一個長廊貫通建築,在半途的讀書休息區也賣果汁之類飲料,外頭則是足湯。在長廊底端是個門廳連結浴場的入口和上二樓的階梯。門廳外是的小院子,溫泉源泉井就在這。

Restarea

 

Footbath

Long corridor

 

Onsen source

Bath foyer

Between the bath entrances there’s a counter where one exchanges the voucher for towels then head on through to the changing rooms. The change room is huge with rows of lockers. I put my things into the locker and head on into the bath.

 

澡堂入口間有個櫃檯,在這用毛巾卷換毛巾,進去後就是更衣室。更衣室沿著牆全是置物櫃。我把背包和衣服鎖入櫃子,進去澡堂。

 

The onsen water here is drawn from over 1500m below. Much like many onsens in Tokyo the water is blackish (Tokyo use to be a swamp), one could not see one’s hand when dipped in just 5 cm deep.

 

這裡的溫泉水是從地底下1500m抽出的。與東京許多溫泉一樣水成黑色(東京過去是沼澤),水中5cm就深不見手。

 

The water is at a much more comfortable temperature than the ones in Kusatsu. I first settle into the indoor bath to warm myself before trying the outdoor ones.

 

水溫比草津的舒服多了。現在室內溫泉泡暖暖身再去露天吧。

 

The place is curious in its large variety of baths and use of feng shui. Some of the outdoor baths have the name of the 4 mythical beasts carved in them, said to improve the onsen’s healing powers.

 

這裡不知為何溫泉池數量很多,還有配上風水。露天池中寫有四神獸,說是能增加溫泉效益。

 

The onsen was surrounded by thick forests and one could hardly believe this was in the middle of Tokyo.

 

溫泉四周圍繞著樹林,很難想像這是在的東京都會中。

 

Waking up before 5 this morning was quite rough, a hot onsen was much needed.

 

早上5點前就起來還真是夠嗆的,我也正好泡泡休息一下。

 

After the bath I did a walk around, taking photos. Y had not come out yet so left a message and went upstairs where the restaurant and sleeping quarter is. The sleeping quarter is a large tatami space, maybe about 6 by 6 metres, where people could lie down to rest. Wicker weave pillow and cushions are stacked on the side for one to use as needed.

 

泡完溫泉我隨處晃了晃,拍拍照。Y還沒出來,我留了短訊,上去有餐廳和睡覺間的二樓。睡覺間是鋪設榻榻米的大房間,大概有6x6m,可以隨意找地方躺下休息。房間一側堆疊了藤編枕頭和墊子可自己拿來用。

Sleeping area

Cushion and pillow

Restaurant entrance

Turned out Y came out not long after me but missed the message on Line. Ended up staying at the onsen a little longer than planned.

 

結果Y其實已經出來了不過沒看到我留的Line。結果在溫泉待了比計畫的久一點。

 

Feeling refreshed, we went back to Jindaiji for lunch. The rain had stopped just as forecasted, impressive.

 

休息過精神飽滿,回深大寺吃午餐。天空真如預報的放晴了,太神了。

Daikokuten and Ebisu along the way

Jindaiji

In times past the area was more suited for growing buckwheat than rice and soba noodle became associated with the area. The soba here was presented to the shogun on hunting trips and received much praise.

 

過去這地區不適合種稻,適合種蕎麥,於是蕎麥麵成了這地方的特色。這裡的蕎麥麵曾上供給來此打獵的將軍,受到讚賞。

 

There are some 20 odd soba restaurants around Jindaiji and competition is fierce. I had written down 3-4 ones that people have said were good and figured we’d see whichever one we run into first. That turned out to be Ikkyuan.

 

深大寺附近有20多家蕎麥麵餐廳,可謂一級戰區。我記下了3-4家網上說不錯的,想看先遇到哪家就吃哪家。看到的第一家是一休庵。

Waterwheel outside Ikkyuan

The place was down to earth like a common eatery, there are regular tables and also tatami rooms for larger groups. The workshop where they make their soba is right by the entrance as one walks in.

 

店內挺樸素的,跟一般食堂差不多,有一班桌椅也有團體坐的榻榻米間。製麵的工房就在入口龐可看他們現做。

Ikkyuan interior

The place was not very busy yet and we sat down at a long wooden table.

