🇯🇵-2-0
Japan-2-0
🇯🇵
Introduction
LittleMaster’s older sister suddenly said she wanted to go to Hakone.
So, I skipped some (a lot of) chapters and decided to write this first.
As for why it’s written in traditional characters,
it’s because my sister is Taiwanese,
although she can read simplified characters.
Things happened in the year 8102, March.
At that time, LittleMaster had already worked for the previous company for a solid 3.5 years and was about to start working at a fruit company as a janitor.
Since it was also his birthday on the same day he started the new job, he decided to have a “graduation trip” before that.
After all, changing jobs is incredibly troublesome, and as a low-ranking person, he would definitely face various kinds of humiliation.
So, he decided to prepare mentally and physically in advance.
At that time, LittleMaster was still young and was at the stage where he really wanted to go out and play. The way to relax was to see how big the world was and explore it.
Looking at the world map, he felt like he wanted to go everywhere.
But since he was traveling solo and had just obtained his driver’s license, he didn’t dare to drive yet since he hadn’t completed the probationary period. Europe and America were naturally not an option, so he could only consider cities with beautiful scenery.
Thus, with the hard-earned 3-year multiple-entry visa in hand, he could only go to Japan. 🇯🇵
Considering that during LittleMaster’s previous trip to Kinosaki, he discovered that the hot springs there were fake and filled with boiler water, and after experiencing the healing properties of real hot springs, he couldn’t forget and wanted to experience them in Japan once again.
So, this time the route was heading north all the way.
Hakone - Kamakura Enoshima - Yokohama - Tokyo
Although I had been to Tokyo previously, I went with someone else and had a bad memory. Moreover, it was a very short trip, only 6 days, so I had no recollection of it when I returned to Tokyo again, except for recognizing Tokyo Skytree. It felt like I hadn’t been there before.
Odakyu
This time, I flew with Japan Airlines and landed at Narita Airport.
Originally, I had planned to go to Shinjuku and take the Odakyu Romancecar (which is said to not be romantic at all) directly to Hakone. After all, I arrived at 4 PM and the last Odakyu train was at 6 PM, so even if I went from Narita to Shinjuku, I would have had plenty of time.
Then, I realized that Japan’s time was one hour ahead, so I was dumbfounded after adjusting to the local time.
In panic, a kind old man in front of me helped me buy a ticket for the Narita Express and a Shinkansen ticket from Shinagawa.
I boarded the bright Nozomi bullet train, which resembled the courageous train hero, and it was a very smooth and comfortable ride. I could see my location quickly moving forward on the map.
After arriving at Odawara, the sun had already set, and there were no buses available, so I had to take a mountain train.
After getting off at the station, I was completely lost and didn’t know which way to go. Many people approached, but I only saw a beautiful young lady, so I quickly walked up to her and asked where the mountain train was. After the kind young lady pointed out the way, I walked a long way. When I looked back, I saw her nodding to indicate that I had found the right platform.
After going uphill, it started to rain and the temperature dropped. I noticed that the seat became warm and there was hot air blowing through. It was really considerate.
After arriving at Kowakidani, my IC card didn’t have enough balance to exit. There was no one around, so I was wondering if I should jump over the gate when an officer appeared out of nowhere, gave me a piece of paper, opened the subway gate, and then disappeared.
When I left the station, I saw a small hill and, after repeatedly checking the map, I still couldn’t believe that the staircase hidden in the shadows was the same one shown on the map.
Fortunately, after climbing the stairs, I reached the normal national road. Only a 1.3km uphill remained.
Carrying an umbrella and dragging my luggage, I walked alone on the road. I passed a very large 7-11, but there wasn’t a single person there.
…
Tenyu
When I saw the words “Tenyu” in the rainy night, I was already exhausted.
I thought I could happily soak in the hot springs.
But I couldn’t find the entrance to the hotel, so I had to make a long-distance call to the hotel.
At that time, my English skills were poor and combined with the hotel staff’s broken English, I couldn’t understand what they were saying. I could only babble on my own.
Then, I was told not to move and that they would send a car to pick me up. After waiting for a while, there was no movement, so I continued to walk up the mountain road. Along the way, a car came down from the mountain. After experiencing a deserted road, my first thought was, “There’s actually a car up on the mountain?!”
I moved to the side and continued walking up.
After walking for a while, I suddenly had an epiphany. Could it be the car from earlier?
I quickly turned back.
When I returned to the bus stop, I found the car parked there. After showing the driver my booking details, he let me on.
During the ride, I asked the driver if there was a shuttle directly to Odawara Station. The answer was that it was too far away and there wasn’t one. I couldn’t understand the directions given over the phone on how to find this station. There were only a few bus stops in this area, so I found it based on the name.
What made me really frustrated was that the bus traveled back the way I came, only walking an extra 500m before doing a U-turn and arriving at the hotel entrance…
It wasn’t that I was confused; it was just too dark and rainy, and I couldn’t see the road.
So, if any of you are traveling from Narita Airport to Hakone, please, please, please don’t miss the Odakyu train.
Translated by gpt-3.5-turbo