Hi, Mom.
Dan and I safely arrived in Japan. Though it was a long travel day, we found refuge and regeneration at our first night’s hotel. We opted to travel through Tokyo, making a brief stop for dinner. We then hopped on a train to Hakone, our destination for the first night.
We stayed at a traditional Japanese-style inn–Auberge Abazu–which on a clear day has views of Mt. Fuji. The inn and our accommodations were incredible. Our suite even included a small dining room, and a natural hot spring soaking tub on the deck from which we could overlook a private garden. I booked this primarily because of Dan’s love of the hot tub; I knew it would put him back together again, following the discomforts of the journey.
For your entertainment (or maybe primarily our own) we made a video tour of the room. As you can tell we were a bit loopy. Exhaustion likely played a role, but we were happy to be there. I was laughing so hard I was crying!
Check out the breakfast they served us in the morning. Some mystery items. Some recognizable, but not on my “edible” list, and some things quite delicious. My favorite was the fish–see lower left and lower right corners in the images, respectively–which I mixed with the rice and wasabi. Yum!
Following breakfast we headed out to walk the area. Our primary goal was just to get our bearings and stretch our legs, but there was plenty to see. We walked through a beautiful cemetery. It was interesting to see how family burial sites are grouped (image below) and take note of the offerings. The temple at this burial site appeared to have been long abandoned, but was beautiful nonetheless.
Of historical significance, we walked through the Hakone Sekisho, a checkpoint established in 1619 for the control of weapons and to keep women from escaping from Edo (now Tokyo). Yes, you read that correctly. Women were essentially held in Edo and not allowed to leave. The site has been authentically restored and now operates as a museum. The website for Japan-highlights.com provides a good description of the checkpoint:
A completely restored “sekisho”, where travelers on the Tokaido would be stopped and interrogated
Hakone Sekisho, a key point along the Tokaido during the Edo period, has been faithfully restored. The shogunate government placed sekishos (checkpoints) all over the country, in order to protect the capital, Edo. Strict interrogations would be carried out on travelers at these sekishos. Particularly targeted for investigation were women, as a measure to prevent wives and children of feudal lords from escaping their lives as hostages of the shogunate regime. Sekishos also served to prevent weapons from being brought into Edo illicitly. This strict monitoring of ‘incoming guns and outgoing women’ continued until the Meiji Government abolished the system in 1869. Sekisho tegata (pass papers) and weapons are on display in the Hakone Sekisho Exhibition Hall.
In closing, I share a picture of us on the steps leading to the inn’s primary entry. This was taken as we prepared to move on. Next stop, Kyoto.
Be well, and know that we are thinking of you.
Love,
Shannon & Dan
Notes to Mom 