 

店裡還沒有很多客人。我們隨便在一張長木桌坐下。

 

The menu is somewhat confusing. There are 3 groups of soba noodles: 100%, 90% and 80%. We worked out this meant what percentage of flour the noodle is made of is buckwheat. 100% means all buckwheat, 90% means 10% is wheat flour.

 

菜單有點複雜。有三種蕎麥麵:十割,九割,八割。我們猜想這是蕎麥粉比例,十割就是全蕎麥粉,九割則是有混入一成的一般麵粉。

 

We both go the 90% one. Y commented later maybe we should have each ordered a different ratio to see what was the difference.

 

我們兩都點了九割的麵。Y說其實我們應該各點不同比例的吃吃看差異。

 

The soba was served on a wicker plate together with a bowl of sauce, a bit of wasabi and spring onions and a pot of something soupy. I asked the staff what the soupy thing was and she explained it was soba-yu, or the water used to cook the soba. After one has finished the soba one should pour the soba-yu into what’s left of the sauce to create a soup that can be enjoyed.

 

送來的蕎麥麵擺在藤盤上,另外附一碗醬汁,一點芥末,蔥,還有一壺像是湯的東西。我問了店員這壺湯是什麼,得到這是蕎麥湯,也就是煮蕎麥的水。吃完麵後可以把蕎麥湯倒入醬汁中做成熱湯喝。

Ikkyuan soba

The soba was much firmer and textured than other soba I’ve had before in Japan, can’t decide whether that’s good or not. Y seemed to like it, so that’s good.

 

蕎麥麵比在日本其他地方吃過的有勁有質感,說不上比較好還是壞。至少Y覺得不錯就好。

 

The crowd was out in force now, the streets before the temple packed with visitors.

 

人群湧出了,佛寺前的表參道滿是遊客。

JIndaiji

Jindaiji

There were a few shops around Jindaiji. Some sold sweets, grilled rice cakes. There’s a craft shop where people could paint or make their own pottery.

 

深大寺附近有不少商家。有的賣甜點,烤麵餅之類。有一家陶藝店遊客可自己幫陶瓷上漆或自己捏製陶器。

Pottery painting

There’s a Kitaro cafe/shop based on the manga about Japanese ghosts and monsters. On the roof of the cafe is a pair of giant geta, the walls painted with adorable monsters that appeared in the manga. On a tree outside there’s a treehouse where Kitaro is seen playing with his friends.

 

這裡有一家鬼太郎茶屋。屋上有一雙巨大的木屐,牆上畫有漫畫中出現的各式可愛鬼怪。外頭樹上有個樹屋,鬼太郎跟朋友們在裡頭玩。

 

We probably needed another half hour, the area was much more interesting than anticipated. Unfortunately time was pressing, we still had to get to the sake brewery before 2:30pm.

 

意外的好逛,要好好看完大概還需要半小時。但是時間不等人,跟酒造約好了2.30前必須到。

 

We just missed the bus going to Mitaka. Admitted we didn’t so much as miss it but I thought we didn’t have to run for it because google map told me the bus wasn’t due to leave for another 5 minutes. Sadly google map didn’t know today was a holiday and bus ran on different times….

 

我們剛剛好錯過了去三鷹的巴士。嚴格說我們可以趕上的,但是google map說還有5分鐘所以我以為還不需用跑的。問題是google map不知道今天是假日,班次時間不同…

 

The next one was not due for another 15 minutes. Connecting at Mitaka was going to be a bit too close to get to Haijima on time, there did not seem to be other faster alternatives.

 

下一班要等15分鐘。在三鷹轉去拜島有點緊湊,但似乎也沒有別的方法。

 

I shrugged it off for the time being and suggested we check out a watermill nearby till the next bus.

 

暫時先不去擔心了,我建議在下一班車前去附近的水車看看。

 

The watermill is just about 10 metres up the road. This is a still working actual watermill which can still used today to mill grains (have to fill in a form beforehand to apply for a time slot). Located next to the watermill is a small museum displaying the traditional tools used for farming back in the days.

