Hakone Blog

June 6th, was our first official full day in Hakone! We started the morning with a private tour led by Mr. Kato. Our weekend adventure continued as we explored nearby towns and attractions, embracing Japan’s beauty, culture, and tradition.

At our first stop, Mr. Kato gave us a tour around Odawara Joshi Park! Odawara Joshi Park is best known for the historical sites of the Odawara castle, home to the Hojo clan, a major samurai clan. We first looked at the plant nursery and saw the many flowers that had already bloomed. The flowers stood out the most, with many of them making that one part of the park beautiful. I learned that the flowers bloom every summer, and many were still blooming during our visit. After exploring the plant nursery, we came across the most iconic landmarks: Odawara Castle! The castle had a museum inside, highlighting the history, the ruling families, the clan’s weaponry, and its development throughout the years. After the museum tour, some of us wanted to try to throw ninja stars at the target board. We then dressed up in samurai armor and uchikake, and it felt astonishing as if we had traveled back in time to the days of the Hojo clan.

Next, we visited Hayakawa to enjoy the ocean view. We explored around a local store until it was time for lunch. For lunch, we had a sashimi rice bowl. This is my first time trying raw fish, and I was in disbelief at how much raw fish was on top of the rice. After my first bite, I kept eating more because it was delicious with the soy sauce. I’m delighted to say I enjoyed it! To wrap up our private tour, we visited Honcho’s beach, where we walked along the shoreline and explored a small lighthouse nearby.

Today’s event was not only an unforgettable memory but also had a meaningful impact on my overall journey in Japan. What I love about Japan is the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and experience something new. Japan is full of surprises, and there is always something different to discover. This particular event is especially meaningful because we got to explore a rural and coastal city in Japan. For the first week, we are used to living in a prefecture with tons of major cities, with modern skyscrapers and huge shopping malls. Over the weekend, we traveled to another part of Japan, where we explored a more relaxed, historically rich, and culturally focused side of the country. Experiencing both the urban landscape and the peaceful countryside allows me to adopt more of Japan’s diverse lifestyles, making this experience memorable and rewarding.