箱根旅行
10月、はじめての箱根。期待とちょっとした戸惑いが入り混じった旅でした
9月はまだ暑いのかなと思い、暑さがおさまってからにしようと10月に。
静かなイメージの箱根だったけどその予想は外れ、どこへ行ってもたくさんの外国人。
レストラン、バス、電車、感覚的には２割が日本人、８割が外国人。
こんなことってあるんですね。私が情報収集をしなさすぎでした。
もちろん、日本人なら良いという話ではなく、ただ静かに過ごしたかっただけです。
箱根は思っていたより賑やかな場所でした。
でも、その中に少しだけ静かな自分だけの時間を見つけることができた。それがまたどこかへ旅に出たくなる理由です。
ホテルから見た風景。川の水が流れる音が癒し
よく見る風景
芦ノ湖、雨がパラパラ降っていて残念ながらロープウェイから見る景色は雲しか見えなかった
強羅公園、急な坂をエッコラと歩いてやっと到着。箱根は坂が多い。冬は道路にヒーターがないそうです。北海道では坂道の雪は溶けるようになっている。箱根の冬は大丈夫かな。
彫刻の森美術館。自然の中にいろんな彫刻。
彫刻の森美術館では、アートと自然の融合がとても印象的でした。
芝生に横たわる彫刻や、緑で覆われた巨大なオブジェが目を引きつつも、その背後に広がる山々の風景が全体を優しく包み込んでいる。
そんな美術館の景色を楽しむ中でも、視界には絶えず人の姿。やはり、静かに浸るにはもう少しタイミングを選べばよかったかも。
作品は確かに見惚れてしまうけど、みんながみんなそれを見たいと思い、写真を撮りたいと思う。
単純にそこには人がたくさんいるから、また集まる、そしてまたどこからともなく人がやってくる。
この繰り返し。
自分でとっておきの場所や美味しいものを探すのが実は一番楽しいんじゃないか、と思った。
誰も行かない場所にわざわざ行って、誰も見たことのない景色を見たりするのもいいよね。
この旅を通じて感じたのは、自分だけの「とっておきの場所」を見つける楽しさ。
誰もいないスポットで、自分だけが見る景色、味わう体験。そんな旅がいつかしてみたいと思いました。
と言っても自然とアート、美味しい食事。温泉。
いろいろな思いが交錯したけれど、それもまた旅行の一つの楽しみ方だと思います。
自然やアートと出会う旅のように、音楽との出会いもまた心を満たす特別な瞬間ですね。キース・ジャレットのピアノの音色は、忘れていた感情がふと目の前に現れるような不思議な魅力があり、いつも聴いています。
English Version/October: My First Time in Hakone
A trip filled with anticipation and a touch of bewilderment.
I decided to visit Hakone in October, thinking September might still be too hot. Waiting for the heat to subside felt like the right choice.
I had imagined Hakone as a quiet and serene place, but that expectation was quickly overturned. Wherever I went—restaurants, buses, trains—it seemed like 80% of the people were foreign tourists, and only about 20% were Japanese.
I hadn’t expected that. Perhaps I didn’t do enough research beforehand.
Of course, it’s not about whether they were Japanese or not. I just wanted a quieter, more peaceful experience. Hakone turned out to be a livelier place than I had thought.
Still, I managed to find small moments of solitude—quiet times that felt like they belonged only to me. And maybe that’s reason enough to embark on another journey someday.
A View from the Hotel
The sound of the river flowing below was incredibly soothing. Looking out the window, the scenery had a calming, almost meditative quality that made me pause and just breathe.
Peace in Misty Lake Ashinoko
At Lake Ashi,noko,rain lightly drizzled, and unfortunately, the view from the ropeway was completely obscured by clouds. Even so, the misty lake had its own quiet charm, a kind of serene melancholy that was uniquely beautiful.
Gora Park
I finally reached Gora Park after struggling up a steep incline. Hakone is full of hills, and I learned that the roads don’t have built-in heaters for snow like they do in Hokkaido. I couldn’t help but wonder how people manage during winter.
Chōkoku no Mori Art Museum
The Hakone Open-Air Museum was especially impressive. The harmony between nature and art stood out to me. Sculptures lying on the grass, enormous figures covered in greenery—all of it framed by the surrounding mountains.
While the scenery was captivating, I couldn’t help but notice the constant presence of other visitors. People were always in view, snapping photos or admiring the art, which made it hard to fully immerse myself. Perhaps a different time of day or season would have offered a quieter experience.
Still, the works were undeniably stunning. But it made me think: the more people come to admire a place, the more others are drawn to it, and the cycle continues. A place gathers people, and people gather more people.
A Thought on Travel
I started to think that the real joy of travel might lie in discovering hidden gems on your own—finding places no one else visits or seeing landscapes no one else has seen. There’s something magical about those moments of personal discovery.
This trip made me realize the pleasure of finding your own “special spot.” A quiet place where only you can experience the view, the atmosphere, the moment. One day, I’d like to embark on a journey to find such a place.
That being said, this trip to Hakone was still a mix of wonderful experiences—nature, art, delicious food, and hot springs.
Even with all the contrasting emotions, that’s what makes travel so enjoyable, isn’t it?
Music That Complements the Journey
Like a journey to discover nature and art, finding music that speaks to your heart is a special kind of joy. Keith Jarrett’s piano solo feels like forgotten emotions gently resurfacing, and it’s a piece I often find myself returning to.
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