 

水車離公車站就10公尺。這個水車是還有在實際運作的,現在都還可以用來磨穀類(需要填表格申請時段)。在水車旁是個小博物館陳列古時候耕田使用的器具。

Waterwheel

Waterwheel

Waterwheel

 

We departed for Mitaka. Luck was not with us that day, the bus got into a little bit of traffic and we missed the connection entirely at Mitaka. Now we were in trouble.

 

我們往三鷹出發了。運氣不好,有點塞車在三鷹完全沒趕上電車。現在慘了。

 

We caught the next available train. I sent an email to the brewery that we would be about 20 minutes late. I was biting my lips, hope they won’t cancel our tour.

 

我們搭上下一班車,然後我記了封信給酒造說我們大概會慢20分鐘。我擔心地咬著嘴唇,希望他們不會取消導覽。

 

Haijima is on the western outskirts of Tokyo, on the border of what might be called rural Tokyo bounded by the Tama river. Across the river laid the Western Tama region where rice paddies and forested mountains could be found.

 

拜島在東京西邊郊區,在以多摩川為分界的東京鄉村地帶邊緣。河川另一岸就是西多摩地區,有田園和青綠山脈。

 

Situated at the foot of the mountains this area is blessed with good spring water and has a long tradition of sake brewing since ancient times.

 

位在山腳下的這地區於是擁有相當好的泉水源,從古時候就有釀酒的傳統。

 

But there was no time to take in the scenery. Originally I had planned to walk the 1km distance to the brewery, now that we were late, I suggested we take a taxi instead. We got to the brewery about 20minutes later than the reserved time, I introduced myself to one of the staff and to my relief she just said welcome and called for our guide.

 

現在沒時間欣賞風景。原本是想走1km到酒造的,現在已經遲到於是我建議搭計程車。到酒造時比預約的時間晚了20分鐘,我上前跟一名員工報了名字。讓我放心的,員工只是歡迎我們後就去叫我們的導遊。

 

The brewery is called Ishikawa Brewery, one of around 6 brewery in Tokyo that offered tours and one of 2 that offered them in English.

 

酒造叫石川酒造,東京都內大約6個有開放導覽的酒造中有提供英文導覽的兩家之一。

 

Finding brewery tours took significant effort during planning.

 

在規劃時找酒造導覽花了不少功夫。

 

Originally I had tried to look for tours by well known brands, however their factories were a prefecture or two out, or even in Kansai. Then looking at the individual breweries within Tokyo itself, many of them had already modernized and were brewing in concrete factory like buildings, which loses much of the charm of visiting a sake brewery.

 

原本是想找出名大廠個釀酒場,但他們的工廠大多在別的縣,有的在關西。然後在找東京內的個體酒造時大多都已經現代化了,是在水泥建築的廠房內釀造,這樣去參觀就少了一點趣味。

 

The choices narrowed down to Ishikawa and Ozawa, both breweries with very long histories.

 

最後篩選下有兩個選擇,石川和小澤,兩者皆是歷史悠久的酒造。

 

Ozawa is further west deeper into the Tama mountains. Founded in 1702 it retained its traditional storehouses and its tour includes seeing the natural mountain spring that the brewery takes its water from, within a cave 140m deep. It overlooks the nearby mountain river and there’s also a sake museum, a garden and tofu and craft shops, forming its own tourist spot.

 

小澤酒造在更西邊多摩山區內。創立於1702年,保有傳統藏屋,導覽還包括去看他們取水的地方,一個140m山洞內的山泉水。酒造本身在山中小河岸上,有個清酒博物館,花園和豆腐傳統工藝店家,獨自形成的觀光景點。

 

The two downsides are it only offered English pamphlet, the tour is still in Japanese. And that it’s another 40 minutes by train from Haijima. Going there requires dedicating the whole day.

 

但有兩個缺點,一是他只有英文的傳單,導覽還是講日文。另外是從拜島還要40分鐘車程,若去的話需要一整天。

 

Ishikawa isn’t as scenic as Ozawa, but offered just as much if not more in other areas.

 

石川沒有小澤酒造的優美環境,但其他處有他更多的特色。

Ishikawa Brewery

Our guide turned out to the the company director’s assistant. A middle aged woman with quite good English. She was friendly though reserved, perhaps because of having to speak in English she tried to stay to her notes.

