Excursions
For a Half Day
Kamakura: A small coastal town surrounded by wooded hills, some ten kilometres (six miles) south of Tokyo, Kamakura was the seat of Japan’s first military government, the Kamakura Shogunate of 1192–1333. Most famous for the imposing 12m-high (39ft) Great Buddha, which dates to the mid 13th century, the town also boasts several fine Zen temples, the impressive Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine and the nearby National Treasure Hall, which displays important Buddhist art of the Kamakura period. Pleasant hiking paths wind through the surrounding hills and the beach is a popular sunbathing and windsurfing spot in summer.
Trains run frequently to Kamakura from Tokyo Station and Shinagawa Station, on the Yokosuka line (journey time – approximately 1 hour). The Tourist Information Office in Tokyo (tel: (03) 3201 3331) provides a leaflet, Hakone and Kamakura, with information on transport and sights.
For a Whole Day
Nikko: One of Japan’s most celebrated tourist attractions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nikko is celebrated for the dazzlingly ornate mausoleum of the first shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu (died 1616), who was the model for the fictional warlord of James Clavell’s novel Shogun. The intricately carved, elaborately painted and gilded gates, halls and storehouses of the mausoleum – known as the Toshogu Shrine – today appear almost gaudy but, as a mid 17th century political representation of shogunal power, they were very much a reflection of the times. Situated amid an ancient cedar forest, the extensive complex also includes Rinnoji Temple, Futarasan Shrine and the smaller, somewhat less elaborate, mausoleum of the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu. A combination entry ticket for all four attractions is available. Beyond Nikko lies Lake Chuzenji and the spectacular Kegon Waterfall, reached by a one-hour bus ride up a scenic mountain road of hairpin bends.
Nikko is situated approximately 150km (93 miles) north of Tokyo and trains leave several times an hour from Asakusa Tobu Station on the privately operated Tobu Nikko line (tel: (03) 3621 5202; website: www.tobu.co.jp/english/sight). The journey takes approximately two hours. JR Rail Pass holders might prefer to take the slightly longer route of the JR Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo Station or Ueno Station to Utsunomiya, changing there to a local train for Nikko. The Tourist Information Office in Tokyo (tel: (03) 3201 3331) provides a leaflet, Nikko, with information on transport and sights, while the information desk in Tobu Nikko Station (tel: (0288) 534 511) provides leaflets and an English map.
Hakone: The Fuji-Hakone National Park, only 80km (50 miles) southwest of Tokyo, offers a spectacular landscape of lakes and mountains, cultural attractions – such as the impressive open-air art museum – and (assuming the weather co-operates) the bonus of magnificent views of Mount Fuji. The popular circular route through the area by toy train, cable car and boat, passes through forests and old spa villages before whisking visitors high over sulphurous volcanic valleys and finishing with a leisurely cruise on scenic Lake Ashino. The Hakone Free Pass costs approximately 5000 (depending on the starting point) and allows unlimited travel on the area’s transport network. Hakone may be reached by Shinkansen Kodama bullet train from Tokyo to Odawara Station, or on the privately operated Odakyu line, which leaves from Tokyo’s Shinjuku Station. The Tourist Information Office in Tokyo (tel: (03) 3201 3331) provides a leaflet, Hakone and Kamakura, with information on transport and sights.
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Excursions