 

我們的導遊是酒造總經理的秘書。一個英文說的不錯的中年婦人。算友善但有點很熱誠,可能是說英文的緣故她大部分是按照筆記講解。

 

Our tour begins with the main storehouse, built in 1880 and a registered tangible cultural properties. The storehouse is 3 storey tall and about 25m by 28m at its base. The earthern walls and doors are maybe 30cm thick, built to be fireproof to protect its contents in an age where fires often ravaged Japanese wooden houses.

 

導覽從主藏房開始。建於1880年,是國家登記有形文化財產。有三層樓高,長25m寬28m。土牆和門看有30cm厚,有很好的防火能力,在木造房子常引來祝融肆虐的年代,這對保護收藏的東西相當重要。

 

The inside is cool and spacious. Around the sides laid several large tanks where sake is brewed, the second floor and up might be used to access the vats but otherwise did not look to have things stored up there. The beams and pillars and most of the rest of the wooden structure are the original wood, our guide noted. The brewery is a small one and they don’t make much sake each year, though they are slowly expanding.

 

裡頭很寬闊涼爽。四周擺了許多巨大的釀酒桶,二樓以上可能用來爬至桶子上方操作,不然看起來沒有收藏東西。大樑,柱子和大多的木頭結構都是原本建造時的木頭,導遊說道。酒造不大每年製造的酒有限,但他們正慢慢努力擴展產量。

Storehouse interior

Our guide explained the process of sake brewing to us, some of which I had some vague idea before, others she made much clearer. I had always thought sake just used koji and did not realize koji is only used to turn starch into sugar, yeast still have to be added to turn the sugar into alcohol.

 

導遊解說了釀酒的過程,一些我本來就有概念,一些透過她的解釋比較弄得清楚了。我一直以為清酒就只是用麴,沒想到過麴是用來把澱粉轉為糖,還需要在加酵母才能把糖轉為酒精。

 

Coming out the storehouse, she then pointed to the cedar ball hung above the door and asked us if we knew what it was. I had some general idea that it signalled that the new batch of sake is available. Turned out the ball meant much more. The cedar ball or sugidama is built fresh each year so that a cedar ball that’s just been hung out would be slightly green. Overtime the cedar ball would turn brown and this allowed people to know from a glance how long ago the sake was brewed.

 

走出藏屋,導遊指著門前掛的杉樹球問我們知不知道這是什麼。我大略知道這代表新的一批清酒做好了。結果才發覺這球還有更多的意義。這球杉玉是每年都需要重製一次,剛做好掛出來的球因此會帶點綠。慢慢的隨著枝葉乾了轉黃,球就會成褐色。如此人們只要一看門口的球就可知道酒是多久前釀好的。

Cedar ball

The cedar ball here is extra big and extra heavy (I forgot how many kg, it was a scary number enough to crush someone), the lady laughed, because since they got a big storehouse it seemed appropriate to have a big one.

 

這顆球特別大特別重(忘了幾公斤,但很可怕,會壓死人的重量)。導遊笑到,因為他們的藏屋很大所以做一個特大的才相配。

 

Above the storehouse’s door was also a length of rope (shimenawa), because sake used to been as sacred and in the old days women were not allowed to enter the place where sake is made. These days such restrictions are gone and there are many sake masters (Toji). There’s even a foreigner who became a famous sake master in Kyoto, Philip Harper, who appeared in a documentary, Kanpai – for the love of Sake.

 

在門上還有一條注連繩。因為酒又視為神物,古時候女性是不准進入釀酒的屋子的。現在那些限制已經沒了,也有很多女性的釀酒大師。京都還有一位外國人釀酒師,Philip Harper,曾在紀錄片Kanpai For the love of Sake中介紹過。

 

The brewery grounds is roughly a square surrounded by storehouses. The central space can be broken into two halves, separated by a cluster of small houses in the middle.

 

酒造差不多是個方形,四周倉房圍著。中間的空間可分兩半,由一群小屋分隔。

 

The main entrance and old storehouse is on the right side. Next to the old storehouse is a slightly newer one (1897, also a cultural property) which is used to age the sake.

 

大門和本藏屋在右側。本藏旁是個新一點的藏屋(1897,也是文化財)用來放老酒。

 

Opposite the newer storehouse is the brewery’s shop selling its sake and beers.

 

在新藏屋對面是酒造的賣店,賣他們的清酒和啤酒。

Sake shop

Outside the shop there’s a pair of 400 years old zelkova trees, worshipped as the gods Daikokuten (god of good harvest and fortune) and Benzaiten (god of wealth and fortune). Beneath the trees, well water from 150m below pours forth from a bamboo spout into a stone basin. I took some of the water in my bottle, did not taste too differently, not like in the mangas where characters yell out “the water is sweet”.

 

在店外是兩株400年的老櫸樹,被視為大黑天和弁才天來祭拜。樹底下的竹筒流出地下150m抽出的泉水。我用水壺接了一點,味道差不多,沒有說如漫畫中角色喊出水好甜那樣。

Twin zelkova tree

Twin zelkova tree

Well water

There’s a “corridor” connecting the left and right side of the center space. The side facing the outside houses the restaurant Zoukura, that’s apparently quite popular with the americans at Yokota air base on the other side of Haijima station. The food is said to be quite good, we did contemplate having dinner there but it was booked out. (Maybe I should have made a booking)

 

中庭左右側由一個走道連結。靠外側是這裡的餐廳雜藏,似乎頗受拜島站另一側橫田基地的美軍喜愛。料理聽說不錯,我們有考慮要不要在這吃晚餐但座位早已預約光了。(或許我應該預先預約的)

 

Above the restaurant is the museum, suggested that we visit after the tour.

 

餐廳樓上是個博物館,導遊建議我們之後可看看。

Zokura

On the inside of the corridor is a traditional Japanese mansion, with a long outer gate (nagayamon) opening onto a garden before the main residence. The owner of the brewery, the 18th generation Ishikawa, still lives here. On the door is the nameplate Ishikawa Iyahachiro. It’s a name inherited by the head of the family so the nameplate never changes. When a heir assumes the position as head of the family and as owner of the brewery, he changes his name to Iyahachiro. The son of the current owner is still young and wants to be a baseball player. The lady jokes, the kid does yet not know what is in store for him.

 

在走道內側是個傳統日式大院。穿過長屋門是個花園,然後才是主屋。酒造的主人,石川家第18代當家仍住在這。門上牌子寫著石川彌八郎。這是個每代當家世襲的名字所以門牌從不需更換。當繼承者接下當家位置時將同時改名彌八郎。現在當家的兒子還小,夢想是當棒球球員。導遊開玩笑道,小孩還不知道自己的命運。

Nagayamon

The long outer gate is built over 250 years ago (very much a cultural property) from time before the 13th head of Ishikawa family decided to venture into sake brewing. The Ishikawa family has deep roots and a long history in this region.

 

長屋門已有250年歷史(當然是文化財),在13代當家決定轉行釀酒前有了的。石川家在這一帶有相當長久的歷史淵源。

 

Stood against one of the wall is a giant wooden barrel, maybe 2 metres wide and 2 metres tall. It was the barrel they used to steam rice in, our guide explained. Back in the old days workers had to wake up in the middle of the night because it took them an hour or two just to start the fire and boil the water, several hours all up to steam the rice. And if the sake master decided it wasn’t steamed quite right, the whole thing will have to be redone. Nowaday with all the machines and automation, it only takes one person an hour.

 

靠著一面牆是一個巨大的木桶,大概2m高2米寬。這是原本用來蒸米的木桶,導遊解釋。從前工人必須半夜就起來工作,光生火燒水就需要一兩小時,然後蒸米又需要幾小時。若釀酒師認為沒蒸好的話還必須重來一次。現在有各種機器自動化,一個人一小時就可蒸好了。

Giant barrel

We now get to the left side of the central space, and the courtyard here centres around a giant cauldron.

 

我們來到中庭左側,這裡的庭院中間醒目的放有一個巨大鍋子。

 

The brewery dabbled a little in beer making in the 1880s when beer was taking off in Japan. Lacking the bottling technology unfortunately the brewery had to give up beer brewing not long after, it was not until 1998 that it was taken up again by the 17th head.

 

這酒莊在1880年代日本開始風靡啤酒時也有投入釀造啤酒過。但那時候裝瓶技術不足,酒造不得不放棄啤酒事業,一直到1998年第17代當家才重新嘗試。

 

The giant cauldron was left from the times the brewery first took up beer making. Though the brewery gave up on beer making, the cauldron was kept around but neglected, eventually getting buried beneath overgrowths and earth. Thus by lucky misfortune the cauldron escaped being molten down and made into weapons during the war years. There it laid quietly in the grounds until it was discovered and dug up.

 

這個大鍋就是酒造一開始釀啤酒時留下的。雖然酒造放棄了啤酒事業但這大鍋就留著隨便放一邊了,久而久之沒人照料被草木給掩埋了。也幸好這樣才沒在戰爭時被徵收去融掉做武器。就這樣在地底下躺了無數歲月,直到有人發覺把它挖了出來。

Giant cauldron

On the outer face of the courtyard is another restaurant, this one a western styled one, ahead is the beer brewing workshop. Above the workshop is an entertainment space that is used to host parties, ceremonies and banquets. Sometimes they get to entertain high ranking officials from the US military.

 

庭院外側是另一個餐廳,這個主要做西方料理。前頭是釀啤酒的工房。工房上是個宴會廳,用來辦理宴會,慶典或聚餐。有時甚至會用來招待美軍高官。

Other restaurant

Parked outside the workshop is an old car in working condition belonging to the owner.

 

工房外停著一輛當家愛好的古董車,還可以開喔。

 

Behind the giant cauldron is the original well used by the brewery before they dug the new 150m deep well. There is still water inside the old well, when we leaned over the grates we could hear the sound of rippling water below.

 

大鍋後是酒莊在挖150m新井前用來取水的井。古井內還有水,我們湊上欄杆上時可聽到底下波動的聲音。

The old well

In the old days the workers would have to bring up water one bucket at a time. I can barely imagine what it must be like to fill up that giant cauldron behind us using just bucket.

 

古時候工人必須把水一桶一桶打上來。很難想像光用水桶把後頭那個大鍋裝滿水需要花多少時間。

 

By the well is another zelkova tree, at over 700 years old it is the oldest tree on the premise and around Haijima. The tree is seen as sacred tree and has shimenawa rope tied around it.

 

井旁是另一顆櫸樹,樹齡有700年了。是酒造也是拜島一帶最老的樹。這樹一樣被視為靈木,綁有注連繩。

 

Part of the reason the brewery took up beer again is because sake could only be brewed in winter and expanding production can be difficult, while beer can be made all year round.

 

酒造重新開始釀啤酒的部分原因是清酒只能在冬天釀造,要擴產比較困難,而啤酒一年四季都可釀造。

 

Apparently the sake staffs and beer staffs are separate divisions with few overlaps. The sake staff are busy half the year making sake then spend the other half of the year doing small maintenance and taking holidays ( during sake making it can be difficult to have even a day off).

 

釀造清酒和啤酒的工作屬不同部門,負責的員工並不同。清酒的員工有半年非常忙碌釀酒,另半年則做些維修之類的,還有就是去渡假(釀酒時可能連一天都不能休息)。

 

The current Ishikawa head is quite ambitious, wanting to expand the brewery’s international appeal and make it like a Disney land of Japanese brewery.

 

現在的當家非常有野心,想增加酒造的國際知名度,打造成日本酒造中的迪士尼。

 

We were then led to the shop for some sake tasting. We were given 3 types of sake.

 

然後導遊帶我們到店裡試酒。一共有3種酒。

Sake tasting

The first was their new batch of standard sake. It was quite aromatic and better than the sake I can usually get in the shops.

 

第一杯是他們新釀好的標準酒。很香,比我在一般店裡買的到的好。

 

Then an unfiltered sake which was slightly cloudy and gave a stronger taste and texture.

 

然後是一杯未過濾的酒,有點混濁,味道和質地比較濃厚。

 

Last was an unfiltered unpasteurized sake, something that apparently could not be easily bought in regular shops because of regulations and the need to keep it refrigerated. An unpasteurized sake still has live yeast within it which gives it a more wild and fruity taste.

 

最後一杯是未過濾未殺菌的酒,一般店裡因需冷藏還有法令限制買不到的酒。未殺菌的酒還有酵母,味道比較有變化,有水果味。

 

Then we were given some of their plum sake. Their plum sake was made from sake as opposed to shouchu, I am not entirely clear on what’s the difference. Y obviously understood the significance and chatted with the lady on which was more popular. The plum sake tasted really good.

 

再來是梅酒。他們的梅酒是用清酒而不是燒酒的,我不太確定兩者的差異。Y當然是懂得,與導遊討論兩者在一般消費者中的受歡迎度。梅酒超好喝的。

 

The tour concluded here and we were left to explore the premise and shop as we like.

 

導覽到此結束,我們可自由逛逛。

Looking around

The museum upstairs contains a thorough tracing of the history of not just the brewery but the Ishikawa family itself.

 

樓上的博物館有解說不光是這酒造,還有石川家的歷史。

 

For a small brewery its museum is very impressive and professional. It has on display the original brand and labels which the brewery labelled its beer, the changes the brewery went through over the years, including photos from the meiji era. There’s a gorgeous clay crafted ukiyoe depicting the traditional brewing process, of people steaming rice, laying rice, sprinkling koji, stirring the fermenting rice in the barrels.

 

對一個小酒造來說他的博物館相當有規模,也很專業。展示有一開始的啤酒品牌標籤,酒造多年下來的改變,包含明治時期的黑白照片。展示中有個很細膩的陶燒浮世繪,描繪傳統釀酒程序,有人們在蒸米,在把米攤撲開,灑上麴,攪拌桶中發酵的米。

The original beer by Ishikawa

Clay ukiyoe

People making sake

Museum

Old document

What really got my interest is the section detailing the history of the Ishikawa family. The family had a long history beginning in the Edo period as nanushi, sorta like a village leader/elder.

 

讓我超感興趣的是介紹石川家歷史的一區。石川家在江戶時代是名主,

 

There’s a document pertaining to the Ishikawa family having been responsible for providing the shogun with ayu fish, and since ayu fish required good water, the Ishikawa family was also given management of (a portion?) the Tama river (which no doubt profited the family greatly). The Ishikawa family also dined emissaries from Korea, traded textiles and chalk from the Oume area and was eventually granted permission to establish a brewery. All showed how influential the Ishikawa family was.

 

有個文件中提及石川家曾負責給將軍上供香魚,而香魚需要好的水質,於是石川家便被賜予管理多摩河(一部分?)的權利,肯定給石川家帶來許多好處。石川家還有為朝鮮來的使者擺過宴會,活躍於青梅地區石灰和織布的貿易,後來還被准許建立酒造。可見石川家曾多麼擁有影響力。

 

In total the Ishikawa brewery has 6 registered tangible cultural properties.

 

石川酒造總共有6個登記文化財的建築。

 

Visiting the Ishikawa brewery is one of the best highlight out of all the trips. The sense of culture, curiosity and history is immense, almost hard to digest.

 

參觀石川酒造是所有旅行中很特別的經驗。整個酒造的文化,玩物和歷史,滿到有點不知如何消化。

 

We last went back to the shop to decide what sake to buy.

 

最後回店裡看要買什麼酒。

 

I liked the plum sake. Then Y said their company sold better plum sake, so I put down the bottle in my hand.

 

我挺喜歡他們的梅酒的。不過Y說他們公司的梅酒更好,所以我把手中瓶子給放下。

 

It’s unfortunate that the unpasteurized sake required refrigeration, otherwise I would have bought one to bring back to Taiwan.

 

可惜未殺菌的酒需要冷藏,不然真想待一瓶回台灣。

 

We ended up buying just two small bottles, an unpasteurized one to drink while we’re in Japan and another regular sake Y intended to bring back for family.

 

結果只買了兩小瓶酒,一瓶未殺菌的在日本時喝,另一瓶Y要帶回去給家人。

 

Night comes early in winter in Japan. Being near the mountains a chill crept into the air despite there still being light in the distant sky.

 

日本冬天天黑的快。這裡靠近山邊,即使遠方天空還亮著空氣中已帶著寒氣。

 

We walked back to Haijima station. Along the way I asked how tired Y was feeling.

 

我們走回拜島站。路上我詢問Y大概有多累。

 

There’s two plans for dinner, one was to go directly back to Shinbashi, check-in, have a rest then head out for dinner around Shinbashi.

 

晚餐有兩個方案,一是直接回新橋,入住,休息一下後出去在新橋附近找晚餐。

 

The other plan was to go to Takadanobaba and have Suehiro ramen. The super heavy ramen I had before in Sendai on that exhausted night.

 

另一個是去高田馬場吃末廣拉麵,那碗曾在仙台疲憊的夜晚吃過的超重口味拉麵。

 

The ramen, I explained to Y, is super heavy, not fatty nor salty, just very rich in flavour.

 

那碗麵,我跟Y解釋,口味超重,不是肥也不是鹹,就是味道很濃郁。

 

While going via Takadanobaba was a slight detour compared to taking JR all the way to Shinbashi, it would be more on the way than if we tried to go there any other day, as Takadanobaba was connected to Haijima via the Seibu lines.

 

去高田馬場比搭JR到新橋繞一點,但比其他天繞去順路。高田馬場從拜島有西武線可到。

 

It’s about 45 minutes from Haijima to Takadanobaba with a transfer across the platform at Kodaira.

 

從拜島到高田馬場大約45分鐘,小平站月台對面轉一次。

 

Suehiro ramen is about 200m down along the main street from the station. It was not quite 6 yet, there were few customers inside.

 

末廣拉麵從車站順主街走200m。還沒6點,裡頭沒什麼客人。

Suehiro ramen

We ordered from the ticket machine. The ramen was the same price regardless of size. I was puzzled for a bit, then ultimately got the large sized one. Y suggested it was because they wanted to avoid the trouble of noodle refills and left it to the customers to decide up front how much to eat.

 

從販票機點了麵。不管麵的大小都一個價錢。一開始我有點被弄糊塗了,但還是選了大碗的麵。Y是猜說可能店家懶得之後再添麵,乾脆讓顧客一開始就決定要吃多少。

 

Suihero ramen provides a bowl of spring onions to add as much as one liked to balance the heavy taste. I dunked huge amounts of onion into my noodle and dug in. It was as good as I remembered, the flavour and warmth spreading to every corner of the body.

 

末廣拉麵會提供一大碗蔥來平衡味道,自己看要加多少。我夾過一大堆蔥,拌了拌開始享用。跟記得的一樣好吃,味道和溫暖像水一樣傳至四肢。

 

The soup is dark and slightly thick, topped with very thinly sliced, almost shredded chashu pork.

 

湯很黑很濃,上頭放有燒肉薄片。

Ramen

Spring onion bowl

The signature dish, despite being called Chinese Soba, is nothing like Chinese noodle…. That was my thought last time and again when I described to Y earlier. Now Y commented that it’s taste is indeed closer to Chinese than Japanese ramens, and I think there’s some truth to that.

 

這道招牌麵,雖然叫做中華麵,卻跟中華的麵一點關係都沒有。我上回是這樣想,這次也是一樣,我這樣跟Y說的。現在Y反映這味道在中華和日本間還是比較接近中華料理。這一說好像也有道理。

 

My craving satiated, time to go back to Shinbashi.

 

過癮了,可以回新橋了。

 

Going from Takadanobaba to Shinbashi required taking the East-West line and transferring to the Ginza line.

 

從高田馬場回新橋需要搭東西線然後轉銀座線。

 

There was a train waiting when we got to the platform and I made a mistake of getting ahead onto the train before Y. The door closed right behind me.

 

月台上剛好有一班列車,然後我犯了嚴重的錯誤,比Y先上了車。門在我身後關上。

 

That was a stupid mistake. I sent a message for Y to take the next train and get off at Nihonbashi.

 

真是太蠢的錯了。我給Y訊息說搭下一班車然後在日本橋下。

 

Fortunately nothing went awry and we met up again at Nihonbashi and transferred to the Ginza line. This time I made sure Y got on first and tried to make sure throughout the rest of the trip.

 

幸好沒有再出什麼錯,在日本橋會合後去轉銀座線。這回我跟在Y身後確認上車,這次旅行中之後也是盡量待後面。

 

Originally I had planned to go out to see one illumination, but we were both too tired and each went to back to our rooms.

 

原本還想去看燈飾的,但我們兩個都太累了,於是入住後就各次回房。